Jamila Slaughter, a 27-year-old from Madison County had had enough of what she described as unwanted sexual advances and harassment from then pastor of Word of Faith Christian Center-Jackson, Bishop Kevin Wright.
Slaughter, who worked as a receptionist/administrative assistant at the Jackson church from July 25, 2007 until April 10, 2010, filed a federal lawsuit in June that accused Wright of making repeated and unwanted and unwelcomed sexual advances toward her. According to the lawsuit, Slaughter claims that the advances happened during the period from on or about December of 2008 until Oct. 15, 2009.
According to the lawsuit (paragraph 36), Wright used his apparent authority to make sexual advances and to demand sexual favors and this had the effect of unreasonably interfering with Slaughter’s work performance and created an intimidating, hostile and offensive working environment.
The lawsuit also alleges in Paragraph 7 that: “In December of 2008, Bishop Wright told Slaughter “[y]ou are so cute. I wish I could take you home with me,” while they were aboard an airplane in route to a mission trip to South Africa. Wright’s wife Leslie did not accompany her husband and young congregants on that mission trip to South Africa. While in South Africa, Bishop Wright invited the mission participants to his hotel suite where he talked about and gave advice on relationships. Slaughter did not request any advice. That, however, did not stop Bishop Wright from offering his two cents. Bishop Wright said “Jamila, you need an older man someone in his late 30s maybe even 40s. Someone who doesn’t want any children.”
According to the lawsuit upon their return from the mission trip, Wright acknowledged to Slaughter that he was referring to himself when he told her she needed an older man.
In paragraph 10 of the lawsuit, it details that Wright summoned Slaughter to his office and grabbed her and kissed her in the mouth. Slaughter said she pulled away and told Wright that his sexual advances were unwelcomed and unwanted and again asked him to stop.
“Bishop Wright offered a half-hearted apology, saying when he’s around Slaughter, he feels like a child again,” according to the lawsuit.
In Wright’s response that was filed Sept. 23, Wright denies most of the charges leveled against him in Slaughter’s lawsuit. However, he admits in paragraph 9 of his filings: “The defendant denies that the allegations contained of paragraph ten (10) of the complaint admits in part the allegations contained therein in that they did embrace and kiss. The defendant denies the “half-hearted apology.”
One of the lawyers representing Slaughter is Carlos Moore of Grenada, Miss. He told The Mississippi Link: “My client is glad that Kevin Wright has finally admitted the truth at least in part. He kissed her. It was unwanted and unwelcomed. He continued to make inappropriate advances toward her until she finally had to seek other employment.”
Wright was ousted as senior pastor of Word of Faith in 2010 in part because of alleged financial mismanagement under his leadership. But according to Wright, a married father of five, before he left the church, he was dealing with an undisclosed “moral issue.”
In a news release issued Sept. 10, 2010, Word of Faith International said it was informed earlier that year of an alleged impropriety in the Jackson church and an investigation was launched that lasted several months.
“At its conclusion, it became necessary for Bishop Kevin Wright to be replaced as senior pastor of the Jackson church due to his moral failure,” the statement said.
Slaughter’s lawsuit does not ask for a specific amount of money but rather ask for relief in that the court should enter declaratory relief declaring that Defendants have engaged in quid pro quo discrimination, sexually hostile work place, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and negligent infliction of emotional distress; award the plaintiff [Straughter] compensatory and punitive damages for intentional sex discrimination and harassment in the amount to be determined by a jury of their peers; award plaintiff attorney fees, costs and expenses of litigation and award such other relief to which plaintiffs may be entitled under law.
“With the admission of kissing my client, it makes no sense for Wright to continue to fight this case. He should pay up immediately as should Word of Faith. There is no need to tie up precious judicial resources any longer,” Moore said.
This case is set for trial September 2012.
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