The settlement acknowledges that the allegations against the Mansfield church’s leadership were unfounded, but said the congregation remains deeply divided with unresolved issues.

Nearly one year after voting to replace the staff of First Presbyterian Church in Mansfield, Ohio, which was followed by a remedial complaint to the Synod of the Covenant, the Presbytery of Muskingum Valley has reached a settlement with the congregation.

In the settlement, which was approved at a Dec. 7 presbytery meeting, both sides accept responsibility in the circumstances that led up to the vote and agreed on a plan to move forward.

The settlement rescinds actions approved Jan. 9, 2010, which would have dismissed the Rev. Dennis Allison and likely the remaining church staff. The administrative commission (AC) that recommended the action had investigated claims of conflict, membership losses, intimidation, and irregularities in membership rolls and financial records.

A busload of supporters crowded the presbytery meeting – and individuals from both sides of the debate made impassioned pleas to the presbytery. Adding to the emotional tone of the meeting was the fact that the congregation had survived a high-publicized sexual abuse allegation involving children nearly 20 years ago. Allison shepherded the congregation through its recovery and the lawsuits that persisted for many years after the tragic events…

The settlement acknowledges that the allegations against the Mansfield church’s leadership were unfounded, but said the congregation remains deeply divided with unresolved issues.

Read More: http://www.layman.org/News.aspx?article=27905

[Editor’s note: the original URL (link) referenced in this article is no longer valid, so the link has been removed.]