| Conference settles lawsuit
By Michael Wacht
LAKELAND — The Florida Conference and a “Jane
Doe” from Seminole County, Fla., reached a settlement Oct. 10 in a
lawsuit filed June 18 by the unnamed woman.
The Florida Conference agreed to an undisclosed
settlement, according to the Rev. Paul B. Butler, the conference’s
legal adviser. The terms of that settlement require that details about
the amount remain confidential.
The Florida Conference was one of five
defendants in the lawsuit filed in Seminole County circuit court. The
lawsuit alleged sexual misconduct against two former pastors of
Orlando’s University Carillon United Methodist Church.
The misconduct alleged in the lawsuit also
formed the basis of charges filed Dec. 6 against the pastors by the
Rev. Dean Witten, superintendent of the Orlando District. The charges
were handled in accordance with paragraph 359 of the 2000 United
Methodist Book of Discipline.
The two pastors were suspended from all pastoral
duties Dec. 1 by the late Bishop Cornelius L. Henderson. In February,
the two pastors separately surrendered their credentials, effectively
giving up their rights of ordination and severing their relationship
with the denomination as pastors, according to Butler.
Florida Conference Bishop Timothy W. Whitaker
said the settlement is “a fair resolution of the grievances of the
plaintiff in this lawsuit.”
“Even though the lawsuit has been settled, the
hurt from this incident still needs the healing that comes from the
Spirit of God,” Whitaker said. “The plaintiff will need to
continue to recover from the grievous personal damage she has
suffered. The congregation of University Carillon United Methodist
Church will need more time to overcome its pain, even as it continues
to manifest a vital faith in God and a faithful mission to its
community.”
Whitaker also said he hopes the situation will
be a learning experience for the conference. “The persons who
misused their pastoral office can appropriate by faith the grace of
God in Jesus Christ signified in their baptism so that they will
experience repentance, forgiveness and strength to use their gifts to
make a positive contribution to the world,” he said. “All of us
who are clergy should continue to examine ourselves and to seek the
help of the triune God to fulfill our ministry with faithfulness and
to be more diligent in providing mutual support and accountability to
one another.”
Whitaker also praised those involved in reaching
a settlement. “The attorneys and others involved in the settlement
deserve commendation for their ability not only to bring resolution to
the lawsuit, but also to relate to one another with the respect and
compassion that should be characteristic of the Christian community,”
he said.
The Florida Conference is self-insured for up to
$100,000 in the case of a lawsuit such as this one, according to Jim
Severance, the conference’s risk manager. That amount includes legal
costs and any settlement amount. If anything above that amount is
paid, it is covered by the conference’s insurance. The conference’s
self-insurance fund is financed by the insurance premiums paid by
conference churches.
|
