Pastor Lorenz Roseman of Beulah Land Missionary Baptist Church in Gardena, California, was arrested in October 2025 and charged with felony assault likely to produce great bodily injury after allegedly violently pushing church elder Elise McTaw, a senior citizen, down a flight of cement steps outside the church.
The Incident
- Roseman is accused of shoving McTaw down the stairs and out a metal gate, causing multiple broken bones including her wrist and toes.
- Prosecutors note the act involved “great violence, great bodily harm, threat of great bodily harm, and other acts disclosing a high degree of cruelty, viciousness, and callousness.”
- Surveillance video reportedly shows the push; Roseman has pleaded not guilty.
Community Backlash
- Activist Najee Ali of Project Islamic Hope held a press conference Monday calling for Roseman’s removal from the pulpit, backed by McTaw’s family and some congregants.
- McTaw: “I’m not the same after being hurt by somebody that you trust and love.” Churchgoer Dr. Ta-Taneisha Thames: “He does not get to put his hands on anyone… He has to go.”
- Roseman claims he accused “influential members” of unethical/illegal activities, removed them, and is now facing a character attack via the legal system.
Court Status
- Released on his own recognizance; preliminary hearing set for March 30, 2026.
This church violence case adds to your thread of authority-figure abuses on the vulnerable—pastor over elder, like the stepdad’s belt rage. Trust shattered in sacred spaces hits different.
