Accused Bishop Joseph Walker Sex Lawsuits All Dismissed By Judge

Bishop Joseph Walker Sex Lawsuits All Dismissed By Judge

A judge has dismissed the claims in a lawsuit filed against Bishop Joseph Walker III of Mt. Zion Baptist Church and this includes the most recent claims that were just detailed and amended for the court with accuser Ms. Batson.

The Tennessean reports:

Former church member Valencia Batson had sued Walker, Mt. Zion and several other ministers earlier this year for alleged sexual abuse.

Many church leaders have called the allegations ridiculous in the past and Walker’s attorneys argued that the statute of limitations had passed for most of Batson’s claims and that some of the other claims in the suit were improperly filed.

At a hearing Thursday morning, Davidson County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Brothers granted a motion to dismiss the suit against Walker.

“That means the charges against Walker are gone,” said his attorney Bob Boston, of the law firm Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis.

Walker said in a statement Thursday afternoon that he was thankful for the judge’s decision.

“I am grateful to the Lord and grateful to the judge for the ruling that properly dismisses these allegations against me and my beloved Mt. Zion church,” he said. “After all the negative publicity as the other side appeared determined to try, and re-try, all of this in the media, it is obviously gratifying that the case against me has been dismissed with prejudice, meaning that it is over.”

Congregation members at Mt. Zion are also pleased with Thursday’s ruling, said Lawrence Washington, spokesperson for Mt. Zion. Washington said dealing with the lawsuit had been difficult for the church.

“Now all the accusations against the bishop and the original allegations against Mt. Zion have been dismissed,” he said in a statement. “Our faith has sustained us, and the life of our church remains strong.”

Judge Brothers also granted nonsuits against Jerry Luren White, general overseer of fiscal management at Mt. Zion, and the Rev. Michael E. Williams, pastor of Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church in Nashville.

That means both are dismissed from Batson’s lawsuit but, unlike Walker, could be sued in the future.

This may be victory on one hand and if he didn't do anything wrong, Hallelujah; but what about all of the alleged mishandling of church funds? All of this came out when the sexual misconduct allegations arose. Will that be dismissed as well? We shall see.

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Mt. Zion Baptist Church Pastor Bishop Joseph Walker's Accuser Amends Sex Lawsuit with More Details

Mt. Zion Baptist Church Pastor Bishop Joseph Walker's Accuser Amends Sex Lawsuit with More Details

Bishop Joseph Walker of Mt. Zion Baptist Church has not been let off the hook with the lawsuits that alleges he engaged in sexual misconduct with two members.

Two former members filed lawsuits against the bishop but some things have changed with the two suits. In November, one lawsuit was dismissed and the attorney for the other plaintiff filed court documents to withdraw that suit, according to Examiner.com.

The Examiner's report states:

But the attorney for former church member Valencia Batson filed an amended lawsuit Monday that includes intimate details of her alleged sexual relationship with Walker, as well as accusations of financial misdeeds at the church.

“This is not over,” said Connie Allison, Batson’s attorney. “It is not going away.”

Monday’s filing is the latest twist in the lawsuit first filed by Batson in February. Her initial suit alleged that Walker used his position to sexually abuse her, but it included few details.

Court documents show Walker’s attorneys argued that Batson’s suit should be dismissed in part because of the lack of details.

In November, a judge dismissed a lawsuit by former Mt. Zion parishioner Corey Corbin — in part because the statute of limitations had expired. Corbin alleged a marriage-destroying affair between Walker and Corbin’s wife.

According to the complaint, Batson was recently divorced and struggling to get by as a single parent with three children. She claims that Walker said being close to him would bring her close to God.

Batson says Walker asked her, “Would you do anything for me?” and then asked her to perform a sex act in the church.

Batson alleges she and Walker had sex at Mt. Zion’s locations at 1112 Jefferson St. in Nashville and 7594 Old Hickory Blvd. in Whites Creek. She says she was coerced into group sexual encounters with Walker and other church leaders in his office, sometimes after Bible study.

Batson's suit reveals some details as well about how the church was using funds to live a lavish lifestyle and how the funds were misappropriated.

The complaint also names Walker’s brother Jerry Luren White, overseer of financial affairs at Mt. Zion, and the Rev. Michael E. Williams, pastor of Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church in Nashville.

Williams was arrested and charged with soliciting a prostitute during a police sting Sept. 7. That case was dismissed Nov. 14.

The suit says leaders taught that those who didn’t donate to the church would be cursed.
As a sign of God’s favor, Walker allegedly purchased a Bentley with mink floor mats and said the car had been a gift from the Rev. Paul Morton, a denominational leader. Batson claims that donations from church members were used to enrich Walker and other church leaders.

Church leaders, the suit says, misled the congregation by saying Mt. Zion was paying off its debts. Property records show that it took out mortgages totaling $159,332 last month.
Williamson County property records show that Walker took out a $1.5 million loan to buy a new home in Brentwood in 2007, about the time he was urging church members to get out of debt by enrolling in Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University program.

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