Skip to main content

I have some friends that attend church at Highland Park Baptist Church, & was told that a fund has been established for victims of former youth minister Jeff Eddie. The fund has supposedly been set up for counseling for Eddie's victims, & their family.  

 

A few months ago there was an article in the TD, along with a picture, of the ground breaking for a new two million dollar church. Why continue for a new church when any money would be better used for those victims? Why ask the public for donation’s? (the plea for donations was in the TD) Could this set a trend for a company that has an employee that sexually abused kids while on the payroll? Will the company be asking for donations to help with counseling of their employee's victims?

 

One of my friends did confirm that a Janitor was fired when he told of seeing something inappropriate with Eddie & a child. When the Pastor was told of it & Jeff Eddie denied it, the Pastor fired the Janitor with a month’s pay & advised to “keep quiet” about what he “thought” he saw.

 

 

Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

 I wouldn't be surprised if all that is true, but, doesn't the church have insurance that would pay those "damages"? Or the parents insurance, or some victims group? There should, and most likely will be, lawsuits over it. The janitor needs to sue them, and it should go without saying the parents should sue too. I'm still having a big problem with the one that didn't immediately report what they saw. Depending on their position in the church they might be liable for damages too.

Originally Posted by Bestworking:

I wouldn't be surprised if all that is true, 

I'm still having a big problem with the one that didn't immediately report what they saw.

_____

Oh, it's true. An article of the ground breaking & an article for donations were both in the paper. The friend that told me about the Janitor said it's still being talked about among some members of the church. I have a feeling that's one story that will eventually come out in more detail than what's been reported already.

 

As far as it goes about this not being reported immediately, I have a problem with that too. The Pastor was probably trying to keep it from getting out but it snowed balled on him & got out of hand so it finally had to be reported. If the truth were to be told, I would say the Pastor knew long before hand.

Originally Posted by semiannualchick:
Originally Posted by JDawg:

Is there a link to the article with the plea for the donations?

_______

I don't remember the date of the article but you could do a search or email TD for a link to the article. If you want to donate you could call the church.

 

Found it here:http://www.timesdaily.com/news/article_d6c03e6e-a680-11e3-ade9-001a4bcf6878.html

 

However, I don't read where the church is asking anyone for donations. The Pastor made a statement about the fund having been established, but does not ask the public to contribute. I suppose it's possible that the church received calls from other churches or individuals asking if they could help in some way, and this is an opportunity for those that wish to help to do so. But it's not like they are out soliciting donations here...

Originally Posted by JDawg:

I don't read where the church is asking anyone for donations. The Pastor made a statement about the fund having been established, but does not ask the public to contribute.

_______

It's in the article you gave the link to. Look below, at the part I put in bold print. If that isn't asking for donations, what is it? Maybe it will help if you look up the meaning for contribute...it means to make a donation, give money to a cause.

Notice there's not just one bank, but three.

 

"Pitman said the Highland Park Baptist Church Counseling Fund has been established to offset the counseling costs for the affected families. Contribute can be made at any Progress Bank, First Metro, or Bank Independent location".

As we look to the future, we will continue to prioritize assisting the families who have been victimized by the actions of a man who was not what he appeared to be. We have established the Highland Park Baptist Church Counseling Fund. This fund will serve to offset the counseling costs for these families. Anyone who would like to contribute can do so at any Progress Bank, First Metro, or Bank Independent location.

 

http://whnt.com/2014/03/07/for...o-sex-abuse-charges/

Also here:

 

http://www.waff.com/story/2491...uilty-to-sex-charges

 

Highland Park Baptist Church released this statement following Eddie's plea:

"These last few weeks have been some of the most difficult days in the history of our church and our community. After today's events, however, we hopefully will be able to move forward and begin healing. As we look to the future, we will continue to prioritize assisting the families who have been victimized by the actions of a man who was not what he appeared to be.

We have established the Highland Park Baptist Church Counseling Fund. This fund will serve to offset the counseling costs for these families. Anyone who would like to contribute can do so at any Progress Bank, First Metro, or Bank Independent location. 

Originally Posted by semiannualchick:
Originally Posted by JDawg:

I don't read where the church is asking anyone for donations. The Pastor made a statement about the fund having been established, but does not ask the public to contribute.

_______

It's in the article you gave the link to. Look below, at the part I put in bold print. If that isn't asking for donations, what is it? Maybe it will help if you look up the meaning for contribute...it means to make a donation, give money to a cause.

Notice there's not just one bank, but three.

 

"Pitman said the Highland Park Baptist Church Counseling Fund has been established to offset the counseling costs for the affected families. Contribute can be made at any Progress Bank, First Metro, or Bank Independent location".

_______

I don't need to look up the definition for contribute. The point was, the pastor didn't ASK for donations. Asking for donations, meaning, "We would like the public to contribute to these funds", or "We are asking for the public's help in covering these expenses", or "We are hopeful that the community will assist us in paying for the cost of counseling for the victims", is not what happened here. Again, do you think the possibility exists that the church had requests from people and organizations in the community (i.e. other churches) regarding ways they could help, and this is simply a means for that to happen? 

Originally Posted by Kate Colombo:

Well, well, they have THREE bank accounts. Why? I know BI offers free Good Samaritan accounts for 30 days for those who are sick or injured. Is the church paying for these accounts?

________

 I know that people in very high positions in at least two of those banks go to church at HP, so that may have something to do with it...

 Again, do you think the possibility exists that the church had requests from people and organizations in the community (i.e. other churches) regarding ways they could help, and this is simply a means for that to happen? 

 

-----------------

No, sounds to me like he wants people to contribute, and that's very odd.  Again, the church should have insurance, and apparently they have a few million in the bank already. This is the church's responsibility.

Originally Posted by Bestworking:

 Again, do you think the possibility exists that the church had requests from people and organizations in the community (i.e. other churches) regarding ways they could help, and this is simply a means for that to happen? 

 

-----------------

No, sounds to me like he wants people to contribute, and that's very odd.  Again, the church should have insurance, and apparently they have a few million in the bank already. This is the church's responsibility.

________

Oh, I absolutely agree it's the church's responsibility ultimately. And I'm sure they will take care of it regardless of what happens. You would have to believe the church has insurance as well. It just strikes me that the church is trying to assist the victims and families however they can, not just turn things over to the "insurance". And I know that there are people in the community that want to help in this situation, and this gives them an opportunity to do so. Doesn't appear to be some "cash grab" by the church to me

Originally Posted by Bestworking:

Maybe not a "cash grab" but a great attempt to keep from bearing the total cost themselves, as they should. More of a "cash keeper" ploy. I still say there are going to be lawsuits, and there should be.

_______

I think you are 100% correct. There will be lawsuits, and hopefully the victims and their families can get some kind of justice (if there can really be any justice in this situation). 

Originally Posted by JDawg:
The point was, the pastor didn't ASK for donations.

_____

The Pastor said the Counseling Fund had been established, it's his name on the forms opening the accounts. He, himself, announced this to the church after he started the accounts. If he didn't want donations, why did HE open the accounts? Why didn't someone else do it?

I think the Pastor knows & has known what went on before it went public. He didn't believe what he was being told & what he was hearing, it was all about protecting Eddie because he believed him to be a Godly man.I hope his head rolls right on out the door of that church. He should have to pay for his part in it too.

Wow, I'm sure glad that I never attended any services there.  Some of these folks here would be trying to hold me accountable.  If there was a cover up, I'm sure it will be found, but accusing someone without any evidence is pretty bad.  Assume the pastor is innocent; put yourself in his place; what would you be doing different than he is?

I don't think it's just atheists that are "jumping" on this story. The pastor isn't innocent of the fact that he has the face to ask the public to pay for what is the church's responsibility, when they have millions of dollars in the bank. The church brought this man in around children, and apparently never bothered to check his background, monitor him, or follow up when they did get the first report of things that didn't look right. He was left alone to keep doing it until another person saw him, and even then he still got almost two weeks to prey on kids after that. Someone sees a child on his lap and his hand up the kid's shirt, and doesn't immediately say something? They call this person a hero for blowing the whistle (finally)? If I was that child's parent I wouldn't be calling them a hero. I'd want to know why the idiot didn't call me or someone else, and let us talk to the child about it. If it wasn't a church what would you be saying? I know because I've seen it before, it would be "fire everyone involved, they should have known"!!  I still call BS on no one knowing or suspecting anything, especially his wife. No one does this for as many years as he did without something being said. Some of his victims are in their mid to late 20s, or even older and are parents themselves.   

Originally Posted by Bestworking:

I don't think it's just atheists that are "jumping" on this story. The pastor isn't innocent of the fact that he has the face to ask the public to pay for what is the church's responsibility, when they have millions of dollars in the bank. The church brought this man in around children, and apparently never bothered to check his background, monitor him, or follow up when they did get the first report of things that didn't look right. He was left alone to keep doing it until another person saw him, and even then he still got almost two weeks to prey on kids after that. Someone sees a child on his lap and his hand up the kid's shirt, and doesn't immediately say something? They call this person a hero for blowing the whistle (finally)? If I was that child's parent I wouldn't be calling them a hero. I'd want to know why the idiot didn't call me or someone else, and let us talk to the child about it. If it wasn't a church what would you be saying? I know because I've seen it before, it would be "fire everyone involved, they should have known"!!  I still call BS on no one knowing or suspecting anything, especially his wife. No one does this for as many years as he did without something being said. Some of his victims are in their mid to late 20s, or even older and are parents themselves.   


Although it has nothing to do with this tragedy, I'm an atheist.  I don't have any facts in this case other than Eddie confessed and I hope he pays dearly.  I'm not going to assume that anyone else is responsible or knew anything unless it is proven.

So Best are you blaming the victims too?

 

You said:

"No one does this for as many years as he did without something being said. Some of his victims are in their mid to late 20s, or even older and are parents themselves."

 

Do you know anything about sexual abuse of children and the how the victims hid it for years, or sometimes forever? 

 

I'm an atheist too and I hold Eddie responsible. IF there is any evidence that someone in the church knew what was going on and covered it up, then I would hold them responsible too. So far we don't know that. Just because someone saw something that was not appropriate doesn't mean they didn't tell or that they knew what was going on and covered it up. If a child had come to them and told them and they told the child to keep quiet or if they had caught him red handed and walked away and told no one then, yes they should be held accountable.

 

You have no proof that anything like that happened. What you call opinion everyone else in the real world calls assumptions. 

Originally Posted by Bestworking:

No one has asked you to assume anything. There were no assumptions in my post. There are things that were reported as facts, and then there are my opinions.

 

I'm sorry if I assumed out of place but, my opinion is that there were assumptions being make without actual facts to back them up.  I have seen people wrongly accused and later proved innocent, but the stigma is rarely ever erased.  Carry on.

Originally Posted by uandurine:
I'm sorry if I assumed out of place but, my opinion is that there were assumptions being make without actual facts to back them up.

______

As far as begging for donations, go to the church & hear it for yourself. Pitman is announcing it from the pulpit every Sunday.

Find out the name of the Janitor & ask him why he was fired with a month's pay, & who fired him. Don't be surprised if, down the road, that Janitor (his name will be made public by that time) & some of those families end up suing the church.

If the things that have been reported in the paper wasn't true, why hasn't Pitman spoken up? He hasn't because he can't w/o looking like a fool.

I would be screaming all over the roof tops if I were a Christian about this whole sorry mess. It has nothing to do with being a believer or not being a believer. It's all about a Pastor pretending to be something he's not, & another Pastor possibly hearing a hint of what was going on & doing nothing.

If God is real & the Bible is true, that church will fall & the Atheist will have nothing to do with it.

Originally Posted by uandurine:
Originally Posted by Bestworking:

No one has asked you to assume anything. There were no assumptions in my post. There are things that were reported as facts, and then there are my opinions.

 

I'm sorry if I assumed out of place but, my opinion is that there were assumptions being make without actual facts to back them up.  I have seen people wrongly accused and later proved innocent, but the stigma is rarely ever erased.  Carry on.

______

You haven't assumed out of place. There is no actual proof of anyone knowing anything about this prior to someone seeing Eddie with the child. There have been vague allegations and unsubstantiated accusations, but no factual evidence. Rumors of janitors being fired for reporting Eddie to the Pastor have been spread, but again, no actual proof of these things exists. Just smoke-filled coffee house gossip.

 

And where does this stuff about the church having millions of dollars in the bank come from?????

It's just not true...

Originally Posted by semiannualchick:
Originally Posted by uandurine:
I'm sorry if I assumed out of place but, my opinion is that there were assumptions being make without actual facts to back them up.

______

As far as begging for donations, go to the church & hear it for yourself. Pitman is announcing it from the pulpit every Sunday.

Find out the name of the Janitor & ask him why he was fired with a month's pay, & who fired him. Don't be surprised if, down the road, that Janitor (his name will be made public by that time) & some of those families end up suing the church.

If the things that have been reported in the paper wasn't true, why hasn't Pitman spoken up? He hasn't because he can't w/o looking like a fool.

I would be screaming all over the roof tops if I were a Christian about this whole sorry mess. It has nothing to do with being a believer or not being a believer. It's all about a Pastor pretending to be something he's not, & another Pastor possibly hearing a hint of what was going on & doing nothing.

If God is real & the Bible is true, that church will fall & the Atheist will have nothing to do with it.

_________

Nothing wrong with the Pastor announcing the accounts exist from the pulpit. Church members may WANT to help. How was that "begging for donations"? What exactly did he say from the pulpit last Sunday? Did you hear it? Do you actually KNOW? I suspect not...

 

And about that Janitor we keep hearing about. Why was he (or she) not interviewed by the police as a part of this investigation? Why did he (or she) not go to the police when he saw what he allegedly saw and was "fired" for it? Why hasn't he (or she) spoken publicly about what they know? I'm sure the TD would love to cover that story… 

 

It appears that the Pastor is doing what he can to assist the victims and their families and focusing on them, rather than being worried about public opinion.

 

BTW, you never did say how you knew whose name was on the forms at the bank that opened these funds. You said on multiple occasions that it was Pitman. How do you know that? Do you know who controls the money at HPBC? Once again, I suspect not….

 

Originally Posted by JDawg:
Church members may WANT to help. How was that "begging for donations"? What exactly did he say from the pulpit last Sunday? Did you hear it? Do you actually KNOW?

And about that Janitor we keep hearing about. Why was he (or she) not interviewed by the police as a part of this investigation? Why did he (or she) not go to the police when he saw what he allegedly saw and was "fired" for it? Why hasn't he (or she) spoken publicly about what they know? I'm sure the TD would love to cover that story… 

It appears that the Pastor is doing what he can to assist the victims and their families and focusing on them, rather than being worried about public opinion.

BTW, you never did say how you knew whose name was on the forms at the bank that opened these funds. You said on multiple occasions that it was Pitman. How do you know that? Do you know who controls the money at HPBC? Once again, I suspect not….

_________

Since you seem to be a Pitman & HPBC supporter, nothing is going to convince you, not even if God himself walked up & slapped you to wake you up to common sense. Some people are so hard headed & determined to defend, they refuse to see/hear the truth.

I'm going to say this one more time & then I'm thru trying to reason with you.

The story of the janitor was in the paper, (can't remember for sure which paper I read that) but I don't believe his name was released. No, I haven't been in that church, have no desire to be part of such a place. Close friends & a brother that is a deacon there, told those things as truth. (why would they lie?) And yes! My brother is a huge defender of Pitman & the church. He told these things, not because he was against Pitman but because he believes the man can walk on water!

And again, Pitman announced from the pulpit that HE opened donation accounts at those 3 banks, he was encouraging people to donate & to tell their friends/family to donate to "help the cause". I was told this because my brother wanted me to donate!!! The info wasn't forthcoming until I questioned him about it & 2 of those friends that attend there confirmed it.

I have never said WHO controlled the money there, never even mentioned it. My point was that the Pastor started the accounts, he signed the cards for the account. Call the banks & ask if you're determined he didn't, or better yet, ask the Pastor himself, see if he tells the truth.

If you have anymore questions, carry them to Holy Pastor Pitman himself.

Be interesting to hear your reaction if it comes down that Pitman knew of the tragedy before it went public. Probably be one of those that wouldn't believe it even then.

Originally Posted by JDawg:
Originally Posted by uandurine:
Originally Posted by Bestworking:

No one has asked you to assume anything. There were no assumptions in my post. There are things that were reported as facts, and then there are my opinions.

 

I'm sorry if I assumed out of place but, my opinion is that there were assumptions being make without actual facts to back them up.  I have seen people wrongly accused and later proved innocent, but the stigma is rarely ever erased.  Carry on.

______

You haven't assumed out of place. There is no actual proof of anyone knowing anything about this prior to someone seeing Eddie with the child. There have been vague allegations and unsubstantiated accusations, but no factual evidence. Rumors of janitors being fired for reporting Eddie to the Pastor have been spread, but again, no actual proof of these things exists. Just smoke-filled coffee house gossip.

 

And where does this stuff about the church having millions of dollars in the bank come from?????

It's just not true...

====================

I don't go to smoke filled coffee houses, and it's not gossip. Did you or did you not read the words from the preacher's own mouth? Fact, no assumption, he is trolling for donations, Opinion, it's the church's problem and they should be ashamed to ask other people to pay. Look up the definitions of gossip, assumptions, and facts. Getting all snippy because people are discussing it and have opinions doesn't change the facts and it sure the heck isn't gossiping.

Add Reply

Post

Untitled Document
×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×