She said that in a private conversation, a member of church leadership asked her how a church staffer could best deal with (Pastor Sandy) Willson. She said based on her observations that he had a “narcissistic personality disorder.”

Dr. Nan Hawkes has been a member of Second Presbyterian Church for 35 years. That would end if she’s excommunicated over charges of “slander, bickering and gossip” against church leadership.

Hawkes, 59, said Wednesday she has been indicted by the church, accused of “offenses of immorality and contempt for the established order of the church.”

The proceedings will be held in March and will be presided over by Criminal Court Judge Chris Craft. An elder at the church, Craft confirmed Wednesday that he has been chosen as chairman of a five-member commission (three men, two women) of church members who will hear the case if it is not settled through negotiations.

Officials with Second Presbyterian, at 4055 Poplar, would not comment on the charges against Hawkes.

“We’re committed to resolving all cases like this in accordance with Scripture and in accordance with our book of order,” said Robb Roaten, church spokesman. “It’s a sad situation that this kind of thing would happen at all.”

According to the Evangelical Presbyterian Church’s Book of Order and Discipline, immorality is “conduct inconsistent with the biblical standards for conduct,” and includes “gossiping.”

Hawkes, a neuro-psychologist, said she doesn’t want to fight the church or its senior minister, Sandy Willson.

“I don’t want him gone,” she said. “I just want to continue to worship there and be able to go to Sunday school.”

Incidents cited in the indictment go back to 2008. Hawkes is accused of making disparaging remarks about Willson and a member of his family.

She contends that the real problem is that she continues to nominate women for the board of elders, something their denomination, the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, allows.

Willson has said that only qualified men can be elders at Second Presbyterian, she said.
One charge Hawkes doesn’t deny is calling him a “narcissist.” But the context is not as it was presented, she said.