Former Pastor of First AME of L.A. Sued for Conspiring to Keep Control of Church Business
The oldest black church in Los Angeles, First AME Church of L.A. has filed a lawsuit against its former pastor John J. Hunter, his wife Denise for refusing to relinquish control of the church's nonprofit organizations.
There's
a 14-page lawsuit, which was filed last Tuesday by the First African
Methodist Episcopal Church. It is filled with allegations against the
Rev. John J. Hunter and his wife, accusing the couple and other leaders
of "holding dictatorial control over [the church] ... for their own
personal gain -- both financially and for self-aggrandizement." (Read entire court document here).
The Los Angeles Times reported:
The bishop who oversees AME churches in the western United States abruptly transferred Hunter to a church in San Francisco in late October. But that church took the rare step of rejecting Hunter. On the day he was supposed to deliver his first sermon, church members physically blocked him from taking the pulpit.
Now Hunter is fighting to regain his position as pastor at First African Methodist Episcopal. He continues to live in the posh Encino home that the church pays for while the new pastor, the Rev. J. Edgar Boyd, lives in a hotel and is not receiving a salary. Hunter's wife is also refusing to relinquish control of the church's nonprofit organizations, according to the lawsuit.
The suit says Hunter's wife has come up with an elaborate scheme to maintain control:
The lawsuit alleges that Denise Hunter orchestrated a "coup" to seize control of the nonprofits that she ran "as her own personal fiefdom." Federal tax records show the nonprofits have assets worth several million dollars.
One day after Hunter was moved from the Los Angeles church, Denise Hunter filed documents with the California secretary of state's office, appointing herself the corporations' new "agent for service," allowing her to act on behalf of the organizations, according to the state agency.
The lawsuit alleges that she removed all the corporations' files from church offices and told 100 employees that she — not the new pastor — was the chief executive. Since then, she has denied the church access to the financial records, the lawsuit states.
"She recently admitted to Pastor Boyd that her coup is designed to sever any supervision, control and influence" of the church and its parent over the corporations, the lawsuit states.
As a result, the church has asked a court for an immediate injunction barring the Hunters from access to corporation facilities, records and funds. The church also asked for a court-appointed receiver to take control of the corporations.
Hunter defended his wife's actions, saying she was simply completing long-planned changes.
"There was a vision to separate the corporations and church before I became pastor," he said. "Nothing illegal or wrong is done here. Everything is proper."
Hunter
has a hefty and scandalous past with sexual harassment, a civil claim
that was settled for an undisclosed amount, IRS internal audit found he
charged $122,000 in jewelry, family vacations and clothing to the
church's credit card. He later agreed to a nine-year repayment plan.
His pastoral benefits have included:
- a generous salary during his tenure
- lived in a $2-million home
- and drove a Mercedes-Benz paid for by the church.
His wife, Denise Hunter's benefits included:
- earned $147,000 a year running nonprofit organizations connected to the 19,000-member congregation, First AME of L.A.
Pastor Hunt defends he and his wife's actions by stating:
"There was a vision to separate the corporations and church before I became pastor," he said. "Nothing illegal or wrong is done here. Everything is proper."
AT2W's Take:
We are not sure if we can believe Pastor Hunter. We believe exactly
what the courts found: they conspired to keep control of the church's
financial records. Isn't it pretty convenient how they maintained
control after they moved from their home and transferred to the church
in San Francisco? Did they know ahead of time that the S.F. would reject
him? Also, what about the current pastor of First AME of L.A? He's not
being paid a salary because of their control which is downright evil.
The
church was never intended to be a place where it wall all about
politics and money. What about God's intended mission for them to go
after and seek souls for the kingdom? God surely is not pleased with
this and He will have the last say in this matter. We feel for those caught up in His wrath because it is coming!
