Sexual misconduct allegations brought against deceased pastor

By Danielle Strenke
Accusations of sexual misconduct by the late Pastor Clayton Rudolph were filed before his death last month.
According to a March 13 letter sent by Bishop Peter Rogness of the St. Paul Area Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to congregants of Trinity Lutheran Church in North Branch, an adult woman filed the allegations with the St. Paul Area Synod before Rudolph was diagnosed with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Rudolph died from the disease before he was notified that the complaint was filed, according to the letter sent by Bishop Peter Rogness.
The letter was sent to congregants as well as parents of students attending the churchís school. The letter stated that the charges were for sexual misconduct that occurred over a period of several years.
ìAfter investigating the complaint, we have deemed the complaint to be a credible one,î Bishop Rogness said in the letter.
The letter further states that the investigation was proceeding into the disciplinary process, which possibly would have led to Pastor Rudolphís removal from the clergy roster at Trinity.
Members of Trinity and school parents were invited to an open forum meeting Sunday, March 16 at the church to discuss the issue. Bishop Rogness, along with Synod staff member Reverend Nancy Maeker, led the discussion.
Current Interim Senior Pastor Galen Knutson, who joined the church in mid-February, said about 150 to 200 people attended the meeting.
ìThe response from the congregation is hard to speculate on,î he said. ìBut itís fair to say theyíre all over the spectrum on a trauma like this. All those feelings are normal.î
Knutson said he has spoken with several of the 2,200 members of the congregation about the allegations. ìWe are trying to move forward.î
In a telephone interview last week, Rev. Maeker said she could not elaborate on the specifics of the allegations, only to say it is considered ìserious sexual misconductî and that the woman was an adult during the entire time period when the alleged misconduct occurred.
She said the woman who filed the complaint had been in counseling, and through therapy had realized she needed to bring the issue forward.
Last week, the Synodís Communications Director Beth Helgen said that at this point, the investigation is completed. A civil suit could be filed against Trinity Lutheran, but she believes the victim has chosen not to pursue any civil damages.
Bishop Rogness explained in the letter why it was important for the Synod to bring this matter forward, even after Pastor Rudolphís death.
ìWhen allegations of pastoral misconduct are kept quiet, leaving a few to know and many unknowing, rumors and half-truths seep out for years to come, hindering the congregation from ever dealing openly with matters that affect its life,î he stated.
ìThere needs to be an unmistakable understanding throughout the church that such inappropriate conduct on the part of clergy is wrong.î
To assist the congregation in moving forward, the Synod has brought in healing consultant Nancy Biele, who will work with members in groups or individually, depending on the needs of the congregation. She has also met with church and school staff and the governing council of the church.
The initial stage of Bieleís work comes in the form of listening sessions being held at the church. The first two were already held, with the last scheduled session for April 1 and a youth listening session for seventh through twelfth grades March 30.

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