MISSOURI
The Kansas City Star
BY MARK MORRIS
THE KANSAS CITY STAR
08/07/2014
A split verdict Thursday in a lawsuit alleging that a local clergyman sexually exploited a former church staff member gave both sides something they wanted.
The jury ruled just after noon Thursday that the Rev. Stan Archie’s Christian Fellowship Baptist Church must pay $350,000 to the former staffer and her husband for misrepresenting that its 2007 investigation into her abused allegations was a serious inquiry aimed at learning the truth.
“I think this is a good and fair verdict,” said Rebecca Randles, who represented the couple. “I hope our clients are able to heal.”
Archie resigned as president of the Missouri State Board of Education in January 2013 after two women filed lawsuits accusing him of sexual misconduct.
The former staffer alleged that Archie had taken sexual advantage of her by abusing his position as a pastoral counselor at the church. Three other women testified at trial this month that Archie also had sexually abused them during counseling sessions.
Yet jurors rejected claims alleging that Archie and the church had defrauded the staffer by misrepresentating that the pastor was a “safe and competent” counselor.
The jury appeared to have ruled either that the no misrepresentation had occurred, or that the staffer had not been injured.
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