BishopAccountability.org
	Pastor Accused of Sex Abuse Alleged Acts Happened in '70s By Joe Blumberg St. Joseph News-Press February 21, 2009 http://www.stjoenews.net/news/2009/feb/21/pastor-accused-sex-abuse/?local A John Doe is suing the Huffman Memorial United Methodist Church and its regional and state organizations for alleged sexual abuse by a lay pastor in the early 1970s. The case, filed last week in Buchanan County Circuit Court, seeks a jury trial to award unspecified compensatory and punitive damages. "John Doe HG" has asked Judge Randall Jackson to allow him to use the pseudonym because using his real name "would expose him to public ridicule and humiliation." The lawsuit accuses former lay pastor Jim Bourne of engaging with the boy in "various sexual acts" in approximately 1971-72. The suit names as defendants Huffman Memorial, the Pony Express District of the United Methodist Church, and the Missouri Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. The Rev. Steve Cox of the Pony Express District and the Rev. Bruce Jacobs of Huffman Memorial said they couldn't comment on the allegations because they'd not yet been served with the lawsuit and haven't been able to review the matter. Mr. Cox did offer a comment to church members and the public. "Certainly we take seriously the safety of our children and the youth in the church, and certainly we don't condone any type of inappropriate activity and will investigate and take seriously any (allegation)," Mr. Cox said. The incidents allegedly occurred "during functions in which Bourne had custody or control of the plaintiff in Bourne's role as a pastor and authority figure." The lawsuit's claims include that the church provided training to Mr. Bourne; hired, supervised and paid assistants to Mr. Bourne; paid for trips and travel expenses incurred by Mr. Bourne; and empowered him to perform all duties of a pastor, including educational and tutorial services. The lawsuit claims that, due to the psychological trauma of the abuse, John Doe HG was unable to know that he had been damaged until spring of 2007. Attorneys for the plaintiff include Kenneth Chackes, of St. Louis, Sarah A. Brown, of Kansas City, and Kelly Clark, of Portland, Ore. Mr. Jackson has set a hearing for 8:30 a.m. May 11 to schedule a trial date. Joe Blumberg can be reached at joeblumberg@npgco.com
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.