Lexington pastor, members at odds over future of the church

A Lexington church and some of its members are once again at odds. WKYT reported back in November about a lawsuit filed by members of Southern Acres Christian Church against Pastor Cameron McDonald, accusing him of mismanaging $100,000.

Headed into service at Southern Acres, Chance Staley was met by a police officer.

"As I approached the church the officer greeted me, Officer White, and he was very kind. He just said I wasn't welcome here and if I chose to stay I would be charged with criminal trespassing and arrested," he said.

Staley said he wasn't the only person turned away.

"Matthew 18 states that when a brother sins against you to approach him in one-on-one, to approach him in groups of two or three so that there are witnesses and then you tell the church as a whole," Staley said. "It's just really sad because this is a church, a body of really amazing people that God has brought together. We've seen and just experienced some really cool things together."

Just this week, a motion to dismiss the lawsuit was granted by a judge, according to the church's attorney. WKYT spoke with him on the phone.

"There were indications that there was going to be a disruption today," Austin Wilkerson said, explaining that's why an off-duty officer was at the church and why people were turned away.

"We're very well aware there's a lot of people who need to be heard and that there's deep reconciliation needed and the church is very happy to have the opportunity to do that."

Wilkerson said an independent financial review is underway and he fully believes it'll exonerate McDonald.

As far as church leadership goes, Staley tells WKYT a group will meet at the beginning of February to vote.

Staley said, "That vote will be for the new bylaws to be taken into place, that we have written that are fair, for new elders to be put into place and for Cameron McDonald to step down as pastor."