Earl Paulk timeline

Atlanta Journal-Constitution, November 20, 2007

Compiled by Gayle White and Richard Hallman / Staff

May 30, 1927: Earl Pearly Paulk Jr., is born in Appling County, Ga., to a prominent minister in the Church of God.

1952-1960: Paulk graduates from Emory University's Candler School of Theology and pastors Hemphill Church of God, now Mount Paran Church of God.

1960: Paulk and his family leave Hemphill under a cloud of scandal. Paulk later admits that he had an extramarital sexual encounter. Paulk returns later in the year to found Gospel Harvester Church in Inman Park.

1973: Paulk's church moves to south DeKalb County as Chapel Hill Harvester Church.

1982: Paulk is anointed a bishop by Bishop Bob McAlister, a visiting clergyman from Brazil.

Oct. 13, 1991: The church opens its new neo-Gothic worship building, the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit.

Feb. 29, 1992: President George Bush meets Earl Paulk to honor his church as a "point of light" for its social work.

May 1992: The Rev. Don Paulk, senior pastor of the church and brother of Earl Paulk, confesses to sexual indiscretions. Earl Paulk says his brother will begin "restoration." Three weeks later, Don Paulk says, "I have risen and I am here to fight again."

June 1992: The church is suffering loss in members and income, and lays off 34 members of its 157-member staff. Many other staff members and church members leave.

November-December 1992: Six women come forward to say they have had secret sexual relationships with married ministers in the Paulk family. One, a former ghostwriter and biographer for Earl Paulk, said she was sexually intimate with him for two years.

March 1999: Fire guts Earl Paulk's home at 1000 Cathedral Place. Pastor Bobby Brewer receives a citation from the DeKalb Fire Department for saving the life of Norma Paulk, Earl's wife.

February 2000: The Georgia Senate commends Earl Paulk for his "extraordinary work for God and his community."

April 2001: Lifelong church member Jessica Battle files suit in DeKalb County State Court charging that Earl Paulk fondled her beginning when she was 7 years old and later had sexual intercourse with her.

Aug. 31, 2005: Mona Brewer and her husband, Bobby, a former pastor, file suit accusing Earl Paulk of manipulating her into a 14-year sexual relationship. Bobby Brewer also claims he let Paulk borrow $400,000 to pay part of the Battle settlement. Paulk denies the allegations, but his lawyer admits the bishop had a sexual relationship with Mona Brewer.

October 2005: Cindy Hall, the first baby born into Paulk's church, says she was coerced into having an affair with Paulk.

Aug. 31, 2006: DeKalb Superior Court Judge Mark Anthony Scott rules that Earl Paulk must give a deposition, answering questions from the Brewers' attorney.

March 5, 2007: Just before Judge Scott is to rule on a motion to dismiss filed by Paulk'slawyers, the Brewers drop the suit. By doing so prior to the Judge's ruling they can file another suit making the same charges at a later date.

June 19, 2007: The Brewers file suit against Earl Paulk, Chapel Hill Harvester Church, Inc and Harvester Communities Inc.

September 4, 2007: Bobby Brewer files a separate suit against Earl Paulk, Chapel Hill Harvester Church, Inc and Harvester Communities Inc.