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NASHVILLE, TN (WSMV) - A scandal has rocked one of Nashville's largest churches.
Its leader, Bishop Joseph Walker, is accused of sexual abuse.
For the first time, one of the women making those accusations is telling her story.
"It's not right. It's not right. That's why I'm doing it, at whatever cost," said Valencia Batson in an exclusive interview with Channel 4 News. "It's not right and it just needs to stop."
Batson said until now, fear kept her from coming forward with explosive allegations against Walker and Mt. Zion Baptist Church.
"Church is not to get sick," said Batson. "It's to get better, to be better."
Friday, the 42-year-old real estate broker filed a civil suit claiming she was sexually abused and spiritually and psychologically manipulated at the hands of the bishop and other church leaders.
"When you're in a position of power, you're not to misuse that power," said Batson. "It is not for you to take control over another person and have them do things for your benefit or your pleasure. That is abuse because you're damaging that other person."
Batson wouldn't speak in detail about the alleged abuse, but claimed it started two years after she joined the church.
Batson and three other women listed as "Jane Does" in the suit claim they would meet with Walker and other leaders for counseling and were coerced into sex at a time when they were most vulnerable.
"There is an incident where I was forced to do something while someone else watched," said Batson.
Still, Batson stayed at the church for 11 years.
"All of me was trapped there. My spirit was in that place and I didn't know how to get out," said Batson. "I didn't know how to leave."
"It's a secret society where you don't say anything, but you know what's going on because you're either arranging it or you're participating in it," she said.
Batson said she was afraid to call police, but one time told a church leader about her concerns and was threatened.
Almost immediately after the suit was filed, the church issued a statement through its public relations firm denying the accusations and questioning the credibility of the accusers.
"It appears this action is not a quest for truth or justice, but instead solely for money," said church spokesman John Van Mol in a statement released on Saturday.
Batson, who is a single mother who lost her home while struggling financially, denied to Channel 4 News that money was the focus of the lawsuit.
"I trusted someone. I trusted someone I thought I could trust. And I feel like that's not the focus here," said Batson. "It's not about money. It is not about money, and it never has been about money. It's about what I have lost."
Last Sunday, Walker acknowledged the allegations as an attack with support from the congregation.
"The Lord said because you've been encouraging marriages and empowering young people," said Walker. "You have 2,000 men at the altar praying and you ask why now."
Copyright 2012 WSMV (Meredith Corporation). All rights reserved.
Chick stayed at the chuch 11 more years.
I know alot of members at his church(es), and this has been the "talk of the town"
DiscussEdit: sorry bout the wall of text...stupid tablet
Its leader, Bishop Joseph Walker, is accused of sexual abuse.
For the first time, one of the women making those accusations is telling her story.
"It's not right. It's not right. That's why I'm doing it, at whatever cost," said Valencia Batson in an exclusive interview with Channel 4 News. "It's not right and it just needs to stop."
Batson said until now, fear kept her from coming forward with explosive allegations against Walker and Mt. Zion Baptist Church.
"Church is not to get sick," said Batson. "It's to get better, to be better."
Friday, the 42-year-old real estate broker filed a civil suit claiming she was sexually abused and spiritually and psychologically manipulated at the hands of the bishop and other church leaders.
"When you're in a position of power, you're not to misuse that power," said Batson. "It is not for you to take control over another person and have them do things for your benefit or your pleasure. That is abuse because you're damaging that other person."
Batson wouldn't speak in detail about the alleged abuse, but claimed it started two years after she joined the church.
Batson and three other women listed as "Jane Does" in the suit claim they would meet with Walker and other leaders for counseling and were coerced into sex at a time when they were most vulnerable.
"There is an incident where I was forced to do something while someone else watched," said Batson.
Still, Batson stayed at the church for 11 years.
"All of me was trapped there. My spirit was in that place and I didn't know how to get out," said Batson. "I didn't know how to leave."
"It's a secret society where you don't say anything, but you know what's going on because you're either arranging it or you're participating in it," she said.
Batson said she was afraid to call police, but one time told a church leader about her concerns and was threatened.
Almost immediately after the suit was filed, the church issued a statement through its public relations firm denying the accusations and questioning the credibility of the accusers.
"It appears this action is not a quest for truth or justice, but instead solely for money," said church spokesman John Van Mol in a statement released on Saturday.
Batson, who is a single mother who lost her home while struggling financially, denied to Channel 4 News that money was the focus of the lawsuit.
"I trusted someone. I trusted someone I thought I could trust. And I feel like that's not the focus here," said Batson. "It's not about money. It is not about money, and it never has been about money. It's about what I have lost."
Last Sunday, Walker acknowledged the allegations as an attack with support from the congregation.
"The Lord said because you've been encouraging marriages and empowering young people," said Walker. "You have 2,000 men at the altar praying and you ask why now."
Copyright 2012 WSMV (Meredith Corporation). All rights reserved.
Chick stayed at the chuch 11 more years.
I know alot of members at his church(es), and this has been the "talk of the town"
DiscussEdit: sorry bout the wall of text...stupid tablet
