Christian School Fires Teacher for Reporting Sexual Abuse by Pastor
The woman, remaining nameless, has sued Christ Chapel Assemblies of God and its former pastor Jonathan Gray, in Federal Court.
She claims Pastor Gray used his position to force her into having a non-consensual sexual relationship with him and the church fired her for reporting him.
She claims that soon after Gray began counseling her for problems with her husband, he made unwanted advances to her and touched and kissed her. He also visited her classroom frequently.
"Mr. Gray would insist on spending her entire lunch time with her in her classroom, even telling her friends to leave the room and keeping students from being able to visit (her) during lunch," according to the complaint. "Mr. Gray made (her) more and more dependent on him and his counseling and started isolating her from her other friends."The teacher claims the pastor's advances became more and more demanding and she could not stop him:
"On October 25, 2010, Mr. Gray persuaded (her) to meet him to continue pastoral counseling in a location near Christ Chapel. When she got there, Mr. Gray had sex with her in the back of his car. Mr. Gray was aware of how vulnerable and confused (she) was," the complaint states.Once teacher and her husband reported the abuse to Christ Chapel officials, they suspended her without pay and stopped them from participating in church activities. The church also reneged on their promise to pay her during the suspension and for counseling.
"Christ Chapel has a history of allowing male church employees who have sexually abused female employees to remain working at Christ Chapel," the complaint states.According to the victim, the pastor and his wife continued at the church.
"Christ Chapel also has a history of disparate treatment of the victims and the perpetrators of sexual abuse at the church, giving additional authority to employees who sexually abused women and terminating and attempting to silence women who have been sexually abused, such as (the plaintiff)."
She told the pastor she may be pregnant and told her that he was unable to have children because he had a vasectomy.
Ultimately the teacher became pregnant and then says Christ Chapel eventually forced Gray to resign, but allowed him to remain involved in church programs. She claims that the church released her name in its announcement, causing many Christ Chapel members to stop speaking to her.
The abused teacher is seeking damages and
- punitive damages for physical and emotional injuries
- loss of earnings
- wrongful termination
- hostile work environment
- retaliation
- and battery.
