As reported by KCTV and other media, a pastor in Derby, KS, is being accused of bigamy as he left his first wife and married his second, prior to the finalization of his divorce.
Pastor K.D. is currently the senior pastor at Glorious Life Church in KS. Four years prior Pastor K.D. was at the Southside Church in his former home of Grandview, MO. He had moved to the new church with his wife, T.D., and three children when he was offered the senior position.
T.D. said that her husband announced that their marriage was over last June, just short of a year since the family had moved to accompany K.D. to Derby. T.D. said, “I didn't see it coming. He left me for another woman in the church. I moved to Wichita to pastor a church. He left me homeless and broke, so I had to move back home to the KC area.”
When T.D. learned that K.D. had remarried last month, she said that the news was hard to bear. T.D. said, “It's very disappointing. I have a hard time understanding it myself. I'm still in shock.”
After the shock sprang the idea that K.D. may not have waited long enough to remarry – T.D. has stated that her divorce from K.D. was not yet final and, the court records confirm it.
A court hearing for the divorce proceedings was scheduled for January 9 and T.D.’s marriage ceremony was in November. His Facebook page gives a new wedding anniversary of November 26. Sedgwick County Courthouse has the new marriage license on file.
Sedgwick County Judge Richard Bollinger said, “Bottom line, we have to depend on the information that they give us. And of course they swear to it, so if it turns out they are not being honest with us, there are some statutory provisions.”
Part of the process in applying for a marriage license, per Bollinger, is the couple swearing that there is no reason why they should not be married – and being currently married to another person would violate their new marriage oath.
Bollinger added, “It's sworn to because it needs to be correct and right, and they need to be eligible to have a marriage license issued to them.”
During a telephone interview K.D. learned that court records show that his divorce was not finalized prior to his new marriage. He said, “If I have done something wrong, then I will make it right…I guess I'm really confused as to what's going on. I have no idea what's going on with the matter. I've got everything done through my attorney.”
The Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office told reporters that under state law, bigamy is a felony.
T.D. said that she would like the truth to be known to K.D.’s new wife, their family and the church congregation.
If you are in the midst of a difficult divorce, contact a family law attorney to best serve your needs. Your family law attorney is the most qualified person to work with the laws that govern your state.