UTAH
The Salt Lake Tribune
By Pamela Manson and Bob Mims
The Salt Lake Tribune
First Published Nov 15 2012
The pastor of the Tongan United Methodist Church in West Valley City has been removed from his position for failing to promptly report that young boys had been sexually abused by an older boy in the congregation, according to a letter written by a Denver church official.
The Rev. Havili Mone was suspended in August while officials investigated complaints against him. Bishop Elaine Stanovsky wrote in a letter dated Nov. 11 that when Mone first heard reports about the offenses, he “acted to heal the harm of abuse in a way that did not fulfill the expectations of The United Methodist Church and fell short of the professional standards for clergy in the United States.”
Stanovsky had installed the Rev. Eddie Kelemeni, who is retired and lives in Hawaii, to fill in at the church, at 1553 W. Crystal Ave. (2590 South). She said in her letter that he will complete his time as interim pastor Nov. 30 and that a new pastor soon will be appointed.
The letter was sent Tuesday to church leaders with instructions to distribute it to members of the congregation, according to the Rev. Steve Goodier, a church superintendent.
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