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More allegations of misconduct against Mountainbrook pastor

December 9, 2019

Pastor Thom O’Leary

By JOSH FRIEDMAN

New allegations against the embattled lead pastor of Mountainbrook Church have arisen, though officials are refraining from disclosing what the latest accusations entail.

Thom O’Leary, who has served as the lead pastor of Mountainbrook Church in San Luis Obispo for more than 22 years, was placed on paid leave last month amid allegations of groping and alcohol abuse. Mountainbrook Church indicated it would disclose more information about the ongoing investigation on Sunday, but congregants who attended a church meeting received no new details, sparking fresh criticism.

The church board placed O’Leary on paid leave on Nov. 4, a few days after learning of allegations against him. Board members also placed O’Leary’s wife, Sherry O’Leary, on leave. Sherry O’Leary, too, is a pastor at the church.

Mountainbrook Church has hired an outside firm to investigate the allegations against Tom O’Leary. The church released a statement saying it does not want to rush the investigation.

“While we understand that everyone wants to know what’s happening, it is far more important that we do this properly than to rush through it,” Mountainbrook Church said in a statement.

However, church officials also told media new allegations have arisen against O’Leary that are both serious and credible. The allegations reportedly have come from male and female church staffers.

Local author Tina Swithin, a member of the church, previously stated on Facebook that O’Leary is accused of groping interns and/or staff members, as well as other acts, including showing up at church and around town intoxicated.

Swithin, as well as other members of the congregation, criticized Mountainbrook following Sunday’s church meeting for not revealing more information and for disclosing less to congregants than to media.

“They are sending emails to the media about new allegations and I, as a ten-year member of the church sat through a meeting that delivered zero information,” Swithin wrote in a Facebook post Sunday night. “I should have stayed home and watched the news.”

There reportedly has been no criminal investigation launched pertaining to the allegations against the Mountainbrook pastor.

O’Leary has close ties to local law enforcement. He serves as the chaplain for the San Luis Obispo Police Department and serves on the SLO Police Chief’s Roundtable.

Additionally, O’Leary has served as the pastor for the Cal Poly football team, and he also led a prayer beside President Donald Trump. The president described O’Leary as a “great pastor.”

While O’Leary and his wife remain on leave, Rick and Becky Olmstead, senior leaders of Mountainbrook’s parent organization VineyardUSA, are serving as interim pastors at the San Luis Obispo church.


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Thom O’Leary is Mountainbrook Church’s “lead pastor.”


His wife Sherry O’Leary is Mountainbrook Church’s “executive pastor.”


O’Leary’s son-in-law Greg Jeffrey is Mountainbrook Church’s “equipping pastor.”


That’s just wrong. It’s a recipe for disaster — with or without his other problems. Smarten-up, Mountainbrook Church!


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Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.


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Mjd


Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.


I’m pretty sure that the first person to utter that was killed by those He spoke those words to…..


I’ll ask my sincere question again, which no one has answered. I have gotten a ton of downvotes however:


Do the “Core Values” mentioned on the VinyardUSA’s website apply to strangers and pastors equally?


Why does it seem that there is zero mercy, forgiveness and compassion towards the pastor, while at the same time there are people boasting about how evil and messed up they were before finding Jesus?


Does Jesus only forgive laypeople?


Please, can someone explain this? I confess to being ignorant!!


When I visited several of these churches years ago, I clearly remember people testifying as to how evil they were….even admitting habitual felonies before the congregation, IE “I sold drugs, I smuggled drugs, I used to beat people up, I cheated on my wife, I ran a chop shop….” and the congregation literally stood up and applauded!


President Trump admitted to groping women….but many evangelicals voted for him.


Why is pastor Tom not getting the same love and admiration as the guys dressed up like motorcycle gang members and the president?


Please! Can someone enlighten me? I do not believe the entire congregation are hypocrites….I’m obviously missing something! Anyone???


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First of all FYI : I do not believe in the doctrine of “Once Saved, Always Saved.”

Pastor’s are held to a Higher Standard…

James 3:1


NOT MANY [of you] should become teachers ( self-constituted censors and reprovers of others), my brethren, for you know that we [teachers] will be judged by a higher standard and with greater severity [than other people; thus we assume the greater accountability and the more condemnation].

Source(s): KJV Bible


So, as a Pastor for over 22 years…and if the allegations are true:

BIBLE:

2 Peter 2:22

AND it is happened unto to him according to the true proverb,

The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire (mud). IE, became filthy again.

Proverbs 26:11

11 As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.


Matthew 18

15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.


16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.


17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.


18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye (he) shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.


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Read the Wikipedia article. VineyardUSA is an Amway-style religious pyramid scheme, completely morally and ethically bankrupt. None of the leaders have, or care to have, traditional theological training. They achieve ordained status through the church through their lay work, aka roping in more members.


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