Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, August 14, 1995                   TAG: 9508140009
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C4   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: HALIFAX                                 LENGTH: Medium

PREACHER FACES FRAUD CHARGES

Members of two rural churches are struggling to understand how the preacher who baptized their children and buried their parents lied to the congregations.

The Rev. Jonathan R. Frizzelle - the former minister of the Asbury and McKendree United Methodist churches in Halifax County - faces 12 fraud-related charges in Halifax County. They include five counts of fraudulent use of a vehicle title and two counts of fraudulently selling property under lien.

A hearing for Frizzelle is scheduled for Wednesday in Halifax County General District Court.

Joyce Patrick, whose family has held membership in McKendree for generations, said she is crushed that Frizzelle performed the funeral ceremonies for her mother in September. He buried at least two other parishioners.

``We are strongly considering having another memorial service for our respective parents and grandparents after our new pastor gets settled,'' Patrick said. ``I just don't know if Mama's at peace or not.''

Court records show Frizzelle, 44, had at least 10 convictions in North Carolina for crimes including embezzlement, bad checks, forgery, larceny and fraud. He was sentenced in 1986 to three years in prison for embezzlement and passing worthless checks, then was paroled after serving eight months, according to the North Carolina Department of Corrections.

Frizzelle came to Virginia in June 1993 from North Carolina, where he had been a Methodist minister-in-training.

The Rev. Henry E. Riley, who hired Frizzelle as pastor of Prospect United Methodist Church in Prince Edward County, said he didn't check Frizzelle's credentials because he assumed they were true. Riley said Frizzelle sailed through interviews with church leaders. Area Methodist churches didn't perform criminal background checks on clergy when Frizzelle was hired. They are required now.