Religious Chain Reaction

BELLEVILLE, Ill. (CN) - A woman claims she was injured in a religious chain reaction after another parishioner received the "spirit" from their pastor.

Cheryl Jones sued the Disciple Fellowship Church in St. Clair County Court.

Jones says she was knocked unconscious when she hit her head at the church on Jan. 5, 2010.

The church usually has two ushers stand beside parishioners as they receive the "spirit," to keep them from falling and hurting themselves, but did not post them that day, Jones says.

"Consequently, as one member received the 'spirit,' she fell backwards knocking several other members into plaintiff who fell to the ground with several people falling on top of her," the complaint states.

Jones says the church failed to provide a safe place for worship, failed to provide ushers to catch parishioners who fell to the floor after the pastor laid his hands on them and failed to control parishioners who were receiving the "spirit."

She seeks more than $50,000 in damages for her injuries and medical care.

She is represented by Brian Millikan with Millikan Wright of St. Louis.

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