Showing posts with label western michigan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label western michigan. Show all posts

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Readers debate $468,000 severance package for St. Luke pastor accused of slapping parishioner

From Western Michigan-

 The Rev. Jay Lawlor left St. Luke Episcopal Church in Kalamazoo on a decidedly sour note: His congregation had not only turned against him, but a member filed a criminal complaint accusing him of assault for shoving her aside during a heated conversation.

But Lawlor, who felt "vindicated" last May when a jury found him not guilty of assault, likely felt vindicated again by the severance package granted by Bishop Robert Gepert, who heads the Episcopal Diocese of Western Michigan.

The payoff to Lawlor was $468,000, which Gepert took from the church's reserve funds.

Lawlor, 42, served at St. Luke's for 21 months before resigning March 2011. The payout was equivalent to more than a three-year severance package.  His 2010 compensation was $125,000, which included $85,000 in salary, plus housing and benefits. 

The amount of the severance raised eyebrows among mlive.com commenters.

"Boy, nothing says Trust the Lord like a golden parachute written in to a pastor's employment contract," wrote amlive. "Way to hoard the manna Reverend."


More here-

http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2012/06/readers_debate_468000_severanc.html

Friday, May 13, 2011

Marcia Morrison testifies about alleged shoving incident at St. Luke's Episcopal Church


From Kalamazoo-

A 74-year-old parishioner at St. Luke's Episcopal Church testified today that her pastor forcefully shoved her down the church aisle on March 6 while trying to escape an argument with another congregant after Sunday morning service.

"He shoved me like, 'You're in my way, get out of my way,' " Marcia Morrison said today in Kalamazoo County District Court. "If we had been playing football, I would have anticipated that kind of block. But we weren't playing football."

Morrison testified that she stumbled several feet before regaining her balance by grabbing onto a church pew. She was not seriously injured, she said, although she was sore for several days and her blood pressure was still elevated two days later when she saw her doctor.

Morrison was the first witnesses who testified this morning in the trial of the Rev. Jay R. Lawlor, who was charged with assault and battery as a result of the incident. Lawlor, who has since resigned from the church, requested a jury trial and Judge Vincent Westra is presiding.


More here-

http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2011/05/marcia_morrison_testifies_abou.html

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Episcopal priest Jay R. Lawlor charged with assault for allegedly shoving parishioner at St. Luke's church


From Kalamazoo-

The former pastor of St. Luke's Episcopal Church has been charged with assault and battery for allegedly shoving an elderly parishioner last week, according to the Kalamazoo County Prosecutor's Office.

The charges were officially authorized today, said Chief Assistant Prosecutor Carrie Klein, but an arraignment has yet to be scheduled. Because the charge is a misdemeanor, Rev. Jay R. Lawlor will be contacted by police and allowed to turn himself for booking, she said.

Neither Lawlor, 41, who resigned last week from St. Luke's, nor the victim in the case, Marcia Morrison, 76, could be reached for comment.

Morrison was not injured in the incident, which occurred March 6 immediately after Lawlor headed Sunday morning service for the church, which is located in downtown Kalamazoo.

The charge is a misdemeanor, and conviction could result in a fine of up to $500 and/or a 93-day jail sentence. Klein said that the typical sentence in such a case is probation or a fine.

"There's lots of different factors involved," she said. "This is a case where the victim can address the court, and the community can address the court. There may be members of the church community who want to speak out."

More here-

http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2011/03/episcopal_priest_jay_r_lawlor.html

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Pastor accused of shoving parishioner, 76, at troubled St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Kalamazoo


From Kalamazoo-

A simmering, months-long conflict between congregants at Kalamazoo’s St. Luke's Episcopal Church and church officials reached a boiling point Sunday, with a police report filed against the pastor for allegedly shoving an elderly parishioner.

The Rev. Jay R. Lawlor was accused of pushing Marcia Morrison, 76, whose family owns Morrison Jewelers, during a heated discussion about recent events at the church. A witness said Morrison was not injured in the incident, which occurred immediately after Sunday morning’s service.
The Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety confirmed that a police report was filed. Neither Lawlor nor Morrison could be reached for comment Sunday.

Sunday’s altercation at the church came four days after Episcopal Bishop Robert Gepert announced he was taking over the parish and disbanding its lay board, and after Lawlor terminated the employment of the parish secretary, music director and facilities manager.

About 100 members of the church met Sunday night at Kalamazoo College’s Stetson Chapel for a potluck and prayer service to talk about the turn of events and what happens now for the 174-year-old congregation.

More here-

http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2011/03/pastor_accused_of_shoving_pari.html

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Grand Rapids prayer vigil seeks safe travels, peace in Sudan


From Grand Rapids-

Julia Doro William of Grand Rapids is returning to Sudan next week to honor her father, who was killed in the 20-year civil war that ended with a peace agreement in 2005.

Part of that agreement was a scheduled referendum on whether to divide Africa’s largest country into north and south nations.

The vote takes place Jan. 9, and Saturday was the first day of voter registration for Sudanese citizens at home and around the world.

William attended a prayer vigil on Saturday afternoon at the Sudanese Grace Episcopal Church with about 70 other people from the Sudanese community in West Michigan.

Support was strong for the independence vote, which many saw as the only way to break free of the oppression from Sudan’s ruling party in the north, the National Congress Party, which has been at odds with the south’s Sudan People’s Liberation Movement.

More here-

http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2010/11/grand_rapids_prayer_vigil_seek.html