UPC Pastor Convicted of Slander in Pulpit!

[pelathais]

Originally Posted by DAII

The picture is on their church site ... and name listed on the Spiritual Abuse site and she is mentioned in the story and in the legal documents .... and her business being discussed in this thread by various posters who I can list ...

was asked a question and answered to the best of my knowledge.

Yeah, I know. Just "IMHO." I feel badly for the girl and her erstwhile beau. If they had some common sense leadership they would have been spared all of this. All it seems they were wanting to do was to quietly start a new life together without fingers being wagged in their faces. "Daddy" took charge of matters in the typical fashion and the whole thing became national news.

Unfortunately, these are the types of things that happen all the time. If the UPC would (finally!) embark on a program of training its ministers then we wouldn't see the leadership positions filled with a bunch of redneck yahoos running herd over THE LORD'S heritage.

[Mirth1981]

Originally Posted by pelathais

Unfortunately, these are the types of things that happen all the time. If the UPC would (finally!) embark on a program of training its ministers then we wouldn't see the leadership positions filled with a bunch of redneck yahoos running herd over THE LORD'S heritage.

I could not agree more.

[Barb]

Originally Posted by pelathais

Dude. Bring the named defendant into it, sure. But leave the family at home. Just IMHO.

Whether it's the young lady "on the right" or whatever, she wasn't found guilty of the slander. The old man just went over the top in trying to justify something in his own mind that needed no justification from the pulpit and got himself into a heap of trouble for it.

[DAII]

Too ... She is not guilty of slander....

I did not even bring up the issues of potential flirting pre-divorce ... I can list them if you like ....

Originally Posted by Barb

[Barb]

Originally Posted by DAII

Too ... She is not ....

I did not even bring up the issues of potential flirting pre-divorce ... I can list them if you like ....

And why would you do such a thing? Is there anything to be gained? Is it any of our business?

"Whatsoever things are of a good report..."

It may be true, but is it of a good report...try thinking of THOSE things.

[DAII]

Originally Posted by Barb

And why would you do such a thing? Is there anything to be gained? Is it any of our business?

"Whatsoever things are of a good report..."

It may be true, but is it of a good report...try thinking of THOSE things.

The report is on the this thread of those posters who brought into question the possibility/innuendo of a relationship prior to the divorce ...

[pelathais]

Originally Posted by DAII

Too ... She is not guilty of slander....

I did not even bring up the issues of potential flirting pre-divorce ... I can list them if you like ....

Okay. The gentleman was considered "damaged goods" and could not get anyone to even give him the time of day. He was torn and confused about how he should continue in his walk with God and several thoughts about just "packing it all in" had crossed his mind.

He found that by trying to keep busy around the church his mind was eased and his spirit even began to feel a bit refreshed. Then, he happened to lock eyes with the preacher's daughter... and well, the resultant feelings were predictable.

BUT - there was this huge problem. Remarriage in that part of the country is frowned upon most severely by those who hold the reigns of religious power - both Pentecostal and otherwise. The old man had probably even made remarks in the past concerning this.

So, the young lady and her sisters set out to try and see just how "Daddy" really feels about this issue... and viola! "The fornication" clause of Matthew 5:32. None of them told "Daddy" what to say - they would never dare. But the general tone of the conversations may have been predictable - especially given the fact that the happiness of a young lady was at stake.

And so, with self righteousness and convinced of the invulnerability of the pulpit, the old man gets up there and says too much of one thing and something entirely wrong about another. The whole thing then blows up in his face.

Far better to have cultivated a church culture that supports and forgives than one that condemns and judges at every moment. When the money was finally on the line, no one knew what to do except to judge; and the jury has now spoken.

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by pelathais

Okay. The gentleman was considered "damaged goods" and could not get anyone to even give him the time of day. He was torn and confused about how he should continue in his walk with God and several thoughts about just "packing it all in" had crossed his mind.

He found that by trying to keep busy around the church his mind was eased and his spirit even began to feel a bit refreshed. Then, he happened to lock eyes with the preacher's daughter... and well, the resultant feelings were predictable.

BUT - there was this huge problem. Remarriage in that part of the country is frowned upon most severely by those who hold the reigns of religious power - both Pentecostal and otherwise. The old man had probably even made remarks in the past concerning this.

So, the young lady and her sisters set out to try and see just how "Daddy" really feels about this issue... and viola! "The fornication" clause of Matthew 5:32. None of them told "Daddy" what to say - they would never dare. But the general tone of the conversations may have been predictable - especially given the fact that the happiness of a young lady was at stake.

And so, with self righteousness and convinced of the invulnerability of the pulpit, the old man gets up there and says too much of one thing and something entirely wrong about another. The whole thing then blows up in his face.

Far better to have cultivated a church culture that supports and forgives than one that condemns and judges at every moment. When the money was finally on the line, no one knew what to do except to judge; and the jury has now spoken.

Good post, pel. This pretty much sums up the likely family dynamic.

This was probably done more out of support for his daughter's new interest than revenge against the ex-wife.