- Overview of BGBC Defamation Lawsuit Media Timeline
- Media Timeline (Embedded Dipity Version)
- PDF of Most Recent Version of Media Timeline
- Media Timeline (At-A-Glance Version)
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This page shares the Dipity timeline of events for the defamation lawsuit of Beaverton Grace Bible Church v. Smith. It covers January 2012 through January 2013.
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~ Overview of BGBC Defamation Lawsuit Media Timeline ~
In February 2012, I began blogging after I noticed that the Google Reviews I had posted about my former church were being removed. Just days later, I received a legal summons notifying me that I and three others were being sued by the former pastor and church for defamation, for $500,000. This timeline gives a framework of lawsuit events but focuses on documenting key media news reports, blog posts, and other online responses in 2012 and early 2013 within that framework.
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~ Media Timeline (Embedded Dipity Version) ~
At this link, you can view the Dipity BGBC Lawsuit Media/Blog Response Timeline.
An embedded version of the timeline will be available later.
The purpose of this particular timeline is to track online media response to important court dates and decisions related to the Beaverton Grace Bible Church v. Smith defamation lawsuit of 2012.
The individual “cards” in this timeline vary in topic. A few give key court dates and/or decisions. These provide a basic framework for tracking the flow of significant events. Most of the cards give basic information on news and commentary posts on websites, blogs, and forums. This includes the posting date, title, “category,” and link. The categories cluster related kinds of sources, according to whether they most closely fit with:
- Christian/Religious Blogs
- Ex-Jehovah’s Witnesses and Ex-Scientologists bulletin boards. (You’ll find some very intriguing comments here, since this case deals with “spiritual abuse”!)
- Regional News Sources (Oregon area)
- National News Sources
- Global News Sources
- Radio Interviews
- YouTube Videos
- Secular Blogs and Websites. (Many of these are political or special-interest blogs, often dealing with civil rights issues.)
- Legal and Court Document Sites
- Parody and Satire
Please note that there were huge spikes in media coverage of the BGBC lawsuit about May 14-22 (around the first court date) and July 13-26 (around the second court date and when the decision was publicized). There are so many media responses that to see all the “cards” on them, you’ll need to click on the “plus sign” box along the bottom edge of the timeline, in order to spread out the items for viewing. Or, select a card and then navigate with large angle bracket buttons on the middle of the card to move to one item left (“<“) or right (“>”).
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PDF of Most Recent Version of
~ Media/Blog Response Timeline ~
Forthcoming [LINK HERE].
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~ Media Timeline (At-A-Glance Version) ~
February 2012
COURT: Plaintiffs File Defamation Lawsuit
Feb 22, 2012
NOTE: The date on the original Complaint PDF says 02-02-2012, but it actually was filed 02-22-2012.
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Smith Starts BGBCSurvivors Blog
Feb 24, 2012
“Introduction”
Julie Anne Smith begins her BlogSpot blog, bgbcsurvivors.blogspot.com. The first post also notes that she had opened a related gmail account. Other early posts explain what the BGBC Google Reviews and subsequent changes to them had to do with why she started her blog. Although much of the initial era focuses on the lawsuit, Julie Anne soon moved into a wide range of issues of concern to the online community of spiritual abuse survivors.
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Smith Posts Initial Response to Threat of Lawsuit
Feb 25, 2012
“Chuck’s Reviews of Me on Google and Threat of Lawsuit for Defamation.”
This is the third post on Julie Anne Smith’s BGBC Survivor blog. The electronic time stamp notes the time of posting as 12:33 PM.
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O’Neal Posts Google Review
Feb 25, 2012
“Anticipation”
Pastor O’Neal posts a Google Review. It says he is suing for defamation and that a member of the pastoral staff at Grace Community Church (pastored by John MacArthur) had heard him read excerpts from Julie Anne’s “endless defamation” and recommended filing a lawsuit. The Review states that “the lawsuit has been filed in the Washington County [Oregon] courthouse,” and that the defendants would be served within the week. The Review stated that Julie Anne “was Biblically put out” of the church. It pointed readers to Pastor O’Neal’s 2009 response to her in previous reviews. [This Review was reportedly edited one or more times, and at some point was removed.]
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March 2012
BGBCSurvivors Blog Milestone: 5,000 Hits
Mar 28, 2012
“5,000 Hits”
By this day, Julie Anne Smith’s BGBCSurvivors blog has received a milestone total of 5,000 hits.
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April 2012
O’Neal Creates Impostor BGBCSurvivors Domains
Apr 17, 2012
“Chuck O’Neal’s Church Launches ‘True BGBC Survivors’ Website”
Three domain names that mirror and compete with Julie Anne Smith’s BGBC Survivors blog are purchased and registered. According to the “Whois” internet tools, the three specific domains created and the dates are as follows, with all three registered in the name of “Chuck O’Neal.” • bcbcsurvivors dot com was created April 17, 2012. • bgbcsurvivors dot net was created April 17, 2012. • bgbcsurvivors dot org was created April 18, 2012. Please note that the dot com site name has been spelled correctly, according to what was purchased and registered. It is b-C-bcsurvivors, not b-G-bcsurvivors. Also, according to “netorginfo” tools, all three sites were recorded as registered on April 19, 2012. The dot org site would not be activated until December 2, 2012. Please note: It is the policy of this timeline not to provide direct links to Mr. O’Neal’s impostor site(s).
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BGBCSurvivors Blog Milestone: 10,000 Hits
Apr 19, 2012
“A Milestone”
By this day, Julie Anne Smith’s blog has received a milestone total of 10,000 hits.
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COURT: Defendants File Anti-SLAPP Motion
Apr 26, 2012
Defendants file a “special motion to strike,” using Oregon’s anti-SLAPP statute. This in effect “freezes” the civil litigation process so that there is no discovery, deposition, jury trial, or examination of witnesses unless a judge determines there is grounds for proceeding. In layman’s terms, basic consideration on grounds for defamation involves two parts: 1. Did the defendant(s) knowingly lie (or merely express an opinion)? 2. If the defendant(s) did lie, did they do so with malice?
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COURT: Plaintiffs File Amended Complaint
Apr 26, 2012
Plaintiffs file an amended complaint adding Meaghan Varela to their list of defendants.
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May 2012
Tumblr – Tagged “Beaverton Grace Bible Church”
May 1, 2012
Category: Christian/Religious Blog
Be sure to check multiple months around May and June for entries.
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COURT: Defendants File Memo on Amended Complaint
May 1, 2012
Defendants file second special motion to strike, as a supplement to their first motion and in response to the plaintiffs’ amended complaint of April 26.
COURT DOCUMENT: Memo Regarding Amended Complaint (24 pages).
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KPAM Radio Interview with Victoria Taft
May 1, 2012 [The date on this interview is incorrect.]
Category: Oregon Regional News Sources
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KPAM Radio Interview with Bob Miller
May 1, 2012 [The date on this interview is incorrect.]
Category: Oregon Regional News Sources
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KATU Video Interview and Article
May 11, 2012
“Beaverton church sues family after they criticize it online”
A late-night KATU news video shares an interview with Julie Anne Smith and posts a related print news article: “Beaverton church sues family after they criticize it online,” by Anita Kissée KATU News and KATU.com Staff.
Category: Oregon Regional News Sources
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VIDEO: KATU
May 11, 2012
“Beaverton church sues family after they criticize it online”
Length: 02:38
Includes interview with Julie Anne Smith. Charles O’Neal declined to be interviewed.
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Stuff Fundies Like
May 12, 2012
“Beaverton Grace Bible Church Pastor Sues former members”
Category: Blogs and Websites
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FBC Jax Watchdogs
May 13, 2012
“Mother and Daughter Being Sued by Their Former Pastor – Pastor Claims He Was Told to Sue by John MacArthur’s Church”
Category: Christian Blog
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Bene Diction Blogs On and GCC
May 13, 2012
Bene Diction Blogs On posts, “Beaverton Grace Bible Church pastor sues former parishioner for Google reviews.” This is one of two postings that appear to the first blogs to mention the “Streisand Effect” and relate it to the BGBC lawsuit. (The Streisand Effect happens when something that someone wants to keep quiet or private becomes noticed and broadcast – usually on the internet – leading to the opposite impact, i.e., exceptional publicity.) Both quote the KATU article of May 12, quote from Charles O’Neal’s February 25 Google Review, and mention of the alleged recommendation to sue given by someone on pastoral staff at Grace Community Church.
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Chuckles Travels
May 13, 2012
“Beaverton Grace Bible Church Files Suit Against Former Members”
Category: Christian Blog
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FBC Jax Watchdog and GCC
May 13, 2012
FBC Jax Watchdogs posts, “Mother and Daughter Being Sued by Their Former Pastor – Pastor Claims He Was Told to Sue by John MacArthur’s Church” (electronic time stamp shows 6:02 AM). This appears to be the first blog outside of BGBC Survivors post of February 25 to highlight the connection between Pastor O’Neal’s defamation lawsuit and the alleged recommendation by Grace Community Church.
Category: Christian Blog
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BGBCSurvivors Dot Com Site Registered
May 13, 2012
“Chuck O’Neal’s Church Launches ‘True BGBC Survivors’ Website”
The site bgbcsurvivors dot com (with a “g” not a “c” as the second letter) is created. The registrant is listed with privacy option as “Domain Privacy Group,” so the purchaser is shielded. This means that all three major competing domains – dot com, org, and net – for Julie Anne Smith’s BGBCSurvivors blog on Blogspot are now locked in, locking her out from acquiring them. The comment on The Wartburg Watch describes some of the confusion over this … all because of a typo.
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ABC News
May 13, 2012
“Oregon Church Sues Ex-Members Over Online Criticism”
Category: Global News Sources
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VIDEO: KGW
May 13, 2012
“Beaverton church sues over online comments ”
Length: 02:27
Includes interviews with Julie Anne Smith and with her attorney, Linda K. Williams.
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Chuckles Travels and GCC
May 13, 2012
Chuckles Travels posts, “Beaverton Grace Bible Church Files Suit Against Former Members.” This is one of two postings that appear to the first blogs to mention the “Streisand Effect” and relate it to the BGBC lawsuit. (The Streisand Effect happens when something that someone wants to keep quiet or private becomes noticed and broadcast – usually on the internet – leading to the opposite impact, i.e., exceptional publicity.) Both quote the KATU article of May 12, quote from Charles O’Neal’s February 25 Google Review, and mention of the alleged recommendation to sue given by someone on pastoral staff at Grace Community Church.
Category: Christian Blog
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KATU Report Goes Viral and Global
May 13, 2012
The KATU video interview and news story goes viral and global, literally circling the world with news outlets picking up the story in such countries as the Philippines and South Korea, and from Australia to the UK in less than a day. Julie Anne Smith’s BGBCSurvivors blog receives approximately 7,000 hits on May 13 – up from 5,000 hits the day before and only 322 hits just two days before on May 11. The hit rate increases dramatically to 17,000 hits per day on May 14, 15, and 16; and then drops to 10,000 hits on May 17. From there it drops again to 4,000 hits on May 18 and gradually slides back down to about 1,000 hits daily by May 28.
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The Daily Irrelevant
May 13, 2012
“Beaverton church sues family after they criticize it online”
Category: Blogs and Websites
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Legal Background: The Streisand Effect
May 13, 2012
Because of the alleged involvement of Grace Community Church staff in encouraging Charles O’Neal to file the defamation lawsuit, bloggers in the online “spiritual abuse survivors” community began talking about “the Streisand Effect.” GCC seemed to want to keep their name out of the press, Mr. O’Neal seemed to want to publicize their alleged involvement, and so it ended up being far more talked about than it might have been, had no one attempted to minimize the connection and/or publicity.
From the Wikipedia article on “The Streisand Effect”: The Streisand effect is the phenomenon whereby an attempt to hide or remove a piece of information has the unintended consequence of publicizing the information more widely, usually facilitated by the Internet. The term is a modern expression of the older phenomenon that banning or censoring something often makes that item or information more desirable, and leads to it being actively sought out to a greater extent than it would have otherwise been.
It is named after American entertainer Barbra Streisand, whose attempt in 2003 to suppress photographs of her residence inadvertently generated further publicity. Similar attempts have been made, for example, in cease-and-desist letters, to suppress numbers, files and websites. Instead of being suppressed, the information receives extensive publicity and media extensions such as videos and spoof songs, often being widely mirrored across the Internet or distributed on file-sharing networks.
Mike Masnick of Techdirt coined the term after Streisand unsuccessfully sued photographer Kenneth Adelman and Pictopia.com for violation of privacy. The US$50 million lawsuit endeavored to remove an aerial photograph of Streisand’s mansion from the publicly available collection of 12,000 California coastline photographs. Adelman maintained that he had photographed beachfront property to document coastal erosion as part of the government-sanctioned and government-commissioned California Coastal Records Project. Before Streisand filed her lawsuit, “Image 3850” had been downloaded from Adelman’s website only six times; two of those downloads were by Streisand’s attorneys. As a result of the case, public knowledge of the picture increased substantially; more than 420,000 people visited the site over the following month.
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Defending Contending
May 13, 2012
“Church suing former member for defamation”
Category: Christian/Religious Blog
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KGW
May 13, 2012
“Beaverton church sues over online comments”
Category: Oregon Regional News Sources
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Patheos
May 13, 2012
“Mother Gives Former Church Bad Reviews Online; Pastor Sues for $500,000”
Posted by The Friendly Atheist.
Category: Christian/Religious Blog
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Chuck Slowe
May 14, 2012
“Pastor Charles O’Neal, Beaverton Grace Bible Church, Does He Have A Screw Loose?… You Might Want To Decide!… I Have Decided!… Screwdriver Anyone?…”
Category: Christian/Religious Blog
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Religion News Blog
May 14, 2012
“Spiritual Abuse: Church sues ex-members for defamation over blog criticizing church’s practices”
Category: Christian/Religious Blog
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New York Daily News
May 14, 2012
“Oregon church sues ex-members for defamation over blog criticizing church’s practices”
Category: National News Sources
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Ex-Jehovah’s Witness Forum
May 14, 2012
“Church sues ex member for blog”
Category: Ex-Jehovah’s Witnesses
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Reformed Anglicanism
May 14, 2012
“News Roundup: Pastor Files Defamation Suit Against Former, Blogging Parishioner ”
Category: Christian Blog
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Oregon Live
May 14, 2012
“Beaverton church sues former member over blog”
Category: Oregon Regional News Sources
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VIDEO: Fox News
May 14, 2012
“Oregon mother, daughter reportedly sued for writing bad reviews of church online”
Length: 04:54
Includes interview with Julie Anne Smith. Also includes panel of experts weighing in with their opinions: Arthur Aidala (former prosecutor) and Tom Kenneff (criminal defense attorney).
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The Wartburg Watch and GCC
May 14, 2012
The Wartburg Watch posts, “Pastor Makes International News by Suing Blogging Critic-Is John MacArthur’s Church Involved?” This appears to be the second blog, after the May 13 post by FBC Jax Watchdogs, to focus on the alleged recommendation by Grace Community Church to Charles O’Neal to file the lawsuit.
Later this day, Phil Johnson, an elder at GCC, comments on this post at 9:53 PM: “I just learned about this story for the first time at noon today. I couldn’t locate your e-mail address, bit (sic) if you’ll e-mail me, I’ll send you an official statement from Grace Church and John MacArthur that you can publish. If you want to talk further by phone, I’ll tell you what I learned about this situation this afternoon. I’ll give you my cell # by e-mail.” [It is unknown how Mr. Johnson heard of Julie Anne’s situation, whether from from her email letter to Pastor Shannon earlier that day, or perhaps from action on the internet.]
Category: Christian Blog
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Daily Mail UK: Mail Online
May 14, 2012
“Church pastor sues former followers for $500,000 after he was called ‘narcissist’ in online blog”
Category: Global News Sources
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CBS Seattle
May 14, 2012
“Pastor Sues Ex-Church Members For $500G For Criticizing Him Online”
Category: National News Sources
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Fox News
May 14, 2012
“Oregon mother, daughter reportedly sued for writing bad reviews of church online”
Category: Global News Sources
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The Wartburg Watch
May 15, 2012
“Phil Johnson Responds for John MacArthur and Grace Community Church”
Category: Christian Blog
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Worldwide Religious News
May 15, 2012
“Church Sues Ex-Members for Defamation on Blog” by Andrew Chow, Reuters
Category: Global News Sources
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Purpose Drivel
May 15, 2012
“Phil Johnson Responds for John MacArthur and Grace Community Church regarding Chuck O’Neal and Beaverton “Grace” Bible Church”
Category: Christian Blog
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Reformed Anglicanism
May 15, 2012
“Update: Pastor Files Defamation Suits Against Former Parishioner-Blogger”
Category: Christian Blog
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The Inquisitr
May 15, 2012
“Church Sues Woman Who Posted Bad Google Review ”
Notes that the current Google rating for Beaverton Grace Bible Church is 1.5 stars.
Category: Blogs and Websites
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The Blaze
May 15, 2012
“‘Cult’: Pastor Sues Family for $500,000 for Posting Negative Internet Reviews of His Church”
Category: Blogs and Websites
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Purpose Drivel
May 15, 2012
“Beaverton “Grace” (cough cough) Bible Church sues its critics, Claims John Macarthur’s ministry told them to do it.”
This post includes a screenshot of Mr. O’Neal’s Google Review response of November 18, 2009, to Ms. Smith’s Google Review.
Category: Christian Blog
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The Wartburg Watch; Phil Johnson Responds for GCC
May 15, 2012
The Wartburg Watch (TWW) posts, “Phil Johnson Responds for John MacArthur and Grace Community Church.” Posted in the afternoon, Eastern Standard Time, it appears to be the only official statement of explanation from Grace Community Church on the subject. It primarily states the GCC doctrinal standards on relevant questions about civil authority and lawsuits. It neither confirms nor denies that anyone on staff at GCC recommended to Charles O’Neal that he should or would be free to file a lawsuit. As of the end of 2012, no other known official statements or explanations have been posted by GCC directly, or on their behalf. Members of the blogging community eventually post questions, such as wondering why GCC posted an official response on TWW and not on any of their own official blogs, why this was done by Phil Johnson on behalf of GCC, and whether their treatment of Julie Anne Smith in their communications was forthcoming enough.
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FindLaw
May 15, 2012
“Church Sues Ex-Members for Defamation on Blog”
Includes links for:
- Defamation Law: The Basics (FindLaw)
- 3 Tips When You Sue for Online Defamation (FindLaw’s Injured)
Category: Legal Background and Court Document Sources
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Purpose Drivel and Johnson / GCC
May 15, 2012
The Purpose Drivel blog posts, “Phil Johnson Responds for John MacArthur and Grace Community Church regarding Chuck O’Neal and Beaverton ‘Grace’ Bible Church” (electronic time stamp shows 11:04 AM). While this post mostly quotes from The Wartburg Watch posts of May 14 and 15, it brings in Julie Anne Smith’s chronology of events from her BGBC Survivors’ “Anticipation” post. The author states that Ms. Smith’s chronology is interesting, in light of Phil Johnson’s response. This appears to be the first blog to ask a key question explicitly about GCC and Bill Shannon’s role in events: “Will [GCC Pastor] Bill Shannon publicly recant for overstepping his authority and dragging their church into this mess?”
Category: Christian Blog
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Business Insider
May 15, 2012
“A Pastor Is Suing A Woman For $500,000 For Posting Bad Online Reviews Of His Church”
Category: National News Sources
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Christian Post
May 15, 2012
“Mom, Daughter Sued for Church Review; Ore. Pastor Wants $500K”
Category: Christian/Religious Blog
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The Raw Story
May 15, 2012
“Church sues woman for $500,000 after negative Google review”
Category: Blogs and Websites
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Huffington Post
May 15, 2012
“Beaverton Grace Bible Church Sues Oregon Family For Defamation After Bad Reviews, Critical Blog (VIDEO)”
Category: National News Sources
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The Examiner
May 15, 2012
“Oregon church sues former member over bad reviews: Hypocrisy and sour grapes”
Category: Oregon Regional News Sources
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The Aquila Report
May 15, 2012
“Woman Says What She Thinks About Former Church Online; Pastor Files A Half-Million Dollar Defamation Suit”
Category: Christian/Religious Blog
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The Democratic Underground
May 15, 2012
“Church sues woman for $500,000 after negative Google review”
Category: Blogs and Websites
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Tech Dirt
May 16, 2012
“Church Sues Former Members For Posting A Negative Review Online”
Category: Blogs and Websites
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Yahoo News Commentary
May 16, 2012
“Church Sues Woman for Defamation; Religious Entitlement Escalates”
Category: National News Sources
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Newsvine: Bonos_Rama
May 16, 2012
“Beaverton Grace Bible Church Sues Family For Defamation After Bad Reviews, Critical Blog”
Category: Blogs and Websites
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Marshian Chronicles
May 16, 2012
“First Example of New Category – Stupid Christians!”
Category: Christian/Religious Blog
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US News NBC News
May 16, 2012
“Oregon mom sued by church over online criticism”
Category: Global News Sources
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Reformed Anglicanism
May 16, 2012
“Rev. O’Neal’s Defamation Lawsuit & Developments”
Category: Christian Blog
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EEW Online Magazine
May 16, 2012
“CHURCH CONTROVERSY: Should a Pastor Sue a Member?”
EEW stands for “Empowering Everyday Women” of faith and color.
Category: Christian/Religious Blog
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Paul’s Passing Thoughts
May 16, 2012
“Beaverton Scandal is Just More New Calvinist Spiritual Tyranny”
Category: Christian Blog
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Taber’s Truths
May 16, 2012
“Should Former Church Members Be Sued For Leaving A Bad Review?”
Category: Christian/Religious Blog
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Reformed Anglicanism
May 16, 2012
“Rev. O’Neal’s Defamation Suit Against Former Parishioner: “Press Release” ”
Category: Christian Blog
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Johnson Posts on Facebook and Twitter
May 16, 2012
Since the whole situation broached many theological topics, Phil Johnson happened to post a Facebook thread with a link to an article on lawsuits and church discipline. He also responded on the thread to comments of others and said on May 16, 9:24 pm:
Phil Johnson Those are some good observations and great questions. If time permits, I’ll deal with this issue in a blogpost next week.
Bottom line: I don’t approve of abusive styles of leadership OR online nests of disgruntled, emotion-laden but biblically hollow chronic complaint.
To sue a fellow Christian and to post backbiting complaints in public venues both violate the principle of 1 Cor. 6:1-8, it seems to me. However, church leaders who violate that principle will incur stricter judgment (James 3:1).
Abusive and heavy-handed, high-control church leadership is a serious problem among some very conservative churches, and those of us who are conservative should speak out against it. If there were fewer control freaks in church leadership, I think there would also be fewer out-of-control complaint blogs.
The aforementioned blog post he planned to do apparently never got done. However, he did raise questions for some spiritual abuse survivors with his choice of phrases, “online nests of disgruntled, emotion-laden but biblically hollow chronic complaint” and “out-of-control complaint blogs.” Did these include The Wartburg Watch, for instance, where he had requested posting a response on behalf of Grace Community Church/John MacArthur – but then apparently did not post the response on any GCC-related website that I’ve been able to find? Was he just using TWW and other survivor forums for his own purposes? Was he really trustworthy?
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David Pakman Show
May 16, 2012
Length: 03:18
Category: YouTube Videos
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International Business Times
May 17, 2012
“Oregon Church Sues Woman Over Bad Google Review in $500K Defamation Suit”
Category: Global News Sources
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Ex-Jehovah’s Witness Forum
May 17, 2012
“Beaverton Grace Bible Church in Oregon”
Ex-Jehovah’s Witness Forum and Recovery Site > Scandals, Coverups, and JW Controversy > Beaverton Grace Bible Church in Oregon
Category: Ex-Jehovah’s Witnesses
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Religion Clause
May 17, 2012
“Pastor Sues For Defamation Over Critical Blog Posting”
Category: Christian/Religious Blog
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FBC Jax Watchdogs
May 17, 2012
“An Analysis of Chuck O’Neal’s Press Release – He is Digging an Even Deeper Hole for Himself and His Church”
Category: Christian Blog
This spiritual abuse survivor blog points out how Mr. O’Neal’s press release actually weakens his case by the presence of a new allegation about a false report filed with DHS/Child Protective Services – when this was NOT to be found anywhere in the plaintiffs’ Complaint, though the related incidents happened in 2008.
The blogger states: “By including this new allegation that is NOT in the lawsuit, in a press release explaining the charges of defamation, is to insinuate that the defendants maliciously, knowingly, filed a FALSE police report as a part of their alleged defamation. After all, there is nothing wrong, in fact to the contrary it is noble and brave (and in most cases required by law) when a church member has the courage to report facts or even rumors of abuse by a minister or church members….UNLESS, the person maliciously, knowingly, files a false police report to harass someone. That seems to be what Chuck is saying by putting this information in his press release. In my view, Chuck is treading dangerously close to defamation himself, stating as fact that the people he is suing filed a false police report – which is to commit a crime – about him in order to defame him.”
Analysis similar to this will continue to surface over time, that the plaintiffs could have/should have filed criminal charges on this count. Also, The FBC Jax blogger is correct that this allegation is NOT found in any of the plaintiffs main court documents: not in the original Complaint (filed February 22, 2012) , the Amended Complaint (filed April 26), or the Opposition to Motions to Strike (filed May 14).
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Ex-Scientologists Forum
May 17, 2012
“Interesting article about a Christian sect fair gaming a former member ”
Category: Ex-Scientologists
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New York Lawsuit Reform
May 18, 2012
“Pastor Sues Church Critics for $500,000”
Category: Legal Background and Court Document Sources
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The New Civil Rights Movement
May 18, 2012
“Religious Liberty: Woman Learns, Criticize The Church, The Church Will Sue You”
Category: Blogs and Websites
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Gather: News
May 18, 2012
“Creepy Church Sues Woman for Expressing Her Opinion ”
Category: Blogs and Websites
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Pope Hat
May 18, 2012
“But I Tell You, Resist A Censor. If Anyone SLAPPs You, SLAPP Back.”
Category: Christian/Religious Blog
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The Young Turks
May 19, 2012
Length: 04:03
Category: YouTube Videos
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Steam Tunnel Pilot
May 20, 2012
“Pope Sues Oregon Pastor”
Category: Parody and Satire
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COURT: Their Day in Court
May 21, 2012
This is the first court date, in which Judge Jim L. Fun considered the case.
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BGBCSurvivors Blog Milestone: 100,000 Hits
May 21, 2012
“Court News”
On this day – the first court date for the case – Julie Anne Smith’s BGBCSurvivors blog went over the milestone of 100,000 hits, sometime between 9:00-9:45 AM (Pacific Time).
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Blog Law Blog
May 21, 2012
“Today in Oregon: Blogging Former Church-Goer vs. Pastor with Anti-SLAPP Motion”
Category: Legal Background and Court Document Sources
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The Wartburg Watch
May 22, 2012
“Update on Beaverton Grace/Julie Anne Smith Lawsuit”
Category: Christian Blog
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The Revealer
May 22, 2012
“Put on your Sunday (Law)suit”
Category: Christian/Religious Blog
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Paul’s Passing Thoughts
May 22, 2012
“No New Thing Under The Sun: Chuck Taze Russell Verses Julie Anne Ross ”
Category: Christian Blog
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The American Heathen
May 26, 2012
“ALL speech is special—except some is MORE special and protected!”
Category: Legal Background and Court Document Sources
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From the Pew
May 26, 2012
“Pastor Sues Woman Over Church Comments”
Category: Christian Blog
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Defamation Lawyer
May 29, 2012
Category: Legal Background and Court Document Sources
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June 2012
FBC Jax Watchdogs
Jun 2, 2012
“Greater Love Hath No Pastor Than When He Removeth His Sheep From His Slandereth Lawsuit – Some Thoughts on the Julie Anne Smith Case”
Category: Christian Blog
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Apprising Ministries Reports on Lawsuit
Jun 2, 2012
“BEAVERTON GRACE BIBLE CHURCH TO SUE EX-MEMBER FOR NEGATIVE BLOG REVIEW?”
Category: Christian Blog
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The Wartburg Watch
Jun 16, 2012
“Pastor Chuck O’Neal, The Blogger, Phil Johnson and Overuse of “Slander””
Category: Christian Blog
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Out of Ur
Jun 25, 2012
“Stupid Church Tricks: Suing for Bad Online Review – A mom learns if you can’t say something nice about a church….”
Category: Christian/Religious Blog
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July 2012
Watchman Africa
Jul 4, 2012
“Mother and Daughter Being Sued by Their Former Pastor – Pastor Claims He Was Told to Sue by John MacArthur’s Church ”
Category: Christian/Religious Blog
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Citizen Media Law Project
Jul 10, 2012
“Beaverton Grace Bible Church v. Smith”
Overview of case and court documents first posted July 10 and updated on July 27 after the judge’s decision was released, dismissing the lawsuit based on the anti-SLAPP motion.
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FBC Jax Watchdogs
Jul 11, 2012
“Readers, Please Donate to the BGBC Defense Fund – Two Days Before Anti-SLAPP Hearing in BGBC Case ”
Category: Christian Blog
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COURT: Second Time in Court
Jul 13, 2012
All parties meet for the second time in court. The session lasts over two and a half hours. Judge Fun announces that he is ready to review the case submissions and write his decision. It will be completed and sent within 10 days.
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KATU
Jul 13, 2012
“Judge weighing whether church defamation suit can proceed”
Category: Oregon Regional News Sources
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VIDEO: Fox News / KPTV Video #2
Jul 13, 2012
“Beaverton church sues blogging ex-member, seeks $500,000”
Length: 02:13
Includes interviews with Julie Anne Smith and with Charles O’Neal.
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KPTV
Jul 13, 2012
“Beaverton church sues blogging ex-member, seeks $500,000”
Article has two interview videos with it.
Category: Oregon Regional News Sources
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VIDEO: Fox News / KPTV Video #1
Jul 13, 2012
“Beaverton church sues blogging ex-member, seeks $500,000”
Length: 02:19
Includes interview with Charles O’Neal and his wife Tonya, and with Julie Anne Smith.
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VIDEO: KATU
Jul 13, 2012
“Judge weighing whether church defamation suit can proceed”
Length: 02:04
Includes interview with Eric Syverson, Attorney for Charles O’Neal, and with Julie Anne Smith.
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Fox12 TV Interviews After Court Hearing
Jul 13, 2012
“Beaverton church sues blogging ex-member, seeks $500,000”
After the first court hearing date, Fox12 Webstaff posts two news videos with interview clips, along with an online article. Their main interview with Julie Anne Smith was done the night before at The Dalles courthouse, conducted by KPTV. Two other clips come from interviews done during a break, in the lobby outside the courtroom. They interview Julie Anne Smith first, then attorney for the plaintiffs, Erik Syverson. After the hearing concludes, they interview Charles and Tonya O’Neal in the courtyard.
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COURT: Judge Decides: Anti-SLAPP Granted
Jul 23, 2012
The court grants the defendants’ special motion to strike; all defamation claims are dismissed. The plaintiffs are ordered to pay the attorney fees for the Stephens, and the remaining defendants were invited to submit statements for their court costs and attorney fees. The decision is dated July 23 and received July 26 by the defendants’ attorney.
A key section that explains Judge Fun’s overall evaluation process is found on page 6 of the official court decision document: “[T]he court having found that each of the claims of defamatory statements concern a matter of public interest, the burden shifts to plaintiff to present substantial evidence of a a prima facie case of defamation. ORS 31.150(3). Plaintiff must present substantial evidence that defendants made defamatory statements that were published; and plaintiff suffered harm as a result. In identifying what words constitute a defamatory statement, several general principles apply. The 9th Circuit Court adopted a three part test to evaluate alleged defamatory statements: 1) The meaning must be evaluated in the full context of the statements; 2) whether the general tenor of the entire work, including the subject of the statements, setting and format negates the impression of a provable fact, and 3) whether the statement is sufficiently factual to be susceptible of being proved true or false. …”
This framework supplies the backdrop to another key section of Judge Fun’s decision, found on page 8: “The court finds that the defendant’s internet postings on plaintiff’s website and defendant Julie Ann [sic] Smith’s blog site, were made in a public forum and concern an issue of public interest. The court further finds that plaintiff has not met the burden of presenting substantial evidence the defendant’s statements are defamatory.”
COURT DOCUMENT – Order on Motion to Dismiss (8 pages).
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KATU
Jul 26, 2012
“Judge dismisses case where pastor sued former parishioner”
Category: Oregon Regional News Sources
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COURT: Defendants Receive Court Decision
Jul 26, 2012
“Judge’s Decision ”
Judge Jim L. Fun’s decision, dated July 23, is received on July 26 by the defendants’ attorney and initial reactions are noted on Julie Anne Smith’s BGBCSurvivors blog.
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The Wartburg Watch
Jul 26, 2012
“Julie Anne Smith Prevails Against Her Former Church”
Category: Christian Blog
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KATU Reports on Judge’s Ruling: Lawsuit Dismissed
Jul 26, 2012
KATU provides an update video news report that Judge Fun ruled that no statements were defamatory and dismissed the lawsuit.
Category: Oregon Regional News Sources
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Oregon Live
Jul 26, 2012
“Beaverton Grace Bible Church loses in lawsuit against former church members”
Category: Oregon Regional News Sources
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Bene Diction Blogs On
Jul 26, 2012
“Beaverton Grace Bible Church loses court case against blogger”
Category: Christian Blog
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From the Pew
Jul 26, 2012
“Pastor Loses Suit Against Blogger”
Category: Christian Blog
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The Wartburg Watch
Jul 27, 2012
“If Your Church Sins Against You…”
Category: Christian Blog
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Patheos
Jul 27, 2012
“Victory for Former Churchgoer Who Wrote Negative Reviews About Her Church Online”
This post notes current Google Review page has BGBC rating of 0 out of 3 with 892 entries; 1 out of 5 at DexKnows.
Category: Christian/Religious Blog
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FBC Jax Watchdogs
Jul 27, 2012
“Bloggers: 2, Pastors: 0. Julie Anne Smith Wins Complete Victory in Anti-SLAPP Motion, Chuck’s Lawsuit is Chucked by the Judge”
Category: Christian Blog
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Chuckles Travels
Jul 28, 2012
“The OTHER Pastor Chuck Loses Defamation Suit”
Category: Christian Blog
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Confronting Babble – on Tumblr
Jul 28, 2012
“Church sues critic – case dismissed!! Victory for Former Churchgoer Who Wrote Negative Reviews About Her Church Online”
Category: Christian/Religious Blog
Source: The Friendly Atheist article on Patheos
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Fracas Escalates with Fred Butler of GCC
Jul 31, 2012
Issues involving Grace Community Church reappear via some rancorous blogging exchanges after the lawsuit is dismissed. On the surface, at issue is whether spiritual abuse “survivor blogs” are anti-biblical, and whether Christians should be making comments critical of pastors and other Christians in authority.
A significant amount of this involved Fred Butler, a GCC employee who coordinates and directs volunteer ministries with their “Grace To You” media programs. In late July and August, there are escalating exchanges on both Ms. Smith’s blog (see the link below to a key post from July 31 with inflammatory comments) and Mr. Butler’s blogs on these topics. Other online community members comment as well.
This escalation eventually halts after Mr. Butler posts false information (i.e., gossip) from a second-hand source about Ms. Smith’s oldest daughter Hannah, who was also a defendant in the case. He is confronted both behind the scenes and on the blogs. He retracts and deletes the comments and apologizes on Ms. Smith’s blog. At the challenge of Julie Anne’s husband, Steve, Mr. Butler posts a public apology on his own blog, Hip and Thigh, on August 3.
Given the very public nature and severity of this offense, some members of the spiritual abuse survivors community wonder why Mr. Butler is not fired by GCC, despite his sincere contrition and public apologies.
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August 2012
Partial Name Change on BGBC Survivors
Aug 1, 2012
Sometime in early August, Julie Anne Smith changes the banner headline on her blog from “Beaverton Grace Bible Church Survivors” to just “BGBC Survivors.” This is part of her ongoing efforts to move on, which is now more possible since the plaintiffs’ lawsuit was dismissed in late July.
Almost no readers seem to notice this important and symbolic change, and there are no comments about it on blog posts. But when she posts about it, she receives many suggestions on complete name changes:
“You may have noticed that I changed the name of the blog to BGBC Survivors. Previously, I spelled out the name of my former church and added Survivors with it. You also may have noticed that I write “former church” and “former pastor” an awful lot. I am purposefully not naming names. I’m ready to move on. The blog has been much more general in nature and serves a wider audience now and the name doesn’t really apply to the majority of the readers.”
It will take her another five months to finalize a new name and site …
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Fred Butler Posts Apology
Aug 3, 2012
Mr. Butler’s apology post has since been removed from his blog, Hip and Thigh. Because of its significance to the post-lawsuit history, the following text is presented in full from a screenshot captured at the time:
Text of Fred Butlers Retraction and Apology:
Friday, August 03, 2012
A Statement to the Smith Family
For the last couple of months or so I have been writing occasionally on the survivor blog phenomenon. And as it is to be expected, I have been engaging the survivor bloggers themselves, as well as their supporters. Probably the main one I have engaged the most has been Julie Anne Smith.
This past week we had something of a heated exchange in the comments of this post. Well… at least I can say it was heated on my part. At any rate, in my rashness, I unwisely asked her about a rumor regarding her daughter that came from a second-hand source. The charge I raised was regarding the personal integrity of her oldest daughter. Without really thinking through the repercussions that could result in raising what honestly is gossip, and as it turned out is untrue, I posted that comment. That was a tremendous fail on my part.
Julie Anne and her family were rightly grieved and upset by me raising this charge and I was wrong for posting it. It only served to add wood to an already volatile situation between them and their old church. I gave my apologies at her blog and asked Julie’s forgiveness and then removed the offending comment. Her husband asked if I would be willing to make a more visible apology on the front page of my blog seeing that the comment in question was made in a post from last week and had since been removed.
I said I would oblige. I ask the Smith’s to forgive me for the offense, especially their oldest daughter Hannah. My comment was way out of line, and I was extremely wrong-headed for posting it.
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Paul’s Passing Thoughts
Aug 6, 2012
“The Philosopher King Wars”
QUOTE: “There is perhaps nothing more representative of the revolution against second wave philosopher kings than the everyday Oregon housewife Julie Anne Smith. When big name second wave philosopher kings came to BGBC’s defense against this humble soccer mom—she didn’t even blink, calling out the likes of John MacArthur lackey Phil Johnson who has recently stopped blogging (supposedly by his own choice). MacArthur hack and executive director of his media, Fred Butler, recently published unconfirmed smut/slander concerning Smith’s daughter after she prevailed against BGBC in a 500,000 dollar lawsuit. After years of striking fear in the hearts of pastors coast to coast, the second wave philosopher king pastors are incredulous in the face of Smith’s unsinkable courage. Their fears of her are warranted as others will follow including American pastors who exemplify a spirit of spinelessness never before seen in any other generation.”
Category: Christian Blogs
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September 2012
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October 2012
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November 2012
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December 2012
Impostor Blog is Activated
Dec 2, 2012
“Impostor “True” BGBC Survivors Blog Site Created by Suing Pastor Chuck O’Neal ”
The first posts appear on the impostor bgbcsurvivors dot org site. In the first post there, Mr. O’Neal explains the purpose of his blog as being to protect the church and its families from “ongoing slander and criminal accusations.”
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Impostor Blog Comments Begin
Dec 11, 2012
The first comments on the impostor BGBC Survivors blog posts begin appearing on this date. Early on, those who attempt to leave comments with views opposing those on the videos and articles find they are not posted.
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Wartburg Watch Takes Impostor Blog to Task
Dec 13, 2012
“Chuck O’Neal’s Church Launches ‘True BGBC Survivors’ Website”
The Wartburg Watch, whose founders specialize in research on church and cultural trends, and spiritual abuse topics, post an article about Mr. O’Neal’s impostor BGBC blog. There is surprising interaction as Mr. and Mrs. O’Neal and at least one church member who does not remain anonymous all post comments, some in response to rather pointed/blunt comments by others in the spiritual abuse survivors’ online community.
Category: Christian Blog
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BGBCSurvivors Blog Milestone: 300,000 Hits
Dec 17, 2012
“Who’da Thunk It?”
In a flurry of “hits” perhaps due in part to a related post on The Wartburg Watch, the count at Julie Anne Smith’s blog goes over 300,000.
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Todd Rhoades
Dec 18, 2012
“Pastor starts website to attack church’s attackers”
Category: Christian Blog
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Apprising Ministries Reports on Todd Rhoades Post
Dec 19, 2012
“TODD RHOADES ON PASTOR CHUCK O’NEAL’S WEBSITE ATTACKING “CHURCH ATTACKERS””
Ken Silva of Apprising Ministries reports on the post by Todd Rhoades that notifies his readers of the existence of Mr. O’Neal’s “survivors” blog.
Category: Christian Blog
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Apprising Breaks News: O’Neal’s License Revoked
Dec 28, 2012
“CHUCK O’NEAL’S MINISTERIAL LICENSE REVOKED”
Apprising Ministries updates their earlier (December 19) report on Todd Rhoades’ blog post about Mr. O’Neal’s “survivor” blog with a confirmed report that Mr. O’Neal’s license to minister has been revoked. “[T]oday I spoke on the phone with Dr. Greg Howell who has confirmed to me that Chuck O’Neal’s ministerial credentials are no longer recognized by his now former credentialing body.”
Category: Christian Blog
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Dipity Timeline Created
Dec 30, 2012 11:57 AM
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January 2013
Smith Closes One Blog, Opens Another
Jan 1, 2013
“Just Moving In: Welcome!”
As part of “moving forward” with her life, Julie Anne Smith closes her original blog associated with the BGBC defamation lawsuit. As BGBCSurvivors.blogspot.com goes into “archive” mode this day, she also launches her new blog, Spiritual Sounding Board, using WordPress. It contains the entire BGBCSurvivors blog content for historical purposes, but embodies a new direction: “Resonating our thoughts on troubling trends and abuse in church.” (She later removes that caption, as it sounds too much like the caption of “Dissecting Christian Trends” at The Wartburg Watch.)
There is symbolic importance to this date for two reasons. The more obvious one is that it is New Year’s Day, and a fresh start. Less obvious but perhaps more significant is that, since 2009, January has been designated as “Spiritual Abuse Awareness Month.”
Link: http://spiritualsoundingboard….g-in-welcome/
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Some Post-Lawsuit Analysis
Jan 19, 2013
“BGBC: Chuck Smith’s Counter-Blog Proves Julie Anne Smith is Telling the Truth”
I’m a month behind because I’ve been reading other survivor blogs as well, and there are a ton of them out there. But since Julie Anne Smith won the defamation suit brought against her by her former pastor for her blog, he has now set up a counter-blog: True BGBC Survivors: Surviving Four Years of Hate, Reviling Accusations, and Criminal Slander.
Just perusing a few documents posted there, convinces me that Julie Anne’s charges are not at all “hate,” “reviling accusations,” or “criminal slander.” First is the DHS interview letter. This convinces me of nothing except that Chuck O’Neal convinced the social worker that the report against him was malicious slander and a false, criminal report. That doesn’t mean that it was. In my research, I’ve found that this sort of thing can happen, that a report can be made, but the victim of abuse does not back it up, whether out of fear or a child’s unconditional love for a parent, making the child fear being taken away from home. There is also a case in Madison, Wisconsin in which Social Services was called many times about a family, only to close the case as “unsubstantiated,” until finally the teen-age daughter was found starved, childlike, and wandering the streets. So this letter is not enough proof for me that Meaghan was being vindictive in her report to the DHS.
Another important document is the historical timeline. This is supposed to “prove” through various e-mails that the church was under “attack.” But on the contrary, it proves that the supposed “attackers” were merely trying to voice their opinions, but the leadership tried to force them to sit down, shut up, and change their opinions because the church leadership proclaimed them to be wrong. When the “attackers” and friends objected to this (and to the church leadership telling the whole church about the situation from their side only), tried to get the leadership to see reason, and naturally spoke about the problem to their friends (as everybody in the world does), they were shut down, and accused of trying to spread division in the church. The e-mails are also posted with explanations which are supposed to color how you read them, accusations which do not bear out when you read the actual e-mails. You can see it all for yourself. I also see him as trying to “poison the well” at Tim Varela’s new church, by convincing the pastor that Tim is doing bad things that must be dealt with, that the pastor has the authority to do so. He also keeps insisting to Tim that BGBC is a Bible, Gospel and Christ preaching church, contrary to Tim’s complaints. He proves through his own posted e-mails that he encouraged the members of his church to stop associating with the disgruntled ex-members, though he denies telling them to “shun” the ex-members. I also note that he connects the DHS report with Tim’s receipt of the e-mail–but we only have a time stamp of when it was sent, not when it was received. How do we know that Tim (or Meaghan) even saw the e-mail before she made her report?
Somehow, Chuck O’Neal imagines this will “prove” his point about Julie Anne and others. But it does just the opposite, all posted to the Internet by Chuck himself. It’s amazing that he actually thinks this will prove his point! Instead, it all proves that Julie Anne is telling the truth!
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Spiritual Sounding Board 