Wheaton pastor ousted after his arrest

[TJ Phaserman 2]

(Chicago, IL) - A long-time pastor of the 101-year-old Second Baptist Church of Wheaton has been dismissed from his job after several women accused him of improperly touching them in a gym, according to church members.

 

Church service went on as usual Sunday, with no mention of a meeting the night before in which the congregation was asked to decide the fate of Rev. Andre Allen, according to members.

 

"He is no longer a preacher there. We voted him out," according to an unidentified woman who answered the phone at the church Sunday.

 

Allen has led Second Baptist for more than 22 years and has been a leader on civil rights issues in DuPage County.

 

Reached by phone and asked for comment Sunday, Allen, 54, responded: "Let me give that some thought and prayer."

 

His dismissal stemmed from the recent discovery by church members that Allen had been charged with battery and disorderly conduct after being accused of touching three women in a provocative manner at a Schaumburg gym in November, according to police.

 

Under a plea bargain, Allen pleaded guilty to falsely presenting himself as an employee of the gym and was sentenced to 10 days of community service and a year's court supervision, according to court records.

 

Two weeks ago, the church cabinet voted 16-3 to request his resignation, but Allen refused.

 

Wheaton police were stationed outside the church Saturday night, standing by as a precaution, said police Sgt. Bob Miller.

 

"There were no arrests, nothing of significance that happened police-wise," he said. "We expected that some of the tempers may have been up last night based on the vote of the church. Just as a precaution we decided to have a presence."

 

On Sunday, church officials declined comment, shooing reporters off the property.

 

One longtime member, Martha Martin, said she has been attending Second Baptist for decades.

 

"I love him and I'm going to miss him and I hate that he has to go," she said of Allen.

 

Schaumburg police were called to Lifetime Fitness, 900 E. Higgins Rd., on Nov. 7 after three women said Allen, representing himself as an employee, had offered to demonstrate martial arts tactics. He grabbed the women, lay on top of them and thrust himself against them, authorities said.

 

Allen's attorney said his client is adamant that there was no sexual conduct.

 

Allen was a Big Ten wrestling champ for Northwestern University in 1975. He became pastor of Second Baptist after graduating from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, Evanston, in 1984.

[Theunicornhunter 2]

You don't see too many Second Baptist Churches. Usually they just pick some other sort of name.