Surveillance video captured Pastor Lorenz Roseman of Beulah Land Missionary Baptist Church in Gardena, California, forcefully pushing an elderly woman through a metal gate and down cement steps outside his church, leaving her with fractured bones and outraged congregants demanding his immediate removal.

Violent Confrontation Outside House of Worship

The incident occurred late last year at the Baptist church in Los Angeles’s South Bay area. Video footage shows Roseman shoving Elise McTaw as she stood near the church doors, sending her tumbling down the concrete steps. McTaw sustained fractures to her wrist and toes from the fall. Community activist Najee Ali of Project Islamic Hope pointed to the brace worn by the victim during the protest, emphasizing the physical evidence of the pastor’s actions.

Pastor Claims Investigation Sparked Retaliation

Roseman defended his actions in a written statement, claiming the confrontation stemmed from his investigation into unethical and illegal activities by influential church members. The pastor stated he removed these individuals from their positions after confirming the allegations. He accused the dismissed members of attacking his character and weaponizing the legal system when they failed to oust him through church procedures. Roseman maintains that judges dismissed lawsuits against him as frivolous and lacking standing, though he did not address the physical assault directly.

Congregation Demands Accountability

Church members gathered Sunday outside Beulah Land Missionary Baptist Church calling for Roseman’s dismissal. Dr. Ta-Taneisha Thames, a congregant, rejected the pastor’s explanations entirely. She told KTLA that regardless of internal church disputes, physical violence remains unacceptable. The congregation’s position remains firm that no justification exists for the pastor laying hands on anyone, and they continue demanding his resignation.

Leadership Crisis at LA Church

The incident highlights broader questions about pastoral accountability and church governance. While Roseman claims his investigation into corruption triggered false accusations, the video evidence of physical assault presents a separate issue from any internal church disputes. The fractures sustained by McTaw and the surveillance footage provide objective documentation of the encounter. The congregation’s unified call for removal suggests deep concerns about pastoral conduct extending beyond the documented assault. The situation remains unresolved as church members continue their protest.