Judge Orders Holyfields' Minister To Give Deposition

Jet, Jan 10, 2000

A judge has ordered boxer Evander Holyfield's minister to give a deposition in the former heavyweight champion's divorce case.

Attorneys for Holyfield's wife, Janice, say that Creflo Dollar, pastor of World Changers Ministries, may have received as much as $7 million from the boxer. Dollar had argued that he should not be deposed because of the separation of church and state, pastor-parishioner privilege, several state laws and the Bible.

But Fayette County Superior Court Judge Ben Miller overruled Dollar's claim and ordered him to give a deposition.

"It appears Pastor Dollar has placed himself above the law," Miller said. "No citizen of this country is above the law."

Dollar's lawyer, Lecora Bowen, said her client was in a difficult situation because he had counseled both Holyfields. Judge Miller agreed that any conversations intended as confessional or confidential are privileged and can stay off the record.

Janice Holyfield's attorney, John Mayoue, said Holyfield gave $403,000 to the church in 1998, and donated $3.9 million to the church in the 60 days before the ex-champion filed for divorce on March 26.

Evander Holyfield's attorney, Barry McGrough, said he didn't have any problems with Dollar's giving a deposition.

Dollar is a leader in the "prosperity gospel" movement, which teaches that God promises financial prosperity to the faithful. The College Park (GA) church has 20,000 members.