Caldwell suspended as pastor of Plainfield church amid investigation, report says

Former Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell has been suspended from his position as pastor of Covenant United Methodist Church in Plainfield while church officials investigate a complaint stemming from allegations that forced his resignation from state government, according to a report from MyCentralJersey.com.

“Because we hold clergy to a high standard, we take the allegations made in the report seriously. Following the publication of the report about the former lieutenant governor, I received a complaint based on the concerns raised in the report,” said Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi in a letter obtained by MyCentralJersey.  “In order to protect the well-being of Rev. Caldwell, the congregation and all those involved, Rev. Caldwell has been placed on suspension while the complaint is processed.”

The New Jersey Globe first reported last week that Moore-Koikoi, who leads the Eastern Pennsylvania and Greater New Jersey Episcopal Area, d received a complaint concerning Caldwell and that the denomination began its review.

The church complaint follows the release of a 61-page investigation that found Caldwell sexually harassed a female staffer and violated state ethics rules by bringing personal guests to ticketed events without paying for their admission and by advocating for a promotion for a state employee with whom he had a romantic relationship without disclosing it.

Gov. Mikie Sherrill called for Caldwell’s resignation after the report was released.  He stepped down as lieutenant governor on September 25.

Caldwell has strongly disputed the investigation’s findings.

In an interview with the New Jersey Globe’s Joe Seewald last week, Caldwell said the Methodist inquiry stems from the same allegations the state investigation examined and does not involve any new accusations or conduct connected to his role as pastor.

“The United Methodist Investigation is simply standard procedure if a pastor has been investigated. It’s nothing new,” Caldwell told the New Jersey Globe. “There are no new allegations.”

Caldwell returned to the pulpit two days after his resignation, delivering a sermon titled “When Lies Become Weapons.”