'20 - 20' To Feature Trinity Accusation - Concord Monitor

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Willis arrested for 1997 rape

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'20/20' to feature Trinity accusation

Former parishioner says she was raped By Ben Leubsdorf / Monitor staff April 8, 2011 Trinity Baptist Church, where a former parishioner said she was forced to stand before the congregation to seek forgiveness after she was raped and impregnated as a teenager, is going under the national television spotlight. The Concord church will be featured tonight on ABC's 20/20 program, in what the network described in a news release as a "yearlong investigation" into "a religious subculture many Americans have never heard of, yet has thousands of churches across the country . . . churches that critics claim can foster physical and sexual abuse." Anchor Elizabeth Vargas said yesterday the 1997 incident at Trinity is "a big part of our hour" but other churches are also examined. Last May, Gilford resident Ernest Willis was arrested by the Concord police and charged with twice raping 15-year-old Tina Anderson in 1997. Both attended Trinity Baptist Church, 80 Clinton St., at the time. The Monitor typically does not identify alleged victims of sex crimes but has made an exception in its reporting on this case at Anderson's request. Anderson, now 29, has said Willis raped her, once in a car when he was teaching her to drive and a second time at her Concord home. She became pregnant and told a neighbor, her mother and the Rev. Chuck Phelps, who was Trinity's pastor at the time. In a written statement last year, Anderson said Phelps put her up for "church discipline," had her write a letter asking forgiveness for "allowing a compromising situation to occur" that led to "immorality" and read it to the congregation while she stood in the front of the church. Anderson then moved to Colorado, where she gave birth to a daughter who was put up for adoption. Anderson came forward to the police last year, and Willis, now 52, was arrested. He has pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to go on trial in mid- to late-May in Merrimack County Superior Court, said Assistant Merrimack County Attorney Wayne Coull. A message seeking comment was left for one of Willis's public defenders.
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Michele Bachmann's claim that she
Phelps, who is now pastor of an Indianapolis church, has said he reported the crime both to the police and the state Division for Children, Youth and Families in 1997. The Concord police have said their investigation was hampered by not being able to locate the victim. The Rev. Brian Fuller, who arrived in Concord in 1998 and took over for Phelps as Trinity's senior pastor in 2007, expressed regret last summer for how the incident was handled. He said that Anderson shouldn't have been brought before the congregation and that Willis shouldn't have remained a church member. (He was disciplined and left around 2004.) Fuller said yesterday that the church has created a "security team" of members "to ensure that a person who has been accused would not remain in our congregation." And, he said, its constitution now ensures that "a minor can never stand before our congregation. You have to be 18 to be a member. So that will never happen again." Fuller was interviewed by Vargas last September, and he said ABC sent a camera crew into the church to attend Sunday services. "We try to be very open with our community. We're trying to be extremely open with the media," Fuller said. "That's why we allowed 20/20 to come and film. . . . We have nothing to hide here and certainly try to make sure we understand the situation and make sure the truth comes out." Vargas said Fuller was "very open" and sat for a "wide-ranging interview with no conditions." She said the program also spoke to Phelps and others. In a news release this week, ABC News described the 20/20 episode as a look at the "Independent Fundamental Baptist Church," which isn't a formal denomination but refers to a number of churches across the country. Trinity Baptist Church describes itself as an independent Baptist congregation. (next page )
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WILLIS ARRESTED FOR 1997 RAPE "These Are Not The Droids You Are Looking For...
By Monitor-is-Liberal - 04/08/2011 - 6:41 pm CONCORD
Defense asks judge for new rape trial

As he awaits his sentencing for forcibly raping a fellow Trinity Baptist Church member twice in 1997 and getting 0 her pregnant at age 15, Ernest Willis is asking
Log in to vote June 7, 2011 WARNER
Ok, Ok, Ok. Let me get this straight. Phelps calls the police and informs them that Mr. Willis has impregnated a young teenage girl. Then the girl is shipped (FedEx) to Colorado. THEN Mr. Willis continues to come to TBC on Sunday morning, Sunday night & Wednesday night? If Phelps knew Mr. Willis raped Tina then why was he allowed to stay at TBC? Why wasn't Mr. Willis counselled to go to the police himself? Phelps could have tried the same Jedi mind trick on Mr. Willis as he did to Tina's mom. Phelps waved his Jedi hand and said; "send your daughter Tina to Colorado!" And Tina's mom did exactly that. Clearly, Phelp's Jedi mind trick doesn't work on people like Mr. Willis. Perhaps Phelps wanted Mr. Willis' tithe. He was rather wealthy during the economic boom.
Assault allegations tied to city church

The Warner police said yesterday they are investigating the allegations of a California woman who recently reported 0 being sexually assaulted as a teenager about
June 3, 2011 MONITOR EDITORIAL
Applaud Anderson for speaking out
'20/20' to feature Trinity accusation | Concord Monitor He also must have waived his hand to Fuller, too. Brian...you were there when Phelps disciplined Mr. Willis. You were in a youth group meeting and told all the adults what was going on. Don't lie in the Concord Monitor and tell your community that you didn't know. I heard you that night and your story coraborates with what Phelps said in the auditorium. Members of TBC, if you know this to be true, also, then stop ignoring this. Stop it! You need to resign, Pastor B! POPULAR Login or register to post comments
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Tina Anderson's horrifying treatment by Concord's Trinity Baptist Church made her story the subject of national 1 attention. Anderson was 15 in 1997 when she
June 1, 2011
More Willis arrested for 1997 rape
Most read content in the past 48 hours. A little white lie?

By Monitor-is-Liberal - 04/09/2011 - 3:17 am
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
Pastor B: in your interview, you began to squirm and really search for words when asked about the 2 sex offenders in Ms. Vargus' hands. Few of us knew about Ernie. My family did not...we're not the inner circle. But, I didn't know of the two others for a LONG time. So, according to you (during the interview), you said that TBC member's can access the sex offender registry list. What about those without internet access - there are a few of them still? Are you asking me to take the phone directory and look up each person's name? All of them? Are the members of TBC that stupid? Are we that stupid, Pastor B? For those not in the inner circle we should trust that ignorance is bliss and continue to send our kids to the school, Sunday school, on the bus for 48 hours round trip to NC or G4 events or TFH events? Move on Pastor B. Move on! For people not in the inner circle...you, too can move on! Login or register to post comments
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"Updated 22 minutes ago".

By JosephSHaas - 04/08/2011 - 1:46 pm
"Updated 22 minutes ago" with what? Login or register to post comments

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See also this CNBC program.

By JosephSHaas - 04/08/2011 - 8:31 am
The other network of CNBC has a special tax fighter day. On Thu., April 14th @ 9:00 p.m. there's a one-hour program that features Ed & Elaine Brown of Plainfield, N.H. and their 2007 stand-off against the U.S. Marshals* . . . Federal goons* is what I call these parasites on "Uncle Sam" who need to be taught a lesson: that even if finally convicted on appeal, that I doubt: What God has joined together let no man put asunder. Article 5 of the N.H. Constitution, Part First & Bill of Rights.
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She's in a Medical Center in Texas, and hes in a penal colony in Illinois. No F.C.I. for to "correct" as no course of #___ classes to teach that they're right: A tax is not a debt. A "Black's Law Dictionary" truth, 5th edition (c)1979 @ page 1307. Login or register to post comments
What in the world

By william - 04/08/2011 - 9:22 am
does this have to do with the original story? There are only 2 possible answers: 1. (the rational one) = Nothing. 2. (the other one) = Some will-o-the-wisp conspiracy theory which will require Glenn Beck's blackboards to delineate, refer at some point to the invalidity of all Constitutional Amendments after the original 10, and probably question President Obama's birth. Can't we find an isolated corner somewhere for Ed & Elaine Brown scribbling? Login or register to post comments
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Joe Bob Haas

By mbeck - 04/08/2011 - 5:22 pm
Joe Bob doesn't believe that paying income taxes is legal - just like the Browns. The fact that the Browns put lots of booby traps in their yard should the marshalls storm their place is just fine with Joe Bob. And that the Browns had more weapons in their place than the NH National Guard owns is fine as well. After all, Joe Bob left pipe bombs on the steps of the State Library a little while back, so what's a few booby traps laying around designed to kill people to a guy like Joe Bob? Login or register to post comments
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Oh really? (on both counts)

Hey "mbeck": Why do you spew out this garbage? Show me the PROOF that I was supposed to have "left pipe bombs on the steps of the State Library" back in Fall 1998: one year after this incident. I tell you and EVERYone else that is NOT the case. That was when the John C. Fairbanks hearings were going on and I wanted people to read of this crooked judge / attorney in the Rep. Nick Hart reports from House Judiciary on file there in the Library on Park Street. The F.B.I. and the Concord P.D. THOUGHT that I had something to do with this since my car was parked on the same street. You call that a CONNECTION!? What a load of garbage from The "Thought Police". Police who were where on THIS case here? Chasing other thoughts rather than dealing in reality!? Where was the Article 8 accountability for the COPs to solve this crime? "Phelps, who is now pastor of an Indianapolis church, has said he reported the crime both to the police and the state Division for Children, Youth and Families in 1997. The Concord police have said their investigation was hampered by not being able to locate the victim." Oh really !? Plus what's with this: "Joe Bob doesn't believe that paying income taxes is legal". The phrase in the 16th Amendment is to "lay and collect". So "Uncle Sam" can collect or gather his apples from anybody, it's just that he cannot lay as in impose or levy upon the "substance", as we rebelled against in "He has" #10 of 18 in our "Declaration of Independence" . The word lay can also
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'20/20' to feature Trinity accusation | Concord Monitor mean to apply as in a request to which I say: DENIED! plus where be the Sec. 2 enforcement? Login or register to post comments
William
By dtturner24 - 04/09/2011 - 10:29 am
I have learned to bypass postings by Mr Haas as they usually have a grand conspiracy theory connection. I understand he has first hand knowledge of the parking location of UFO's when they are not in use. Login or register to post comments
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This is "peanuts" compared to the Federal orgy against us.

By JosephSHaas - 04/08/2011 - 11:20 am
William: it's called a "common denominator" of the Mass Media gurus coming to N.H. to highlight some of our Article 12 inhabitants and of how they be NOT "protect"ed, be it from an insider in the car, or an insider of a Federal agent off his anthill in Concord, but away from where he is directed by us to report to our Secretary of State. Another common denominator that you fail to pick out here is that of a joining together by either force or consent. So back to the Glen Beck blackboards as you say; (;-) thanks for that, and the mention of the Constitution without the Amendments and so I draw your attention to Article I, Section 8, Clause 17 for consent. Or in other words the rape of us by "Uncle Sam". The spotlight on the key word of FORCE, but like in the tabloids and here the masses really eat it up when it involves a Bob Ward's Crime File Report in Boston right after a John Walsh AMW : America's Most Wanted, on FOX25 every week. The pea-brains can only absorb the micro, but not the macro. The word militate is to use FORCE as evidence. In the Ed Brown case he had proof of an RSA 123:1 FEDERAL FAILURE TO FILE, but that this evidence was NOT allowed to be marked as an exhibit for the jury to weight into evidence to reach their verdict. So back to THIS story here: force was used, but because it was only by one man against a woman, at a single place, the tragedy of it we can comprehend. To the Federal orgy of unrestrained indulgence we look the other way. So if my writings bring you back to the front part of your blinders, so be it. Let the heathen rage. Login or register to post comments
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I have stood at "speaker's corner"

By william - 04/08/2011 - 11:44 am
in Hyde Park where every crackpot idea in England eventually gets aired, but I never..... Perhaps I am a "pea-brain" for not seeing connections. But far more dangerous are the deluded souls who see connections where they don't exist. Black helicopters, anybody? By the way, Joe, I won't ask the moderator to delete your post for the insult "pea-brain." I think it's far more important that your comments face the antiseptic sunlight and be subject to a healthy dose of public ridicule. Let's see whether you have equal courage. Login or register to post comments
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I have stood at "speaker's corner" too (plus the REAL Stonehenge

I was there too back in 1975 and even went to see one of the Earle's: Brinsley Le Poer Trench, the Earl of Clancarty who wrote a book entitled "The Hollow Earth" BELIEVE IT OR NOT! that even tells the tale of President Johnson the first even preparing for an expedition to that "land beyond the pole" as described as some oasis there by Admiral Byrd who said that he saw a part of it. [ That's Andrew Johnson, B.T.W. #17, see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Johnson and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brinsley_Le_Poer_Trench,_8th_Earl_of_Clancarty ] Your mission William is to take on either the role of Richard Kiley, as an actor in the play with song of "The Impossible Dream" as Don Quixote in The Man from La Mancha, or that of not merely a surface skimmer ON the earth but to be like that other actor James Mason, in "A Journey to the Center of the Earth" and go from the horizontal to the vertical. I won't report you either for calling me a "crackpot" (;-) "I think it's far more important that your comment" about sunlight be dimmed a bit to going "Down Under". (;-) - - Actually a crackpot being "An eccentric person", but when the truth be know of these Federalies as in it's not over until the fat lady sings, or in this case "Uncle Sam" cries "Uncle" or should I say has respect for his creator, then and there to determine who the real "eccentric" is, in the adjective of: "Deviating from" the Law! The Rule of Law, and not what most everybody else THINKS it is in what is NOT a Democracy here of mob-rule, BUT that of a Constitutional Republican form of government. Login or register to post comments
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None of us see the connection

By BOB875 - 04/08/2011 - 11:51 am
None of us see the connection either. I guess some people just like to post for the sake of posting. Login or register to post comments
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A.B.C. v.s. N.B.C. (who will win the ratings?)

as each profiles one of our N.H. Article 12 "inhabitants" arguing the right to be "protect"ed. ...will it be for THIS or THAT? Bob: Here it is in a nutshell: You watch ABC-TV for the "Thrill of Victory", and NBC-TV for the "Agony of Defeat". (;-) "VINKO BOGATAJ AGONY OF DEFEAT WIDE WORLD OF SPORTS " http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKEDD1i4oGk&feature=related of: 1:43 minutes 192,241 times [ for the history behind this phrase ]; & for the ABC "Wide World of Sports" intro: "Wide World of Sports Intro 1978 " http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2AZH4FeGsc&feature=related of: 0:31 seconds seen 40,814 times
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Concord Police
By Three3 - 04/08/2011 - 7:58 am
We could have used a bit more information about why the Concord police were unable to do anything about this, especially since the minister did seem to make a timely report. Not that this excuses all the rest of what went on. Login or register to post comments
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The police did drop the ball

By BOB875 - 04/08/2011 - 9:00 am
The police did drop the ball on this and we never did get an explanation. I got a coworker who was there at the time, and he said everyone knew where the girls was, so the police could have found her with little effort if they tried. Anyway, this is such an old story that has been over told. Snooze. Unless we get a new angle like why the police or state did not follow through as both were notifed of the incident. It appears the Chuch is the only one that took action, maybe not the best action but they tried to do something while the profesionals trained in this type of crime did nothing. So I can't understand all the focus on the Chuch as people are not forced to join. Login or register to post comments
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here's the simple version, Pat

By Roberto - 04/08/2011 - 7:39 am
Why do alleged christians hate women? Login or register to post comments

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I know!
By Hunter Dan - 04/08/2011 - 8:38 am
The answer is simple. It's called the Madonna-Whore complex. Login or register to post comments
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Anti-woman culture
By kraftypat - 04/08/2011 - 7:36 am
There is an overwhelming aspect of anti-woman attitudes in many of these so-called fundamentalist religious groups. This man who has been accused of raping an underage girl was protected, while the girl was banished. She is very brave to have come forward to tell
'20/20' to feature Trinity accusation | Concord Monitor her story. According to the current church pastor, people who are interested in joining this church have to be 18 years old now, so this sort of event (making a person get up in front of the congregation to apologize) cannot happen again! OMG! Talk about blaming the victim! Now the victim has to be 18 to "confess" HER sin? The attitude has not changed. In the meantime, the perp is going on trial in May. There are definite similarities between fundamentalist religious groups such as the extremist Christian groups (like this type of Baptist group) and the extremist Muslim groups. The attitudes toward women and girls is very similar. The men are controlling toward women in all aspects of their lives. Until all women are free of this type of controlling attitudes, none of us are free! Pat Kraft Login or register to post comments
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Don't blame the victim

By ForthePeople - 04/08/2011 - 9:56 am
Rabbit, why are you pulling in the budget topic? There are plenty of existing articles to talk about that on without targeting people in unrelated threads. Anyway, shouldn't be blaming the victim. However, I'm just going to throw this out there... adults do what they want to do for the most part. This particular church is not kidnapping people into their congregation. These women appear to enjoy their lifestyle, and if they want to leave, there's the door. From an outside perspective, it's easy to judge, and it's easy to see through the way people are manipulated, but these are grown adults choosing to live that way, and they have the right to do that. You could counter that there are peripheral mechanisms that coerce people into this, and while that may be true, the fact remains the door is a few feet away. The burden is on the adult to take hold of the life that they want for themselves. Personally, I agree with what you are saying Pat up until the last line. They are free now, they just don't want to assert the same kind of freedom that you're talking about. Think of it as the freedom to be subservient. It is this line of thinking that will help you understand other cultures and religions, even if you feel in your heart that it is wrong(as do I). Login or register to post comments
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Don't blame the victim

By yayee46 - 04/11/2011 - 2:23 pm
Rabbit you said "These women appear to enjoy their lifestyle, and if they want to leave, there's the door." I can tell you from first hand knowledge how incredibly ignorant and damaging that statement is. This is an atmosphere where woman are taught they are less then men and males have the final say so....in everything. I can tell you that my mother did NOT "enjoy her lifestyle" of sitting in church with black eyes and bruises all over and when seeking the counsel of the pastor was told repeatedly over a periof of years to "forgive & forget". You obviously have no knowledge of domestic violence and the planning it takes to leave. Trust me when I say to leave the church door would be the same as leaving your abuser. To disobey your husband in front of the church community would place these women at great risk. I would like for you to walk in that kind of fear for even a day and see how much you "enjoy" it. Login or register to post comments
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'20/20' to feature Trinity accusation | Concord Monitor Don't Blame The Victim
By RabbitNH - 04/08/2011 - 11:38 am
My point was to Pat that she seems to defend certain religious groups when it suits her agenda. AKA The Bishop. I am not seeing any victim blaming here. And the last time I looked folks can discuss what they want. Who made you the Forum Police? I guess when one points out hypocrisy on this forum, it is your opinion they are off topic. Just my take and like you I have my views and you have yours. Login or register to post comments
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Have not commented on the Bishop

By kraftypat - 04/08/2011 - 8:48 pm
However, you can include his type of religion as anti-woman as well. I am no friend of him or his church. He should have been indicted, arraigned, tried, and if found guilty, sent to prison. Personally I have no use for him. So I can't imagine why you would ever think that I would defend him or his church. Where did you ever get that idea? Pat Kraft Login or register to post comments
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Baiting isn't helpful

By ForthePeople - 04/08/2011 - 2:08 pm
You can say what you want. It is when you bring in unrelated issues and assume that someone intended or said something that you begin to engage in forum "baiting." By all means, use quotes if it helps your point. Bishop McCormack was a totally separate issue. It has nothing to do with which religion you are, if any. The issue was whether or not elected officials should have public civility, especially when we are going through some tough times. The Bishop was there to offer support to a huge segment of our population at a rally. Coincidentally, you could say that Bettencourt engaged in baiting by throwing out an unrelated topic in an attempt to invalidate or detract from the discussion at hand. It's like when you have an argument with your loved one and bring up something that happened years ago in order to get your way now. Login or register to post comments
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Anti Women
By RabbitNH - 04/08/2011 - 9:41 am
Lets not forget those darn Catholics either Pat. They hate women too as they are Pro Life and against Gay Marraige. Did the Bishop forget to mention that when he was speaking at your rally on Thursday? Login or register to post comments
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'20/20' to feature Trinity accusation - page 2

Former parishioner says she was raped
ABC News described the churches in the release as "a religious subculture that critics claim can foster - even cover up - physical and sexual abuse." Vargas said the program "let both sides tell their story. Obviously, many of these victims feel that this is more than just a network of churches, that there are relationships between these pastors, that they communicate amongst themselves. We can document that the pastors move from one IFB church to another IFB church.
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"But listen, we can tell the stories of these victims and we have several of them at several different IFB churches. I mean, nobody's saying, however, that every single IFB church is like the Trinity Baptist Church when Tina Anderson was there as a young teenager and as a child," Vargas added. Asked about the characterization in ABC's news release, Fuller said he hadn't yet seen the piece. 20/20 will air at 10 p.m. on ABC. (Ben Leubsdorf can be reached at 369-3307 or bleubsdorf@cmonitor.com.)

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Willis arrested for 1997 rape