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Church, leader named in lawsuit

By Marshall Allen , Staff Writer

PASADENA -- Harvest Rock Church and its leader, Che Ahn, are being sued over their connection to a pastor accused of coercing men in his congregation into sexual relationships.

The pastor, James Stalnaker, 28, has since resigned from Gateway City Center Church in West Hollywood.

Stalnaker also is a defendant in the lawsuit. Stalnaker's former personal assistant identified in court records only as A.W., 22 filed the complaint last month in Los Angeles Superior Court.

The lawsuit claims A.W. engaged in unwanted sexual contact, including oral sex and fondling, with Stalnaker from September until December. Stalnaker is accused in the complaint of using "mind-control and brain-washing techniques' to perform sex acts with at least 10 other young men at the church.

The allegations against Stalnaker were never reported to the police, A.W. said in an interview.

The complaint also names Pasadena nonprofit organization Harvest International Ministries as a defendant. Ahn is president of the organization, a network of about 1,200 churches and missionaries affiliated with Harvest Rock Church.

Stalnaker was ordained by Harvest International Ministries and pastored Gateway City Center, a church in West Hollywood affiliated with the Pasadena organization. The lawsuit alleges he was under the formal control of Ahn, Harvest Rock and the nonprofit, so all are liable for the alleged harm Stalnaker caused, the complaint said.

Stephen Reed, attorney for Ahn, Harvest Rock and the nonprofit, said the claims against his clients are "absolutely groundless.' Reed said his clients are concerned about A.W. and offered to settle the dispute through Christian mediation. But the plaintiff declined.

Stalnaker's attorney, Bill Abrams, said "we categorically deny' every accusation in the lawsuit.

But while lawyers for the defendants dismiss the lawsuit's allegations outright, the Pasadena nonprofit asked Stalnaker and other Gateway leaders to resign before closing the church, according to a Dec. 28 letter explaining the situation.

Harvest International Ministries attorney Reed acknowledged the existence of the letter, but refused to comment on its specifics.

The letter was written to former Gateway members, signed by Ahn and other leaders from the organization, and posted on the Internet. It said that seven men confessed to having sexual relationships with Stalnaker. Stalnaker was asked to resign Dec. 19, the letter said.

"As a result of the entire pastoral leadership's resignation from ministry, and because at the very inception of the church plant there was deep immorality, dark deception, and lies, the church has closed down and will no longer use Gateway's name or building,' the letter said.

In June 2002, Stalnaker and his wife, Ruth, founded Gateway City Center, an independent nonprofit organization under the Harvest International Ministries umbrella. The church was located in a storefront building on Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood and its ministry included work with prostitutes, as well as the gay and homeless communities.

A.W. said he started attending Gateway in March. The congregation had about 150 members so A.W. said he and Stalnaker quickly became acquainted. Within months, A.W. said Stalnaker recruited him to be his personal assistant and confidant.

On Aug. 28, A.W. and Stalnaker signed and notarized an employment agreement, according to a copy of the document provided to the Pasadena Star- News by the plaintiff's attorneys.

The job description said A.W. was to anticipate Stalnaker's every need and meet it always with an attitude of joy and compliance. The employment contract said A.W. would be paid $24,000 annually and commit to the job for two years. It contained a provision that said he may be responsible to repay his income if he left Gateway before fulfilling his commitment.

His benefits included a car, a $500 monthly housing allowance and a health-club membership.

Between September and December, Stalnaker used "brain- washing' techniques to subject A.W. to sexual abuse, the lawsuit claims.

Harvest International Ministries leaders addressed Stalnaker's ordination in the Dec. 28 letter.

"First of all, we take full responsibility for the ordination of James,' the letter said. "... We were wrong for not doing a better background check. Therefore, we ask all who have been hurt and violated for forgiveness.'

Other Gateway staff members say that while the Stalnaker situation should be a lesson for Ahn, Harvest Rock and the nonprofit, it does not warrant a lawsuit against the three parties.

Scott Blacquiere, 24, a former Gateway staff member, said the problematic situation was addressed properly and promptly.

"H.I.M. and Che Ahn did nothing wrong in the situation,' Blacquiere said. "In fact, they've been a help in taking care of those who've been hurt.'

Attorneys for A.W. said his suit asks that the financial terms of his contract are fulfilled and that defendants pay for his psychological counseling.

Marshall Allen can be reached at (626) 578-6300, Ext. 4461, or by e-mail at marshall.allen@sgvn.com .