Sources for this section:

'Topeka Capital-Journal', Kansas: Editions of May 12, 2002 and May 4, 2003 (Anniversaries); July 5, 2002 (Marriage licenses); and October 20, 2002 (Marriages)

Addicted to Hate: Exhibit A of the lawsuit filed in Shawnee County District Court in Topeka, Kansas

Additional information was also obtained from various newspaper accounts where Westboro members were interviewed or otherwise identified, and their reported ages (at the time) given in the account

May 12 is the 132nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (133rd in leap years). ... For the Cusco album, see 2002 (album). ... May 4 is the 124th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (125th in leap years). ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... July 5 is the 186th day of the year (187th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 179 days remaining. ... For the Cusco album, see 2002 (album). ... October 20 is the 293rd day of the year (294th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 72 days remaining. ... For the Cusco album, see 2002 (album). ...

Original Members and Additions

The majority of the members of the Westboro Baptist Church can be traced back to five units originating in the 1950s: the Phelps family, the Hockenbarger family, Chris Davis, Theresa Davis and George Stutzman. Chris Davis later married one of Phelps' daughters, Stutzman has allegedly never been married, and no information is known regarding Theresa Davis. WBC member Jael Phelps (right) and an unidentified WBC child protesting in Tulsa, Oklahoma Westboro Baptist Church is an organization based in Topeka, Kansas, headed by minister Fred Waldron Phelps, Sr. ...

In 2000, another major "unit" joined the church, the Drain family: Steve Drain, his wife Luci, and their two daughters (Laura, the oldest, and Taylor, the youngest). Drain joined the church while working on a documentary about people's ignorance of their own religion's tenets. Doing door-to-door interviews, Drain came across members of Westboro; after interviewing them he decided they had the most solid theology of any of the people he had interviewed, and he and his family joined Westboro. He then changed the theme of the documentary from a neutral point of view to a pro-Westboro documentary, showing how they were the "one true church".

Phelps and Westboro do not permit members to marry outside the church. Since there are very few members outside of the Phelps and Hockenbarger clans, and with the exception of the Drain family few new members have joined, the clans have begun to marry each other, resulting in a form of inbreeding. Brent D. Roper is married to Shirley Phelps, his "adopted" sister (Phelps Sr. took Roper in as a teenager, but no firm evidence has been presented that an official adoption took place); their son, Samuel, is married to Jennifer Hockenbarger. Samuel's aunt, Rachel Phelps, is married to his wife's brother, Charles F. Hockenbarger. This means that Brent Roper is both the "brother" and husband of Shirley; that Samuel Phelps is the brother-in-law and nephew of Rachel Phelps; and that Rachel Phelps is the aunt and sister-in-law of Samuel Phelps. Long before any of these marriages took place, it was long speculated by members of the Topeka community that Phelps' strict rule against marrying outsiders, combined with the lack of potential spouses within in the group (nearly 90% of the church was already related by blood or marriage), would force the younger members to begin inbreeding. A twisted and in-sain group of individuals here. Inbreeding is breeding between close relatives. ...

Current Members

The Phelpses

Fred Phelps, c. 2001

WBC member Jael Phelps (right) and an unidentified WBC child protesting in Tulsa, Oklahoma

Fred Phelps' grandson Benjamin Phelps, convicted of assault and disorderly conduct in 1995. He was the person who informed his grandfather about the existence of the Internet and made the first "GodHatesFags" page

One of Phelps' grandchildren at a picket rally.

• Fred Waldron Phelps, Sr. (founder and pastor of the Westboro Baptist Church, disbarred lawyer, activist, author; born 1929) and Margerie "Margie" M. Simms, wife of Fred Phelps (since 1952).
  • Fred Phelps Jr. (lawyer, born 1953), son of Fred Phelps, and Betty Joan (Schurle) Phelps (lawyer, born c. 1952), second wife of Fred Phelps Jr. (Phelps Jr.'s first wife died under suspicious circumstances, see Former Members section below)
    • Benjamin Phelps (designer of the Westboro website, born c. 1976), son of Fred Phelps Jr., and Mara Jones-Phelps, wife of Benjamin Phelps (daughter of Robert and Kathryn Jones, believed to be of Pittsburgh). They both have a daughter and son (born March 3, 2003 and March 13, 2006, respectively).
    • Sara Phelps (reported age 24 as of February 2005), daughter of Fred Phelps Jr.
    • Elizabeth "Libby" Phelps (reported age 22 as of March 2005), daughter of Fred Phelps Jr. She is one of the two Phelps granddaughters featured on a hidden camera interview broadcast by British television network Sky News.
    • Jacob Z. Phelps, son of Fred Phelps Jr.
  • Margie Jean Phelps (lawyer, born c. 1956), daughter of Fred Phelps. Margie is one of two Phelps daughters who write insulting response letters posted on the Westboro website; her collection can be found under the heading "Dear Margie". Phelps Chartered biography
  • Shirley Lynn Phelps-Roper (lawyer, born c. 1957), daughter of Fred Phelps, and wife of Brent D. Roper (human resources lawyer for the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), author, born c. 1963) (Brent is also her brother, as he was purportedly adopted by the Senior Phelps, however this is not confirmed). As with Margie, she writes insulting response letters posted on the website, under the heading "Dear Shirley". Shirley also is active in writing many of the WBC Epics. One of Shirley's many TV interviews Phelps Chartered biography

video of Shirley unable to asnwer questions about her sins Image File history File links Fred_Phelps_on_his_pulpit. ... Image File history File links Fred_Phelps_on_his_pulpit. ... Image File history File links WBC_protest. ... Image File history File links WBC_protest. ... Nickname: Where the South Meets the West Official website: www. ... Template:ROXANA This article is about the U.S. State. ... Image File history File links BenPhelps. ... Image File history File links BenPhelps. ... Fred Phelps, c. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Phelps_child_picket. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Phelps_child_picket. ... Fred Phelps, c. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Sky News is Europes first 24-hour television news channel, originally launched as part of the 4-channel Sky Television network in February 1989. ... Brent D. Roper is a member of the Westboro Baptist Church, an alleged cult, based in Topeka, Kansas. ...

• • • Samuel Phelps-Roper (born c. 1979), son of Shirley Lynn Phelps-Roper, and Jennifer Hockenbarger (born c. 1977), wife of Samuel Phelps-Roper (since 2002) (see Hockenbarger clan discussion below)
    • Joshua F. Phelps-Roper, daughter of Shirley Lynn Phelps-Roper.
    • Margy "Megan" Phelps-Roper (reported age 13 as of November 1999), daughter of Shirley Lynn Phelps-Roper.
    • Rebekah Phelps-Roper, daughter of Shirley Lynn Phelps-Roper.
    • Isaiah Phelps-Roper, son of Shirley Lynn Phelps-Roper.
    • Zacharias Phelps-Roper, son of Shirley Lynn Phelps-Roper.
    • Grace Phelps-Roper, daughter of Shirley Lynn Phelps-Roper.
    • Gabriel Phelps-Roper, son of Shirley Lynn Phelps-Roper.
    • Jonah Phelps-Roper, son of Shirley Lynn Phelps-Roper.
    • Noah Phelps-Roper, son of Shirley Lynn Phelps-Roper.
    • Luke Phelps-Roper, son of Shirley Lynn Phelps-Roper.
  • Jonathan Baxter Phelps (lawyer, born c. 1959), son of Fred Phelps, and Paulette Phelps (Ossiander) (high school graduate, born c. 1960), wife of Jonathan Phelps (Jonathan and Paulette were disfellowshipped from Westboro, see below, but were readmitted in 1988). Jonathan is considered to be the Phelps child most like his father in terms of being confrontational with opponents; he is reported to be highly vulgar in such dealings. Phelps Chartered biography
    • Jael Phelps (pronounced Jay-Ell, nursing student, unsuccessful Topeka City Council candidate in 2005, reported age 20 as of March 2005), daughter of Jonathan Baxter Phelps. Jael has been featured on MSNBC and several media outlets, and is one of Fred Sr.'s most ardent supporters. Along with Libby Phelps, she is featured on the Sky News interview.
    • Joshua M. Phelps, son of Jonathan Baxter Phelps
    • Jacob M. Phelps, son of Jonathan Baxter Phelps
    • Joseph Phelps, son of Jonathan Baxter Phelps
  • Rebekah Phelps-Davis (lawyer, born c. 1961), daughter of Fred Phelps, and Chris Davis (born c. 1955), husband of Rebekah Phelps-Davis and original member of Westboro Phelps Chartered biography
    • Micaiah Phelps-Davis (reported age 12 as of May 2004), son of Rebekah Phelps-Davis
    • Lydia Phelps-Davis, daughter of Rebekah Phelps-Davis
    • Deborah Phelps-Davis, daughter of Rebekah Phelps-Davis
    • Barak Phelps-Davis, son of Rebekah Phelps-Davis
  • Elizabeth Marie Phelps (lawyer, former Counsel for the Shawnee County Sheriff's Department, born c. 1962), daughter of Fred Phelps
  • Timothy "Tim/Timmy" B. Phelps (lawyer, born c. 1963), son of Fred Phelps, and LeAnn Phelps (Brown) (lawyer, born c. 1966), wife of Timothy "Tim/Timmy" Phelps
    • Daniel Phelps, son of Timothy "Tim/Timmy" B. Phelps
    • Timothy Phelps Jr., son of Timothy "Tim/Timmy" B. Phelps
    • Hezekiah Phelps, son of Timothy "Tim/Timmy" B. Phelps
    • Victoria Phelps, daughter of Timothy "Tim/Timmy" B. Phelps
    • Benaiah Phelps, child of Timothy "Tim/Timmy" B. Phelps
    • Danielle Phelps, daughter of Timothy "Tim/Timmy" B. Phelps
    • Elisha Phelps, son of Timothy "Timmy" B. Phelps
    • Caleb Phelps, son of Timothy "Timmy" B. Phelps
    • Shirley Phelps, daughter of Timothy "Timmy" B. Phelps
  • Rachel I. Phelps Hockenbarger (lawyer and YMCA fitness instructor, born c. 1965), daughter of Fred Phelps, and Charles F. Hockenbarger, husband of Rachel Phelps Hockenbarger (see Hockenbarger clan discussion below) Phelps Chartered biography
    • Stephen Hockenbarger, son of Rachel I. Phelps Hockenbarger
    • Rachel Hockenbarger, daughter of Rachel I. Phelps Hockenbarger
    • Josaiah Hockenbarger, son of Rachel I. Phelps Hockenbarger
    • Gideon Hockenbarger, son of Rachel I. Phelps Hockenbarger
  • Abigail Phelps (lawyer and employee at SRS - Youth and Adult Services, Juvenile Offender Program, born c. 1968), daughter of Fred Phelps

In addition, Fred Phelps has one great-grandson named Seth Phelps; the exact lineage is unknown at this time. Another Phelps child, Malachai, was born in late 2005; it is unknown whether he is Fred Phelps' grandson or great-grandson. Fred Phelps, c. ... MSNBC (a portmanteau of Microsoft and NBC) is a 24-hour cable news channel in the United States. ... Shawnee County (standard abbreviation: SN) is a county located in the state of Kansas. ... YMCAs in the United States and Canada use this logo. ... Physical fitness is an attribute required for service in virtually all militaries. ... SRS may stand for: Secretary of the Royal Society Serbian Radical Party (called Srpska radikalna stranka originally) Sex reassignment surgery Simple random sampling Street Racing Syndicate, A video game by Namco Sender Rewriting Scheme Supplemental Restraint System System Requirements Specification Software Requirements Specification Shock response spectrum SRS Labs Sequence Retrieval...

The Hockenbargers

• Charles William "Bill" Hockenbarger, calendar operator, member of Christian Identity and long-time friend of Fred Phelps, and Mary Hockenbarger (child care provider), wife of Charles William "Bill" Hockenbarger (since 1953), original members of Westboro
  • Karl D. Hockenbarger, son of Charles William "Bill" Hockenbarger, alledgedly a member of Christian Identity, and Deborah Kay Hockenbarger, wife of Karl D. Hockenbarger
    • Jennifer Hockenbarger (born c. 1977), daughter of Karl D. Hockenbarger, and Sam Phelps-Roper (born c. 1979), husband of Jennifer Hockenbarger (since 2002) (see above)
    • James Hockenbarger, son of Karl Hockenbarger
    • Katherine Hockenbarger, daughter of Karl Hockenbarger
    • David Hockenbarger, son of Karl Hockenbarger
    • Charles F. Hockenbarger (born c. 1974), son of Karl Hockenbarger, and Rachel I. Phelps, wife of Charles F. Hockenbarger (see above)
      • Stephen Hockenbarger, son of Rachel I. Phelps Hockenbarger and Charles F. Hockenbarger
      • Rachel Hockenbarger, daughter of Rachel I. Phelps Hockenbarger and Charles F. Hockenbarger
      • Josaiah Hockenbarger, son of Rachel I. Phelps Hockenbarger and Charles F. Hockenbarger
      • Gideon Hockenbarger, son of Rachel I. Phelps Hockenbarger and Charles F. Hockenbarger

Christian Identity is a label applied to a wide variety of loosely-affiliated groups and churches with a racialized theology. ...

Other Westboro Members and supporters

• Steve Drain (video producer, author of "Hatemongers", a biography of Fred Phelps Sr. portraying him in a positive light) and Luci Drain, wife of Steve Drain (Luci has written at least one WBC Epic)
  • Lauren Drain, oldest daughter of Steve Drain
  • Taylor Drain, youngest daughter of Steve Drain, reported age 13 as of April 2005
• George Stutzman, original member of Westboro, marital status believed to be never married but unknown, some internet rumors have him previously involved in an affair with Margie Phelps (the daughter)
• Theresa Davis (relationship to Chris Davis, if any, is unknown)

Estranged Members of the Westboro Baptist Church

As noted below, all these individuals are or were related to Fred Phelps. With the exception of Debbie Valgos (death), the individuals were voted out of the church and "turned over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh", and certificates of such were mailed to them. None of the estranged members have made any reported attempts to reunite with Westboro or the Phelps clan. Fred Phelps, c. ...

• Mark Phelps, (businessman, born c 1954), son of Fred Phelps, purportedly moved to Orange County, California in 1981 along with brother Nate (see below).

• Katherine Phelps, (suspended lawyer, born c 1955), daughter of Fred Phelps.

• Nate Phelps, (businessman, born c 1958), son of Fred Phelps, purportedly moved to Orange County, California in 1981 along with brother Mark (see above).

• Dorotha (Phelps) Bird, (lawyer, born c 1964), daughter of Fred Phelps, reportedly practices law in a town just outside Topeka. Bird changed her last name as a sign of cutting off all association with the Phelps clan. Transcripts of Westboro sermons from the 1980s show that she was a "favorite" of Phelps and acted as his personal assistant; the reasons for the later disassociation with Phelps Sr. and Westboro are unknown.

• Debbie Valgos, (college student, born 1954, died 1972), purported first wife of Fred Phelps Jr. (the couple purportedly eloped; however, no marriage certificate has been located, and the marriage may have been common law if it in fact ever took place). Valgos was never accepted by the Phelps clan, as her religious background was Catholic and she never fully accepted the Westboro doctrine. Died of an alleged drug overdose following a party at an army base outside Topeka. Mark and Nate Phelps maintain that Valgos was murdered and that Phelps Sr. was "probably" involved or at least knows something about her death. Interred at Mount Calvery Cemetery, Saint Mary's Church, Pottawatomie County, Kansas. Valgos told friends before her death that she joined only with the intention of marrying Fred Phelps Jr., and that her affiliation with the church ended after they were married; her membership also pre-dated the church's picketing campaign. Phelps Jr. later denied having any relationship, or even knowing, Valgos.

In addition, for a time in the mid-1980's Jonathan and Pauline Phelps were disfellowshipped from Westboro for "fornication" (premarital sexual relations which ultimately led to the birth of Jael Phelps). Pauline was evicted from the Westboro compound; Jonathan was allowed to remain but was placed under tight supervision. When Phelps Sr. realized that Jonathan was going to leave Westboro for his wife and daughter, having already seen four of his children leave the family completely, he allowed Jonathan's family to return to the Westboro compound. (For Phelps Sr. this has turned into a "blessing" of sorts, as Jael has become one of his strongest supporters, having been featured on MSNBC and various media outlets.) Fred Phelps, c. ... wooo hoooo Orange County redirects here, for other meanings, see Orange County (disambiguation) Official website: http://www. ... Fred Phelps, c. ... Fred Phelps, c. ... Fred Phelps, c. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Common-law marriage (or common law marriage), sometimes called informal marriage or marriage by habit and repute is, historically, a form of interpersonal status in which a man and a woman are legally married. ... A drug overdose occurs when a chemical substance (i. ...

http://www.nndb.com/people/908/000025833/

In 1993, as Phelps' name became controversial in his home town, his estranged son, Mark Phelps, wrote a letter to his hometown newspaper, The Topeka Capital-Journal:

I believe in God and the Bible, and my father's behavior doesn't fit the description of behavior that would show in the life of one who loves God; behavior characteristics such as Love, Joy, Peace, Longsuffering, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-control. Instead, my father's behavior characterizes, I believe, Hate, Outbursts of Wrath, Contention, Jealousy, Vengefulness, Misery, Harshness, and Selfish ambition. He mis-states the truth about his own behavior, about others, about the Bible, with apparent ease and regularity. He behaves with a viciousness the likes of which I have never seen. He accepts no genuine accountability in his life and is subject to no one. His lifestyle betrays the sacred trust of what a pastor, husband, father and grandfather should be. I suppose if a comparison were made between the life of Jesus Christ and my father, there would not be much to compare.

I believe that Topekans are making a good effort to try and stop him and should continue to do so. He can seem very intimidating. He can use foul language and come across with a booming voice to the community, but the truth is, like the Wizard of Oz, when Toto pulls the curtain back, instead of this big powerful individual, it's only a small, pathetic old man. I feel sorry for my father as I would for anyone who displays this kind of hate and evil viciousness. These can only be the manifestations of tortured, injured and agonizing souls."

http://www.nndb.com/people/908/000025833/

Phelps Chartered

Phelps Chartered is a law firm that was founded in 1964 by Fred W. Phelps Sr. Although Phelps was disbarred in 1987 (the Web site says that he "retired"), five WBC members serve as lawyers in the firm today.

Phelps Chartered

1414 S.W. Topeka Blvd.

P.O. Box 1886

Topeka, KS 66612-1819

Phone: (785) 233-4162

Fax: (785) 233-0766