Banned church members and allies show up to press Southern Acres pastor to resign

A controversy at a Lexington church continued Sunday as six to 10 people stood outside Southern Acres Christian Church at various times during the morning service.

“We want to elect a new leadership,” said Chad Martin, a four-year member of the church and one of the demonstrators.

The demonstration came after several members of the church were given letters last week that they could not step foot on Southern Acres’ campus.

A group of church members plans to vote Feb. 4 on a resolution asking Lead Pastor Cameron McDonald, his wife, Erica, and their friend Tim Jones to resign their positions as pastors and board members.

A November lawsuit — which has since been dismissed — accused McDonald of concentrating power and misusing $100,000 church money.

Martin, who received one of the “no trespassing” letters, held a sign Sunday referencing his exile.

“If you disagree with the leadership at SoAcres you will be disfellowshipped. Ask me how,” the sign read.

“I’m not doing it out of bitterness or anything like that,” Martin said of his actions. “It’s just what they’re doing is wrong and I’m standing for righteous. I’m standing for truth. I can’t call myself a Christian and allow somebody to steal from another person.”

Austin Wilkerson, an attorney for the church and McDonald, called the upcoming resolution vote illegal and contentious in a letter sent last week.

Planners of the Feb. 4 vote also want members of the church to elect a new board of elders and implement a new set of operating rules. Under current church bylaws, McDonald cannot be removed without a unanimous vote of the board, excluding the senior pastor and his or her immediate family.

The church’s current bylaws were never approved by the church’s congregation and are not valid, demonstrators say.

Chance Staley was also at Sunday’s demonstration. He did not receive a letter, but was barred from entering the church last Sunday by a uniformed Lexington police officer. Staley said he was looking forward to next Sunday’s vote.

“I will be voting in that as well probably several hundred others,” he said. Weekly attendance before the controversy developed had been about 300 and is now down to 100, church members indicated.

During the demonstration, Sunday’s sermon could be heard outside via loudspeakers. Many people in the demonstration disputed testimony during the lecture, such as McDonald saying demonstrators were texting his son last week. Staley provided screen shots of a text message exchange Sunday. He had sent his texts to McDonald’s phone; however, McDonald’s son apparently had the phone in his possession and issued the responses. Staley then instructed McDonald’s son to show the messages to his father.

Numerous people drove by and chatted with members of the small group Sunday, many offering their support and encouragement. However, all was not peaceful.

During the service, church member Dalton Fuller went into the church and was asked to leave. Once outside where he rejoined the demonstrators, he was confronted by a woman who would not give her name.

“Are you going in there to listen for the right reason?” the woman asked Fuller.

“Absolutely,” Fuller responded.

Police said no arrests were made at the church Sunday.

The Herald-Leader attempted to contact McDonald to get his side of the story. McDonald did not respond to a text message and voice mail left on his cell phone Sunday afternoon.

This story was originally published January 28, 2018 at 5:11 PM with the headline "Banned church members and allies show up to press Southern Acres pastor to resign."