Religion Roundup
Pastor Ousted from Wheaton Church for Arrest
Associated Press
July 22, 2008
WHEATON, Ill. - The Second Baptist Church of Wheaton, Illinois, has voted to remove its pastor.
The decision was sparked by news that the Reverend Andre Allen, who's been at the helm for 23 years, was arrested last November on battery and disorderly conduct charges.
Church leaders only learned of Allen's arrest last month.
It stemmed from an incident in which two women say he groped them while pretending to be a self-defense instructor at a gym in Schaumburg, Illinois.
As part of a plea deal, Allen pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct for impersonating a health club employee and prosecutors dropped the battery charge.
Church leaders say they asked Allen to resign when they learned about the case, but he refused.
Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
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