omoarole:
Sorry about it. I feel for you. Being let down by people you trust, especially religious leaders you look up to can be very demoralizing.
But every event in life is a lesson. You should learn from this. I myself have been faced with such situations before, though it was never church, but by close friends and soulmates . It hurts really deeply and very bad. But you have to pick yourself up and get over it.
You might want to seek closure by making a public statement to expose the ugly incident. That may be a great way of doing it.
The church has committed fraud, there is no two way about it. And a church that commits fraud is not worthy of the name. Your senior pastor that "hhas a temper" isn't even worthy of the name or rank. If a customer care representative does not have a temper, I wonder what that speaks of him.
You cannot accept the defamation of character that is being pushed in your face. It's a way of ruining you. You know how people live and thrive on rumours.
And the church can make your life unbearable. Especially as you are still trying to be a member of an organization that was built to protect you but is now the instrument of persecution to you.
IF I WAS YOU.. (deliberate emphasis) a formal complaint legally is the least I will do. I may not take them to court, but a sworn statement of events made in a magistrate court to ascertain the facts of the case and state it to all relevant parties (landlord, agents, lawyers get a copy) so that they know the kind of deceptive holier-than-thou people they are dealing with.
But most importantly, learn a lesson. There are no saints in business. And don't make that mistake another time.
Thanks.

Wow thank you. I will prefer a formal complaint legally, a sworn statement of events. How will I go about it please .