Ungodly dispute between church members, minister

05:06 PM CDT on Thursday, August 25, 2005

By Jason Whitely / 11 News Houston

Police were called to a Texas City church thanks to an ugly dispute between the congregation and its pastor.

KHOU

These are dark days at Mount Paran Missionary Baptist Church where members want their minister out.

These are dark days at Mount Paran Missionary Baptist Church where members want their minister out.

"I've never been in anything like this before in my life," said Linda Cooper, a church member. "I was shocked."

Shocked, like other members, to learn what happened to church finances.

"Roughly, at their peak the General Fund usually ran between $25,000 and $30,000," said Ruben Cooper. "Right now, the General Fund is at $2,500.

After taking a closer look at records, members believe their minister mishandled the money.

The Reverend W.W. Jackson has led the Texas City congregation for ten years.

KHOU

Members voted their pastor out of the pulpit and changed the locks, but he's not budging.

He didn't want to comment on this story.

Members also tell us they didn't realize their weekly donations paid for the pastor's car insurance, his cell phone, even cable TV.

All at a time when, they say, the church needs repairs.

So, members voted their pastor out of the pulpit and changed the locks.

Then Jackson had them changed a second time.

Last week, the church crisis reached a boiling point. After being voted out the pastor reportedly refused to leave. Someone ended up calling police. But officers couldn't find any evidence a crime was committed and essentially told the congregation it had to solve its own problems.

But with no by-laws, little money left and locked out of their own sanctuary -- members aren't sure what to do next or what the future holds for the 44-year-old church.

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There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins...Ecclesiastes 7:20

I know the Bible is inspired because it inspires me...Dwight L. Moody