A longtime Denver minister – whose practice of offering insurance policies to parishioners is under investigation by state authorities – told his congregation Sunday that he has done nothing wrong and that the church won’t change its mission of helping people.
The Rev. Acen Phillips proclaimed at the New Birth Temple of Praise Community Baptist Church that his enemies will not deter him.
Phillips, 71, who state records show is not a licensed insurance agent in Colorado, has not been charged with a crime. But state authorities are investigating a life insurance program he operates through a separate organization that offers people life insurance for $70 a month through their churches. Upon death, 80 percent of the insurance payout goes to the deceased’s family, 10 percent goes to their church and 10 percent goes to Phillips’ organization.
A KMGH-Channel 7 investigation revealed last week that Phillips holds more than 600 policies totaling about $60 million.
According to Aurora police, an investigator with AIG Insurance last summer questioned why Phillips’ organizations were beneficiaries of a life insurance policy on Shelley Lowe, a person of interest in the case of a missing child in Aurora.
Lowe, 33, died in May from heart failure while authorities were investigating the November 2005 disappearance of 6-year-old Aaroné Thompson. An Arapahoe County grand jury is investigating the case. No charges have been filed in the case, which police are calling a homicide.
Lowe’s boyfriend and Aaroné’s father, Aaron Thompson, was in the church Sunday as a deacon. He declined to comment.
Channel 7 reported that Lowe’s $100,000 policy gave Thompson 10 percent and Phillips’ organizations 90 percent.
During Sunday’s mid-morning service at Ogden Street and East 22nd Avenue, Phillips didn’t comment on the specifics of the investigation or the insurance program, and he declined to discuss it after services, but in his sermon he seemed to indicate trouble was ahead.
“Nothing has happened yet,” he told about three dozen parishioners. “But when it does, we won’t have to change our modus operandi. We’re still going to be doing what we are doing – that’s helping people.
“We will continue that tact, even when something happens,” he said. “We will sit down as a church and make sure families get taken care of, make sure children have scholarships.”
Phillips explained after the three-hour service that he wanted to prepare his congregation so they can be strong for whatever happens and that only God knows what is going to happen.
Gary Lozow, Phillips’ attorney, said from his home Sunday that he and Phillips are “trying to catch up” after the burst of allegations against the minister. He said they are gathering information about the allegations and whatever investigations may exist so they can respond to them in a comprehensive way.
“I think as we parse through that and get to the bottom line, we’ll be able to bring some clarity to this,” Lozow said.
Lozow said that no local, state or federal investigators have contacted him and that no one has confirmed to him whether an investigation even exists.
“There are lots of accusations that have no basis,” he said. “But we want to make sure we respond to all of them.”
At the end of Phillips’ sermon Sunday – which was titled “What in the World Is the Church Doing?” – the congregation gathered in the front pews.
“I want to be clear that our church has been in the right,” he told them, adding that he will continue to stand by Thompson. “We will always be with him.”
Outside in the afternoon sunshine after the service was over, members of his congregation hugged Phillips and said the allegations are unfair.
“He’s always helping people, and he’s always getting in trouble for helping people,” said Claudette Sweet, who played piano during the service. “They accused Jesus. What did they do to Jesus for doing good?”
The Rev. Milton Thomas said many churches offer life insurance policies to their congregations as a form of tithing.
“People have misinterpreted that,” he said, “because he’s a controversial person and they take it out of context.”
Staff writer John Ingold contributed to this report.
Staff writer Jeremy P. Meyer can be reached at 303-954-1367 or jpmeyer@denverpost.com.
