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FEATUREThursday 9 March 2017
Probe sought after AP report on church abuse allegations
MITCH WEISS
JEFFREY COLLINS
Associated Press
A district attorney has
asked the state to inves-
tigate two assistant pros-
ecutors after an Associat-
ed Press story that quoted
former congregants of a
North Carolina church as
saying the men derailed
criminal probes into alle-
gations of abuse by sect
leaders.
David Learner said
Wednesday that he wants
the State Bureau of Investi-
gation to look into the ac-
cusations against his em-
ployees, who are members
of the evangelical Word of
Faith Fellowship church.
The AP story, released
Monday, cited nine former
Word of Faith members
who said Frank Webster
and Chris Back provided
legal advice, helped at
strategy sessions and par-
ticipated in a mock trial for
four congregants charged
with harassing a former
member.
The ex-congregants also
said that Back and Web-
ster, who is sect leader
Jane Whaley’s son-in-law,
helped derail a social ser-
vices investigation into
child abuse in 2015 and
attended meetings where
Whaley warned congre-
In this Thursday, March 2, 1995 file photo, Word of Faith Fellow-
ship church leader Jane Whaley talks to members of the media,
accompanied by her husband, Sam, in Spindale, N.C. prosecutors cannot pro-
gants to lie to investigators dropped against a fourth.
about abuse incidents.
“This is long overdue,” said
Rick Cooper, a U.S. Navy
veteran who spent more
than 20 years as a congre-
gant at Word of Faith and
raised nine children in the
church. “I’m glad they’re
In this 2012 photo provided by a former member of the church, Jeffrey Cooper holds his infant and nearly 2,000 members
daughter at her 2012 baby dedication at the Word of Faith Fellowship compound in Spindale, N.C. in churches based in Brazil
At second right is Frank Webster, an assistant North Carolina prosecutor who is married to church and Ghana. Former mem-
leader Jane Whaley’s daughter, Robin, left. At right is Frank Webster’s son, Brock. At second left is bers described congre-
Jeffrey Coopers’ wife, Natalie. gants as being punched,
choked and thrown
Associated Press through walls as part of a
violent form of deliverance
finally taking this seriously.” meant to purify sinners.
During the Jan. 1, 2013, Former church member
mock trial for the four mem- John Huddle called for
bers, Jeffrey Cooper — an state and federal inves-
attorney who is one of tigations after the AP’s
Rick Cooper’s sons — said stories, saying the severity
Whaley and other ministers and intensity of the abuses
watched Back play the fa- against church members
miliar role of a prosecutor has grown more alarming.
trying to trip up defendants Huddle questioned why
during cross-examination. Lori Cornelius, a church
Three of the defendants member who is a longtime
eventually were acquit- social services worker, also
ted and charges were isn’t being investigated.
During a social services
check of complaints that
students at the church-run
K-12 school were encour-
aged to beat classmates
to cast out devils, former
In this 2012 provided by a former member of the church, Word of Faith Fellowship leader Jane
Whaley, center left, holds Jeffrey Cooper’s infant daughter, accompanied by her husband, Sam,
center right, and others during a ceremony in the church’s compound in Spindale, N.C.
Associated Press
questions. not responded to several members said Cornelius
Under North Carolina law, messages left by the AP coached children on what
about the allegations. to tell investigators with the
vide legal advice or be They are assistant district at- help of Back and Webster.
Associated Press involved in outside cases torneys for Burke, Caldwell, That probe ended with no
in any manner. Violation and Catawba counties in charges.
of those rules can lead to western North Carolina. Telephone messages left
Nathan Key, a spokesman ethics charges, dismissal Word of Faith is based in for Cornelius’ boss, Cleve-
for Learner, said in an email or disbarment. Offering Spindale in nearby Ruth- land County Department
that Webster and Back will legal advice in an ongo- erford County. Last week, of Social Services Director
keep working during the ing investigation to help the AP revealed decades Karen Ellis, were not re-
investigation but did not a person avoid prosecu- of physical and emotional turned Wednesday. Cor-
say if they would continue tion could lead to criminal abuse inside the church, nelius would not discuss
to prosecute cases. He did charges. which has 750 members in the allegations when con-
not respond to follow-up Back and Webster have Spindale, North Carolina, tacted by the AP.q