UPC Pastor Convicted of Slander in Pulpit!

[RandyWayne]

Originally Posted by Mr. Steinway

I never witnessed anything like this, but I have heard many stories from friends that it did happen to. It appears that teenagers are the biggest target when they start to question or rebel against church teachings. Unfortunately, every person that I know that this happened to left the church for good after being humiliated. I have yet to see a positive result from the public approach.

Yup, it DOES happen to teens more then anyone, although I did see it happen to people of all ages. Once I hit 18 -and until my early 30's, I think I stepped inside a church a few dozen times. I still don't go much because of the wave of bad memories (and still do everything I can to avoid song service).

[DAII]

If my pastor tells my wife not to leave the house without wearing pantyhose ... as reported happened between Fogarty and and Angela ...

IT"S ON!!!!

[Trouvere]

sad

[missourimary]

From a new link on the spiritualabuse website (link to http://webcache.googleusercontent.co...6rssFeed%3Dsub ):

Kennedy said his case was helped considerably by the testimony of Angela Driver's ex-husband, James, who told the jury that he had "never accused her of sexual immorality, never thought she cheated on him." The stated reason for the divorce was irreconcilable differences. ...
"Kennedy also called as witnesses the pastor and assistant pastor of Driver's new church, also Pentecostal, to talk about the hurtfulness of her old pastor's remarks. Trey Davis, the assistant pastor at her new church, testified that when he made a courtesy call to Angela Driver's old pastor to let him know she had found a new church, Fogarty slandered her again, saying she was a "compulsive liar" with a "spirit of a Jezebel."

Bro Ben, I understand your frustration. I hope and pray that you haven't experienced-and will never experienced-anything like this in your life or in the lives of your family. I've seen it and experienced it. You are correct that nothing will stop some bad things from happening in the name of religion. But we have to continue to hope.

[mizpeh]

Originally Posted by missourimary

From a new link on the spiritualabuse website (link to http://webcache.googleusercontent.co...6rssFeed%3Dsub ):


Bro Ben, I understand your frustration. I hope and pray that you haven't experienced-and will never experienced-anything like this in your life or in the lives of your family. I've seen it and experienced it. You are correct that nothing will stop some bad things from happening in the name of religion. But we have to continue to hope.

The link you gave goes to an article in the Daily Report (The Daily Report is Fulton County's official legal organ and Georgia's leading source for legal news and information.) sheds much more light on this case.

a couple of comments:

1) The husband admitted that he had never accused his ex wife of sexually immorality or cheating on him. It makes you wonder why he let the pastor call her a fornicator which allowed the church folk to think evil of her. But I suppose we have to give him credit for being honest in court.

2) This was interesting as well:

"During his work on the case, Kennedy said he discovered, to his surprise, that the United Pentecostal Church International carries insurance on its pastors, who have independence in setting standards for their congregations. Kennedy said the carrier, Church Mutual Insurance Co., provided the pastor with a $1 million policy. "A court can't make him apologize or make him retract. They can't force him from the pulpit. All a jury can do is award civil damages," Kennedy said."

If the pastor had to pay out of pocket he might be more careful with his tongue but it looks like the insurance company will pay. The rates will go up and then the entire UPCI ministerial fellowship will have to foot the bill for this pastor's slanderous remarks.

Also: " Kennedy said he took the case as a cause, unsure of where it would lead. "We were on a mission to clear her name," Kennedy said. He first requested an apology and a retraction from the church and from its corporate parent, United Pentecostal Church International, as his client had done already. When that request failed to produce results, he filed suit. Kennedy said the defense made a settlement offer that was less than the verdict, and he declined to be more specific."

Did the UPCI completely fail to take any action on this when the lawyer requested an apology and retraction? The article doesn't say but it is too bad that this had to go to court.

3) Dan, the article states that the Angela was younger than her ex husband.

"Angela Driver made an effective witness as well on her own behalf, Kennedy said. He said she never wanted to draw attention to herself. When he asked her on the stand why she was pursuing the lawsuit, she answered that she wanted to clear her name for the sake of her daughter, who is now 8.

The child was 3 when her father left on Mother's Day 2005, Kennedy said. The couple, who married when he was 21 and she was 17, were married eight years, according to Kennedy. Angela Driver has not remarried."

4) There was no mention of the bikini incident in this article.

[DAII]

If the org ministerial fellowship's insurance is footing the bill then this is an org-wide issue- as it is aGeorgia district board issue.

Yes, I realize that Angela is younger than first reported based on a preliminary search.

Kudos on James for setting the record straight in court as to why he divorced his first wife.

Sadly, this pastor and board will not set the record straight.

When the apologies do come, because they will, I still think any damages incurred are still just and fair.

This went on for four years steeped in pride, and apathy.

An internal ministerial judicial procedure ignored negligently or willfully when complaints are filed by members is dangerous and destructive.

This is a doctrinal and ecclesiastical debacle with ramifiications of a broader scope than the religious peanut gallery hopes to detract.

[mizpeh]

Originally Posted by DAII

When the apologies do come, because they will, I still think any damages incurred are still just and fair.

It only took the jury two hours to decide this case. I think the award is more than fair and just. If it had been me, I would have been devastated by the unfair and untrue accusations (tantamount to lies) leveled against me.

What might have been the repercussions to Angela's daughter if these accusations were never cleared and brought to the light of day in court? Would she have started school and some other child might have called her mother an evil name?

What about Angela and her daily interactions. Did folks walk across the street to avoid her, did they whisper about her. The accusation of fornication caused by this, not to mention the divorce must have cost a great deal of mental grief and anguish.

[RandyWayne]

Originally Posted by mizpeh

It only took the jury two hours to decide this case. I think the award is more than fair and just. If it had been me, I would have been devastated by the unfair and untrue accusations (tantamount to lies) leveled against me.

What might have been the repercussions to Angela's daughter if these accusations were never cleared and brought to the light of day in court? Would she have started school and some other child might have called her mother an evil name?

What about Angela and her daily interactions. Did folks walk across the street to avoid her, did they whisper about her. The accusation of fornication caused by this, not to mention the divorce must have cost a great deal of mental grief and anguish.

Heck, that happened to us just for leaving the church. I really wish digital camera's and camcorders were around back then so I could have caught the comic stylings of old church members as they hugged the walls of fast food joints in order to walk around us and keep as much distance as possible lest our rebellion rub off on them.

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by missourimary

From a new link on the spiritualabuse website (link to http://webcache.googleusercontent.co...6rssFeed%3Dsub ):


Bro Ben, I understand your frustration. I hope and pray that you haven't experienced-and will never experienced-anything like this in your life or in the lives of your family. I've seen it and experienced it. You are correct that nothing will stop some bad things from happening in the name of religion. But we have to continue to hope.

No, frustration here, I just think it's all a waste of time and effort to parade this sort of behavior around the front yard. Preachers in every denomination have made mistakes over the pulpit, and alluded to things over the pulpit. Even brought to court because of their behavior in and out of the church. What I think is interesting is that it seems we never discuss the agita the people can cause ministers who are trying to build a church, or work with a church family. How many pastors ever dragged offending parishioners into court? There have been times that has happened, but alas it would still be the preacher's fault, and his organizations problem.

I can understand that the United Pentecostal Church International is always the whipping boy. It may be due to there consistent fortitude to overcome all the whiners who are constantly praying for their demise. I guess they have broad shoulders to bare the weight.

Yet, some people never miss an opportunity to make good use of a disaster, and spread the horrible story to one in all. It's understandable that men who are in the position of authority, may let the authority to over step some boundaries, and they pay for it. They pay for it in more ways than one.

Let's just remember there are bad apples on both sides of the pulpit, which we cannot hold an organization accountable for those few bad apples.

In Jesus name

Brother Benincasa

www.OnTimeJournal.com

[crakjak]

Originally Posted by Evang.Benincasa

No, frustration here, I just think it's all a waste of time and effort to parade this sort of behavior around the front yard. Preachers in every denomination have made mistakes over the pulpit, and alluded to things over the pulpit. Even brought to court because of their behavior in and out of the church. What I think is interesting is that it seems we never discuss the agita the people can cause ministers who are trying to build a church, or work with a church family. How many pastors ever dragged offending parishioners into court? There have been times that has happened, but alas it would still be the preacher's fault, and his organizations problem.

I can understand that the United Pentecostal Church International is always the whipping boy. It may be due to there consistent fortitude to overcome all the whiners who are constantly praying for their demise. I guess they have broad shoulders to bare the weight.

Yet, some people never miss an opportunity to make good use of a disaster, and spread the horrible story to one in all. It's understandable that men who are in the position of authority, may let the authority to over step some boundaries, and they pay for it. They pay for it in more ways than one.

Let's just remember there are bad apples on both sides of the pulpit, which we cannot hold an organization accountable for those few bad apples.

In Jesus name

Brother Benincasa

www.OnTimeJournal.com

My friend, I understand your defense of the UPC, but this case warrants discussion. Just maybe it will be helpful for other leaders to avoid such self-serving decisions. Why can't we discussion difficult situations with maturity and deal with them from a position of understanding.