Church Council Sues to Oust Orange Pastor

A regional council of fundamentalist churches went to court Friday, seeking to freeze the assets of an Orange congregation and force its pastor out of office.

The lawsuit, involving the Assembly of God of Olive in Orange, was filed by the 410-member Southern California District Council of the Assemblies of God Inc.

Council officials claimed the pastor, Tim Waisanen, had been voted out of office last November. But Waisanen refused to relinquish control of the church, to stop holding services or to surrender church and church-school bank accounts containing more than $90,000, according to the lawsuit.

Denies Allegations

Waisanen, in an interview late Friday, denied the allegations. “There is absolutely no truth to them,” he said.

According to the suit, Waisanen failed to win endorsement of two-thirds of the members of his small congregation at 2830 N. Glassell St. in an annual election. According to the lawsuit, Waisanen should have severed all connection with the congregation but instead attempted to win additional support.

The council, at the request of one-third of the congregation, appointed an interim pastor to replace Waisanen in December and announced it had assumed control of the church.

Waisanen became a recognized pastor one year ago. He had been an attorney before taking over the church, according to the lawsuit.

Ray Rachels, assistant district superintendent, stated in court papers that Waisanen lead a minority faction of the church in a purported vote to retain him as pastor and disassociate the church from the Assemblies of God.

The church has national offices in Springfield, Mo.