Church News and Exposing the misdeeds of Leaders in the Church
"For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you," he read from the Gospel of Matthew.It's interesting because since Pastor Smith's arrest in October on sexual abuse and statutory rape charges, which follow similar allegations from 2010, forgiveness from his congregation has become critical to his survival as its pastor.
"When a church rallies around its pastor, there's disbelief that someone they trust could do something like this," said Diana Garland, dean of the school of social work at Baylor University, which was founded by Baptists. "It often feels so much safer to blame the victims for causing his downfall, rather than accept that the power of a religious leader has been abused."But what happens when those circling the wagons around their pastor are also those who have to make the ultimate decision about his fate -- his career, his paycheck, his reputation?
The most recent accusations against Smith, 42, by two different women, stem from alleged incidents in 1998, 1999 and 2005, when the women were minors. Those allegations led to what the Missouri Highway Patrol called a "lengthy investigation." Prosecutors charged Smith with six felonies, including sexual abuse, second-degree statutory rape and forcible rape.In more detail, the crimes went like this:
In 2010, according to news reports and law enforcement officials, Smith was arrested after a 14-year-old girl, a friend of his daughter, accused him of molesting her during a fishing trip. Another girl then came forward and said Smith began having sex with her, in 2005, when she was 15. Both girls were members of his congregation.Source
Last year, Smith was acquitted in one case and the other was dropped. A year later, he was arrested on the current charges, which involve different girls.
“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.
"He is a pastor at a church over in New Albany," said Sgt. Donny Burbrink, of the LMPD's Special Victims Unit. "He had been charged with a couple of counts of sodomy first."The pastor is charged with three counts of second-degree sodomy.
Officers had dozens of warrants, but only found a handful of suspects. Police say it is still worth the time and energy they put into serving the warrants.
"It is worth it when you get to get some of the people that we've gotten tonight off the street," Burbrink said. "It makes us feel better about our job and it makes the city a little bit safer tonight."We are happy that police were able to get several predators off the street. It's always disturbing when it comes to a member of the clergy being involved but they too must pay the price for their crimes.
