Blevins, Greiert again named in amendment to Kirk lawsuit
By NewsPress Now
A local pastor has filed an amendment to his federal discrimination and defamation lawsuit, naming two people previously dismissed from the case as individual defendants.
Brian Kirk, pastor at First Christian Church, alleges the St. Joseph City Council did not reappoint him to his seat on the St. Joseph Public Library board last year due to his sexual orientation and LGBTQ advocacy.
Last week, a federal judge granted a motion to dismiss two defendants — Steven Greiert, who is the chairman of the Buchanan County Republican Central Committee, and Josh Blevins, pastor at Grace Calvary Chapel — from the lawsuit. Kirk’s suit contends actions by Blevins and Greiert caused the mayor and members of the city council to not reappoint him to the board.
An amended complaint filed by Kirk’s attorneys on Monday again names Blevins and Greiert as individual defendants in the case.
The city of St. Joseph also is a defendant in the case, and Mayor John Josendale and the eight council members serving at the time of the vote last year — Taylor Crouse, Madison Davis, Michael Grimm, Marty Novak, Kenton Randolph, Jeff Schomburg, Randy Schulz and Andy Trout — are named in their official capacity.
