In a decision handed down last Thursday (12), the São Paulo Court (TJSP) recognizes pastor Denise Seixas, widow of Rinaldo Luiz de Seixas Pereira, better known as the apostle Rina, as the new president of the church.
Rina was the founder of the evangelical Bola de Neve Church. He died after suffering a motorcycle accident in November in the interior of São Paulo.
According to the TJSP’s decision, documents presented by Denise Gouvea de Seixas Pereira’s defense prove that the widow was appointed vice-president of the Bola de Neve Evangelical Church, in accordance with the temple’s own bylaws.
According to the internal regulations of the religious institution, in the event of the death of the president, the role should then be assumed by the vice-president, a position that Denise has always held.
Lawyer Anderson Albuquerque, who represents the pastor’s defense, claims that she has been in leadership of the church since the death of her husband, the apostle Rina.
After his death, according to the defense, the institution’s board of directors was trying, unduly, to appropriate the presidency of the neo-Pentecostal association.
Albuquerque alleges that the board’s attempt to take over the church occurred after Denise, upon assuming the presidency, demanded access and accountability for all the institution’s expenses, which the congregation’s financial director failed to do.
According to Albuquerque, the court decision determines that the church board, which was trying to take over leadership, no longer performs any act in the name of the church under penalty of the crime of disobedience and other penalties.
Before the tragedy with the apostle happened, Rinaldo and Denise were already in the process of divorcing.
In September 2024, the pastor took a stand to suspend the separation process, due to an agreement between the parties. However, with Rina’s death, the process was terminated, without the need for resolution.
Denise’s defense claims that the board of directors of the religious organization had access to the confidential separation process between her and the apostle Rinaldo and, based on the document, alleged that the widow had resigned from leadership of the church. Because the agreement was not subsequently brought to court, it loses its validity.
According to the TJSP, the consensual separation agreement between them lost its effects, including Denise’s resignation from the position of vice-president of Igreja Bola de Neve. Before his death, the couple was also trying to get their marriage back together.
The decision can still be appealed and judged again, if the church board files an appeal.
Church board contests decision
Wanted by CNN the defense of the current Bola de Neve board maintains the same position: “The Bola de Neve Church reaffirms that pastor Denise Seixas resigned from the position of vice-president in an agreement signed on August 27th. The aforementioned court decision does NOT recognize her as president, contrary to what the pastor’s lawyers claim, and will be reviewed by a higher court, since the judge himself declared himself incompetent to judge the case”, claims the church in its position on the case.
“Regarding the complaints regarding financial administration, Igreja Bola de Neve states that its management is fully in accordance with legislation and good compliance practices. For more than a decade, the organization’s accounts have been audited annually and approved without restrictions by a multinational company whose expertise and seriousness are recognized for the quality and regularity of the services provided.”, pointed out the institution.
Repossession of church headquarters
This Thursday (12), in the first decision in the legal fight between Bola de Neve’s board of directors and pastor Denise, the TJSP had issued a warrant to repossess the church, after the institution alleged that Denise invaded the church’s headquarters. religious organization about two weeks ago.
Since then, a dispute over the command of the congregation has begun in court, in which the institution’s current advisors claim that Rina’s widow, who until then was vice-president of Bola de Neve, resigned from her position as president, which would be entitled after the death of her husband.
*Under the supervision of Bruno Laforé
This content was originally published in Justiça recognizes Apostle’s widow Rina as president of Bola de Neve; church contests on the CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
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