Harborside Christian Church's founder and a woman ministering to youths are forced to leave.
By EILEEN SCHULTE, Times Staff Writer
Published June 17, 2005
SAFETY HARBOR - He preached about sin during Sunday services.
She ministered to youth.
A few weeks ago, both were summarily ousted from Harborside Christian Church.
A letter sent to congregation members June 9 said in part:
"It is with regret that we inform you of the termination of Dan Stuecher and Janet Nesselroad from Harborside Christian Church due to inappropriate behavior."
Stuecher, 56, founded the church 21 years ago. Nesselroad, 38, worked with teenagers. Neither could be reached for comment.
When asked about the nature of the behavior, executive minister Howard Parker said only "we all make mistakes. We all sin."
"We would welcome Dan and Janet to seek counseling," Parker said.
When pressed for more information, he said: "I've given you all the information I'm going to give you" and then abruptly ended the interview.
Parker said Kurt Parker, who is not related to Howard Parker, will lead the ministry for the time being.
Stuecher launched the church in a funeral home chapel. For several years, its members met at Countryside High School. Then it moved to a 40-acre tract of land at 2200 Marshall St. just off McMullen-Booth Road.
Under Stuecher's stewardship, the congregation has grown to around 1,000 members.
Stuecher is the latest in a string of Pinellas County pastors who have been asked to step down while facing allegations of inappropriate behavior.
In 2002, the Rev. Ken Alford resigned from Bell Shoals Baptist Church in Brandon after admitting to "one-time moral indiscretion." In 2003, the Rev. Daniel Stahl resigned as senior pastor of Bay Life Church of Brandon after admitting to an affair; in 2004, the Rev. Stephen J. King left Palm Harbor United Methodist Church because of what he called his "unfaithfulness."
Times researcher Carolyn Edds contributed to this report.
