DALLAS — To many in North Texas, Rev. Walker Railey embodied everything a rising religious leader was supposed to be: charismatic, articulate and deeply admired by his congregation at First United Methodist Church of Dallas.
“He was a famous minister. He was loved and he was on his way to national prominence and all of a sudden it just all blew up in his face,” said Mike Pezzulli, one of Railey’s former attorneys.
Railey’s wife, Peggy, was equally well known within the church, serving as the congregation’s organist and raising the couple’s two young children. To parishioners, the Raileys appeared devoted to faith and family…