INDEPENDENCE, Mo. (ABP) — One of the Missouri Baptist Convention's largest congregations has been sued by a former intern, claiming the pastor's son — who was then the church's single-adult minister — sexually assaulted and impregnated her.
The accused, Mark Brooks, reportedly has since been expelled from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, where he had been a student.
The plaintiff filed the lawsuit against the 6,600-member First Baptist Church of Raytown, Mo. — just outside Kansas City — June 28 in Jackson County, Mo., Circuit Court.
The suit accuses Mark Brooks, who is married, of several accounts of sexual assault, unlawful imprisonment and infliction of emotional distress over a period of several months in 2003-2004. It also accuses the church and its longtime senior pastor, Paul Brooks, of negligence in failing to prevent the abuse.
In court papers, the plaintiff — who is a third-generation member of the congregation — claims that, beginning in September 2003, he assaulted her sexually on multiple occasions, claiming that “it was God's will” that they be together. After a January encounter, the plaintiff became pregnant. Sometime thereafter, the suit says, Mark Brooks left the church's staff to become a student at New Orleans Seminary but remained on the church's payroll until September 2004.
The suit also alleges that, after the plaintiff's pregnancy was discovered, Mark Brooks told his father about it and that it was a result of his having sexually assaulted her. It further claims that Paul Brooks then arranged for his son and the plaintiff to see a counselor, who informed the plaintiff's mother “that it would be a sin for her to have this child and requested that she have an abortion.”
A July 1 memorandum from First Baptist lay leaders, posted on the church's website, acknowledged the baby's paternity.
“Lay leaders are still gathering information about the case and the situation surrounding it, and we will complete that process quickly,” read the statement, from church deacon chair Carey Casey and personnel committee chairman Jim Deis. “We do know that Mark fathered a child with the young woman who filed the lawsuit, and he has agreed to provide support for the baby girl who was born in late 2004.”
However, one church member, who chose not to be identified, questioned how Mark Brooks was able to get the required church endorsement to enter the seminary.
The church member provided Associated Baptist Press with a copy of the “church statement” form the seminary uses. It requires the church, “in conference assembled,” to certify that the student is “a person of genuine Christian character, piety, industry and consecration and worthy to receive any assistance or cooperation the seminary may give during the pursuit of the course.”
The statement from church leaders referred all media inquiries to Ken Null, the congregation's executive pastor. He did not return a phone message requesting comment by press time for this story. Debra Vermillion, the church's attorney in the case, likewise could not be reached for comment.
The seminary's dean of students, Craig Price, did not return a message requesting comment by press time.
Michael Gunter, the attorney listed on the plaintiff's lawsuit, said July 14 he is no longer her attorney and she has “sought other counsel.” He did not know who, if any, the plaintiff's new attorney is.
During Sunday services July 10, at least one Raytown member protested outside the church asking for Paul Brooks to resign for his role in the episode.
Brooks has been one of the most prominent leaders in the conservative wing of the Missouri Baptist Convention, serving as MBC president in 1994-1995. The Raytown congregation has long been a leader in membership, giving and baptisms within the Missouri Baptist Convention. In recent years, it moved into a massive new facility a few miles southeast of its historic campus in downtown Raytown.