1989: Macedonia Baptist Church sues Pastor Steven Flockhart after he left to lead Crosspointe Baptist Church outside Memphis, Tenn. He had to repay money he stole from the church by writing personal checks without authorization. 2006: Steven Flockchart abruptly quits First Baptist Church West Palm Beach when his résumé is questioned. He claims a Bachelor's in Ministry from Columbia International University, a masters from Southeastern Seminary and a doctorate from Covington Theological School. He in fact has all three degrees from an unaccredited school, Covington. (https://www.religionnewsblog.com/15745/pastor-steven-flockharts-fall-from-grace-resignation-tied-to-resume-lies) 2023: "A Shelby County pastor is behind bars after being accused of identify theft. Steven Flockhart, pastor of 901 Church was arrested Thursday on charges of identity theft and theft of merchandise between $2,500 and $10,000." (https://www.actionnews5.com/2023/11/03/shelby-co-pastor-arrested-charged-with-identity-theft/) Also his resume is exceptionally bad: https://www.religionnewsblog.com/docs/stevenflockhart.pdf Other tidbits: "Flockhart got his bachelor’s in ministry in 2003, his master’s of ministry in 2004 and his doctorate of ministry in 2005" I can't believe this guy keeps getting away with this.
I know it's hard to believe, Dustin - but here's another "minister" who is definitely worse. According to the news stories, besides his fraud and financial crimes, mostly involving churches where he preached, and uh - shenanigans with church officials' wives, he killed his girlfriend's 4-year-old son, and was later paroled early. A professed "religious conversion" in jail found favour with prison officials and led to his early release. He has a religious degree from Rochville University. An early Axact (Pakistani fraud) degree mill. Long Washington Post article here: https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/10/AR2010121005108.html?tid=wp_featuredstories
NO - that's wrong. My mistake, it's been a couple of years since I read the whole thing. There appear to have been no "shenanigans" reported with church officials' wives. One or two, with church members' wives - none reported with officials' wives. One such affair resulted in the woman divorcing her husband and marrying Drumheller. I think she was the third Mrs. Drumheller. Drumheller's girlfriend's son was 14 months old, when Drumheller flew into a rage and injured him, resulting in his death. Drumheller would be 78 now. I believe he is still alive.
He was sentenced to 70-125 years. Paroled in 12. I erred again in mentioning a "religious conversion" in jail. The article said "Drumheller began impressing nearly everyone he met as a sincere man who had made a horrific mistake, recalls Peter Bumpass, volunteer chaplain at the prison for nearly 30 years. "Everyone thought the world of Bill. ... it just seemed like a one-time incident that got out of hand." I think this guy has been plenty bad enough without my painting him as worse!
My third error. Drumheller's one fraud conviction pertained to a medical supply business. He and some Church associates moved $30,000 of Church money to another bank, in a dispute with trustees, but there is no evidence that any went missing. Awful things happen when I write and don't think first. Let this be a lesson to me. Read the article. Disregard me. I wish we had an erase feature... one that worked for longer than 10 minutes, at least.
I did not make this clear enough: That was a separate incident, nothing to do with the medical supply-related fraud conviction, years previously. No money missing from the bank, no charges filed. A power-struggle, not a fraud.
I remember this guy. I seem to remember he also either harassed or stalked people who discussed him online, which had a bit of a chilling effect on the discussion.
I was required to read some of it many years ago. As an Atheist, I am no longer motivated to revisit it. Nor do I feel bound by it. I expect you are referring to Matthew 7: "Judge not lest ye be judged," - I'm not against that. Sometimes I just forget all about it. And I'm not really much on leniency, or being quiet, when it comes to child-killers. They get what they get - forever. I don't "fight the feelin'. " I doubt that's going to change. If it gives preachers the blues, so be it. G'night. "We ALL give God the Blues." - Mavis Staples.
Get more Mavis here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mavis_Staples Lyrics to the song here: https://www.lyricsondemand.com/m/mercylandhymnsfortherestofuslyrics/givegodtheblueslyrics.html
I didn't have an atomized appeal to "Judge not" in mind. You might consider a review of Saul's conversion.
I did. I am not Saul. (1) I was not chosen by God to spread the message of Christianity or any other faith. (2) Unlike pre-Conversion Saul, I do not persecute or harm believers. Fanatics and zealots - I try to stay away from. If I say a few nasty things to, or about clerics once in a while, I can live with that. Especially if they are convicted child-killers, as was so in the case under discussion. That's all the answer I have for you, Michael.
I'm sure, and I wasn't suggesting otherwise. My point was that redemption is an inherent part of the Christian tradition.
