No, Duane Clem, it is you who doesn't get it. I don't need your answer here.
Good, because you're not getting it.
It is Princessdi, you needs you to explain to as she is confused about what she thinks you said. You should have done so without me asking. To allow her to continue believing the lie that you were molested as a minor by Tommy Shelton when you could easily correct that is dead wrong. To be spiteful to me and insult me calling me coward, rather than doing the right thing and just posting to her and explaining is wrong, there are no ifs ands or buts about that.
I called you a coward and a liar because that is what you are: a coward because you won't identify yourself before spreading slander, and a liar because you say Tommy never abused me while he was my pastor.
Don't blame me here.. This is from your own published Statement, Duane Clem: stating TS did not abuse his position as your Pastor or Counsellor, and molest you as a minor:
Tommy Shelton was my pastor for many years at the Ezra Church of God in West Frankfort, IL. I began attending with my mother, sister and two brothers around 1974 or so, and my father became a Christian and began coming with us shortly after I graduated from high school in 1984. Tommy and I were never really close until I began attending the Christian school our church operated. Over the next few years, we would spend a lot of time talking, as I was dealing with depression issues and he was counseling me.
When the General Assembly of the Church of God in Illinois decided to suspend Tommy's ministerial credentials in 1985, [October 25, 1985] I was one of several who wrote a letter in his defense. I was also questioned by a detective at the West Frankfort Police Department. I had been on a few overnight trips with him, and gave testimony that nothing had happened that would substantiate the allegations being made against him. At the time, this was true.
From the letter from the Ezra Church of God to the General Assembly of the Church of God in Illinois: "Brother Tommy resigned as Pastor from the Ezra Church of God , Sept. 15, 1985"
Again from your own Published statement, you claim you were abused during this time period:
Sometime in late 1985 or early 1986, Tommy came to me and said he had an unusual medical problem and asked for my help. I was shocked....I was, 19 years old...
[or 20 if in 1986]
In your own published statement you say:
Over the next few months , Tommy and I would meet at his house, the church, the original 3ABN building, and even one night on a back country road, anywhere he thought no one would see us. There was a lot of inappropriate touching, but nothing further. He wanted much more out of it, but I couldn't let it happen because in my heart I knew it wasn't right. I was wrestling with thoughts like "What if someone finds out?...On one occasion, I had been hired by a television and appliance rent-to-own company as an assistant manager, and was to travel to the main office about an hour away for two days of training. The company said they would get me a motel room so I wouldn't have to drive back and forth. ...Finally, he said he realized that I was uncomfortable and decided we shouldn't be doing this. It was like a thousand pound weight was gone.
Whether it was in late 1985 or early 1986 doesn't matter. Those "next few months" were after he resigned on Sept 15, 1985 and had his ministerial liscence suspended, and you claimed
"When the General Assembly of the Church of God in Illinois decided to suspend Tommy's ministerial credentials in 1985, [October 25, 1985] I was one of several who wrote a letter in his defense. I was also questioned by a detective at the West Frankfort Police Department. I had been on a few overnight trips with him, and gave testimony that nothing had happened that would substantiate the allegations being made against him. At the time, this was true.
Those "next few months" starting after Oct 25, 1985 or early 1986 fall in the time period when he was NOT your Pastor, nor anyone's Pastor. The Documented facts are that Tommy was employed helping build 3ABN for the next 9 mos and did not become a Pastor again till after that when A.J Mitchell, representing the Ezra Church of God, came and asked him to return. You do not and have not ever said you were abused during that time frame.
I don't understand how you can steadfastly keep calling me a liar for going by your own time frame and statement, and insist he abused you while he was your Pastor and refuse to explain how that is possible. But since you refuse to answer or explain, this discrepancy in your own testimony, I have no reason to change mine, or apologize, so I guess you can just carry on with your name calling and insults.
Laters...