TESTING THE FAITH

MEGAPASTOR BOOTED AMID CLAIMS OF 'ADULTERY'

'I have been falsely and wrongly accused'

The pastor of a megachurch in Tacoma, Washington, is on the sidelines – at least for now – while an investigation continues into reports of an inappropriate physical encounter with a former employee.

The pastor, Dean Curry of Life Center Assembly of God in Tacoma, immediately denied the allegations, which contained almost no details, and said the woman “accused me of behavior that would have amounted to adultery if it were true.”

The Bellingham Herald said the dismissal of Curry, 50, happened during a Sunday meeting called by church leaders.

Curry said his relationship with the church organization had been “fractured” by the claims by a woman he described only as a former church employee.

But he stated he never has been unfaithful to his wife.

He said the investigation would document “no damaging phone logs, no compromising emails or text messages.

He said the accusations were false, and he was not allowed to defend himself.

“I have been falsely and wrongly accused,” he said. But he explained an appeal to the national organization of Assembly of God is automatic.

“Pastors come and go, and this one is going, and you have to keep doing your Jesus thing,” he said, according to the Herald report. “I’m not going to allow myself to be bitter toward my accuser. I’m 50 years old and I’ve got a lot of living to do.”

Curry has headed the Tacoma church for some 14 years, but cannot continue because of the loss of his license from his church organization.

The report said Nate Angelo, a board member, revealed church leaders weren’t prepared to take questions from members, although they could be submitted online.

He said the process now is to collect information.

The Herald said “rumors” of trouble had circulated in the church for several days.

Caryl Andrews, another board member, said a search is under way for an interim pastor.

http://www.wnd.com/2018/07/megapastor-booted-amid-claims-of-adultery/