Filed: November 10, 2010 – Defendants: Pastor Bob Snyder & Pastor Matt Wiley
Opening Statement
Members of the jury, this case concerns Rice Road Community Church – a place I entered in 2009 searching for healing after betrayal at Wellspring. What I found instead was more of the same: pressure, dishonesty, and ultimately, broken commitments.
Exhibit A: The Invitation
Mark Garner, a friend who had also suffered fallout from Marc Brulé and Andrew Thompson, invited me to Rice Road. He had already connected with Senior Pastor Bob Snyder. I also met Youth Pastor Matt Wiley. Both welcomed my wife and me warmly. I hoped this could be a fresh start.
Exhibit B: Pressured Too Soon
Within two weeks, Pastor Bob called me into his office. I thought he wanted to support us through recovery. Instead, he asked me to lead worship. I was still raw from Wellspring and declined. I offered to sing or play guitar, but I was not ready to lead a team.
Shortly after, Pastor Bob and his wife hosted us and the Garners for dinner. They were gracious. For a short time, we felt comfortable.
Exhibit C: The Website Contract
Pastor Bob then asked me to design a website for Rice Road. As a professional, I agreed, giving them a deep discount. We signed a five-year contract at $60/month, covering design, hosting, training, and support. Bob handled it respectfully.
Exhibit D: A New Pastor, Familiar Problems
Soon, Pastor Bob was removed, and Matt Wiley became senior pastor. In his first week, Matt met with Marc Brulé – the very man whose actions had driven both Mark Garner and me out of Wellspring. By the end of that meeting, Marc, Andrew Thompson, and Matt were allies. Matt was eager to share his excitement with me, oblivious to how deeply it cut.
Exhibit E: The Lies
Not long after, Mark Garner confronted church leadership after catching them lying to the congregation about Bob Snyder’s removal. Mark left immediately. My wife and I left a week later. Within weeks, others followed in an exodus of disillusioned members.
Exhibit F: Broken Commitments
But one more betrayal remained. My five-year contract with Rice Road was still active. After cozying up to Marc and Andrew, Pastor Matt unilaterally canceled it, claiming a youth would build a new site. The breach cost my company thousands of dollars. Beyond the financial harm, it was disheartening to realize that my tithes had gone to support leaders who would not even honor a simple written agreement.
Closing Argument
The evidence shows:
- A pastor who pressured me into service while ignoring my emotional state.
- A successor who allied himself with proven manipulators.
- Leadership that lied to its congregation.
- A church that broke a legally binding agreement.
Verdict
Integrity is supposed to be the foundation of Christian leadership. At Rice Road, it was sacrificed for politics and self-preservation. The verdict is guilty – guilty of dishonesty, guilty of betrayal, guilty of broken promises.
Final Word
When leaders prioritize their own agendas over truth and transparency, they undermine the very faith they claim to represent. Rice Road Community Church was not a place of refuge. It was another chapter in the same story: betrayal dressed in religious clothing.