In a statement released late last month, officials with the churchs Department of Retirement Services admitted that new leadership of the pension plan uncovered possible financial irregularities in certain retirement fund investments, and that retirement plan participants may have been the victim of a financial crime., Out of an abundance of caution, we immediately engaged outside legal counsel and forensics experts to conduct an independent and comprehensive investigation, the statement read. By toxic leadership, I mean ongoing, deliberate, abusive, abrasive, demeaning, unreasonable, demanding, destructive, and intentional actions by leaders to undermine the sense of dignity, self-worth, and efficacy of pastors and lay members of the church. The law says at a certain age I have to retire. About This program was implemented by Defendant Bishop Bryant at AME Churches in the Tenth Episcopal District (the plaintiffs home district) for ten years. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Express, Inc., 829 F.2d 1201; Nodine v. Textron, Inc., 819 F.2d 347; Morast v. Lance, 807 F.2d 926; see also Sedima S.P.R.L. , the churches involved had little to no debt. Retired AME bishop Gregory G.M. For RICO standing, plaintiffs must prove a "concrete financial loss," an actual loss "of their own money," and "not mere `injury to a valuable intangible property interest.'" Clementa Pinckney, church pastor and a South Carolina state senator, was among . The fraudulent scheme, however, continued. The bishop also agreed to sell a Rolex he got as a kickback. South Carolina Congressman James Clyburn, the House Majority Whip, says a white supremacist who targeted an African American congregation at the Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, S.C., in 2015 . News of the settlements led the AME Council of Bishops to condemn the actions of their clergy colleagues. News of the AME settlements follows another church real estate case from this year involving the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, in which a former bishop was indicted in connection. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Harris and others have continually represented to the Commission on Retirement Services, the AMEC General Board, and Annuity Plan participants a deceptive, false, and grossly inflated value for the Annuity Plan.. SistersInc. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune), Weve got some other issues that need to be resolved when we get through with this process to make sure this would never happen again, White said. Bryant's father, John, now an AME bishop, was Reid's predecessor at Bethel, the church of Baltimore's black establishment and the city's oldest African-American parish. In determining who qualifies as a minister, the Court considers several factors. The pair used false statements, omitted information and faked documents to manufacture evidence that local congregations agreed to the new mortgages. 1999), cert. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. The AME Church derives much of its revenue from tithing and member donations. Gregory G. Groover Sr., an AME pastor in Boston, explained why AME preachers opposed the move. Two African Methodist Episcopal clergy members have agreed to pay back more than $800,000 to the state of New York, according to the settlements, which were posted on the attorney generals website last month. By using this site, you agree to our use of cookies. That loss must be an actual "concrete financial loss of the plaintiffs own money." Troy Venning, senior pastor of Quinn Chapel AME Church, the citys first Black church, echoed Whites comments hoping for a quick resolution, adding that he had faith in the leadership of the new retirement plan director, theRev. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. It was born, through adversity, of the Methodist church and to this day does not differ in any major way from what all Methodists believe. Dr. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Court documents describe the conspiracy as a "campaign of pressure and misinformation targeting pastors who served at the pleasure of Powell.". A Maryland lawsuit against the AME Church, in which AARP Foundation attorneys have joined as co-counsels, was filed on March 22 in the U.S. District Court by the law firm Kantor & Kantor. 1999). The AME Church does not appear to have taken an official stand on the Equality Actor other issues regarding non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people. In ruling on such a motion, the court cannot look beyond the face of the pleadings. #220 See Cullom v. Hibernia National Bank, 859 F.2d 1211, 1214-16 (5th Cir. In an affidavit filed in February, Griffin, who denies any wrongdoing, said he took no part in the vote to sell the church. Therefore, this Court recommends that the defendants' Motion to Dismiss be GRANTED. Any further discipline against Wilson will be decided by the new bishop of the First Episcopal District. In that case, the plaintiff-appellant, Mr. Pujol, alleged that his employer had committed several illegal predicate acts in violation of the RICO statute. Hunter,pastor of the powerful First AME Church, was sued by the Rev.Brenda Lamothe,one of the churchs associate ministers, who charged that [], It is resolved. That is the only statement either side can make regarding the outcome of the lawsuit of Rev. Dimpho Gaobepe is senior pastor at H. J. Bryant AME Church, located in the West Conference of the 19th Episcopal District. To state a valid civil RICO claim under 18 U.S.C. Feb. 15, 2002). at 523. Church pension participants also avoid scrutiny largely to a feeling that churches are not going to let their (pension plans) fail, that they have a sort of moral center that a common law corporation isnt necessarily going to have, Stein said. By Order of Reference dated January 28, 2002, the United States District Court referred Defendants' Donald George Kenneth Ming and the Council of Bishops' Motion to Dismiss, filed January 16, 2002, to the undersigned Magistrate Judge. . Photo by Magali Gauthier. Located at Sixth and Lombard Streets in Philadelphia's Society Hill neighborhood, the church sits on the oldest continuously Black-owned parcel of land in the country. 1999); McClure v. Salvation Army, 460 F.2d at 558-559 (matters such as a minister's salary, his place of assignment and his duty are matters of church administration and government, and are beyond the purview of civil authorities). Historically black Methodist denominations AMEZ. Thus, a RICO plaintiff must satisfy two elements; (1) injury and (2) causation. Cullom v. Hibernia National Bank, 859 F.2d at 1214-15. Parishioners worship during an Easter service on April 17, 2022, at Quinn AME Chapel in the South Loop. reducing corruption in society (Stuckelberger, 2010, p. 19). When the elaborate scheme reportedly was first. In 2021, however, the New York state attorney general sued Church of God in Christ pastor Kevin Griffin, saying he had allegedly received $900,000 from Vahdat, including $450,000 from the sale of Childs Memorial. 2023 The World of Mr. Mo'Kelly. AME Exposed - First AME in DIRE Financial Straits (LA Times) Mo'Kelly ToldYouSo The African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church is rooted in the Methodist tradition and, while largely African-American, welcomes all races, nationalities, and cultures. The settlements show that a bishop, two pastors and a pastors wife sought to conceal the kickbacks from congregations that owned the buildings, as well as from state officials. United States District Court, N.D. Texas, Dallas Division. All photographs submitted are the property of The Christian Recorder and will not be returned. In early March, the AME Church suspended its pension payments to retirees after new leadership found significant financial irregularities. Association of African Methodist Episcopal Scouts, Receiving Gods Letter of Recommendation: Displaying Excellence in Christian Stewardship, Saint Peter AMEC Church Anniversary: The Rock Church in the ValleyCelebrates 139 Years. Full title:REVEREND ALBERT L. DUNN, Plaintiff, v. THE BOARD OF INCORPORATORS OF THE, Court:United States District Court, N.D. Texas, Dallas Division. The truth of the matter is, there are times when questions of corruption, stealing, maladministration, purging, victimization, disregard, disrespect, pomposity, lack of accountability, and unscrupulous activities are perpetuated by the bishop and rise to the surface. Jeff Cooper A motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim under FED. As a result of the AMEC investigation, and as stated in the complaint, AMEC has learned among other facts: The lawsuit filed by AMEC also brings claims against Symetra Financial Corporation for approving requests from Dr. Harris to electronically wire Annuity Plan funds to Motorskill Entities without confirmation that Dr. Harris had the authority to do so. As stated in the complaint, from 2005 to 2021, Dr. Harris via Department and/or Annuity Plan funds paid about $37 million to Motorskill Entities. In addition, the lawsuit includes claims against Rodney Brown and Company, an independent certified public accounting firm retained by the Department to audit the financial statements of the Department, including as recently as 2020 and 2021. In 1818, Pittsburgh's first Black church became Bethel AME, named after "Mother Bethel" in Philadelphia. In one case, Vahdat is accused of trying to evict a congregation from the building it once owned. United States Methodist Church v. White, 571 A.2d 790, 796 (D.C. Cir. Complaint details sophisticated scheme to defraud AMEC clergy and Plaintiff's Third Amended Complaint, p. 5. (Mark all that apply.) 1992). It is provided for couples who wish to solemnize their marriage in a service of Christian worship, parallel in its structure to the Sunday service, which includes the proclamation of the Word with prayer and praise. Who is responsible for making sure that such function is carried out? The pastors, who were leaders of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church (AME Zion), served as officers of the governing Episcopal district churches in the Western part of California or Western Episcopal District (WED). 1996). But the story of the AME Church commands more than a simple definition. In investigating Reverend Dunn's breach of contract claim, the Court would have to inquire as to the Church's motivations (be they secular or religious) for failing to provide the plaintiff with the benefits conferred by the Minister's Bill of Rights, an instrument of AME Church law. It may in fact be true, as alleged, that Reverend Dunn has suffered in his career due to the improper motivations of the defendants. The church is among the largest U.S. Protestant denominations and its retirement plan covers about 5,000 participants, including ministers and bishops. at 349. Lowrey v. Texas AM Univ. According to the settlements, any sale must be approved by a state court or by the attorney generals office. According to the Religious News Service (RNS), on August 31, the AME Church released a statement that condemned "the inappropriate practices of our colleague and the former presiding elder in the . 1962, a plaintiff must allege: (1) the conduct (2) of an enterprise (3) through a pattern (4) of racketeering activity. Map. According to the report, Quintana fronted the money to her husband, while Powell used the cash to buy properties in North Carolina. Butit has long been clear that the church condemns same-sex relationships. The provisions in the statute limiting standing to a person "injured in his business or property" has a "restrictive significance," Reiter v. Sonotone Corp., 442 U.S. 330, 339, 99 S.Ct. News of the AME settlements follows another church real estate case from this year involving the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, in which a former bishop was indicted in connection with $14 million in alleged fraud from the sale of church buildings. New York state law requires that nonprofit leaders recuse themselves from any transactions in which they have a personal interest. All rights reserved. John J. In 1816, Allen united other African Methodist congregations from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland to officially form the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME) at a meeting in Philadelphia. My view is that this approach poses accountability challenges. Lowrey, 117 F.3d at 247. A former executive director of the African Methodist Episcopal Church was sued for making $100 million worth of "foolish" and risky investments on the retirement plan of thousands of members. He eventually founded the AME church. It has, to date, remained silent on transgender members. In his view, this happened because economic inequality allowed the affluent and wealthy to set the terms of the debate and so get the outcomes that serve their . Yesterday, the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AMEC) General Counsel Douglass Selby confirmed that lawyers hired by the church filed a lawsuit against former AMEC Department of Retirement Services Executive Director Rev. When this does not happen, members conclude that church law, procedures, and processes are manipulated or circumvented at will by those in charge. Vahdats companies purchased six of the churches and obtained a 99-year lease on one of the buildings. 900 13th Avenue South A civil court's inquiry into a breach of contract claim is forbidden if that claim would require "more than simply the secular questions of whether such promises were made by [the church]." Contact Founded in 1816, the AME Church is the oldest Black . The plaintiff alleges that the funds collected by the pre-offering were diverted to maintain a lavish lifestyle for Defendant Bishop Bryant. AME Exposed John Hunter Sexual Harassment Lawsuit: It is Resolved, Black Church Protest of FAIR Education Act Typifies Hypocrisy and Misguided Leadership. Price v. Pinnacle Brands, 138 F.3d 602, 606 (5th Cir. 500 8th Avenue South Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. ABOUT Stances of Faiths on LGBTQ Issues: African Methodist Episcopal Church, Stances of Faiths on LGBTQ Issues: Conservative Judaism, Stances of Faiths on LGBTQ Issues: Reform Judaism. 1994) (quoting Oscar v. University Students Co-op Ass'n, 965 F.2d 783, 786 (9th Cir.) Harris, without the knowledge (and accordingly, without consent) of AMEC General Board, the AMEC Commission on Retirement Services, or any other AMEC bodies or officers, used Department and/or Annuity Plan funds to make payments to himself and other individuals., Dr. Harris deposit[ed] funds from the [AMEC] Ministerial Retirement Annuity Plan into his, Dr. Harris invested millions of dollars from the Annuity Plan into high-risk investments,, Dr. Privacy Policy The District Court previously adopted the United States Magistrate Judge's recommendation that Plaintiff's claims against the Board of Incorporators of the African Methodist Episcopal Church be dismissed for lack of standing as to the Civil RICO claims alleged, and that Plaintiff's breach of contract claims be dismissed in light of existing First Amendment protections precluding investigation of church policies and practices. The effects of a deepening pension scandal that has rocked the nation's oldest Black church group are still being assessed by local church officials, though they're hopeful that a federal. Authorities claimed they bilked the federal government out of $14 million by seizing control over various temples and using the churches to access the funds that only benefitted them. AME Zion Church leaders demanded that Powell relinquish the property deeds to their respective churches. Litig., 51 F.3d at 523 (quoting Steele v. Hospital Corp. of Am., 36 F.3d 69, 70 (9th Cir. AMEC uncovered the fraudulent scheme following the 2021 election of a new Executive Director. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Proceeds from the mortgages reportedly went to Quintana and Powell. Management Absalom Jones withdrew from St. George Methodist Episcopal Church and founded The Free African Society,marking the beginnings of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. . Founded in 1852, The Christian Recorder oldest existing periodical published by African-Americans in the United States whose existence dated before the Civil War. Therefore, Reverend Dunn can be considered a "minister" for purposes of this lawsuit. Much like the White case, a determination as to breach of a contract affecting Reverend Dunn's employment benefits would involve more than secular questions of whether certain promises were made to Reverend Dunn. Starkman v. Evans, 198 F.3d 173, 175 (5th Cir. I think the church is growing increasingly confident (with the investigation) because we have a recently new director for the Department of Retirement Services, Venning said. Quintana's spouse received cash payments. Bryant, 32, then spent . Nashville, TN 37203. The Sunday school teacher, 39-year-old, Nickema Turner was in her . AME Zion Church leaders voted to relieve Powell of his financial and administrative duties on Aug. 7 that year, according to the indictment. The first AME Zion church was founded in 1800. Copyright 2022 by - The Christian Recorder. His church received a $13,000 loan in 2009. . This lawsuit arises from an alleged scheme to fraudulently collect funds from church members, perpetrated by certain of the bishops of the AME Church, called the "pre-offering." Authorities allege the two took control of congregations' properties and used them to secure loans to benefit themselves in a scheme that ran from around October 2016 to late July 2021, according to the indictment, which was filed Jan. 6 and unsealed Tuesday. Mission: "The Mission of the AME Church is to minister to the social . The "ministerial exception" to Title VII applies to all employees of a religious institution, whether ordained or not, whose primary functions serve its spiritual and pastoral mission. Be sure to check out MoKelly on The Urban Post Worldwide Radio Show, hosted by Niele Anderson LIVE at 3pm TuesdayPST as I discuss the African-American political agenda, the First AME Church controversy and of coursethe [], The MoKelly Report is a syndicated politics and entertainment journal. The First African Methodist Episcopal Church, one of the oldest black congregations in Los Angeles, faces a financial crisis, owing roughly $300,000 to a long list of debtors, church officials. As stated in the complaint, The $128,000,000.00 valuation reported by Dr. Harris was a baseless representation recklessly and deceptively made to plan participants without any third-party verification., This financial crime has been committed against the AME Church community, and specifically our clergy, lay and Church employees, said Anne Henning Byfield, President of the AMEC Council of Bishops. Quintana and Powell allegedly falsified bank statements, left out pertinent information and created fraudulent documents to prove that the congregations agreed to the new mortgages. With the exception of the above-mentioned allegations regarding adverse employment decisions made by the AME Church and its officials, which is a matter that must be pursued in other areas of the law, Mr. Dunn has failed to provide this Court with any valid indication of tangible financial loss. The second consideration is whether the plaintiff was qualified and authorized to perform the ceremonies of the Church. He also supposedly paid off an existing mortgage. An usher walks the aisles as parishioners attend an Easter service on April 17, 2022, at Quinn AME Chapel in the South Loop. At the AME national convention in July 2004, delegates voted to forbid ministers from performing marriage or civil union ceremonies for same-sex couples. The plaintiffs allegations that the Defendant Bishop Ming and the Council of Bishops have failed to promote him, appoint him to a specific church, or provide him with housing and other similar employment-related guarantees and privileges listed in the "Minister's Bill of Rights" and/or the "AME Discipline" do not entitle him to RICO standing, as these allegations fall within the scope of the restrictions placed on RICO standing in the context of adverse employment actions as articulated in Cullom, 859 F.2d at 1214-16. For RICO purposes, the plaintiff alleges that the AME Church constitutes an enterprise affecting interstate commerce through activities associated with the Defendant's National Publishing House, which circulates books and literary materials for sale throughout the country and abroad. His [.] Those buildings would then be demolished and replaced by multistory structures, which would contain a sanctuary for the church to worship in, with the rest controlled by the developer. As to the civil RICO claim, the plaintiff has failed to plead specific facts, and has instead supplied the Court with mere conclusory allegations as to the injuries he has sustained as a result of the defendant's alleged fraudulent behavior. "The standing provision of civil RICO provides that `[a]ny person injured in his business or property by reason of a violation of section 1962 of this chapter may sue therefor . Distribution and use of this material are governed by Id. Two former leaders of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church in California are facing federal charges after authorities alleged they defrauded churches across the state out of $14 million. Cullom v. Hibernia National Bank, 859 F.2d at 12 14-16; Pujol v. Shearson/Am. AME Exposed John Hunter Sexual Harassment Suit Settlement 3 MILLION DOLLARS! Other defendants named in the complaint are cross-defendant Symetra Financial Corporation, and third-party defendants Robert Eaton, Jarrod Erwin, Randall Erwin, Financial Freedom Group, Inc., Motorskill Asia Venture Group, Motorskill Asia Ventures 1, LP, Motorskill Venture Group, Motorskill Ventures 1, LP, and Rodney Brown & Company. In re Taxable Mun. It was formally organized in 1816 bya group ofseveral black congregations in the mid-Atlantic area and theyconsecrated Richard Allen as the first Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. R. Civ. Therefore, in the absence of church invocation of the civil courts, resolution of such disputes is properly left to church officials. See Jacquez v. Procunier, 801 F.2d 789, 792-93 (5th Cir. on wire fraud and conspiracy charges after securing the loans under false pretenses, according to reports. A plaintiff, however, must plead specific facts, not mere conclusory allegations, to avoid dismissal. Known For: The first independent Protestant denomination organized in America by people of African heritage. The denomination continues to be a member of the family ofMethodist Churches. The AME Church has filed suit against Pleasant Spring Church "seeking judicial declaration that only those still affiliated with the AME denomination had any right to use the church. The plaintiff alleges that the enterprise has committed mail fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering. Experts are concerned the African Methodist Episcopal Churchs pension problems could become the norm for many nonfederally protected pensions as the aging population retires in larger numbers. Id. Of all the problems to address [], For those who were listening to MoKellys interview on Issues After Dark, the subject of MoKellys series on the corruption of the AME church was a central topic. They led voter registration and turn-out campaigns, provided education on political issues and endorsed candidates. Staccato Powell was a board member at RBTC, as well as the pastor of Grace AME Zion Church and the director of the Grace Community Development Corporation. [emailprotected], [emailprotected]. The action was initiated by reports earlier this year that a substantial number of congregations and clergy in Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo had joined with the AME Zion Church due to a lack of Episcopal supervision over several years. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune). As a result, oversight is left to officials the church chooses. They are scheduled to appear in a Northern District court in California via Zoom on February 2, 2022. His [], MoKellyToldYouSo First African Methodist Episcopal Church, one of the oldest black congregations in Los Angeles, faces a financial crisis, owing roughly $300,000 to a long list of creditors, church officials said. The AARP Foundation has also filed a similar lawsuit against New Yorks Catholic Diocese. According to the settlements, Vahdat allegedly gave a Church of God in Christ pastor and his wife hundreds of thousands of dollars in kickbacks for the sale of the historical Childs Memorial Temple Chuch of God in Christ in Harlem. Founding: Established by Richard Allen in 1816 as Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A History of the African Methodist Episcopal Church: Being a Volume Supplemental to A History of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, by Daniel Alexander Payne, D.D., LL.D., Late One of Its Bishops: Chronicling the Principal Events in the Advance of the African Methodist Episcopal Church from 1856 to 1922. The findings of the investigative team led to AMECs decision to bring this lawsuit against Dr. Harris and other defendants. Id. ThisWeek learned in September that a post had appeared on the AME Third District website, ame3.org, on behalf of Bishop McKinley Young that said the Richard Allen Group and COF Academy were acting independently of the church. Sheila Quintana, 67, and Staccato Powell, 62, were arrested and indicted on wire fraud and conspiracy charges after securing the loans under false pretenses, according to reports. 1998). Contact: Without [], From the Los Angeles Wave LORDY, LORDY Remember how, in November 2009, the Rev. Bishops contitute the chief executive and administative officers of the church, and their authority is derived from the General Conference. AME Church will no longer allow 'one person to count the money' after nearly $100M goes missing. By Charles Spencer Smith, 1852-1923 The AME Church is among the largest U.S. Protestant denominations, including Mother Bethel AME Church in Philadelphia. Unless the leadership itself is willing to be transparent to the membership, it would be difficult for concerned members to exercise any other form of oversight. Details. Listen to The Mo Kelly Show on Spreaker. Sign Up For Our Newsletter! Earlier in the year, before marriage became legal for same-sex couples in Massachusetts, the Rev. The alleged gunman, identified as Dylann Roof, 21, was arrested today in North Carolina at a traffic stop. The AMEC has also committed to restoring the full initial investment plus interest to each retirement plan participant. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our. Black Men XCEL The families of nine people who died in a racist mass shooting at the Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, S.C., have reached an $88 million settlement with . Among the defendants named in the new suit were the pension head, the former chairman of the retirement services board of trustees and the churchs council of bishops and general board. Such an inquiry would involve delving into church policy and perhaps religious doctrine or practices; areas in which courts have traditionally refused to tread. Nashville, TN 37212, Toxic Leadership in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. You'll receive email updates from HRC. That condemnation came after the settlements, which were signed in 2021, were made public in late August, according to the bishops. On Jan. 4, 2019, church authorities told Powell to stop and return all property deeds to their respective congregations. 609 South Lamar Avenue Denison, TX 75021 (903) 465-8908 Website. St. John tells us that there are three basic forms of corruption, in individuals and in the Church, coming from three different but related sinful desires. Harris, without any authority, used Department and/or Annuity Plan funds to issue loans to various entities, some of which have not been repaid., Information related to these unauthorized investments was actively concealed from and not disclosed to AMEC., Dr. How inequality hurts voting. Wake up . This site is the gateway into the AME Church Online Community. 1989). The African Methodist Episcopal Church has sued a former executive who oversaw its pension plan's investment portfolio, charging that he and others embezzled money and defrauded its clergy and. Both remained active even into . He can shoot it., Justin Steele and 6 Chicago Cubs relievers combine for the 1st spring training no-hitter in franchise history, Leah Palmer experiences grand time as Geneva grinds out victory in Class 4A third-place game. 615.254.0911 AMEC Department of Retirement Services P.O. While on the one hand, general officers, connectional officers, and bishops are accountable to the General Board. Reverend Dunn's complaint links the circumstances of his contractual rights and alleged breach to the circumstances surrounding his ecclesiastical status and/or endorsement by the Church, as well as the policies and practices of the AME Church. 50% off + free delivery on any order with DoorDash promo code, Wayfair promo code: 10% off any single purchase, 60% off running shoes and apparel at Nike without a promo code, Score up to 50% off Nintendo Switch video games with GameStop coupon code. Therefore, it follows that individuals alleging injuries relevant to their employment situation that are less egregious than a firing or constructive discharge, as is true of the plaintiff in this case, also lack standing to sue under RICO. 3:00-CV-2547-D (N.D. Tex. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Now, 145 years later, that cornerstone has been unearthed.