Posted on 12/20/2005 4:08:06 PM PST by truthandlife
A dispute that involved the wife of Houston's most famous pastor, Joel Osteen, and a Continental Airlines flight attendant ended up delaying a flight for hours Monday. And now, Victoria Osteen's actions on that flight are in the spotlight. Also on ABC13.com: Send us a news tip | RSS feeds | ABC13 E-lert | Info mentioned on air Statements from Lakewood and Continental Following the incident on Continental flight 1602 Monday, both Lakewood Church and Continental Airlines released these statements. The Osteens run the largest church in the nation, so passengers on a Continental flight were shocked Monday when Mrs. Osteen was removed from that flight after a disturbance.
Taking time off from the high profile hustle and bustle of running a mega-church, Lakewood Church Pastor Joel Osteen and his family boarded Continental flight 1602 Monday morning at Houston's big airport. They were bound for the slopes in Colorado.
Their trip was delayed and so was the entire flight by almost two hours. Fellow passengers blame the popular Osteens, specifically Joel's wife, Victoria.
According to passenger accounts, the Osteens were sitting in first class. Soon after the plane's door was closed, the FBI says Victoria Osteen was removed following what Continental would call only a disturbance. The Osteens' spokesman confirms it involved a flight attendant, but that's all. However, one passenger tells Eyewitness News she was alerted to the front of the plane when she heard a commotion.
"She violently ran towards the cockpit, scaring everyone around her," said passenger Knicky Van Slyke. "Everyone was terrified about what was going on. And a bunch of flight attendants ran up and had to restrain her. She was banging on the door."
"Of the cockpit?" we asked.
"Yes."
Passengers say Victoria was removed first. Joel and the children followed. Meantime, everyone waited.
"They unloaded all the luggage to get their luggage and deplaned her, Joel, and the kids," said passenger Dawn Dixon.
Passenger Chad Clay said, "They kept telling us they were waiting on some passengers to find their luggage underneath in the plane, and it was going to be delayed for looking for that luggage."
According to the Transportation Security Administration, federal air marshals were never involved. Local authorities also know nothing of this event. Continental would not discuss details.
The Osteens' spokesman denies a physical altercation, denies Victoria ever banged on the cockpit door, and says she left on her own.
"The account of the event which has come to our attention is inaccurate and overblown. The misunderstanding was minor and was resolved when Victoria voluntarily removed herself from the situation," read the statement.
The FBI says it was not voluntary. Though agents are not investigating, they will review the incident as the Osteens enjoy their Colorado vacation.
The Osteens' spokesman says they took another flight to Colorado Monday.
Nobody has been charged. As for the FBI's involvement, we're told it's standard procedure for them to review all passenger removal incidents. According to Continental, this one is a closed case.
Pastor Joel Osteen preaches to an average of 40,000 people a week at Lakewood Church services. Lakewood opened in the former home of the Rockets, Compaq Center, back in July. It took $90 million and a year and a half of renovations. Osteen's ministry is taped and aired around the world.
Happen to be rich? LOL!
Trace the backtrack on how they happen to be rich. Fleecing the suckers is a venerable and honored American tradition.
What I do object to is doing it in the name of Jesus.
Proof?
Jesus wore a seamless garment. These were very expensive. The Roman soldiers cast lots for it after they put Him on the cross. Jesus also had a treasurer. Judas. If He didn't have money...He wouldn't have needed one.
"I do not recall TF making trouble on an airplane."
I do not recall every thing she did either.
She looks high maintenance to me
So we should keep pastors in the poor house?
Hey WHY NOT keep them so poor that they have to live in Government housing or maybe even have to use food stamps?
Why not?
Apparently this man's message and his preaching have reached some people. Sorry you can't see it, but he does have a following. If they have choosen to enrich him with money, so be it, but it ISN'T for us to judge now is it?
Look further into this and I'm sure you'll find another Bush administration involvement. That this could happen during Bush's 2nd term is scandalous and unacceptable. Rove, Rice and Bush conspiracy.
I understand that, but still would you see Billy Graham taking off the Christmas season to go skiing at the anti-religious hollywood winter playground?
She has terminal cancer, I believe, and needs all our prayers...
maybe he likes skiing....
Maybe he is witnessing to those there?
Maybe there happen to be other Christians there?
How do you know anything of which I am asking besides your own ASSUmptions?
so osteen let pelosi on his show so everyone could see that he is more of a believer than her?
Changing the subject somewhat.
Suppose it was an alcoholic drink which was spilled which upset Victoria?
There are all kinds of sceneros which could have happened.
That got me to thinking. Some mothers may not approve of their children being in so close proximity of alcoholic drinks being service. A minister's wife especially. First class cabin where people are drinking -- is something akin to a bar. How many mothers would be happy about their child sitting in a bar?
Of course, the Olsteens knew that drinks would be served in First Class. They've probably flown FC before.
Perhaps we are getting to the place in time where drinking on flights should be banned. We can't smoke on planes; why not stop drinking. Alcohol consumption does have a tendency to cause people to react inappropriately. And inside an aircraft, that might be too dangerous.
Any comments?
Maybe he's going there to "be seen" and to show off his success of rising up from the backwoods of Texas to the glitterati....no real Texan would be caught dead there....OBTW, anyone seen the "Reverend" Deion Sanders lately?????
I watched the program where Joel graciously introduced Pelosi, but I sure didn't see where it could be perceived that he buddied up to her. Maybe I missed something?
Lol.
The only thing I'm "supposin" after reading your post is that perhaps it was Mrs. Osteen who "imbibed" a bit too much before takeoff!!!!!!!!!!
Maybe he is witnessing to those there?
Maybe there happen to be other Christians there?
How do you know anything of which I am asking besides your own ASSUmptions?
When is it an assumption that the ski slopes of Colorado are hollywood's winter playground, it's a fact. There is just something not right about Osteen, going to the winter hollywood playground.
JMO, he or his wife wish to be part of the jet set.
Pastor Rogers: "Please know that the strength of this ministry was and is not Adrian Rogers."
From Mr. Osteen's site: "Since 1999, under the leadership of Pastor Joel Osteen, Lakewood has grown in a variety of ways."
No credit to God on the part of Mr. Osteen.
Interesting and telling.
Thank you for posting this from Pastor Rogers. A class act and faithful follower from what I know of him.
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