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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>

'''''Preying from the Pulpit''''' was a mini-news series produced in May 1993 by ] of ], ] for the 10:00 PM news."<ref name="San Diego">"Preacher has links to molest suspects." '']'' San Diego, Calif.: ], ]. p. A.7 </ref>


==Description== ==Description==
The news report aired a six-part series stemming from child sexual abuse allegations against deacon Mark Foeller and associate pastor Timothy Leonard, both Hyles-Anderson College graduates, of North Sharon Baptist Church near Ann Arbor."<ref name="Grand Rapids">"7 accused of abuse linked to preacher." ''].'' Grand Rapids, Mich. May 17, 1993. pg. B.2</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" /> 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 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 ] of ]"<ref name="Pastor Linked"> Daniel J. Lehmann. "Pastor Linked to Sex Abuse Lashes Out." ''].'' ], ], Pg. 5</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
Hyles pointed out what he felt was another example of poor journalism. He noted that his parishioners were saddened by his decision to stop hugging children after Sunday services -- a decision Hyles made after the report aired. He told a reporter, "this breaks my heart. Because we work with people that have been to the bottom. There are little boys and girls that come in here and they love me and I'm their father image. But those accused of child molesting are accused of much worse than hugging a child. On the Detroit channel they closed the Sunday night telecast with a video of ''Church With a Heart'' (a video produced by the church). They took from that a picture of me walking out the door. There's a man and his two little children, his little son and his little daughter, standing there after every service. And I reach down and hug his daughter and I hug his son. They're probably 3, 4 at the most. And I shake his hands and he says, 'I love you preacher.' Every Sunday. " ]
{{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 ==
Hyles complained about the tabloid style journalism in the report when he told a reporter: "The whole thing (the Detroit news report) was about sex, child molestation and they ended it with me hugging the little child."]
⚫ 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" />
The news series "showed footage during its report of" Hyles "brandishing a rifle form the pulpit, along with "people with guns and walkie-talkies patrolling the outside of the church at times."


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" />
Hyles responded to the report and explained why he had to increase the security by having his police-trained guards patrol outside of the church. Hyles stated the reason was because "of the opposition you folks stir up. We get bomb threats because of you people. Because of the press. We get bomb threats. My life is threatened because of what they read in the paper. You don't understand how serious it is. You don't understand what power you folks have..." Hyles explained how Hyles-Anderson's guards were trained by the local police to protect the security of the young people.


== Criticism of WJBK ==
Hyles also responded to the report that he had a gun in the pulpit and by explaining, <blockquote>"I want to go back to that gun I brandished from the pulpit. Thirty-four years this August 30th I've been pastor of this church. I carried a gun to the pulpit one time. Because a gun that was given me by a friend, an old 1903 Springfield bolt-action rifle. It was an old one that was taken and reconditioned - shined up, polished - as a gift. It stays in a case. It's never been out of that case except to show people how pretty it is. I was preaching at pastor school - not on a Sunday, none of our bus kids were here. I wanted to show our churches our job is not just what we call in our circles gathering around the Bible. And so we studied the Bible, studied the Bible, studied the Bible, and call it gathering around the Bible. I say we ought not to only gather around the Bible, we ought to spread the Bible and get folks to know what the Bible teaches. I said, suppose somebody broke into my house at night and I went and got the gun and I put it down in the middle of the living room floor and said to my family, "Let's gather around the gun." I said that gun is not there to gather around., There's a guy out in the front trying to break into my house. Try to maybe rape my wife and children. Maybe try to kill us. I said that gun is not there to gather around and study. It's there to study and then to use. One time in 34 years and it wasn't on a Sunday morning it was Sunday night or Wednesday night. So now I carry guns to the pulpit? It's funny. Hilariously funny. And by the way, it's abominable." </blockquote>
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>


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"/>
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 ] to it - the mass suicide in ] in 1978 by followers of cult leader ]." 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."
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" />

Hyles responded to the poison story by explaining that "the so-called poison sermon was said in jest and was taken out of context". Hyles also said the reports have maligned his church and he called them a "pack of lies." Hyles ridiculed the broadcast.

Hyles responded to the reports claim that his church was cult-like by describing the accusations as "Dirty, filthy, stinking rotten lies." Hyles went on to say:

<blockquote>In the first place, a cult pulls people away from their families. We tie our people to their families. All over America parents and Hyles-Anderson College students come to me weekly and say thank you. Our son, our daughter, they love us like they never loved us. They call us like they never called us. They write letters and say we love you mother. They're far better young people because of Hyles-Anderson College. A cult seeks to sever family ties. We don't seek to sever family ties.</blockquote>

⚫ 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="Pastor Linked" /> The ''Chicago Tribune'', in a 1991 article, 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." Furthermore, "the suit...claims the minister told the child's parents that Ballenger 'just liked little girls,' and, 'You don't have a case.'"<ref>"Church leaders sued in sex-abuse case," '']''. ], ]. Pg. 3</ref> Ballenger and the church settled out of court and the parents of the girl refused to disclose the how much money they were paid in the settlement. Ballenger was sentenced to five years in prison.

⚫ ==Investigation==
⚫ The Detriot news program was not the only one to study if there was a connection between deacon Ballenger at Hyles' church and the North Sharon pastors, 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." Soon after 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 that there was insufficient evidence to probe allegations.<ref name="FBI">Debra Gruszecki ''Northwest Indiana Times" ], ]</ref>


The NW Indiana Times reported on ], ], that Sgt. Charles Hedinger, a Hammond police detective, described the investigation into abuse at FBCH as "open-ended." Hyles met with the police and publicly encouraged them to investigate fully.

On May 24, 2003 chief of the Hammond police detectives, Capt. Bill Conner corrected his underlings previous comment about the open-ended investigation when he stated, '''"there is no investigation of the First Baptist Church of Hammond or Jack Hyles"'''.

The area newspapers also published a letter from Hyles, denying that he ever condoned harming a child. <ref>"No Investigation of Church in Abuse Cases, Police Say" ''Chicago Tribune'' ], ]</ref>


==References== ==References==
{{reflist}}
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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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