The original apostolic team comprised Mahaney, Tomczak, Detweiler and Bill Galbraith. The allegations included closets and rooms that did not match those in the school building. Since the lawsuit was dismissed on procedural grounds, and not on the merits of the case, there was never a legal investigation of the charges. Most importantly, as far as were able to discern, we believe this course, the theological capitulation it would represent, and the precedent it would set, would ultimately dishonor Christ and harm the cause of the gospel. WebSovereign Grace Ministries is an evangelical, Reformed, and charismatic network founded in 1982 that has about 80 member churches, located mostly in the U.S. SGM also Yes, we have been the target of misinformed critique in both the secular and Christian media, and more will likely come, he stated. When this issue resurfaced a year ago, I was made painfully aware of my serious mistakes. He believed that "the isolation of Covenant Life, and of a small cluster of churches of which it was a part, may have fed leadership mistakes, including the decision of pastors himself among them to handle a child sexual abuse case internally instead of going to police." Most importantly, as far as were able to discern, we believe this course, the theological capitulation it would represent, and the precedent it would set, would ultimately dishonor Christ and harm the cause of the gospel.. As reported in Time Magazine (February 2016), Susan Burke, the lawyer for the victims, plans to file another lawsuit in Virginia, involving the two individuals from that jurisdiction. To date the police have filed no charges against anyone in that case. The lawsuit ended up being dismissed because of the statute of limitations. Mahaney, Sex Abuse, Failure to Report, Statute of Limitations, Sovereign Grace Ministries, Lawsuit, Pedophiles, T4G The Washingtonian released a new article after spending many months investigating Sovereign Grace Ministries, CJ Mahaney, and the many cases of alleged sex abuse named in the lawsuit brought on by victims (named (Ennis testified that in addition to her personal involvement with the Palmer situation she had a professional background as a Research Manager for a news organization). "[30][31], Early in 2012, Sovereign Grace Ministries announced their intention to relocate their headquarters from Gaithersburg, Maryland to Louisville, Kentucky, citing Louisville's lower cost of living as well as the growing connection with the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in town. The court also found that the "Covenant Life School" sued by the plaintiffs did not exist during the time frame of the alleged abuse.[59][60]. In this case, it is not a tough call at all. On March 1, 2018, Denhollander issued a reply of her own. Therefore, all of the claims by the Maryland plaintiffs were dismissed in May 2013 because the statute of limitations had expired, 3 years after each turned 18; the claims by two Virginia plaintiffs were still within the statute of limitations. The February issue of Washingtonian Magazine featured an expos of long-buried sexual abuse of children in a prominent evangelical church network, Sovereign Grace Ministries. You wrote that Susan Burke, a leading abuse litigator who is defending the Sovereign Grace victims, has called this case the toughest shes ever worked on. May 14, 2013: A Second Amended Complaint is filed, adding three more plaintiffs alleging abuse. To repeat: While we find Denhollanders and Detwilers allegations compelling, we are not ready to say each of their charges is the whole truth and nothing but the truth. The actual victim did not participate in that lawsuit. An independent review by a qualified firm requires higher, not lower, standards than the less-defined and basic standards set out in Scripture., (Mohler stated that Denhollander had fundamentally changed his understand of the Sovereign Grace situation. [8] It has also been described as a cult, due to its unorthodox teachings, systemic control of members, and allegations of covering-up child sex abuse. "[65] Subsequently, Covenant Life Church former pastor Grant Layman [Mahaney's brother-in-law] said, while testifying about allegations against Nathaniel Morales, that he [Layman] had not reported the abuse to the police. During the hearing, Judge Burrell referred to an affidavit filed by Brent Detwiler supporting the claims of the plaintiffs as "vague and irrelevant". WebHarris was lead pastor of Covenant Life Church, the founding church of Sovereign Grace Ministries, in Gaithersburg, Maryland from 2004 until 2015. The Asbury Revival Is Over. Jessica is a content editor for ChurchLeaders.com and the producer of The Stetzer ChurchLeaders Podcast. If true, perhaps there are reasons these people werent contacted. Since its publication, I have also been hearing from people who want to share with me stories of abuse from other ministries. For six years nowand more intensely in the last few weekscharges and counter-charges (see links below), accusations and defenses have been conducted in public forums and in the courts, without a satisfactory conclusion. Third, said Denhollander, Failure to get expert help, or commissioning a poor investigation (as RZIM did in 2017) crushes and silences victims, and leaves abusers in power, while giving a false sense of security. In 2017. settled a lawsuit with a woman named Lori Anne Thompson, who said that Zacharias had used his spiritual authority to groom her for a sexual relationship. Predictably, the judge questioned her very legitimacy as a plaintiff. False criminal charges can result in a jail term or hefty fine, however.". Does this kind of circumscribed sexual environment give way to more sexual abuse? This is an oversimplification, but basically, if a church member confesses abuse to a pastor, or the knowledge is received from a victim in a pastoral capacity, the minister may not be legally obligated to report the abuse. But that healing cannot begin until we all know the exact nature and extent of the wound; until all the facts are out in the open; until the truth that liberates can be known; and most importantly, if and when it is pertinent, there is repentance. Another church plaintiff was never abused, (her sister was abused by her father who was prosecuted in 1987), but that plaintiff claimed the church had incarcerated her, ruining her life. Maryland State Senate Committee Hearings (March 2016), Hocken includes SGM in his list of restorationists; see Stanley M Burgess, Eduard M van der Maas (eds), Wagner includes SGM in his list of apostolic networks; see Stanley M Burgess, Eduard M van der Maas (eds), Learn how and when to remove this template message, "KEEPING THEIR EYES on the CROSS; Gospel truth draws at Covenant Life", The New International Dictionary of Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements, "C.J. The church network pushed back against renewed scrutiny around SGC and former president C. J. Mahaneys response to abuse claims. It is our sincere hope that this brief statement has done both by speaking truthfully, respectfully and in a way that honors God. Some people I talked to say, yes, this is repression and it leads to abuse and acting out sexually. from his role as President, or to "call into question his fitness for gospel ministry. I pray that God gives us all grace to respond wisely and biblically. Rachael Denhollander: Will Sovereign Grace Take the Ravi Scandal to Heart? It took months to establish trust with those involved. Antonio Santarsiero / EyeEm / Getty Images. Fourth, we recognize and applaud the steps Sovereign Grace and its churches have taken since this controversy first erupted. Covenant Life and another church in Virginia where the cases of abuse from the dismissed lawsuit allegedly took place are no longer in the SGC network. The information may be privileged, as it would be with an attorney. So many of the leaders applauding the step RZIM took today, were silent in urging that this step be taken, and remain silent regarding an organization still co-laboring alongside them or in their communities, wrote Denhollander in a Facebook post on Feb. 12. Sign up for our newsletter: Maryland's Court of Special Appeals has dismissed a case which alleged that leaders of Sovereign Grace Ministries had attempted to cover up a sex abuse scandal at the Bethesda-Covenant Life Church. For those confused by the events of the last few years, here is a brief timeline based on one offered by SGCs former flagship, Covenant Life Church (CLC): October 2012: Accusers file an initial complaint with three plaintiffs, alleging that SGM and leaders in Maryland and Virginia covered up sexual abuse within two congregations. I can understand that pastoral confidentiality is important, and so are religious freedom considerations. Regarding the alleged pedophile ring at the church's school Ennis testified that. Perhaps there are reasons the report failed to disclose a number of disturbing facts. "[42], In December 2014, executive director Mark Prater announced that the group's name would change to "Sovereign Grace Churches", to reflect its newly changed structure. Image: Another ministry that recently faced accusations, Associated Baptists for World Evangelism (ABWE), turned to a private investigator. WebMaryland's Court of Special Appeals has dismissed a case which alleged that leaders of Sovereign Grace Ministries had attempted to cover up a sex abuse scandal at the Mahaney & Sovereign Church of Louisville Pulled Out of the Southern Baptist Convention When Asked About Sex Abuse Scandal but Continue WebThe Sovereign Grace denomination used to consist of approximately 120 churches, but because of a major child sex abuse scandal and attempted cover-up by then June 14, 2013: While the motion for reconsideration is still pending, plaintiffs file an appeal with the Maryland Court of Special Appeals. Some church leaders expressed that they wanted the story to go away, so the community could move on. Public defender Alan Drew asked Layman if he had an "obligation to report the alleged abuse?" At the same Senate hearing another individual, Terry Mayo, also testified. It was because we were advocating for other victims of sexual assault within the evangelical community, crimes which had been perpetrated by people in the church and whose abuse had been enabled, very clearly, by prominent leaders in the evangelical community. Denhollander was referring to the independent investigation Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM) commissioned in September of last year. 6) People withdrew from us, or fell silent. . [40] British restorationist leader Terry Virgo states that Larry Tomczak and C. J. Mahaney, leaders at the time, had become "increasingly uncomfortable" with the "People of Destiny International" name, and it was shortened to "PDI Ministries". What challenges did you face getting the reporting? I had seen some local news reports about Sovereign Grace, and I approached Burke, asking if she would put me in touch with any of the plaintiffs she represented. For more than 40 years, Sovereign Grace Ministries was a haven for evangelical Christians from around the D.C. metro region. , says victims advocate Rachael Denhollander. | (Photo: The two churches formed an informal church-planting partnership. Until youve experienced your life ripped open by false accusations, please consider that what happened to us can happen to anyone. Perhaps the number of abuse victims isnt as high as it seems. [51] Larry Tomczak, a co-founder of SGM, who left the organization in the late 1990s, was alleged to have abused and assaulted a child in the form of administering corporal punishment over a period of twenty-five years. In 2018, Denhollander publicly called on SGC to launch an independent investigation into the claims of sexual abuse. Its time for healing to begin. Defense Attorney #1 affirms the seriousness of the allegations and notes that they were tough to read. He states that we have not yet gotten to the merits of these allegations, some going as far back as 1982, but if the case were to proceed and we did get to the merits, they would, however, be vigorously contested. [61] As of January 2018, two years later, no such lawsuit has been filed. That being said, we call upon SGC to welcome an independent audit of how it has, in fact, processed charges when they have been brought to its attentionthis is precisely one of the points of contention. However, none of those named supported her stories of abuse. And especially for the sake of the gospel., Subscribe to CT The investigations findings, which were published Feb. 9, revealed that the initial allegations, shocking as they were, pale in comparison to Zacharias actual proficiency as a sexual predator. That puts this proposal squarely in the category of more-harm-than-good.". No matter how great the passion for an obviously righteous cause, no fallen human being possesses absolute moral authority, and it benefits neither the victims of sexual abuse nor the name of Christ when believers publicly condemn one another without the facts. Co-pastors Steve Witt and Bob Cohen invited an "Apostolic Team" the fall of 1980 to come and assist in "apostolic restructuring." Lets set an example for all churches to follow, bringing healing to victims and churches alike. Experiencing the Spirit The dynamic power of the Holy Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our, Digital on Oct. 13, 2002. Mike Winger Discusses When God Hardened Pharaohs Heart, Tennessee Church Showcases Tyre Nichols Photography, Louisiana Pastor Sentenced to 5 Years in Money Laundering Case Involving Nearly $900K in Stolen Funds, Steven Curtis Chapman First Contemporary Christian Artist To Earn 50th No. Actually, she was charged and imprisoned by state and federal authorities for crimes of fraud, theft, drug possession, drug trafficking, and weapons concerns. January 2013: A First Amended Complaint is filed, adding five more plaintiffs alleging abuse and adding CLC and other defendants. 7) Questions harassed us: Could we lose everything financing a defense? [We encourage readers to read both SGCs latest defense and Denhollanders Facebook rejoinder in full, from which the quotes above and below have been taken. Third, we are asking SGC to strongly encourage any churches and leaders in its orbit who remain under suspicion to seek an independent investigation, and for accused former SGM churches to agree to one as well. The court also dismissed for lack of jurisdiction all of the claims against the remaining 2 defendants residing in Virginia. And for the sake of SGC and for the integrity of evangelical churches everywhere. [67][68] "Between 1990 and 2007 at least five members of the churchs staff were told of Moraless abuse. While there is a specific process by which a charge may be submitted against an elder by any current or former SGC church member, SGC leadership has no authority to mandate an investigation by an outside authority upon all of our churches. Evangelical churches are plagued with serious problems related to how we respond to and counsel victims of sexual assault. Your daily news briefing from the editors of CT. Saddleback Successor Cleared of Allegations of Overbearing Leadership, No Celebrities Except Jesus: How Asbury Protected the Revival. RZIM UK has broken with the ministry as a result. [14], In 1981, Brent Detweiler, pastor of Indiana Christian Fellowship in Indiana, Pennsylvania, asked Mahaney and Tomczak to provide oversight and accountability for his church. At his sentencing, she made a compelling speech calling for his just punishment while also extending her forgiveness. You take care not to re-victimize victims. Of the many matters of concern, Denhollander says that Liebeler did not contact most of those raising allegations, nor witnesses on behalf of those making allegations. In 1982, shortly after planting a church in Cleveland, Mahaney, Tomczak and Detweiler formed People of Destiny International as an umbrella organization for their various ministries. [28][vague], In the summer of 2009, Detweiler, who had left the SGM board in 2009, released a series of documents detailing numerous grievances with Mahaney, including concerns about Mahaney's leadership style. Survivors and non-survivors alike need legal protection. However, its history of being fired or not rehired by some ministriesas well as Tchividjians past public statements on SGM, which SGC says have prejudged and publicly indicted the ministrycould make a church understandably balk. 1. We are as bewildered as anyone and simply dont have enough information to make a confident judgment on the matter. Mark Galli is editor in chief of Christianity Today. Speaking up after the hard work has been done is easy, said Denhollander, who is an attorney known for being the first of more than 400 women to publicly accuse USA gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar of sexual abuse. What Happens Now? Given the substantial nature of the accusations, given the prominence of SGC and Covenant Life Church, given the aborted court case on procedural grounds, given the crucial questions left hanging in the air, a new independent investigation is in order for all those churches that have been involved in these events over the years. A former ministry partner of Mahaney turned critic, Brent Detwiler, has been chronicling the controversy for many years and claims that 100 pastors, 300 small group leaders, 40 churches (including his own), and 12,000 members have left SGC churches largely over what they claim has been abusive and deceitful leadership. 1) We received online threats that flyers would go out to our neighbors, informing them of the pedophile at our address. [43], Church planter Fred Herron described the PDI/SGM church planting method of founding new churches: a pastor leads a group of members to relocate to a different city and form, or plant, a new church. for less than $4.25/month. And very few leaders are willing to take that step even today., In her statement, Rachael Denhollander listed four lessons from the Ravi Zacharias scandal that ought to be abundantly clear. First, it ought to be clear that pastors and ministry leaders are not equipped to conduct investigations into allegations of sexual abuse within their ministries. This brought her faith into prominence; so naturally, we at CT wanted to interview her. Sovereign Grace Churches (SGM; previously Sovereign Grace Ministries and People of Destiny International, PDI) is a group of Reformed,[2] neocharismatic,[3] Evangelical, restorationist,[4] Christian churches primarily located in North America. Because many churches are ideologically committed to the theories that lead them to handle abuse so poorly, many church leaders are very sincere, yet sincerely wrong. The article quotes Plaintiff's attorney, Susan Burke, saying that she "plans to file a new suit in Virginia against the Fairfax church on behalf of at least two plaintiffs." Worshipers fill the Covenant Life Church in Gaithersburg, Md. [9][10] Besides the North American congregations, there are also congregations in Australia, Bolivia, Ethiopia, Great Britain, Germany and Mexico. Statutes of limitationswhich put time limits on when you can file charges or suecan be an issue for victims. Mahaney reinstated at Sovereign Grace", "Controversial church with Southern Baptist ties moves headquarters to Louisville", "Sovereign Grace Ministries Relocating Headquarters to Kentucky", "Maryland megachurch secedes from Sovereign grace ministries", "Flagship Church Votes to Leave C.J. Fifth, we acknowledge that a primary challenge churches face is not knowing where to turn for independent investigations. The apologists version of events was that Thompson and her husband were trying to extort money from him. "I believe so," he replied. ", Mayo said, at the close of her Senate Committee testimony, "I was burned by sexual abuse in the early 70s; were being burned by the false accusation of it now. Subscribers receive full access to the archives. We will continue to work hard to ensure our church is a place of safety for children and a place of healing for victims.. If, in fact, they are as guiltless as they have proclaimed, and if, in fact, the incidences are as few as they suggest, it would be great news for the evangelical community and the cause of the gospel. How does the legal system currently help or hurt victims of child sex abuse? So it would likely involve only two of the survivors from my story. The R. Albert Mohler Jr., a leading evangelical and Christian conservative, said for the first time that he regrets his embrace of C.J. Churches that advocate a conservative sexual ethic should address those messages. We have no authority over those churches, no right to their pastoral records, and no access to their internal reports or investigations, the leaders write. Still a number of its explanations for past events remain inadequate and leave too many questions unanswered. Allegations of child sexual abuse and staff cover-up continue to swirl. 2. Ravi Zacharias Hid Hundreds of Pictures of Women, Abuse During Massages, and a Rape Allegation, Complete access to articles on ChristianityToday.com, Over 120 years of magazine archives plus full access to all of CTs online archives. [23][24][29] On January 25, 2012, Mahaney was reinstated as president of the organization by the board after three review panels found no reason to disqualify C.J. In many cases alleged perpetrators or those who covered up, are still in leadership. The sad reality is that sexual abuse is widespread everywhere, not just in religious communities. Child sex abuse in the Catholic Church is now widely knownSpotlight, a film about the Boston Globe journalists who documented the massive child molestation scandal and cover-up in the Catholic Church, is up for Best Picture at this years Oscarsbut similar abuses in evangelical communities have not received the same public scrutiny. Rev. Or who earnestly felt, as a matter of religious freedom, that secular authorities and courts shouldnt second-guess pastoral counseling decisions. Witnesses (I was one) were prepared to testify under oath to that fact. Pastors are not mandatory reporters in the State of Maryland. "And you didn't?" Anyone familiar with sexual assault, institutional dynamics, or simply the process for independent investigations, would immediately recognize that this type of firm is not in any way the type of firm normally retained for such endeavors, and that the skill set and expertise necessary for this type of investigation, simply was not present. So too the despicable acts carried out by Loftness and Ricucci. Right up until the article went to press, I was getting negative emails from some church members, but those messages seem to have dissipated. WebMahaney resigned from the presidency of Sovereign Grace Ministries in 2013 in order to plant Sovereign Grace Church of Louisville. The day after the magazine hit newsstands, I got a card from Covenant Life Church, signed by some of the elders, saying the pastors prayed for me that morning. [35] Additionally, the Sovereign Grace churches in Indiana and Altoona, PA, Sarasota and Daytona Beach, FL and Charlottesville, VA cut ties with the movement during this period. Rather, the firm specialized in various forms of business litigation and business law, as did the attorney hired to investigate, Mr. Liebeler. Web12914 Shelbyville Rd Louisville, KY 40243 Sovereign Grace One of the purposes for this period included reconciliation with former SGM ministers. The actual teacher was the accuser's own mother. Second, if there are credible claims of sexual misconduct within a ministry, it is usually the tip of the iceberg.. [36] The Indiana church, as mentioned above, was one of the charter members of SGM. 2023 ChurchLeaders.com, All rights reserved. They were also friendly with Maranatha Campus Ministries for a period.[17]. All of the others who were named in the lawsuit, including Covenant Life Church pastors in Maryland, Sovereign Grace employees, and Fairfax Church in Virginia, were also investigated by law enforcement and no charges were brought. In the case brought by Robin Roe (pseudonym), Ennis testified that. SGC has turned to MinistrySafe, a group favored by Southern Baptists and Dallas Theological Seminary. After eighteen months, an independent investigator concluded her accusations likely never happened. Who Will Pay for the SBCs Abuse Reforms Over the Long Term? An internet lynch mob can go on forever, but the law should protect innocent people from legal charges they cant defend, like those from the distant past. (Of course, other religions are not immune from sexual abuse scandals either.). Our interaction with civil authorities has been instrumental in shaping our policies and procedures for the protection and care of children. When a pastor, staff member or volunteer has reason to believe a child is the victim of abuse or neglect, our policy requires those individuals to report it immediately to civil authorities, he said. WebSovereign Grace, an association of 80 Reformed evangelical churches, is based in Louisville, Ky. Advertisement Maryland Judge Sharon V. Burrell dismissed the lawsuit A story in Washingtonian Magazine, by Tiffany Stanley, dated February 14, 2016, highlights three families who were plaintiffs in the lawsuit and their involvement with Sovereign Grace Ministries. She didn't remember the alleged abuses before her thirties, and then believed she was recovering lost memories. It was a growing fellowship of 200 people but lacked the apostolic oversight for greater growth. As The Wartburg Watch (a watchdog website critical of SGM) put it at the time: Even one of the defense attorneys allegedly acknowledged the seriousness of the complaints. Four other congregations with female pastors were also determined to be not in friendly cooperation with the SBC, as well as one removed over its abuse response. Addressing this issue is not damaging the Gospel, it is instead seeking to restore the Gospel and Christ to their rightful authority and priority over institutions and mishandled theology. [58], All charges brought by the Maryland plaintiffs were dismissed by Maryland Circuit Judge Sharon Burrell, permanently barring plaintiffs from ever bringing those or related charges in Maryland civil court again at any time in the future. In a statement released this week, SGC declared that there hasnt been enough credible evidence against its leaders or churches to necessitate an investigation and that an outside query would violate the churchs ecclesiastical accountability structure. WebSovereign Grace Ministries is no longer the force it used to be. Im also thinking about Buzzfeeds recent story on Jesus People USA and Kiera Feldmans 2012 investigation of abuse in a Tulsa megachurch. Ennis testified that, "A third plaintiff eventually withdrew her allegations, admitting they were false.". Documentation was found showing the family of one plaintiff was immediately advised to notify authorities. For many years, PDI did not adopt existing churches, but later altered its policy. Browse 60+ years of magazine archives and web exclusives. June 23, 2013: CLC announces an independent investigation at its members meeting, to be conducted by the law firm of Thaler Liebeler. We are simply unable to perform what some people are demanding., The SGC leaders also wrote that Sovereign Grace has a detailed, well-defined polity with clear avenues to pursue biblical justice, saying that an outside investigation would set aside the biblical principles underlying all these polity provisions and structures and submit all our churches and their leaderships to the processes and judgment of a single, functionally unaccountable organization or individual, who would be empowered to pass judgment on every SGC church without recourse., Back in 2013, faced with the lawsuit, SGM took a First Amendment defense, saying courts shouldnt second guess pastoral guidance.. WebSovereign Grace Churches says no to outside investigation of abuse allegations News Bob Allen | April 17, 2019 An evangelical church-planting network accused of covering up They are a tool to see if there was a cover-up. For the church? It is for this reason that I have repeatedly recommended that Sovereign Grace Churches, Institute in Basic Life Principles, and several other organizations, welcome this same process, and provided recommendations of ways this can be done without violating principles of church autonomy. "[38], In January 2015, Joshua Harris, leader of SGM's former flagship church, Covenant Life Church resigned as lead pastor, saying he planned to attend Seminary to pursue more formal education and connection to other branches of Christianity. Again, we are deeply concerned about this matter in part because we want to make sure justice is done for all the alleged victims. Sincere hope that this brief statement has done both by speaking truthfully, respectfully and in Tulsa!, no such lawsuit has been instrumental in shaping our policies and procedures for integrity... Carried out by Loftness and Ricucci same Senate hearing Another individual, Terry Mayo, also testified years! 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