Newspaper Article

Creditors from past stalking pastor
By Bill Alnor
Delaware County Daily Times September 22, 1986

The Rev. Frederick Drummond, founder of the Church of Our Saviour in Concordville, previously presided over two churches that collapsed in financial difficulty, leaving a trail of unpaid bills.

Today, creditors are lining up to collect debts owed to them by the leader and congregation of the troubled and controversial church.

The claims are aimed at Durawood, a kitchen remodeling firm sponsored by key members of the church.

Durawood was staffed almost entirely by members of the Church of Our Saviour who were recruited under the belief that profits from the kitchen remodeling arm would be uses to send church missionaries around the world, numerous former members have said.

Drummond bragged from the pulpit he was the "chairmen of the hoard" of Durawood

However, no missionaries were ever sent out and dozens of firms filed lawsuits against Durawood alleging that the firm, which folded due to financial difficulties, owed them thousands of dollars.

Published reports indicate that in 1968, shortly after Drummond became pastor of his first church, the Seaview Baptist Church in Pacifica, Calif., he dazzled his tiny congregation with a grandiose building plan and gradually financially ruined the church.

Newspaper sources report the church fell onto hard times when Drummond began plans to build a school at the 24member church, and purchased buses to bring in new converts from the San Francisco Bay area. Published reports, indicate when the spending and financial difficulties started he was confronted by
several ministers and members of his congregation who were concerned about his extravagant spending and his dominating of the lives of members.

The congregation fell apart, the church couldn't pay for a new school building and the Property was foreclosed, according to e nearby San Jose minister who was quoted in a 1979 newspaper article. The troubles forced Drummond to leave town taking several church members with him, according to published reports.

From there, Drummond moved to Springfield, Mo., attended a Bible College for a short time before dropping out to form the Galilean Baptist Church. According to articles in the Daily Times the church soon fell into bankruptcy, leaving about 100 local creditors holding unpaid bills totaling $312,000. Eventually the church was sold at a sheriffs sale
.
A short time later published reports state that Drummond came to Concordville with about 40 of his followers, bought the former Dante Orphanage, and opened the First Baptist Church of Concordville. After e bitter church split in 1978 involving allegations Drummond had homosexual relations with members of the congregation, the name of the church was changed to its present name.

[Update January 9th, 2010
At last, after 30 years Drummond takes responsibility for his actions. In his own words and I quote:
"Beginning in 1978, after a terrible church split that was mostly my fault"]

Last week an Upper Providence painting contractor sued Drummond, the church and others, claiming Durawood funds were used to "enrich Drummond" at the members' expense. The suit alleged that Drummond and Durawood officers Richard Price and David Durham, members of the church, used emotional pressure to induce him into taking out a second mortgage on his house. He lost the house and more than $27,000, the suit alleges

Among Durawood creditors is the Newsday newspaper of Long Island, New York. Last week Haverford attorney Joel Flick confirmed that Durawood owed Newsday about $10,500. Flick added that his firm had judgments against Price and Durham (who is also the brother-in-law of Drummond's wife) who were officers of the firm.
He also added he was going to look into new information which has tied Drummond to the firm.

Fowler Tours Inc. of Dallas, Texas, told the Times that the D.J. Durham Company a firm associated with David Durham, part owner of Durawood, owed $1,297 in travel fees and that collection efforts were continuing.

Last week a spokeswoman from the My World Travel Company of Chadds Ford confirmed that the Durawood Company owed it a substantial sum, but the spokeswoman would not give an exact amount.

Attorney Richard M. Kind of Baltimore, Md., said the Durawood firm opened a branch in the Baltimore area and immediately ran into trouble doing work it was contracted to do. When various creditors began investigating the firm, they found Durawood operated an almost bare office containing a desk end a telephone and when they began proceeding to collect various debts, Durawood officials fled.

Kind said he had a $5,500 claim against the Durawood firm for unpaid advertising bills with the defunct Baltimore News, American newspaper.

Drummond, Durham and Price did not return phone calls to discuss me debts.

Recent stories in the Times indicated Drummond had been sued by a Rolls Royce restoration firm, a yacht appraiser, and a woodworker, all for unpaid bills.