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Allegations
of Abuse |
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An Assemblies of God
pastor facing allegations of sexual abuse has taken an extended break from
his duties, citing emotional strain, and is under investigation by his
church. Allegations of sexual
abuse by Pastor Wayne Hughes, the head of the Takapuna Assembly of God
church, were published in the Herald on Thursday after a member of the
church, who had complained to the national church hierarchy last October,
spoke out. Concerns were also
raised by Nasir Ali, who was briefly married to Mr Hughes' daughter, Angela,
about allegations that the pastor sexually abused a teenager. Yesterday, the
Assemblies of God General Superintendent, Ken Harrison, issued a statement
denying the church tried to cover up the allegations. He said he sought legal
advice on the allegations in November 2004, and began an investigation. Meetings with Pastor
Hughes about the claims were ongoing, the most recent was on March 18. Mr Harrison said no
disciplinary action could be taken unless there was admissible evidence of
the alleged sexual abuse. "The Assemblies of
God in New Zealand is highly aggrieved at the Herald's allegations of a
cover-up. Its actions to date are anything but. It is obliged to undertake
its investigations with proper regard to the principles of natural justice
and to ensure any evidence it considers against Pastor Hughes is legally
admissible." At the Takapuna
Assembly of God 10am Good Friday service yesterday, Pastor Duane Newport told
the congregation Mr Hughes was under great emotional pressure. The church
board and pastors agreed on Thursday that, based on medical and spiritual
advice, Mr Hughes should "take a timely break". Mr Newport did not
refer to the nature of the allegations, but said the article in Thursday's
Herald contained "a number of unsubstantiated and malicious
allegations" which he said first arose nine years ago. "They were
subsequently looked at by the police. They found no basis to substantiate those
claims whatsoever." He said the Hughes
family was devastated by the allegations, and Mr Hughes, who had taken legal
advice, would not comment "due to the complexity of the legal
issues". Mr Hughes had cared for
his wife, who suffered from Parkinson's disease, for the past 16 years and
was under emotional strain, Mr Newport said. Mr Hughes had had
medical advice to take a "substantial break". After Mr Newport's
statement at the Good Friday service, the Hughes family was asked on to the
stage, and Mr Hughes and some in the congregation wept as they prayed for the
family. |
