(OH)
The Roys Report [Chicago IL]
February 9, 2026
By Mark A. Kellner
Two sisters have sued several United Methodist Church entities in Ohio, claiming church leaders enabled former music director to sexually abuse them for years.
The 26-page complaint, filed Jan. 29, alleges the church defendants failed to stop or report sexual abuse of sisters “Jane Doe” and “Mary Doe.” The sisters say they were assaulted hundreds of times beginning as young teens at United Methodist churches in western Ohio.
The suit names as defendants the General Council on Finance and Administration of the United Methodist Church; the West Ohio Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church; and the Great Miami River District of the West Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church, Inc.
Christ United Methodist Church, formerly known as St. Andrew United Methodist Church; Parkview United Methodist Church; and the United Methodist Children’s Home West Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church, doing business as UMCH Family Services, are also named.
The complaint alleges the entities are liable for the conduct of former music director John Slate. It also alleges pastors and staff ignored warning signs and failed to follow the denomination’s Safe Sanctuary child-protection policies. According to the lawsuit, they violated Ohio’s mandatory reporting law for suspected child abuse.
Slate, described in the filing as “a former cult member living in Venezuela,” was hired as director of music ministries at St. Andrew United Methodist Church in Beavercreek around 2012.
Jane Doe told West Carrollton police she met Slate at St. Andrew when she was 14 or 15. She began taking private voice lessons with him at the church “two or three times a week,” the lawsuit says.
What began as hugs after lessons allegedly escalated within months to kissing. It eventually led to intercourse when she turned15, according to a 2017 West Carrollton police report quoted in the filing.
Jane Doe estimated Slate had sexual contact with her “500-700 maybe more” times before she turned18.
The complaint claims the encounters occurred in a church bathroom, in his car in the church parking lot and at hotels near the church.
According to the lawsuit, St. Andrew had adopted a Safe Sanctuary policy requiring two adults at every youth event. The policy required cancellation if only one adult was present. However, church leaders allegedly permitted Slate to meet alone with Jane Doe behind closed doors repeatedly.
The complaint outlines concerns Jane Doe’s father and stepmother say they raised with then-pastor John Schlicher and another minister, Debbie Caudill.
Their concerns arose after a voice lesson stretched to more than five hours in 2014. They also reported that calls to their daughter and Slate went unanswered.
The parents allege Schlicher told them he would “look into the matter” but later informed them Slate had denied any relationship.
According to the filing, Schlicher sent an October 2014 letter stating Slate had “decided to discontinue all contact with [Jane Doe].”
Despite that notice, the suit alleges Slate remained in his position. It claims he continued to see Jane Doe.
Slate was later transferred to Parkview United Methodist Church in Miamisburg, about 17 miles to the west in the Dayton suburbs. There, he allegedly began abusing Mary Doe in 2015 when she was 13.
Why the two sisters were located at churches some distance from each other and how Slate ended up abusing both of them was not explained in the lawsuit.
According to the lawsuit, Mary Doe alleges Slate assaulted her multiple times between 2015 and 2017. Locations include his West Carrollton apartment, a Miamisburg motel and a Springboro park. They also include the parking lot at Parkview and his vehicle after musical performances at a Cincinnati church and a Dayton restaurant.
Jane Doe reported Slate to West Carrollton police on Jan. 11, 2017.