RICHMOND, VA (WWBT) -
The man brought in to lead the Richmond Outreach Center is out after two months on the job.
Joe Donahue released a
statement on his departure.
"We understood that it would be difficult (a sea of red-flag warnings) but we never anticipated anything like what has occurred since May 22 2014.," said Donahue. "Despite ongoing encouragement from the Board of Directors, and without warning, I was terminated."
Joe Donahue was brought in to lead the ROC in the wake of a scandal surrounding former senior pastor Geronimo "Pastor G" Aguilar. Pastor G and three other pastors resigned from the Richmond Outreach Center last year.
Donahue was brought in to replace Aguilar in late March following an extensive search. He came from Georgia to take over as senior pastor.
"My wife and I love the ROC. We believed that God had called us to the ROC to lead the church to health, growth, and to become a New Testament structured church.," said Donahue in the statement. "In the words of my 4 year old, 'We love the ROC Family.' We still believe that God has called us to the ROC, to minister to the church family, the community and to repair a broken foundation."
Prosecutors in Texas formally charged Pastor G with seven felony counts in two child sex abuse cases. A Texas grand jury indicted Pastor G in January in connection with a second sexual assault case on a child.
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