GEORGIA
WSBT
POSTED: 7:02 p.m. EDT September 24, 2005
DECATUR -- A 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.
In the lawsuit, Mona Brewer names Paulk as her former spiritual adviser and says her husband 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.