Post by wondering on Apr 20, 2006 13:34:03 GMT -5
Read about a denominational church below. Could this apply to remarriage or marriage to outsiders?
Ousted member sues church for libel, slander
By Frank E. Lockwood
HERALD-LEADER STAFF WRITER
The pastor at Harvest Community Assembly of God in Corbin called the plaintiff’s actions a ‘continual disturbance.’
Frank Lockwood/Staff
The pastor at Harvest Community Assembly of God in Corbin called the plaintiff’s actions a ‘continual disturbance.’
CORBIN - Tom LeQuire, a former member of the praise and worship team at Harvest Community Assembly of God in Corbin, is suing his old congregation for libel and slander.
The Pentecostal church, LeQuire says, falsely accused him of being "involved in activities of a homosexual nature," prohibited him from playing music and asked him to stop attending.
Because of the "false and malicious statements," LeQuire says, he has been "disgraced and degraded and held up to public hatred, contempt and ridicule causing him to be shunned and avoided by society."
A trial is set for September in Knox Circuit Court. LeQuire, who describes himself as a happily married heterosexual, is seeking damages "in excess of $4,000."
Church officials say the suit is without merit but declined to discuss details.
"It's a mess," said the Rev. J. Randall Mays, Harvest Community's pastor from 1994 to 2002.
LeQuire, a singer and keyboard player, was barred from performing at Harvest Community after he was accused in June 2000 of asking "a Christian brother," the church said, to pose for pictures in his underwear. The pictures were supposedly for a "modeling business," church officials said. LeQuire also allegedly showed the "Christian brother," the church said, pictures of nude men.
After hearing the allegations, Mays summoned LeQuire to his office. Mays said in court documents that LeQuire denied showing anyone nude photos but admitted asking the fellow churchgoer to pose in his underwear for a modeling business. LeQuire says he discussed modeling with a fellow churchgoer but denies asking him to partially disrobe.
After the meeting, Mays decided it would no longer be appropriate for LeQuire to be a music leader -- a decision that infuriated the musician.
Instead of quitting, he sat in the pews and sang loudly -- so loudly that the pastor branded it "a continual disturbance."
LeQuire also sent more than 20 angry letters and phone messages to church officials and the accuser's family, calling them names, critiquing their musical talents and demanding that he be reinstated.
"God is getting ready to move cause he don't like me not being used," he said in one message.
"You've treated me like my feelings aren't important, and I know this stinks in God's nostrils," he said in another.
"I will be singing soon, and you'll know you can't stop it, even though you'll try to stop it. If you try to stop it, you'll be SHAKEN," he wrote in a third.
After roughly 18 months of LeQuire's angry notes, Mays called a special business meeting and asked the congregation to kick LeQuire out. On Dec. 28, 2001, Mays outlined allegations that LeQuire was disrupting services, harassing people and refusing to meet with church officials. He also told the congregation about the pictures and underwear modeling.
Church members, nearly unanimous, asked LeQuire to leave. The Assemblies of God denomination allows congregations autonomy in making such decisions.
In an interview, LeQuire said he was harmed by false allegations.
"It was very hurtful, very emotional, especially when they didn't have any proof or evidence," he said. "Where is the love and the forgiveness? There was just judgment and condemnation."
Spurned by the Assemblies of God, LeQuire filed a lawsuit and became a United Methodist.
Ousted member sues church for libel, slander
By Frank E. Lockwood
HERALD-LEADER STAFF WRITER
The pastor at Harvest Community Assembly of God in Corbin called the plaintiff’s actions a ‘continual disturbance.’
Frank Lockwood/Staff
The pastor at Harvest Community Assembly of God in Corbin called the plaintiff’s actions a ‘continual disturbance.’
CORBIN - Tom LeQuire, a former member of the praise and worship team at Harvest Community Assembly of God in Corbin, is suing his old congregation for libel and slander.
The Pentecostal church, LeQuire says, falsely accused him of being "involved in activities of a homosexual nature," prohibited him from playing music and asked him to stop attending.
Because of the "false and malicious statements," LeQuire says, he has been "disgraced and degraded and held up to public hatred, contempt and ridicule causing him to be shunned and avoided by society."
A trial is set for September in Knox Circuit Court. LeQuire, who describes himself as a happily married heterosexual, is seeking damages "in excess of $4,000."
Church officials say the suit is without merit but declined to discuss details.
"It's a mess," said the Rev. J. Randall Mays, Harvest Community's pastor from 1994 to 2002.
LeQuire, a singer and keyboard player, was barred from performing at Harvest Community after he was accused in June 2000 of asking "a Christian brother," the church said, to pose for pictures in his underwear. The pictures were supposedly for a "modeling business," church officials said. LeQuire also allegedly showed the "Christian brother," the church said, pictures of nude men.
After hearing the allegations, Mays summoned LeQuire to his office. Mays said in court documents that LeQuire denied showing anyone nude photos but admitted asking the fellow churchgoer to pose in his underwear for a modeling business. LeQuire says he discussed modeling with a fellow churchgoer but denies asking him to partially disrobe.
After the meeting, Mays decided it would no longer be appropriate for LeQuire to be a music leader -- a decision that infuriated the musician.
Instead of quitting, he sat in the pews and sang loudly -- so loudly that the pastor branded it "a continual disturbance."
LeQuire also sent more than 20 angry letters and phone messages to church officials and the accuser's family, calling them names, critiquing their musical talents and demanding that he be reinstated.
"God is getting ready to move cause he don't like me not being used," he said in one message.
"You've treated me like my feelings aren't important, and I know this stinks in God's nostrils," he said in another.
"I will be singing soon, and you'll know you can't stop it, even though you'll try to stop it. If you try to stop it, you'll be SHAKEN," he wrote in a third.
After roughly 18 months of LeQuire's angry notes, Mays called a special business meeting and asked the congregation to kick LeQuire out. On Dec. 28, 2001, Mays outlined allegations that LeQuire was disrupting services, harassing people and refusing to meet with church officials. He also told the congregation about the pictures and underwear modeling.
Church members, nearly unanimous, asked LeQuire to leave. The Assemblies of God denomination allows congregations autonomy in making such decisions.
In an interview, LeQuire said he was harmed by false allegations.
"It was very hurtful, very emotional, especially when they didn't have any proof or evidence," he said. "Where is the love and the forgiveness? There was just judgment and condemnation."
Spurned by the Assemblies of God, LeQuire filed a lawsuit and became a United Methodist.