Convicted pastor may have taken NCC for ‘burned church’ ride By John H. Adams The Presbyterian Layman Volume 33, Number 3 Posted May 22, 2000 KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The National Council of Churches, which raised millions of dollars to rebuild black churches allegedly destroyed by white racists, sent $100,000 to one church whose pastor has been sentenced to federal prison. Rev. Jerry Upton Photo from Knoxville News-Sentinel The minister, the Rev. Jerry Upton of Inner City Church in Knoxville, pleaded guilty to cocaine trafficking and illegal gun ownership and was sentenced on March 28 to 10 years in federal prison. Upton’s criminal case, his frequent purchases of bulk quantities of cocaine and his failure to account for some of the money raised to rebuild Inner City Church have raised suspicions in Knoxville about the cause of the church fire. One high-level investigator, who asked that his name not be used until the investigation is complete, told The Presbyterian Layman that there was “no way white racists burned that church.” No effort to rebuild church Despite receiving nearly $1 million in insurance proceeds and contributions, according to court documents, church leaders took no steps to rebuild the church. Firefighters continue on job after Inner City Church was destroyed by fire in 1996. Photo from Knoxville News-Sentinel The National Council of Churches said it sent $100,000 to the church – a $50,000 check on Aug. 5, 1996 and a $50,000 wire transfer on July 2, 1997. Upton told prosecutors the church received only $50,000 from the NCC. Carol Fouke, a spokesperson for the NCC, told The Presbyterian Layman that the NCC made an on-site visit to the Knoxville church. “Our assessment showed that they (NCC investigators) saw a burned church with obvious signs of racial hatred.” It was certainly intended to appear racially motivated. At the time of the fire, investigators in Knoxville reported finding racial slurs on burned walls of the church and Molotov cocktails in the rubble. Credibility unquestioned No one from the NCC questioned the credibility of Upton, who drove a white Mercedes Benz and who was convicted of drug and gun charges in 1977. Upton portrayed himself as an inner city developer as well as a pastor. No arrests have been made in the church burning. But First Assistant U.S. District Attorney Russ Dedrick told The Presbyterian Layman that he hopes the sentencing of Upton will prompt someone to come forward. A $105,000 reward has been posted for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the arsonists. The NCC was not the only organization that gave money to Inner City Church without seeing results. Jack Reese, former chancellor at the University of Tennessee, raised money from university employees. After Upton’s sentencing, Reese said he was disappointed that no steps were taken to rebuild the church. “I’m sorry it turned out so terribly,” he said. Reggie White, the retired Green Bay Packer who has been listed as associate minister of the Inner City Church, raised money in Wisconsin and helped generate national attention for the plight of the Knoxville congregation. The NCC also promoted its visit to Knoxville for its fundraising efforts. “We’re just glad that the majority of the money we raised ended up building churches,” Fouke said.

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