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Megachurch minister accused of forcing ex-employee to have sex

AP, via AccessNorthGa.com, USA
Sep. 24, 2005
www.accessnorthga.com

ReligionNewsBlog.com • Saturday September 24, 2005

A megachurch minister has been accused by one of his former employees of coercing her to have sex with him and others in the church, telling her it was “the will of God” and “her only route to salvation.”

Bishop Earl Paulk of the Chapel Hill Harvester in Decatur has denied Mona and Bobby Brewer’s allegations and is countersuing the couple for libel and slander.

WAGA-TV reported last week that the Brewers filed the lawsuit in DeKalb Superior Court. In the lawsuit, Mona Brewer also names Paulk as her former spiritual adviser and her husband, Bobby, was a pastor in Paulk’s church and looked up to him as a spiritual mentor. They have both since left the church.

Mona Brewer claims that Paulk began “a pattern of conduct” around 1989 that led to the relationship and that others in the church knew of Paulk’s conduct and did nothing to prevent it. The Brewers are seeking damages from the church, its related corporations and Paulk’s brother, Don Paulk, who is affiliated with the church.

Earl Paulk’s court filing said the Brewers’ claims were “false and malicious.” In addition to seeking compensation for emotional distress and harm to his reputation, he asked the court to award him punitive damages because of the Brewers’ “willful misconduct.”