Kelowna pastor accused of historical sexual assaults in civil lawsuits, denies allegations [Video]

A prominent Kelowna, B.C., pastor is facing civil sexual assault allegations from two women who claim he groomed and abused them over several years, starting when they were teenagers more than two decades ago.

The allegations against Art Lucier, the leader of Harvest Ministries International, are detailed in two civil lawsuits filed in B.C. Supreme Court in late April.

Lucier and Harvest Ministries International have rejected the allegations in a joint written statement, calling them “slanderous” and “totally false.”

The plaintiffs are two women who claim in court documents that Art Lucier, then a pastor at Kitimat Harvest Ministries, took advantage of his position of trust and authority to sexually exploit them starting in 2001 when they were youths living in foster care in Kitimat, B.C. 

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CBC …