Arkansas Congregation Supports Pastor Rod Loy
During a Feb. 8 church service, Pastor Rod Loy received applause before and after he said a prayer. “Nowhere I’d rather be,” he told congregants while welcoming them to worship. Loy’s son, co-pastor Patrick Loy, preached the day’s sermon.
Suzanne Lander is suing the church for negligence; negligent hiring, supervising and retention; breach of fiduciary duty; and more. First Assembly of God “maintained a culture of authoritarian leadership in which questioning Defendant Loy was not tolerated,” she alleged. According to the plaintiff, church leaders knew or should have known that the pastor was a threat to young females, whom he frequently “mentored.”
Assemblies of God representatives said the denomination takes “all complaints” against its pastors seriously. The organization added that its “well-established process” for addressing alleged misconduct involves an investigation led by a district superintendent “or an appointed representative.”
Lander filed her lawsuit under an Arkansas “lookback window” statute. The Justice for Vulnerable Victims of Sexual Abuse Act permitted victims of childhood sexual abuse to take legal action, regardless of any statute of limitations, through Jan. 31, 2026. The Arkansas Supreme Court is currently reviewing a state Appeals Court decision about the constitutionality of that law.
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Lawsuit Alleges ‘Extreme and Outrageous’ Conduct
Plaintiff Suzanne Lander said she realized during the past three years of therapy that “the childhood sexual abuse perpetrated by Defendant Loy” had caused her “injuries [and] her current disabilities.”
Before then, the lawsuit stated, her “ability to perceive the abuse as abuse…had been destroyed by years of spiritual manipulation, psychological conditioning, and the unique vulnerabilities created by her traumatic childhood.”
As a result of the alleged abuse, Lander said she has suffered pain, distress, embarrassment, humiliation, loss of self-esteem, depression, and PTSD. She also cited medical expenses, lost earnings, and loss of enjoyment of life.
Boz Tchividjian, an attorney for Lander, said, “By filing this lawsuit, Suzi Lander is showing extraordinary courage in confronting years of sexual abuse and in demanding accountability from Rod Loy and North Little Rock First Assembly of God Church.” He added, “Her decision to come forward brings this egregious abuse into public view and underscores her determination to pursue justice.”
ChurchLeaders reached out to Pastor Rod Loy for comment and will update this article with any reply.
