After flat-lining twice on the operating table, Pastor Joe Sabolick figured the worst chapter of his life was over.
But when he returned to his office at Calvary Chapel of Laguna Beach a few weeks later, the locks had been changed -- and his handpicked church board, including his older brother, had fired him amid allegations that he embezzled money and was "fixated" on the wife and daughter of an assistant pastor.
Today, Sabolick and the assistant pastor oversee a Calvary Chapel in Northern California and are suing Sabolick's brother and the Laguna church, accusing them of defamation. Claiming that church officials spread false rumors of wife-swapping and pedophilia -- later discounted by police and outside clergy -- the exiled ministers and their families are seeking $15 million in damages.
The lawsuit also describes accusations that Sabolick lied about having Jewish ancestors, fell under the control of Satan and "abused" his wife by making her wear "tight jeans."
The case has caused a stir in local Christian circles, shattering friendships and occasionally drawing pickets to Sunday services at the Laguna church.
Sabolick, 46, blames the imbroglio on "jealousy" from his brother George, 50. His lawyer compares the situation to Cain turning against Abel in the Bible.
On the other side is Calvary Laguna's board, which includes men who have been friends of Sabolick's since high school and college. They agree their former boss didn't commit adultery or molest girls, but they insist his behavior toward women was inappropriate for the job.
And they stand by accusations of sloppy finances, staff turmoil and warped theological teachings during his tenure.
In court papers filed Monday, church officials described Sabolick as "out of control" and asked a judge to dismiss the case.
"I love my brother, but I love my Lord more," George Sabolick said in a recent interview. "For Joe to say he didn't do anything wrong here is not true."
Growing up in a Rialto neighborhood that churned out six Christian ministers, Joseph and George Sabolick were always close, said their older brother, Mike.
Both accepted Christ as teens, although George soon rebelled.
At 16, he left home, sprouted an Afro haircut and joined a local folk-rock band. Spiritually, he and his little brother wouldn't cross paths for 12 years.
In contrast, Joe stuck to the straight and narrow. By 21, he was leading the worship band at Harvest Christian Fellowship, a burgeoning Riverside church.
