Californian priest, 32, is sacked after starting an affair with a parishioner

LONDON (ENGLAND)
Daily Mail

June 20, 2019

By Joel Adams

A ‘sexually promiscuous’ minister was sacked from the Church of Scotland after having an affair with a married woman and touching himself in front of a colleague.

Rev Dr Elijah Wade Smith, 32, was emotionally abusive to his girlfriend and humiliated her in public as well as cheating on her with a 19-year-old, according to a Presbyterial Commission report.

His shocking behaviour was described as ‘contrary to the Word of God’ by church officials who also said ‘he abused [his] duty of trust’, and told him he ‘failed to maintain a proper line between your pastoral duties and your friendship’.

The Church of Scotland set up a commission to review the behaviour of the Glasgow minister following allegations of misconduct against ‘several women’. The report outlined 11 ‘charges’ between 2015 and last year.

Dr Smith came from California to join the church and was ordained as minister of Queen’s Park Govanhill Parish Church, in Glasgow’s south side, in January 2015, becoming the Scottish Kirk’s second-youngest minister.

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