Join the Campaign to Pay Audelia Wilson Back

As news of lawsuits between breakaway congregations and their denominational groups make headlines, we stumbled across a much less publicized fight between a denomination and a church member. The story is about an 83-year-old woman who was swindled out of 20K by her pastor. If the pastors actions were not sickening enough, we are confronted by the Church of God's response (non-response really), "Church of God International deeply regrets the situation. The local Church of God, which has had to be disbanded, and the Church organization also have issues with this former pastor, and it is the position of the Church that it, too, is a victim of his actions. All possible ecclesiastical sanctions have been undertaken. However, it is the position of the Church that Mrs. Wilson should seek legal recourse against the former minister directly.” The 83-year-old should deal with it herself? How about the Church of God taking responsibility for the fraud perpetrated by one of its own? If denominational organizations own the assets of the organizations that compromise them, they own the liabilities as well. They should pay this woman the 20K immediately. It's time for someone to do the right thing. Let's start with the church leaders, the ones who say that, "We commit ourselves to the challenge of being a church that genuinely cares for one another and for those who are lost, hurting and needy." If you agree, please join our campaign to Pay Audelia Wilson Back by going to the Church of God contact page and (politely!) ask them to take responsibility and pay her the 20K. Maybe the Church of God just needs a little help remembering what it means to act like a church of God. Let's give them a hand.