Many church members had grave doubts about the wisdom of Alcorn's protests. If the church refused to pay, serious legal complications could follow. This implicated not just Alcorn's conscience, but also that of his church. 'I'm not sure what it's worth today, but I paid $12.50 for it at Kmart four years ago.'Īlcorn had not anticipated having his wages garnished, however. An opposing lawyer went so far as to ask about the gold band he was wearing on his left hand.Īlcorn held up the ring, milking the drama of the moment. At a debtor's hearing he was able to state truthfully that he owned nothing of value. Alcorn had given away or sold the copyrights to his five published books. Some time before the suit, Alcorn and his wife, Nanci, had placed all their assets in her name-house, car, and bank account. Alcorn had refused to pay, believing it would violate his conscience to write a check to an abortion clinic. One of the clinics had sued him and other 'rescuers,' winning a small judgment plus attorney's fees. In 1989 Portland police had arrested him several times for blocking the doors of several abortion clinics. The writ required Good Shepherd Church, where Alcorn was pastor of missions, to surrender a portion of his wages.Īlcorn understood instantly what lay behind the writ. Inside the envelope was a copy of a writ of garnishment for Alcorn's wages.

On the first Friday in May 1990, an envelope came to the door of Randy Alcorn's semi-rural home in Gresham, Oregon, east of Portland.

Randy alcorn theology