The accusations against Orangewood Church pastor Jeff Jakes (Pictured) first arose earlier this week in a Facebook post
A pastor from Florida is on leave as his church looks into claims that he harassed and verbally abused his intern more than 20 years ago.
The accusations against Orangewood Church pastor Jeff Jakes first arose earlier this week after the alleged victim stated in a Facebook post that she suffered emotional ‘abuse’ at the hands of the holy man in 1998.
‘I was so confused because I revered him,’ Katherine Snyder, now 38 told the Orlando Sentinel Friday. ‘I saw Jeff as the one who could tell me about God.’
While serving as his intern during a mission trip in Acapulco, Mexico, Snyder said Jakes, then 32, confessed his romantic feelings for her at the hotel they were staying at.
Snyder said after the conversation at the hotel, Jakes ‘sought opportunities to be alone with me and to talk about his feelings, about how I looked, and innuendos of his daydreams of us’ the entire summer.
Katherine Snyder (pictured) said that Jakes, emotionally abused and harassed her in 1998
The Orangewood Church in Maitland said they are also investigating separate claims of abuse made by other students against Jakes
The Orangewood Church in Maitland said they are also investigating separate claims of abuse made by other students against Jakes, but have refused to identify any of the alleged victims.
Shortly after the allegations came to light, Jakes, 58, told the his congregation he would be taking a temporary sabbatical.
‘I am deeply saddened and grieved at the impact that my sinful actions have upon someone who was trusted to my care and the student ministries,’ Jakes said during his sermon last Sunday.
‘I was grieved 20 years ago and I’m grieved today. I’m brokenhearted for the pain I’ve caused my wife, the mar on Christ’s church. I’m truly sorry for any pain that this story may connect to a story of pain and brokenness in your life.’
Orangewood Pastor Allyn Williams said the church investigation is being conducted in conjunction with an independent organization called GRACE, which investigates abuse allegations in Christian institutions.
Jakes, who is married with four children, is not accused of sexual misconduct, according to the Orlando Sentinel.
‘This independent investigation will be thorough and will result in an executive summary that will outline the findings of fact and recommendations,’ Williams said in a statement.
‘We are committed to the truth wherever it will lead and are confident that this investigation will be of great assistance in pursuit of that commitment.’
Snyder said she decided to post about her experience after being inspired by the #MeToo Movement last month, saying she couldn’t stay silent any longer.
Orangewood Pastor Allyn Williams (pictured) said the church investigation is being conducted in conjunction with an independent organization called GRACE
After Jakes announced his leave of absence last week, Church elder Gary Wilson acknowledged that Snyder’s claims were not new to some in the church’s leadership.
‘Jeff had previously openly shared this difficult time in his and [Snyder’s] life as a way of encouraging them to guard their ministries, families and protect everyone as well as the peace and purity of the church,’ he said. Its unclear what that ‘difficult time’ specifically entails.
After her Facebook post, Snyder said she was flooded with private messages from others who said they endured abuse by church staff years ago, though none have yet spoken publicly, according to The Sentinel.
Snyder also claimed that Jakes touched her in ways that made her feel uncomfortable as an 18-year-old church intern, kissing her cheek, caressing her hair and holding her hand when others weren’t looking.
‘It is abuse when one person has all of the power,’ Snyder told the Sentinel. ‘You can’t say that I was in a relationship because I repeatedly told him that I wasn’t interested in a relationship in that way… I also made it clear to him that I felt a ton of guilt over this and it was very distressing for me.’
Snyder said she cut off all communication with Jakes after the trip to Mexico, but still received persistent emails and messages while studying at Asbury University.
She later transferred to Florida State University, where she met her husband. She has three sons and now works with an advocacy agency in Atlanta that supports abused children in the court system, the Sentinel reported.
‘I’ve never been back to a Presbyterian church,’ Snyder said. ‘And I seriously doubt that I ever will.’
‘For people to believe that pastors somehow hold the key to heaven and hell… it’s an unhealthy amount of power,’ she said. ‘It’s been a long time and this was my time to come forward, this is what was right for me.’