Members of a local congregation were struggling this weekend to recover from the suicide of their longtime pastor, who had been the subject of a local television news investigation.

		Previous coverage: Pastor takes his life in wake of TV probe (11/04/06)

Community Presbyterian Church of Ben Avon has been "in shock and grief" over the death of the Rev. Brent Dugan, said Rev. James Mead, pastor to the Pittsburgh Presbytery.

Counseling is being offered to church members, Mr. Mead said yesterday, and leaders of the church and the presbytery have worked closely to provide pastoral support and "encouragement to the congregation at a very tough time."

Services will go on today as scheduled, he said, with preaching by the Rev. Carol Divens Roth, an associate pastor to the presbytery.

The Rev. Dr. Jean Henderson was appointed interim pastor for the church late Thursday, he said, after police, family and friends made desperate efforts to find Mr. Dugan.

He had been missing since Wednesday afternoon, and a suicide note was found Thursday morning in his home, Mr. Mead said.

He said that in the note, Mr. Dugan spoke of his "profound sorrow and sadness, and sense of solemn grief and embarrassment, about what he thought would come to be known about his personal life."

His body was found Friday in a motel room in Mercer County. The Mercer County coroner's office said he died of an overdose of aspirin and alcohol and ruled his death a suicide.

His death came a day after KDKA-TV canceled plans to air a report of an investigation that focused on Mr. Dugan and involved what the station called "reports of public and illegal sexual behavior."

KDKA had aired promotions for the broadcast without mentioning him by name. But the station announced Thursday that it would not air the story, citing concerns that he might harm himself.

Reporter Marty Griffin said he had uncovered "illicit, possibly illegal activity by a local minister, activities which at the very least violated the rules of his denomination."

The station issued a statement Friday that expressed condolences to Mr. Dugan's family and friends. It declined to comment yesterday, and Mr. Mead did not elaborate on what might have prompted Mr. Dugan to take his own life.

But he emphasized that Mr. Dugan had provided stellar leadership during his 18 years as pastor of the church.

"He was an outstanding pastor who loved the Lord, loved the church and served the church with great effectiveness.

"This is an occasion of profound sorrow in this presbytery. People are brokenhearted."