The Rev. C. Dennis Williams is leaving San Diego's oldest African-American church to take over a Los Angeles church whose pastor was removed for the alleged sexual abuse of minors.
The Rev. Sylvester Laudermill Jr. was dismissed this month from Ward African Methodist Episcopal Church in Los Angeles by Bishop John Bryant following complaints that he made sexual advances toward an underage member of the congregation.
Bryant said a conference committee looked into the allegations and sustained them.
“When a child is involved, the bishop must remove the person from AME ministry and I did,” Bryant said in an interview.
The bishop confirmed that Laudermill also is under criminal investigation in St. Louis, where he used to be a pastor. He is accused of having a seven-year sexual relationship with a male that began when the boy was 14. Attempts to reach Laudermill were unsuccessful, though he has maintained his innocence.
Williams will preach his last sermon as pastor of Bethel Memorial AME Church in San Diego this weekend and will be in Ward AME's pulpit beginning the first Sunday in June.
“I just have to go in and try to bring restoration and healing within the church,” said Williams, who has been at Bethel Memorial for 10 years.
Williams will be honored at a farewell luncheon Sunday following the 11 a.m. service. The 45-year-old minister grew up in Orange County and began preaching when he was 15.
Bryant praised Williams this week.
“He has done such an excellent job his whole career,” the bishop said.
The Rev. Anthony Hughes, of St. Paul AME Church in San Bernardino, has been appointed the new pastor of Bethel Memorial.
