A group of other deacons, longtime members of the church who opposed Jones, had fired Jones in November 2010, an employment termination Doggett ruled was a legitimate firing by legitimate deacons. "Contrary to Jones' belief, ... Jones was not the pastor of Mount Zion when the new deacons were ordained," Doggett wrote. "Because Jones had been terminated as pastor of the church on Nov. 16, 2010, he did not have the pastoral authority to ordain the December 2010 deacons." Bradley Drell, one of two attorneys for the anti-Jones faction, announced the news of Doggett's ruling to his Mount Zion clients Thursday night. "I'm still rejoicing," said Bettye Beard. "They wanted to come in here and take over our church. They almost did it. Mr. Jones had big plans for our church -- without us," Beard said.
About a year ago, congregational fissures started showing as Mount Zion members who had been in the church for years -- some for generations -- began broadcasting their dislike for Jones and the way he was running things. So Jones enlisted the help of newer Mount Zion members who felt that longtime members jealously guarded control over the church. The newer members felt Jones gave them more authority, a louder voice. Some in the opposing factions did not get along, and going to church at Mount Zion became an ordeal, according to court papers in the seven lawsuits spawned by the controversy. Stalking, fighting, cursing, threats, grabbing the microphone from someone else's hand, watching who attended an anti-Jones meeting and taking names -- all became part of the Sunday worship experience. Many left the church.
