Sex Abuse Allegations Against Assemblies of God Highlight Systemic Failures

In a lawsuit filed in Craighead County Circuit Court, six women have accused Refuge Church in Jonesboro, Arkansas, and the Assemblies of God (AOG) leadership of neglecting warnings about Tony Waller, a former children’s pastor. For over a decade before police discovered incriminating videos on Waller’s computer, girls alerted church authorities to abuses occurring behind closed doors.

The lawsuit claims that instead of taking action to protect children, church leaders allowed Waller to continue his role, where he allegedly groomed, molested, and filmed girls. Reports to church leaders began in 2000, yet actions to address these allegations were minimal. Waller was temporarily suspended around 2004 after girls found a hidden camera, yet he was reinstated soon after, allegedly continuing his abuse for years.

Waller’s abuse ended in 2015 when his wife discovered illicit images on his computer, leading to his arrest. By 2016, he had pleaded guilty to raping two girls and was sentenced to life in prison.

Stephanie Davis, among the plaintiffs, recounts how her family approached church leaders after Waller drugged and recorded her at age 12. Davis has filed the lawsuit to hold church leaders accountable and to demand stricter child protection policies across the Assemblies of God.

Tony’s in prison for the rest of his life, and that’s good, Davis said in an interview, But he’s not the only one responsible for what happened to us.

Investigations by NBC News revealed Waller’s actions were part of a broader pattern within the Assemblies of God Churches, whereby accused ministers were frequently reinstated without notifying legal authorities. The Assemblies of God has resisted making stricter child protection measures mandatory, leaving these decisions to local churches.

After the NBC report, more women joined Davis in taking legal action against the church and its leaders. The lawsuit argues that leaders prioritized protecting the church’s reputation over children’s safety.

The Assemblies of God’s General Council stated in a response that they were unaware of allegations against Waller until 2015, claiming action was taken promptly once informed. However, the lawsuit suggests a history of neglect regarding child protection, highlighted by the numerous accusations against church leaders and staff over many years.

Refuge Church claims to have enhanced child safety policies after Waller’s arrest, incorporating background checks and mandatory reporting. However, critics, including Davis, remain skeptical, emphasizing the need for the Assemblies of God to implement nationwide safeguards.

The lawsuit serves not only to address past abuses but also aims to prevent future incidents by urging the denomination to enforce stringent policies that ensure the safety of children within their congregations.

Davis emphasizes the preventable nature of such abuses through vigilance and proper reporting protocols, stating, These things could have been prevented, if somebody had listened.