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A32 FEATURE
Thursday 9 March 2017
Probe sought after AP report on church abuse allegations

MITCH WEISS and nearly 2,000 members
JEFFREY COLLINS in churches based in Brazil
Associated Press and Ghana. Former mem-
A district attorney has bers described congre-
asked the state to inves- gants as being punched,
tigate two assistant pros- choked and thrown
ecutors after an Associat- through walls as part of a
ed Press story that quoted violent form of deliverance
former congregants of a meant to purify sinners.
North Carolina church as Former church member
saying the men derailed John Huddle called for
criminal probes into alle- state and federal inves-
gations of abuse by sect tigations after the AP’s
leaders. stories, saying the severity
David Learner said and intensity of the abuses
Wednesday that he wants against church members
the State Bureau of Investi- has grown more alarming.
gation to look into the ac- Huddle questioned why
cusations against his em- Lori Cornelius, a church
ployees, who are members member who is a longtime
of the evangelical Word of social services worker, also
Faith Fellowship church. isn’t being investigated.
The AP story, released During a social services
Monday, cited nine former In this 2012 photo provided by a former member of the church, Jeffrey Cooper holds his infant check of complaints that
daughter at her 2012 baby dedication at the Word of Faith Fellowship compound in Spindale, N.C.
Word of Faith members At second right is Frank Webster, an assistant North Carolina prosecutor who is married to church students at the church-run
who said Frank Webster leader Jane Whaley’s daughter, Robin, left. At right is Frank Webster’s son, Brock. At second left is K-12 school were encour-
and Chris Back provided Jeffrey Coopers’ wife, Natalie. aged to beat classmates
legal advice, helped at Associated Press to cast out devils, former
strategy sessions and par- finally taking this seriously.”
ticipated in a mock trial for During the Jan. 1, 2013,
four congregants charged mock trial for the four mem-
with harassing a former bers, Jeffrey Cooper — an
member. attorney who is one of
The ex-congregants also Rick Cooper’s sons — said
said that Back and Web- Whaley and other ministers
ster, who is sect leader watched Back play the fa-
Jane Whaley’s son-in-law, miliar role of a prosecutor
helped derail a social ser- trying to trip up defendants
vices investigation into during cross-examination.
child abuse in 2015 and Three of the defendants
attended meetings where eventually were acquit-
Whaley warned congre- ted and charges were

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
In this Thursday, March 2, 1995 file photo, Word of Faith Fellow- prosecutors cannot pro- about the allegations. to tell investigators with the
ship church leader Jane Whaley talks to members of the media, vide legal advice or be They are assistant district at- help of Back and Webster.
accompanied by her husband, Sam, in Spindale, N.C.
Associated Press involved in outside cases torneys for Burke, Caldwell, That probe ended with no
in any manner. Violation and Catawba counties in charges.
gants to lie to investigators dropped against a fourth. of those rules can lead to western North Carolina. Telephone messages left
about abuse incidents. Nathan Key, a spokesman ethics charges, dismissal Word of Faith is based in for Cornelius’ boss, Cleve-
“This is long overdue,” said for Learner, said in an email or disbarment. Offering Spindale in nearby Ruth- land County Department
Rick Cooper, a U.S. Navy that Webster and Back will legal advice in an ongo- erford County. Last week, of Social Services Director
veteran who spent more keep working during the ing investigation to help the AP revealed decades Karen Ellis, were not re-
than 20 years as a congre- investigation but did not a person avoid prosecu- of physical and emotional turned Wednesday. Cor-
gant at Word of Faith and say if they would continue tion could lead to criminal abuse inside the church, nelius would not discuss
raised nine children in the to prosecute cases. He did charges. which has 750 members in the allegations when con-
church. “I’m glad they’re not respond to follow-up Back and Webster have Spindale, North Carolina, tacted by the AP.q