https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/world-news/us-church-calls-for-fresh-probe-into-claims-against-former-coleraine-pastor/a1153529208.html
The US branch of a church at the centre of a $62m fraud lawsuit linked to former Coleraine pastor Alan Scott has called on his current church to launch an investigation into serious allegations of misconduct.
It comes after Causeway Coast Vineyard (CCV) last week published the findings of an independent investigation into their governance and oversight measures.
Concerns had been raised over the leadership of the Coleraine church after it was revealed Scott and wife Kathryn had become embroiled in the lawsuit.
The couple moved to the US five years ago to take up new roles as pastors for Vineyard Anaheim.
But a report by the Religious News Service last year said the Scotts claimed God had told them to break away from Vineyard to form their own group, Dwelling Place Anaheim.
Nine ex-members filed a lawsuit alleging the Scotts had taken control of the Anaheim church and its $62m assets under false pretences.
Following the Causeway report, Vineyard USA called for a similar probe into the governance of Dwelling Place Anaheim.
The report by consultants TrustedHR detailed a series of issues in the Coleraine church, accusing Scott of narcissism, public shaming and manipulation of church members, and issues relating to safeguarding and spiritual abuse.
It also criticised the church’s approach to tithing (where members donate 10% of their income).
One respondent claimed if staff members were not giving the required amount, they would be spoken to by leaders, with several people indicating Scott was perceived as a “businessman and the church was his business”.
Another contributor said he employed an evangelist and gave him a target for the number of people that “had to be saved” each day.
Public shaming also formed part of the report; one individual outlined that Scott, having been given confidential information about an affair involving a church member, gave personal details about them to around 50 people in a meeting.
The report noted while Scott did not name the individual, he had given sufficient details for them to be identified.
Other respondents said “fear-inducing tactics” were employed under Scott’s leadership.
“It is clear some people felt intimidated and felt they had nowhere to turn under Alan’s overall leadership,” noted the report.
Concerns over ratios of adults to children during youth sessions were also detailed, with one respondent stating young girls were asked to speak to people on the street during mission work, and encouraged to hand over their phone numbers.
A further claim stated a man known to have been violent in a previous workplace had been welcomed without any measures being put in place. They claimed he “openly stared” at young girls in the church, making them “uncomfortable”.
“It was later confirmed by the police that this man was guilty of attempted murder in his own country,” the report states.
Others said they felt “spiritually abused” by Scott, who the report said at times was presenting himself as the “voice of God”.
Issues surrounding underpayment, breaches of the Working Time Directive and a lack of sufficient rest breaks were also detailed in the report.
In a statement on their website, Vineyard USA said they had tried to initiate a similar investigation to that carried out by CCV, but had faced a “lack of cooperation” from the Anaheim church.
They called on the current leadership of Dwelling Place Anaheim to hold a “thorough, independent investigation” into the allegations of leadership misconduct and spiritual abuse directed at Alan Scott.
“The findings of this UK report are consistent with the numerous testimonies that were brought to Vineyard USA since the dissociation of the Anaheim Vineyard in February 2022,” said a spokesperson.
“We urge local church leaders in the Southern California region, current and former staff members and leaders, and attendees of Dwelling Place Anaheim (Vineyard Anaheim) to continue to call out the need for accountability regarding the allegations brought forward by this report and the reports of similar conduct in the US ministry of Alan Scott.”
Dwelling Place Annaheim have been approached for comment.
The Anaheim church was the “mother church” for the entire Vineyard movement, having been founded by John and Carol Wimber in the 1970s.
The lawsuit filed against the Scotts accuses them of seeking the posts of senior pastors of Vineyard Anaheim with the intention of gaining control of the money and assets of the church before then splitting from the Vineyard USA network.
“Defendant Scotts sought the position as senior pastors of Vineyard Anaheim with the deceitful motive of controlling tens of millions of dollars of assets and disassociating with Vineyard USA,” the documents state.
The Vineyard Anaheim buildings are said to be worth $55m, plus $7m in church bank accounts.
The lawsuit also accused the church board of failing in its duty by not preventing the Scotts from taking the church out of the Vineyard into independence.
At the time, the Scotts released a video denying they had any “evil or sinister” intent and expressed their sadness that the “painful separation” would now be litigated in court.
by Browns_right_foot