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{{Short description|1993 television news series}}
{{mergeto|First Baptist Church of Hammond}}
'''''Preying from the Pulpit''''' was a mini-news series produced in May 1993 by ] of ], ], for the 11:00&nbsp;pm news.<ref name="San Diego">"Preacher has links to molest suspects." '']'' San Diego, Calif.: May 17, 1993. p. A.7</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.nwitimes.com/uncategorized/detroit-station-probes-abuse-church-link/article_14a337d0-f46b-5ad5-95bf-0410dca96668.html | title=Detroit station probes abuse, church link | publisher= ] |date= May 17, 1993 | accessdate =2012-10-17 }}</ref> The news report argued that sexual abuse in seven different churches around the United States were all connected to ] and its Pastor, ]. Hyles called the program "poor journalism" and organized a national campaign to respond.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.nwitimes.com/uncategorized/hyles-calls-for-national-campaign-to-counter-media/article_68017eed-34cd-5e32-80b3-c8869bab4570.html | title=Hyles calls for national campaign to counter media | publisher= ] |date= May 20, 1993 | accessdate =2012-10-17 }}</ref>


==Description==
'''''Preying from the Pulpit''''' was a mini-news series produced in May 1993 by ] of ], ] for the 10:00 PM news.{{fact}}
The news report aired a six-part series stemming from ] allegations against deacon Mark Foeller and associate pastor Timothy Leonard (a graduate of ], an ] institution), of North Sharon Baptist Church near Ann Arbor."<ref name="Grand Rapids">{{cite news|title=7 accused of abuse linked to preacher|work=The Grand Rapids Press|location=Grand Rapids, Mich.|date=May 17, 1993|page=B2}}</ref> Leonard, "North Sharon's associate pastor and a graduate of Hyles Anderson College of Schererville, was charged in Michigan with first- and second-degree sexual assault of children."<ref name="FBI">Debra Gruszecki ''Northwest Indiana Times.'' May 19, 1993</ref> The ''San Diego Union-Tribune'' noted "the news report found seven U.S. churches - all with ties to ], it said - involved in sex scandals."<ref name="San Diego" /> Thus, the TV station noted alleged child molestations at a church "appeared to be part of a pattern among 'churches that follow the teachings and philosophy' of Hyles, ] and its related Hyles-Anderson College of ]."<ref name=Linked>{{cite news|last=Lehmann|first=Daniel J.|title=Pastor Linked to Sex Abuse Lashes Out|work=]|date=June 2, 1993|page=5}}</ref>


The mini-series "showed footage during its report of brandishing a rifle from the pulpit", along with "people with guns and walkie-talkies patrolling the outside of the church at times."<ref name="conversation"> ''Northwest Indiana Times'' May 30, 1993</ref> Additionally "the station also recapped a sermon in 1990 in which Hyles pretended to pour poison into a glass and asked an associate pastor, Johnny Colsten, to drink from it. Colsten said he would."<ref name="dictator">{{cite news | url=http://www.nwitimes.com/uncategorized/hyles-i-m-no-dictator-first-baptist-leader-defends/article_fc79e105-a9e7-507e-bd03-d3834d335a1f.html | title=Hyles: I'm no dictator. First Baptist leader defends| publisher= ] |date= May 28, 1993 | first=Debra | last=Gruszecki | accessdate =2012-10-17 }}</ref> Furthermore, "The WJBK report said the sermon has the 'ring of ]' to it—the mass suicide in ] in 1978 by followers of cult leader ]."<ref name="dictator" /> In fact "WJBK also reported that Hyles, though never claiming to be God, has convinced a lot of people he is the next best thing to Him."<ref name="dictator" />
The newsteam followed up on allegations of child molestation."<ref name="Grand Rapids">"7 accused of abuse linked to preacher." ''The Grand Rapids Press.'' Grand Rapids, Mich. May 17, 1993. pg. B.2</ref> The news report "began airing a six-part series Sunday night that stemmed from child sexual abuse allegations last fall against deacon Mark Foeller and associate pastor Timothy Leonard of North Sharon Baptist Church near Ann Arbor."<ref name="Grand Rapids" /> The ''San Diego Union-Tribune'' noted "the news report found seven U.S. churches - all with ties to ], it said - involved in sex scandals."<ref>"Preacher has links to molest suspects." ''The San Diego Union -Tribune.'' San Diego, Calif.: May 17, 1993. p. A.7</ref>


The report also described the links of "a deacon at First Baptist, A.V. Ballenger, was found guilty of one count of child molestation dating from 1991."<ref name=Linked/> Also discussed in the news report was the comments Hyles made to the parents of the girl molested by Ballenger. In a 1991 article, the ''Chicago Tribune'' reported that Hyles was sued for $1 million by the parents of the girl molested by Ballenger. The paper reported the "lawsuit claims Hyles and the church had not fulfilled their obligation to ensure that children were protected from harm during Sunday school." This stemmed from their mentioning the molestation to Hyles who then promised to "investigate". After two months of nothing being done, the parents went to the police.<ref>Amanda Beeler. ''Northwest Indiana Times'' March 31, 1996</ref> Furthermore, "the suit, filed last week, claims the minister told the child's parents that Ballenger 'just liked little girls,' and, 'You don't have a case.'"<ref>{{cite news|title=Church leaders sued in sex-abuse case|work=Chicago Tribune|date=October 16, 1991|page=3}}</ref> Hyles and the church settled out of court.<ref>"A civil suit filed against Ballenger and the church by the girl's family was settled almost two years ago." from
The ''Chicago Sun-Times'' wrote that the "TV station said alleged child molestations at a suburban church there appeared to be part of a pattern among 'churches that follow the teachings and philosophy' of Hyles, First Baptist and its related ] of Crown Point, Ind."{{ref|a}} The ''Chicago Sun-Times'' article suggested that the report, in part, examined a "Christian fundamentalist organization accused Hyles of misdeeds and bad theology," which included "a deacon at First Baptist, A.V. Ballenger, was found guilty of one count of child molestation dating from 1991."<ref>Lehmann, Daniel. "Pastor Linked to Sex Abuse Lashes Out," '']''. June 2, 1993. Pg. 5</ref>
{{cite news | url=http://nwitimes.com/uncategorized/article_fd37980b-51ad-59e4-ac20-52b14229e670.html | title=One step closer to the end |publisher=] | date=March 31, 1996 | first=Amanda | last=Beeler | accessdate = 2009-07-24}}</ref> Ballenger was sentenced to five years in prison.<ref>Mark Kiesling. . ''Northwest Indiana Times'' August 28, 1996</ref>


== Investigation ==
The Chicago Tribune writes that Hyles was sued for $1 million by the parents of the girl molested by Ballenger. The parents allege in their lawsuit that Hyles told them that "Ballenger 'just liked little girls,' and, 'you don't have a case.'"<ref>"Church leaders sued in sex-abuse case," '']''. Oct 16, 1991. Pg. 3</ref>
The Detroit news program was not the only one to study if there was a connection between deacon Ballenger at Hyles' church and the North Sharon associate pastor, who graduated from Hyles-Anderson College. The prosecuting attorney for ], went to the Ballenger trial "to watch, listen to testimony and observe similarities between this case and other cases involving a rural church Michigan."<ref>{{cite news|last=Gruszecki|first=Debra Gruszecki|title=Deacon's trial draws interest of Michigan prosecutors|url=http://nwitimes.com/articles/1993/03/24/export200497.txt|work=Northwest Indiana Times|date=March 24, 1993}}</ref>


On May 14, 1993, "the FBI was asked to look into allegations minors were taken from Michigan to Northwest Indiana by employees or officials of North Sharon Baptist Church near Ann Arbor for events sponsored by Hammond First Baptist Church."<ref name="FBI" /> The FBI concluded, "there is insufficient evidence to probe allegations."<ref name="FBI" /> On Friday, May 19, 1993, Sgt. Charles Hedinger, a Hammond police detective, described the Hyles investigation as "open-ended."<ref name="FBI" />
==External links==
*''Preying from the Pulpit'' - These are reputed to be unedited MP3s of the program : , , , ,


Jack Hyles said that he welcomed an investigation by the police and he attended a meeting with city officials to discuss it. Hyles emerged from the meeting saying that there was no investigation. Confirmation of this came on Wednesday, May 24, 1993, the Chief of Police detectives, Capt. Bill Conner, was quoted in the ''Tribune'' saying that, "There is no investigation of the First Baptist Church of Hammond or Jack Hyles".<ref name="No Investigation">{{cite news|title=No Investigation of Church in Abuse Cases, Police Say|work=Chicago Tribune|date=May 24, 1993}}</ref> On June 1, 1993, The ] prosecutor's office stated that it did not have any cases involving Hyles or the First Baptist Church of Hammond.<ref name=Linked/> On the same day, the Hammond Police Department reaffirmed the statement it made the previous month when it confirmed that there was no investigation of Hyles or the church.<ref name="Linked" />
⚫ ==References==
<references />


== Criticism of WJBK ==
==Press Mentions==
Hyles told his congregation that WJBK's news anchorman was fired and 12 sponsors had dropped the evening news, but Mort Meisner, news director for WJBK, said neither of those statements were true.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.nwitimes.com/uncategorized/minister-discusses-abuse-allegations/article_78b800e2-4edc-52be-bcef-c60ef62f1157.html | title=Minister discusses abuse allegations | publisher= ] |date= May 17, 1993 | accessdate =2012-10-17 }}</ref>
*"Preacher has links to molest suspects." The San Diego Union San Diego, Calif.: May 17, 1993. p. A.7
*"7 accused of abuse linked to preacher." The Grand Rapids Press. Grand Rapids, Mich.: May 17, 1993. pg. B.2
*"Lehmann, Daniel J. "Pastor Linked to Sex Abuse Lashes Out," Chicago Sun-Times, June 2, 1993. pg. 5"


On May 19, 1993, '']'' ran a story entitled ''Baptism by innuendo'', which criticized WJBK-TV's reporting. The ''Times'' wrote, "If one were to take the insinuations of Detroit television station WJBK-TV seriously, one could get the impression that the First Baptist Church of Hammond is a sex-crime factory and that its pastors school in Hammond and the affiliated Hyles Anderson College in Schererville are institutions where people minor in molestation."<ref name="innuendo"> '']'' May 19, 1993</ref> The ''Times'' also suggested that the May ratings period, which is traditionally known for such similar sensationalized stories, was not a good enough excuse to make up for the poor journalism the stories displayed, concluding that the stories were "a monstrous overreach". The Times went on to say: "There is no large institution of any kind where some wrongdoers cannot be found. First Baptist and its affiliated institutions are no exception. To tar an entire congregation or student body and alumni with indiscriminate innuendo is highly irresponsible."<ref name="innuendo" />
⚫ ]

Soon afterwards, Hyles gave a speech in which he disputed the latest reports point by point.<ref name="Linked"/>
During that speech, Hyles said that those that the report indicated had attended Hyles-Anderson College really had not even attended the school.<ref name="Linked" /> Several hundred people signed a statement supporting Hyles' in an advertisement placed in the Tuesday June 1, 1993 ''Chicago Sun-Times''.<ref name="Linked" />

⚫ ==References==
{{reflist}}
⚫ ]
]
]
]
] ]
]
{{tv-stub}}
]
]

Latest revision as of 22:05, 13 March 2024

1993 television news series

Preying from the Pulpit was a mini-news series produced in May 1993 by WJBK of Detroit, Michigan, for the 11:00 pm news. The news report argued that sexual abuse in seven different churches around the United States were all connected to First Baptist Church of Hammond and its Pastor, Jack Hyles. Hyles called the program "poor journalism" and organized a national campaign to respond.

Description

The news report aired a six-part series stemming from child sexual abuse allegations against deacon Mark Foeller and associate pastor Timothy Leonard (a graduate of Hyles-Anderson College, an unaccredited institution), of North Sharon Baptist Church near Ann Arbor." Leonard, "North Sharon's associate pastor and a graduate of Hyles Anderson College of Schererville, was charged in Michigan with first- and second-degree sexual assault of children." The San Diego Union-Tribune noted "the news report found seven U.S. churches - all with ties to Jack Hyles, it said - involved in sex scandals." Thus, the TV station noted alleged child molestations at a church "appeared to be part of a pattern among 'churches that follow the teachings and philosophy' of Hyles, First Baptist and its related Hyles-Anderson College of Crown Point, Indiana."

The mini-series "showed footage during its report of brandishing a rifle from the pulpit", along with "people with guns and walkie-talkies patrolling the outside of the church at times." Additionally "the station also recapped a sermon in 1990 in which Hyles pretended to pour poison into a glass and asked an associate pastor, Johnny Colsten, to drink from it. Colsten said he would." Furthermore, "The WJBK report said the sermon has the 'ring of Jonestown' to it—the mass suicide in Guyana in 1978 by followers of cult leader Jim Jones." In fact "WJBK also reported that Hyles, though never claiming to be God, has convinced a lot of people he is the next best thing to Him."

The report also described the links of "a deacon at First Baptist, A.V. Ballenger, was found guilty of one count of child molestation dating from 1991." Also discussed in the news report was the comments Hyles made to the parents of the girl molested by Ballenger. In a 1991 article, the Chicago Tribune reported that Hyles was sued for $1 million by the parents of the girl molested by Ballenger. The paper reported the "lawsuit claims Hyles and the church had not fulfilled their obligation to ensure that children were protected from harm during Sunday school." This stemmed from their mentioning the molestation to Hyles who then promised to "investigate". After two months of nothing being done, the parents went to the police. Furthermore, "the suit, filed last week, claims the minister told the child's parents that Ballenger 'just liked little girls,' and, 'You don't have a case.'" Hyles and the church settled out of court. Ballenger was sentenced to five years in prison.

Investigation

The Detroit news program was not the only one to study if there was a connection between deacon Ballenger at Hyles' church and the North Sharon associate pastor, who graduated from Hyles-Anderson College. The prosecuting attorney for Washtenaw County, Michigan, went to the Ballenger trial "to watch, listen to testimony and observe similarities between this case and other cases involving a rural church Michigan."

On May 14, 1993, "the FBI was asked to look into allegations minors were taken from Michigan to Northwest Indiana by employees or officials of North Sharon Baptist Church near Ann Arbor for events sponsored by Hammond First Baptist Church." The FBI concluded, "there is insufficient evidence to probe allegations." On Friday, May 19, 1993, Sgt. Charles Hedinger, a Hammond police detective, described the Hyles investigation as "open-ended."

Jack Hyles said that he welcomed an investigation by the police and he attended a meeting with city officials to discuss it. Hyles emerged from the meeting saying that there was no investigation. Confirmation of this came on Wednesday, May 24, 1993, the Chief of Police detectives, Capt. Bill Conner, was quoted in the Tribune saying that, "There is no investigation of the First Baptist Church of Hammond or Jack Hyles". On June 1, 1993, The Lake County, Indiana prosecutor's office stated that it did not have any cases involving Hyles or the First Baptist Church of Hammond. On the same day, the Hammond Police Department reaffirmed the statement it made the previous month when it confirmed that there was no investigation of Hyles or the church.

Criticism of WJBK

Hyles told his congregation that WJBK's news anchorman was fired and 12 sponsors had dropped the evening news, but Mort Meisner, news director for WJBK, said neither of those statements were true.

On May 19, 1993, The Times of Northwest Indiana ran a story entitled Baptism by innuendo, which criticized WJBK-TV's reporting. The Times wrote, "If one were to take the insinuations of Detroit television station WJBK-TV seriously, one could get the impression that the First Baptist Church of Hammond is a sex-crime factory and that its pastors school in Hammond and the affiliated Hyles Anderson College in Schererville are institutions where people minor in molestation." The Times also suggested that the May ratings period, which is traditionally known for such similar sensationalized stories, was not a good enough excuse to make up for the poor journalism the stories displayed, concluding that the stories were "a monstrous overreach". The Times went on to say: "There is no large institution of any kind where some wrongdoers cannot be found. First Baptist and its affiliated institutions are no exception. To tar an entire congregation or student body and alumni with indiscriminate innuendo is highly irresponsible."

Soon afterwards, Hyles gave a speech in which he disputed the latest reports point by point. During that speech, Hyles said that those that the report indicated had attended Hyles-Anderson College really had not even attended the school. Several hundred people signed a statement supporting Hyles' in an advertisement placed in the Tuesday June 1, 1993 Chicago Sun-Times.

References

  1. ^ "Preacher has links to molest suspects." The San Diego Union San Diego, Calif.: May 17, 1993. p. A.7
  2. "Detroit station probes abuse, church link". The Times of Northwest Indiana. May 17, 1993. Retrieved 2012-10-17.
  3. "Hyles calls for national campaign to counter media". The Times of Northwest Indiana. May 20, 1993. Retrieved 2012-10-17.
  4. "7 accused of abuse linked to preacher". The Grand Rapids Press. Grand Rapids, Mich. May 17, 1993. p. B2.
  5. ^ Debra Gruszecki FBI won't continue with church sex abuse probe. Not enough Northwest Indiana Times. May 19, 1993
  6. ^ Lehmann, Daniel J. (June 2, 1993). "Pastor Linked to Sex Abuse Lashes Out". Chicago Sun-Times. p. 5.
  7. A conversation with the Rev Jack Hyles Northwest Indiana Times May 30, 1993
  8. ^ Gruszecki, Debra (May 28, 1993). "Hyles: I'm no dictator. First Baptist leader defends". The Times of Northwest Indiana. Retrieved 2012-10-17.
  9. Amanda Beeler. One step closer to the end Northwest Indiana Times March 31, 1996
  10. "Church leaders sued in sex-abuse case". Chicago Tribune. October 16, 1991. p. 3.
  11. "A civil suit filed against Ballenger and the church by the girl's family was settled almost two years ago." from Beeler, Amanda (March 31, 1996). "One step closer to the end". The Times of Northwest Indiana. Retrieved 2009-07-24.
  12. Mark Kiesling. Convicted of molestation, ex-deacon to go to prison. Northwest Indiana Times August 28, 1996
  13. Gruszecki, Debra Gruszecki (March 24, 1993). "Deacon's trial draws interest of Michigan prosecutors". Northwest Indiana Times.
  14. "No Investigation of Church in Abuse Cases, Police Say". Chicago Tribune. May 24, 1993.
  15. "Minister discusses abuse allegations". The Times of Northwest Indiana. May 17, 1993. Retrieved 2012-10-17.
  16. ^ Baptism by innuendo Northwest Indiana Times May 19, 1993
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