By JUAN A. LOZANO, Associated Press WriterThu Aug 7, 3:57 AM ET

As one of the leaders of a Houston megachurch, the wife of renowned pastor Joel Osteen is known for her Christianity. But a flight attendant is accusing Victoria Osteen of committing some very unchristian-like behavior.

Opening arguments were set for Thursday in a civil lawsuit that accuses Victoria Osteen of assaulting Continental Airlines flight attendant Sharon Brown before the start of a 2005 flight from Houston to Vail, Colo.

The lawyer for Victoria Osteen, co-pastor at Lakewood Church, called the lawsuit silly and denied that her client assaulted Brown. Brown’s attorney, Reginald McKamie, said he hopes the trial will show “that celebrity status doesn’t take precedence.”

Brown alleges Victoria Osteen threw her against a bathroom door and elbowed her in the left breast during an outburst over a stain on her first-class seat. The Federal Aviation Administration fined Victoria Osteen $3,000 for interfering with a crew member.

Victoria Osteen “clearly was angry on this flight,” McKamie said.

Brown wants an apology and punitive damages amounting to 10 percent of Victoria Osteen’s net worth as part of her suit.

A 12-person jury was seated Wednesday after lawyers spent several hours questioning a pool of 130 people. The questioning touched on religious beliefs, celebrity and the public’s perception of preachers and televangelists.

Many of those in the jury pool said they had been to Lakewood Church and acknowledged holding the Osteens in high regard and being star-struck by them.

But other potential jurors said they didn’t like preachers or televangelists and that ministers can lie.

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