Church members sue for financial records in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

FROM JSONLINE.COM  -

Members of a Milwaukee church have sued it and its pastor to obtain financial records the lawsuit claims have been withheld from an audit committee.

The suit, filed Monday in circuit court, names Jeremiah Missionary Baptist Church Inc., 4519 W. Villard Ave., and pastor Eugene Cowan II as defendants. The named plaintiffs include David L. Mays, a deacon, and unnamed "concerned members" of the church.
Cowan said he did have an audit and internal control review done when he first came to the church from Michigan in 2010 and found no missing money or improprieties. He said a disgruntled faction in the congregation numbers fewer than 10 of the church's 350 members.
"They've caused a ruckus or split, but the church has healed since that point," Cowan said Tuesday.
According to the complaint:
Church members concerned about the church's finances decided in May 2009, three months after the sudden death of their pastor, the Rev. Reginal T. Moore, to conduct an audit of the church's finances and formed a committee led by Mays that also was tasked with considering new bylaws for the church.
Cowan became pastor in February 2010 and initially refused to cooperate with an audit, the suit contends. He later turned over some paperwork but not the detailed bank account information, canceled checks and credit card records requested.


Members are concerned that funds have gone missing without explanation and that Cowan has threatened to excommunicate members who continue to challenge his use of church money.
Some church members also voted to adopt new bylaws, but in January, Cowan moved to disband the audit committee and revert to the previous bylaws, all without proper notice, the suit says.
"Pastor Cowan has in every way opposed, frustrated, and refused to cooperate with Jeremiah's Audit & By-Laws Committee," the suit says.
The suit asks that a court order Cowan and the church to allow inspection of all the requested financial records and also claims Cowan has breached his fiduciary duty to the church and threatened its status as a tax-exempt organization. It seeks unspecified damages, costs and any unjust enrichments Cowan might have received as a result of any breach of duty.