Columbus bishop accused of sexually abusing and harassing several followers
By Danae King, February 6, 2018, The Columbus Dispatch
A property dispute has brought to light sexual-assault allegations against a Columbus bishop who founded a group of Pentecostal churches around the world.
The allegations against Bishop Joseph White, 81, founder and presiding bishop emeritus of the Church of the Living God International (CLGI), which is headquartered in Columbus and has 102 locations worldwide, were formally made to church leaders in June 2017. The allegations were then investigated by the church’s board of directors — two of whom are White’s sisters — in August, but the results have not been disclosed.
In a lawsuit filed in a Virginia court in December, five of White’s followers — one from Reynoldsburg — accuse him of sexual abuse and harassment over more than 20 years.
That same month, White retired from the church.
White and the church did not return phone calls from The Dispatch for comment, though a church spokesman released a statement saying the church believes the abuse accusations “are motivated to gain leverage in a financial dispute” between it and a former subsidiary church.
“A close examination of the accusations suggests that some people may have been provoked into making similar statements unwittingly in order to bolster the financial motivation of a party who stood to gain financially in the lawsuit,” according to a statement from the church.
White was widely regarded among the 3,000 worldwide members of the organization for his leadership and good works, several followers said.
The men who came forward with the allegations had followed White for years and said they wholly trusted him. They include a member of the organization’s board of directors, a district superintendent, the son of a pastor and congregation members. The Dispatch typically does not name alleged victims of sexual abuse unless they agree to have their names used, which these men did.
Winter Appeal 2023
To our friends,
2023 has been a long year with many ups and downs for us all. As we close out the year, we at SNAP hope that you are feeling like you are on your way to being healthy, fulfilled, and happy. This past year has brought both successes and challenges. Thanks to the support you have shown in the past, we’ve been able to celebrate the good days and weather the stormy ones. Now, we are once again asking for your support as we work to support survivors new and old as we ‘Move SNAP Forward.’
At SNAP we are proud to have hosted a very well-attended conference in August 2023. This event allowed us to gather friends, survivors, advocates, and allies for a weekend of camaraderie and connection. We were so happy to be able to welcome many first-time attendees to gather in person and are already looking forward to the next conference.
To strengthen our movement for justice, healing, and prevention, SNAP will be expanding our peer support and providing more volunteer opportunities in the coming year. Through this great work, we are ensuring survivor voices are represented as we work for significant change that will benefit children and survivors.
Right now, survivors worldwide are getting the help they need from SNAP, and more and more reach out to us daily, but we need your help to keep those programs going and get our volunteers the training they need to thrive.
Your tax-deductible gift to SNAP can help offset the cost of our important mission. If you are not in a position to contribute, you can still support us by sharing this letter with those who can. As we continue to fight for survivors across the globe, your donation or sharing the great work SNAP does will help us continue our work to protect the vulnerable, heal the wounded, and prevent abuse.
Your donation ensures SNAP will be there for those who need us more than ever!
Warmly,
Michael W. McDonnell, C.P.S.
Interim Executive Director
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