Friday 5 August 2022 09:04 PM Pastor of Brave Church in Miami is fired after having affairs with three ... trends now
A Christian pastor of a trendy Miami church has been forced out for allegedly having steamy affairs with three women from his congregation, two while he was still married, DailyMail.com can reveal.
David Stocker, 46, was fired from Brave Church in Westchester in April after its overseeing body - the Peninsular Florida District Council of the Assemblies of God - found him guilty of 'gross sexual misconduct and immoral actions.'
The clergyman, who had preached at the church since 2014, is also accused of using the church's credit card to fund some of his alleged illicit encounters, including paying for a flight to New York for one of his lovers.
The shocking allegations are contained in a 307-page complaint filed by the council that sued Stocker after he refused to step down and continued preaching even despite being dismissed for breaching the church's bylaws.
Stocker's attorney did not immediately comment on the sex and alcohol allegations when contacted by DailyMail.com.
He was investigated after the scorned woman from his first alleged affair reported him to the council in a damning email in January, in which she supplied 'hundreds' of photographs, videos, and text messages cataloging his shame.
The woman, whose identity is being protected by the council, was distraught after discovering Stocker went on to have relationships with two other worshippers - and is currently still with one of them, according to the legal papers filed in Miami Dade Circuit Court.
David Stocker, 46, who was the pastor of Brave Church in Miami since 2014, was forced off the pulpit in April, when he was fired for 'gross sexual misconduct and immoral actions'
Stocker was accused of engaging in affairs with three different women in his congregation, even while he was still married to ex-wife Christina, in a damning email sent to the church's governing body exposing his philandering
One of his lovers, identified in documents as 'Woman #1', reported their illicit relationship, sharing photos of their clandestine encounters and secret getaways
The middle-aged mother alleged she and Stocker had sex on their first date as part of their 'whirlwind romance' and later had each other's names tattooed on their necks with the day they met.
She also claimed the fired minister, whose position demanded he abstain totally from alcohol, was frequently drunk, sometimes while in high-profile public places.
This included an incident with a different alleged mistress at a Miami Heat basketball game, where police were called when the pair tried to walk on the court, she claimed in her email along with pictures of the incident.
Stocker, who joined Brave Church with then-wife Christina in 2014, was known for cutting a flamboyant figure as he preached to a vibrant and generally young congregation, which included many families.
He took to the pulpit confidently each Sunday, microphone in hand, and bursting with emotion; his passionate and stirring words rising above live background music.
The preacher would mix his wardrobe between casual, smart, and dazzling – varying from dark jeans paired with a light top, to a stylish black suit and a shiny red leather jacket.
But his world would come crashing down on April 15 when the council, a branch of the world's largest Pentecostal denomination with 300 churches in Florida and the US Virgin Islands, fired him in a letter following the investigation, according to court documents.
However, Stocker remained preaching at the large white painted church, which has the words 'You Belong Here' emblazoned on one side in black capital letters.
He did not leave until the council launched its legal bid five weeks after informing him of its decision.
The charismatic pastor took to the pulpit confidently each Sunday, microphone in hand, and bursting with emotion; his passionate and stirring words rising above live background music
Stocker joined Brave Church with then-wife Christina in 2014
But even after he was fired by the church's governing body, Stocker remained preaching at the large white painted church, which has the words 'You Belong Here' emblazoned on one side in black capital letters
Stocker cut a flamboyant figure as he preached to a vibrant and generally young congregation, and would mix his wardrobe between casual, smart, and flashy
DailyMail.com approached the preacher this week outside the three-bedroom, $846,000 home in Miami where he appears to be living
In the same action, the council sued Brave Church and directors Eliada Rivera, Yarilend Taboada, Josephine Lejuez and Nivia Pena for damages claiming they had covered up Stocker's 'misconduct' and allowed him to keep his position.
Additionally, it demanded that ownership of the church building be reverted to the organization.
The council, which also goes by PenFlorida, has now reached a settlement with the church and the directors, although the details are not known.
It is unclear where that now leaves Stocker as the action against him in the court remains open.
DailyMail.com approached the preacher this week outside the three-bedroom, $846,000 home in Miami where he appears to be living.
He pulled into the driveway in a blue BMW 540i before getting out wearing sports gear.
But the father of two refused to talk about the allegations surrounding his dismissal from the church – whose mission statement, ironically, is: 'We are the church that is leading people to love.'
And in an additional twist, DailyMail.com can reveal the house on the quiet street is owned by Brave Church of Miami Inc., according to Miami-Dade property appraiser records.
So it would appear Stocker still has some connection to the organization despite the ongoing legal action.
It is also surprising as congregants at the church this week insisted to DailyMail.com that Stocker had nothing to do with the place of worship any more – and that they had no clue where to find him.
The woman, whose identity is 'kept anonymous for her privacy and safety,' said the two would locally stay in hotels in Miami and Fort Lauderdale in order to keep their relationship secret while he was still married
Exhibits included in the 300-page complaint included a slew of photographic evidence of the pair's trysts and secret encounters. Above are pictures taken at the W Hotel in Fort Lauderdale in May 2019
Stocker consistently denied his affairs despite intimate looking photographs supplied by his first 'mistress'
Court filings obtained by DailyMail.com claim Stocker breached the church's bylaws but was allowed to continuing preaching by the church's directors
The council, a branch of the world's largest Pentecostal denomination with 300 churches in Florida and the US Virgin Islands, fired him in an April 15 letter following the investigation
According to the 307-page complaint filed on May 24, Stocker and 'mistress' number one connected through Instagram in April 2019.
It said the 'identity of Woman #1 will be kept anonymous for her privacy and safety'.
It continued: 'In a written statement Woman #1 provided to PenFlorida on January 17, 2022, she confessed that she and Stocker went on their first date on April 7, 2019, after which they engaged in sexual relations.
'Woman #1 also revealed that Stocker was involved in a sexual relationship with at least two other women from the congregation, and indicated that on at least two occasions, Stocker used church funds for his personal use.
'According to Woman #1, Stocker, who at the time was separated from his now ex-wife but was still legally married to her, connected with her via social media, and the two began a secretive affair that was on and off for the next couple of years.
'The two traveled to New York City on two occasions, and traveled to California on another occasion, all while continuing to engage in sexual relations. For one of these trips, Woman #1 reported that Stocker purchased her flight with the Church's money.
'Woman #1 also revealed that she and Stocker, in order to keep their relationship secret while he was still married (the divorce was finalized in August of 2020), would locally stay in hotels in Miami and Fort
