The church’s attorney said that “despite the view of some, these events are not part of a systemic culture or cover-up.” In each case, the women said they were silenced by Nelson and other church leaders, pressured to not report what happened to them or do anything that could tarnish Morning Star’s image. The women’s letter describes a pattern of cover-up and patriarchal pressure inside the church started in 1982 and still led by Senior Pastor Scott Nelson. The statement offered an apology: “We are deeply sorry that anyone has ever experienced hurt, abuse, or felt unheard while under our care.” In response to questions from the Statesman Journal, the board of directors provided a written statement detailing the allegations.
Morning Star leaders declined to be interviewed for this story. Nine months later, the board asked Engelking to resign. The church sought legal counsel, then hired a private investigator to look into the allegations.
In a 23-page annotated letter to the Morning Star board of directors, the women chronicled accusations of an abusive, adulterous relationship involving Engelking, and sexual assault and rape by three other men over more than 20 years, including as recently as 2010. “Sexual immorality” was the reason cited when longtime Pastor Ken Engelking resigned in January from Morning Star Community Church in Salem.įour women had come forward the previous spring with allegations against Engelking, two other former church staff members and a member of an affiliated church. Lauren Hernandez and Capi Lynn, reporters for Statesman Journal, write: The following story is sordid tale of sexual misconduct by so-called men of God and a church’s systematic cover-up of their crimes. Several women have come forward, alleging that Ken Engelking, executive pastor of Morningstar Community Church in Salem, Oregon, senior pastor Scott Nelson, and several other men committed crimes by either sexually assaulting them or not reporting alleged criminal behavior by church staff and members to legal authorities, choosing instead to cover-up the crimes. Those accused of crimes are innocent until proven guilty.
Nothing in this post should be construed as an accusation of guilt. If any incorrect information is found, please contact Bruce Gerencser. The Black Collar Crime Series relies on public news stories and publicly available information for its content.
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