Ralph Wilkerson

Orange County pastor Ralph A. Wilkerson has agreed to answer questions about a former associate accused of raising more than $160 million from evangelical Christians in an elaborate international investment fraud, Wilkerson's attorney said. Wilkerson, 77, was criticized last month by a court-appointed receiver who said the pastor had failed to help recover assets that would benefit people left destitute by the alleged scam run by Gregory E. Setser, an Inland Empire-based entrepreneur.

Orange County pastor Ralph A. Wilkerson has agreed to answer questions about a former associate accused of raising more than $160 million from evangelical Christians in an elaborate international investment fraud, Wilkerson's attorney said. Wilkerson, 77, was criticized last month by a court-appointed receiver who said the pastor had failed to help recover assets that would benefit people left destitute by the alleged scam run by Gregory E. Setser, an Inland Empire-based entrepreneur.

Paul Roper, a self-appointed Christian vigilante who forced television minister Jim Bakker to own up to an extra-marital sexual encounter, has for the second time appeared in the middle of a fray over ecclesiastical morality. The first time was four years ago when Roper took to task Rev. Ralph Wilkerson, the flamboyant founder of Melodyland Christian Center in Anaheim.

The pastor of a large church where the first newborn of the year was presented at a service moments after a rushed delivery lashed out at the media Thursday for questioning the event and declared that he would not hesitate to do it again. "There wasn't anything wrong," said the Rev. Ralph Wilkerson of Melodyland Christian Center. "If he (the doctor) wants to bring another baby over, I'll bless the baby."

State medical officials are investigating an Anaheim general practitioner who timed the delivery of a baby on New Year's Eve so he could tuck the infant into a Christmas stocking, whisk her to Melodyland Christian Center, and display her before a nationally televised religious service as one of the first babies of 1990. The conduct of Dr. Charles Wesley Turner Jr.

The pastor of a large church where the first newborn of the year was presented at a service moments after a rushed delivery lashed out at the media Thursday for questioning the event and declared that he would not hesitate to do it again. "There wasn't anything wrong," said the Rev. Ralph Wilkerson of Melodyland Christian Center. "If he (the doctor) wants to bring another baby over, I'll bless the baby."

Regarding Jim Carlton's article, "Pastor Lashes Out at Media" (Jan. 5), I was very disappointed in Pastor Ralph Wilkerson's and Dr. Charles Wesley Turner Jr.'s failure to recognize the legitimate grievances expressed by the media concerning their actions. It's bad enough to make a public media and congregational spectacle out of one of God's greatest miracles--the birth of a baby. But to threaten the health of the child, and then deny the planning or the threat, is inexcusable.

A deal that could provide land to further expand the Anaheim Convention Center and help a local church out of debt has been approved by the City Council. The city purchased an option to buy a four-acre parcel of property owned by Melodyland Church, 400 W. Freedman Way, earlier this week. "We're going to take a look at the price, and if it's economically feasible, the city will look into it," City Manager James Ruth said. "We think we (have) an opportunity there that may not come along again."

Authorities on Sunday were investigating the death of a Buena Park woman whose body was found in the parking lot of the Melodyland Christian Center. Jeanne Annette Hays, 40, had suffered a "blunt force trauma" to the head and was found about 9:36 p.m. Saturday lying fully clothed in the southeast part of the Melodyland parking lot on 400 W. Freedman Way, said Police Lt. John Cross. Police were called to the scene by a passer-by who reported seeing the woman's body, police officials said.

After sparring in court for four weeks over control of an Anaheim school of theology, both sides claimed victory Tuesday in the final verdict. Orange County Superior Court Judge Judith M. Ryan ruled that the Rev. Ralph Wilkerson's unlawful takeover of the Melodyland School of Theology last year did not harm a dissident faction that was vying for control of the seminary. The victory was Wilkerson's, according to Jonathon A.

State medical officials are investigating an Anaheim general practitioner who timed the delivery of a baby on New Year's Eve so he could tuck the infant into a Christmas stocking, whisk her to Melodyland Christian Center, and display her before a nationally televised religious service as one of the first babies of 1990. The conduct of Dr. Charles Wesley Turner Jr.

Paul Roper, a self-appointed Christian vigilante who forced television minister Jim Bakker to own up to an extra-marital sexual encounter, has for the second time appeared in the middle of a fray over ecclesiastical morality. The first time was four years ago when Roper took to task Rev. Ralph Wilkerson, the flamboyant founder of Melodyland Christian Center in Anaheim.

After months of negotiation, the city of Anaheim has reached a tentative agreement to purchase three acres of the Melodyland Christian Center, which has recently defaulted on about $5 million in loan payments for its prime property next to Disneyland. The tentative deal, pending City Council approval, includes a key provision that would give the city the right of first refusal on the future sale of the center's remaining acreage.

In a move that left both council members and most local developers each feeling like they got the bad end of the deal, the City Council extended for 90 days a moratorium on building around the Disneyland area, balking at a one-year freeze that had been recommended. Some members of council supported the longer building ban, which city planners had recommended, but voted for the less severe moratorium after Mayor Fred Hunter and Councilman William D.