HOUSTON – Members of an East Texas religious group want Lakewood Church Pastor Joel Osteen to testify in their criminal case.
Six members of the Church of Wells were escorted from Lakewood church in June after police reported they disrupted services. The men were charged with trespassing and disrupting a public meeting.
"At the end of the day what these guys did was go to a church and quote scripture," said defense attorney Jon Stephenson. "We don't believe that's a criminal act."
Stephenson said his clients were exercising their right of religious freedom and intend to fight these charges. During previous court hearings, church elder Jacob Gardner said he believes Osteen is spreading a false message and they were warning the members of Lakewood the "judgement of God" was coming.
"What one person might call a disruption, the other person might call that God is telling them to do," said Stephenson.
Lakewood officials said the men had been warned before this incident to stay away from the church.
"We haven't seen any proof of that," said Stephenson.
Stephenson said he plans to call Osteen as witness in the case if it goes to trial.
Channel 2 Investigates previously reported members of the Church of Wells regularly launch into impromptu sermons on street corners, at other churches and college campuses. The six men are due back in court on Jan. 26. Stephenson said the case will likely be set for trial at that time.
Richard Trudeau
