McMinnville pastor accused in suit of Defamation

[thephnxman]

"Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone...".

If the brother is unreasonable, get two or three witnesses (NOT anyone biased in your favor or his:
of still unreasonable, let the Church be aware. Of course, it's the local Church, not the INTERNET!

This thread seems to be about hearsay.

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

Did you find out all sides of the Story?

Did you?

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by thephnxman

"Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone...".

If the brother is unreasonable, get two or three witnesses (NOT anyone biased in your favor or his:
of still unreasonable, let the Church be aware. Of course, it's the local Church, not the INTERNET!

This thread seems to be about hearsay.

You think?

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by James Goings

"I felt God talking to me and when I tried to talk to the Pastor he walked away in the middle of my sentence"....

Jim you are suing for 950,000?

For defamation of character, right?

[Steve Epley]

Originally Posted by Evang.Benincasa

Jim you are suing for 950,000?

For defamation of character, right?

[Pilgram199]

Originally Posted by Garbonzo

A saint in their church said in the comments section of the News Register report that Matthew Davies paid for the kids school tuition and the teens worked in return for them in trade. It was quoted in my first post. Way up there somewhere.

http://newsregister.com/article?arti...90887--17779--

Another seconded that claim. This post was from someone aware of the church but apparently not a member.

From that thread:

" orange98

Unfortunately, what happened was a violation of the labor laws but was dealt with and settled as the article suggests. I am not saying everything was dealt with perfectly but understand that these people are good people. ....... Mr. Goings attempted to stir discord in the church by taking young men and turning them against the pastors of the church who, mind you, were paying for their school tuition in return for some extra work during the summer and after school."

There is more to this post but I only quoted the sections which speak specifically to your question. Other posters also made this claim as well.

I know of a school here (Baptist not OP) that trades work for tuition. I doubt they know it is illegal which may have been the case here in my opinion.

Realize that in this case it's not a "church" trading work for tuition which would be considered volunteer work and legal, it was the private for profit business Parkwood Inc. of the pastors presumably trading work for tuition which is clearly against the law. Also, realize that while someone "supposedly from the church" stated that as a fact, I can tell you that NONE of the church or school financials are EVER made public to the congregation.

[Pilgram199]

[QUOTE=Garbonzo;1374678]A saint in their church said in the comments section of the News Register ....
From that thread:

[I]" orange98

Mr. Goings attempted to stir discord in the church by taking young men and turning them against the pastors of the church who, mind you, were paying for their school tuition in return for some extra work during the summer and after school." ]

I would submit that trying to sidestep Child Labor laws and in a sense coercing church teens to work for free is stirring discord in itself. I say coercing because what teen that wants to do right and be accepted would tell their pastor(s) no. Just the act of asking someone, let alone a teen, to work in a for profit business is at a minimum unethical. I'm sorry, it's just too shady to justify.

[n david]

Originally Posted by Pilgram199

Realize that in this case it's not a "church" trading work for tuition which would be considered volunteer work and legal, it was the private for profit business Parkwood Inc. of the pastors presumably trading work for tuition which is clearly against the law. Also, realize that while someone "supposedly from the church" stated that as a fact, I can tell you that NONE of the church or school financials are EVER made public to the congregation.

All the churches of which I've been a member, have (once a year) shown the financial reports to a members only meeting. There was one church which only displayed it on the video screen, and only showed the tithes/offerings received and ministry expenses; they left out and refused to detail what the Pastor or Asst Pastor (son) received.

Unfortunately, unless the church is incorporated or includes something in its bylaws (or subpoena'd in a lawsuit) or a required statute, church members do not have a right to church financial records.

I would be wary of attending a church which did not disclose its financial documents.

Originally Posted by Pilgram199

I would submit that trying to sidestep Child Labor laws and in a sense coercing church teens to work for free is stirring discord in itself. I say coercing because what teen that wants to do right and be accepted would tell their pastor(s) no. Just the act of asking someone, let alone a teen, to work in a for profit business is at a minimum unethical. I'm sorry, it's just too shady to justify.

I don't know that it's stirring discord, but getting teens to work free for their private business is wrong.

[Pilgram199]

Originally Posted by n david

All the churches of which I've been a member, have (once a year) shown the financial reports to a members only meeting. There was one church which only displayed it on the video screen, and only showed the tithes/offerings received and ministry expenses; they left out and refused to detail what the Pastor or Asst Pastor (son) received.

Unfortunately, unless the church is incorporated or includes something in its bylaws (or subpoena'd in a lawsuit) or a required statute, church members do not have a right to church financial records.

I would be wary of attending a church which did not disclose its financial documents.


I don't know that it's stirring discord, but getting teens to work free for their private business is wrong.

n david, you're a very logical and reasonable person. I appreciate your posts.

[Pilgram199]

Originally Posted by James Goings

Hi all,
I just received this from somebody an they want wants me to post it..

Post this
"from a friend.... The bible states Wisdom is justified of her children". In the mid 1990's the children in Abundant Life Fellowship were considered amazing. From all spectrums of age. People were best known as fun, friendly and welcoming. By the mid 2000's there was another generation coming about as a different mix and today's children seem to speak volumes.

In the original article a point of unpunished, non-reported molestation was stated. However, through the mix of comments and threads, there appears to be a great deal of confusion. There was indeed a boy, accused and charged and has been in custody. This is not the boy the article was speaking about. There was yet another boy, known of pornographic issues whom who molested more than one child. This boy was unpunished. These two boys are not to be confused with the other two in prison for having relations with minors shortly after leaving the church nor the other young adult whom was caught and arrested for relations with a church attending minor in his car down the road of the said church.

With this being said: it is important that our brothers and sisters bind together for all truths to be revealed that the church may finally heal. A standard response from visitors today is 'everyone looks down at me', "they were all nice until they came to my house to start teaching me bible studies", "where is the love in this church, they seem to be so hungry for a move of God, not because they are in love with God, but because they are so empty they need God just to get through to the next service", 'not a single person seemed genuine', 'I miss that church but one of the young ministers ripped me off, I could never go back", "I felt God talking to me and when I tried to talk to the Pastor he walked away in the middle of my sentence"....

Wisdom is justified of her children. The fruits of our wisdom, love and walk with God are apparent; separate from the world and distinct. "There is something deeply wrong here and I have no where to go. I am afraid to end up like the others if I try to go to a church where God can help me" -current saint, not to be construed with the multiple families that left several months ago following the Goings exit".

1.) Not to take this person's concerns / problem lightly, but what's the point in posting this?

2.) Also, how does your new pastor feel about you suing? I think you should, I was just curious how he felt about it. You can send a private message if you like.