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	Bankruptcy Judge Lifts Stay on Lawsuit against Minister By Melody McDonald Fort Worth Star-Telegram June 5, 2007 http://www.star-telegram.com/metro_news/story/125683.html Fort Worth — A bankruptcy court judge has lifted a stay that temporarily stopped civil litigation against the Rev. Sherman Clifton Allen, a minister accused of paddling and sexually abusing women. In January, Davina Kelly, a former member of Allen's church, filed a lawsuit against him; his church, Shiloh Institutional Church of God in Christ; and the national Church of God in Christ, seeking unspecified damages for physical and psychological pain. Kelly has said she went to Allen for counseling. She accuses him of paddling her, first with her clothes on and later with them off. The physical abuse eventually turned sexual and led to rape, according to Kelly. After Kelly filed suit and spoke out publicly about Allen, other women contacted her attorneys, Matthew Bobo and Stan Broome, with similar accusations. At least two have said that they also plan to sue Allen. Allen has not been charged with a crime. After Kelly filed her suit, the church filed for bankruptcy, which automatically stopped the civil litigation. Kelly's attorneys sought to lift the stay and, on Friday, a judge granted their motion. Last month, the Church of God in Christ, the Memphis-based parent of Shiloh Institutional Church of God in Christ, suspended Allen from all national and local pastoral roles. Melody McDonald, 817-390-7386: mjmcdonald@star-telegram.com
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