Court rules against church

SANDUSKY — A ruling by a California court could force the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World church to disclose the findings of a 2018 investigation of allegations made by two men who grew up in Sandusky that they were sexually abused by their minister. Bishop Rufus Sanders was the founding minister at Emmanuel Temple, which at one time was located at Madison and Camp streets but for many years has been at 128 East Adams St., across from the former Adams Junior High School building, where it is today. Bishop Sanders allegedly began sexually abusing the men when they were teenagers, according to a lawsuit against the Pentecostal World church, Bishop Sanders and other church bishops, all of whom are identified as "John DOEs" (1 through 50) in the court filing. Rufus Sanders is not mentioned by name in the civil complaint, but he is on a list of people served with the lawsuit by way of an attorney, according to the court filing. The allegations in the lawsuit are the same as what the men told the Register in 2018 for a series of news articles. Attorneys representing Sanders and the other bishops declined to comment when contacted by email. The Pentecostal Assemblies of the World church, referred to as PAW in the court filing, sought to have the lawsuit dismissed, contending the California courts had no jurisdiction. But attorneys representing Roy and Victor Matthews, the plaintiffs, argued that Bishop Sanders took them to California numerous times when they were boys to attend PAW church conferences and other church-related functions. Bishop Sanders sexually molested both of them on those trips, according to the lawsuit. PAW also has a large organization in California, the attorneys for the Matthews brothers argued. The Los Angeles-based law firm Kabateck LLP is representing them. The court denied PAW's motion and ruled last week that it had specific jurisdiction over the church organization, an attorney with the firm replied to the Register in response to an inquiry about the case. The California statute of limitations allows more time for alleged survivors of childhood sexual assault to bring civil action. It also provides a "look back window," which suspended all statute of limitations time constraints for three years. For Victor and Roy Matthews, like many alleged victims of childhood sexual assault, the California law and its "look back window" has provided the opportunity to ask a court to hear the allegations and render a judgment. The brothers contend that Bishop Sanders sexually molested both of them when they were boys, beginning in the late 1970s through the early 1990s. Sanders was never charged with any criminal activity as a result of the allegations and previously declined comment when contacted. The Register reported about the allegations made by Roy and Victor Matthews four years ago. "Molesting the Faithful," an award-winning three-part series, was published in September 2018. The following month, a reporter received an undated memo that appeared to be from Bishop Theodore L. Brooks Sr., presiding bishop of the Pentecostal Assemblies. It was addressed to the national church organization's board of bishops. "I have asked Bishops Sam Moore, Gregory Newman and Billy G. Newton to investigate and report back to me within the next 10 days," the memo from Bishop Brooks states. Brooks and the other bishops did not return repeated telephone calls or respond to emails at that time, and later, asking what was determined by the investigation they conducted. The findings of the investigation were never made available. Roy and Victor Matthews, now ages 58 and 59, in 2018 both told the Register that together with their siblings and in-laws they confronted Sanders in March 2017, and they said he acknowledged abusing them. Questions sent to the Rev. Sanders in 2018 and his attorneys went unanswered. "In as much as I would like to respond to your questions posed to me by the Sandusky Register, I have been advised by counsel not to do so," Rufus Sanders responded to an email sent to him on Sept. 24, 2018. They also reported the abuse to police in 2016, they said, but were told charges could not be filed due to the amount of time that had passed since the abuse ended. The statute of limitations for rape in Ohio is 25 years.