Freeman, Bill

Bill Freeman graduated from Fuller Theological Seminary. During the 1970s and 1980s, he was involved with The Church in Seattle, Washington. In 1986, he became the centre of a controversy when his wife, Patsy, was accused of exerting excessive control over the private lives of members of the church. He and his wife then led approximately 60 of their most devoted followers to Scottsdale, Arizona, where they started The Church in Scottsdale.

In Scottsdale, Freeman continued to follow common Local Church teachings and practices. He started his own publishing house, Ministry of the Word, Inc., and began a monthly magazine, The Christian. He also produced a daily radio show that was broadcast in Phoenix and several cities in Washington.

By the late 1990s, there were new allegations that Patsy had interfered with the lives of church members and had caused numerous divorces and other mental abuse. In 1999, Patsy filed for divorce, and, along with a group of approximately 60 of her own followers, left Arizona for Lake Oswego, Oregon. Bill Freeman then from the Scottsdale church, and in 2001, he moved to Moses Lake, Washington to join a Local Church there.

In 2004, Freeman reunited with his wife and, with a small group of followers, moved to Spokane, Washington. They set up a ministry next to Whitworth College. Since the move, there have been further allegations of mental abuse and misuse of church funds. However, Freeman has refused to comment and continues to operate his ministry organization in Spokane.