Factiva to the rescue!
Singapore
Barred believer sues pastors for defamation
Ben Nadarajan
607 words
28 August 2006
Straits Times
English
(c) 2006 Singapore Press Holdings Limited
A DIFFERENCE in opinion over theology has escalated into a
church-goer suing his pastors for defaming him in church.
Mr Lim Seng Hoo, a member of the Calvary Pandan Bible-Presbyterian
Church since 1996, claims its leaders - senior pastor Tow Siang Hwa
and pastor Quek Suan Yew - have tarnished his reputation.
In March, the church's Board of Elders barred the 50-year-old
businessman from all church services for six months, when the
threat of a lawsuit against them looked imminent.
The dispute arose from a translation of the Bible, the King James
version, which the Pandan Gardens church has used for 27
years.
Over 20 English versions of the Bible exist. Some of the more
widely used ones here are the New International and New Jerusalem
versions.
Mr Lim, who read theology in a local bible college, believes the
King James Bible - widely thought by theologians as the most
accurate - is not as perfect as his pastors claim.
He made his view known to 60 church members following church
service in July last year, by handing out copies of a petition for
a public debate on the issue; he also e-mailed other church
members.
Stinging responses came from the pastors via e-mail, church
bulletins and sermons, which he felt hurt his standing as a
businessman and a devout Christian.
In his statement of claim against the pastors, he said they had
repeatedly run him down in church in front of people with whom his
firm may have business dealings. His company distributes
metrological instruments to the region.
In their written defence, the pastors, who have hired Harry Elias
Partnership to represent them, said any damage to Mr Lim's
reputation had been brought about by himself and that their actions
had 'no consequence on his trade reputation'.
Mr Lim, who will be represented by Mr Chia Boon Teck and Ms Jamie
Seah of Khattar Wong Partnership, claims his church friends have
shunned him and discriminated against his four children.
He told The Straits Times that taking up a civil suit was a 'last
resort', especially since he regarded senior pastor Tow as a father
figure.
In the course of the dispute, he said, the insults had grown
sharper. He listed some made by the pastors, which he felt caused
him 'serious injury'. In particular, he was upset at being likened
to Satan and referred to as an 'evil and sinister enemy'.
Senior pastor Tow said in his written defence: 'It is the teaching
of the Bible that any attack on the members of the church and the
pastors would be seen as a satanic attack, as Satan is the
mastermind behind all disturbances within the church.'
He added that as senior pastor and church founder, he had to shield
his flock from incorrect, divisive doctrines.
Mr Lim is also asking the court to quash his suspension from
church, which he alleges was aimed at stopping him from presenting
the church's accounts, which he audited.
He also claims to have found 'questionable' flows of about $450,000
from the church funds to the pastors.
Pastor Quek said Mr Lim had broken his vows to the church to submit
to its leaders and not raise divisive issues.
In a statement to this newspaper, church elders said he failed to
attend six counselling sessions following his suspension.
The statement also said it was a 'very sad day' when a church
member took to suing his own pastors: 'Such an action is against
the clear teaching of Jesus Christ in God's Holy and perfect
Word.'
