CHURCH DILEMMA -long post

cashbalancetrouble

Recycles dryer sheets
Joined
May 19, 2008
Messages
162
I have been away but lurking for years after what is now 14 years of great ER.

I wrote the below generic location and people article to describe my problem.

HELP!

I am protected by liability insurance the church has except if I am found guilty of a crime, Volunteer Act of 1997. God has given me all the evidence to squash them like a bug.

DW wants me to give THEM one more chance after two plus months of this going on. She does not want to have to leave friends and 'destroy' her church. Well over 80 members in our large 1200 member church know what is going on and are split on sue or not sue.

I no longer think it is a place worth my time, treasures, and talents and am tired of waiting for the prosecutor to throw out their false complaint. DW wants me to wait but I am ready to fight!

First with a criminal defense attorney and turn this around to falsification and other charges against them. Second a follow-up with a defamation per se lawsuit for expenses and damages.

Attorney advice varies as I have yet to hire one. Wait and let them hang themselves. (Done with the evidence I have) Hire a criminal attorney now and stop the lost sleep, nasty looks, etc sooner and MAKE THEM PAY!

ADVICE?

CHURCH STAFF CONSPIRE TO FALSELY ACCUSE, SUE VOLUNTEER
> At the end of three years of service, a church volunteer has had a criminal complaint filed by his pastor on behalf of a part-time employee. The pastor claims the volunteer, in overseeing the surveillance camera system, used a camera located in the security system room, to observe a female staff member when she entered the room to retrieve items stored on the floor. Staff, unaware that the security room access system recorded their entry times and that the camera was equipped with night vision, we’re caught on video recordings showing their nefarious activities prior to the hatching of this money grab scheme and their re-positioning of the camera before showing the pastor.
The outspoken and generous volunteer had gotten on the bad side of the pastor over his three years of service. Regularly being told to resign if he did not agree with the pastor, and finally being suggested he and his wife should leave the church. It appears the scheme was developed when the camera, placed in the open in the security room, was discovered during a three-minute power outage. The camera had been added in early 2018 to help assist in determining the cause of the surveillance system camera signal losses in the wiring in front of the temporary camera.
Their scheme started to unravel when they moved the camera and the system suffered a failure that the volunteer was called in to repair. Their scheme is expected to quickly fall apart completely when the truth is exposed to all the congregation members who have stepped forward in support of the volunteer.
 
If a criminal complaint has been filed against you, hire a criminal defense attorney now, even if you have not been arrested. You say that you have evidence that proves your innocence, but your explanation of the situation is not clear at all, which is understandable because anyone would be emotional about something this upsetting. A defense attorney's job is to stay calm and speak clearly on your behalf. That's why you need one now.

Good luck and best wishes.
 
I had a hard time following your post, could you please explain it in simpler terms. Which one are you in the whole story ?
 
Hire a criminal attorney.
Leave that church and find a new one.
 
ADVICE?

CHURCH STAFF CONSPIRE TO FALSELY ACCUSE, SUE VOLUNTEER
> At the end of three years of service, a church volunteer has had a criminal complaint filed by his pastor on behalf of a part-time employee. The pastor claims the volunteer, in overseeing the surveillance camera system, used a camera located in the security system room, to observe a female staff member when she entered the room to retrieve items stored on the floor. Staff, unaware that the security room access system recorded their entry times and that the camera was equipped with night vision, we’re caught on video recordings showing their nefarious activities prior to the hatching of this money grab scheme and their re-positioning of the camera before showing the pastor.
The outspoken and generous volunteer had gotten on the bad side of the pastor over his three years of service. Regularly being told to resign if he did not agree with the pastor, and finally being suggested he and his wife should leave the church. It appears the scheme was developed when the camera, placed in the open in the security room, was discovered during a three-minute power outage. The camera had been added in early 2018 to help assist in determining the cause of the surveillance system camera signal losses in the wiring in front of the temporary camera.
Their scheme started to unravel when they moved the camera and the system suffered a failure that the volunteer was called in to repair. Their scheme is expected to quickly fall apart completely when the truth is exposed to all the congregation members who have stepped forward in support of the volunteer.

As vague as this is, I'd guess that the OP is the volunteer who has allegedly caught a female staff member doing something wrong via a security camera. The staff member later discovered the presence of the security camera and then moved it, so as to not be seen doing - whatever it was - after that point. For some reason, the pastor is taking the side of the staff member, despite (or because of) what may be on the video. It's not clear - among many other things - why the OP is threatened with a lawsuit.

It's also not clear why anyone - OP or his wife - would continue to want to attend a church where it's been made clear that they are not wanted. Some of the members may not feel that way, but it sounds like many do. Especially the pastor, who may exert some influence over the opinions of other members.

It's a bit melodramatic to think that the absence of one couple is going to destroy this church.
 
Whatever the situation actually is, I think we can all agree that OP needs help.

But without a clearer understanding of the situation, it's impossible to say what kind of help.
 
used a camera located in the security system room, to observe a female staff member when she entered the room to retrieve items stored on the floor.

… we’re [SIC] caught on video recordings showing their nefarious activities prior to the hatching of this money grab scheme and their re-positioning of the camera before showing the pastor.

It appears the scheme was developed when the camera, placed in the open in the security room, was discovered during a three-minute power outage.

I, also, don't understand. What's the crime -- specifically the wicked or criminal activities?

(Where is Hercule Peroit when you need him?)
 
Hard to follow...
money grab?
were, vs we're
specific "charge" ...obviously need to know this. crime?

rely on Volunteer Act support?....
maybe not.. varies by state, and terms, within the act. more commonly used for sins of omission rather than commission. depending on this means getting deep into the law.

Risky Business: There’s liability for the acts of your volunteers - The NonProfit Times

is taking a chance on retribution/vindication
for satisfaction worth the risk?
consider the aftermath? win the battle and lose the war?

sometimes discretion IS the better part of valor.

otherwise, what cathy63 said.

either way, decide, and come to grips with the result.
best wishes for a good and mind settling outcome.
 
I, also, don't understand. What's the crime -- specifically the wicked or criminal activities?

OP's screen name is "cashbalancetrouble"

Jus' sayin'
 
IMO a church of this size is full of huge egos..cut your losses and when you find another church think long and hard about serving the church and not yourself
 
If you have reason to believe you'll be charged with a crime, get a criminal defense lawyer now. That lawyer will undoubtedly tell you NOT to be yammering on about your situation on the internet.
 
If you have reason to believe you'll be charged with a crime, get a criminal defense lawyer now. That lawyer will undoubtedly tell you NOT to be yammering on about your situation on the internet.

Exactly what he said.
 
Exactly what he said.

Exactly what they said.

What is the nature and the specifics of the criminal complaint?
If indeed one has been filed, get the lawyer. You don't need this on your record.

Quit the volunteering, if you have not already done so and don't step one foot inside the church if you hire a lawyer and pursue legal action. Not one.

Find another church. Why would you want to stay?

None of us can determine exactly what happened. Because you said a criminal complaint has been filed, we can only surmise it is serious enough for a lawyer.
 
It is beyond me why people think a public forum full of strangers is the place to post sensitive material.
 
it is beyond me why people think a public forum full of strangers is the place to post sensitive material.

Social Mind Control.jpg
 
OP - Obviously you are upset.

OP - you are not a lawyer, you need one if you have been charged. I point out you are not a lawyer, because even if you have "proof" of your innocence, that "proof" may be inadmissible in court, meaning it doesn't count, and therefore you have NO "proof". Or the evidence may simply disappear.

You will not be happy at this Church if you lose, (after prison) , or if you "win" because a number of people will simply not believe you, no matter what.

Your view to "MAKE THEM PAY!" suggests to me, your ego is very involved in this, which is not good.

Finally, criminal lawyers are expensive, expect to pay about $500-> $1,500 per hour, do you really want to toss tens of thousands of dollars, to a couple of hundred thousand at this dispute ?
And spend the next couple of years fighting over it ?
 
If you have reason to believe you'll be charged with a crime, get a criminal defense lawyer now. That lawyer will undoubtedly tell you NOT to be yammering on about your situation on the internet.

^ This


AND

Prosecutors, defense attys. and civil litigators sometimes USE SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS as evidence. Many things you say , do, or post on the internet , can and will be used against you. Fair or Unfair do use that ? Fair has noting to do with it. IIWY delete this thread if you can.

Prosecutors job - Win. Defense council job - Win.

Sounds like a good plot for one of Al's books.
 
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To the OP, If this is a "bible believing" church, has anyone there looked at the guidance given in I Corinthians 6:1-8 about dealing with these type of disputes?
 
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