Legal Question in Civil Rights Law in Texas

I have been continuously bullied, harassed and humiliated by the Pastor of my church. I am one of the Leaders in the church. I am the Chairperson of the Trustee Board, which oversees the church property & contents of the church. She has deliberately monopolized trustee board meetings, yelled at me at meetings in front of other board members. She has created a hostile environment within the trustee board. Board members do not support me. They listen to her. She is demanding. She had been warned about her behavior. On 7-23-2012, during trustee meeting, she screamed and yelled at me, even raising her arms at me. She glares and rolls her eyes during trustee meetings. She has followed me out of the church (in a fast pace-some members said she was chasing me), with her fist balled up, calling me a coward in front on other church members. She came towards me in a threatening manner. On 8-6-2012, during Church Council Meeting, she lied, yes lied on me to the leaders in church council. She took it upon her own to remove me and two others from the Trustee Board without reason.. I had spoken with the Chairperson who is over her, but nothing ever happened. This lady has a history that preceeds her. Before she came to our church, she was removed from another church for doing the same thing. Her behavior is terrible. I am not attending my church anymore because of this. I have been a member for over 50yrs. I feel she slandered me in front of others. She does not have the right to remove me from my position. I am afraid and humilated. Some church members are not friendly towards me anymore because of her lies. Please tell me my legal recourse if any. I want to file a civil suit for harassment and defamation of character.

She has had many complaints against her but nothing has been done. She was sent to our church by the United Methodist Conference District, in Fort Worth Tx. Please help! I want to file civil action. Thank you.

Mona Webster

[email protected]

(254) 498-8664.


Asked on 8/28/12, 12:06 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Mark Dunn Mark D. Dunn

The problem with suing your pastor for harassment is this: You are going to church, and attending these meetings, voluntarily. Your remedy is to stop going to places where you know this pastor to be.

It would be different if this pastor were stalking you, following you around, etc.

A defamation suit is a different sort of animal. Has your reputation been damaged? How much? How would you calculate your damages? $600? $10,000?

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Answered on 8/28/12, 1:54 pm


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