ABUSE & VIOLENCE IN THE CHURCH, Clergy Misconduct, Clergy Sex Abuse, Guest Post, Ravi Zacharias, Southern Baptist Convention, Spiritual Abuse, Spiritual Authority

Johnny Hunt Has a “He Said/ He Said” Problem

Within the last three weeks Pastor Johnny Hunt has gone from “no contact whatsoever” to admitting that he had a “consensual encounter” with a younger pastor’s wife.

Abuse Systems and Transformation Tools, Bethlehem Baptist Church, Christian Media, Clergy Misconduct, Clergy Sex Abuse, Failure to Report Crimes, Leaving the Church, Spiritual Abuse, Spiritual Authority

Should I trust Christian media outlets to share my deeply painful church abuse story? Here’s a follow-up article based on my years of covering spiritual abuse testimonies, including quite a few high-profile cases.

The key takeaway is this: anytime an abuser is given a platform, that space will never feel safe for survivors.

Abuse Systems and Transformation Tools, Beaverton Grace Bible Church, BGBC Lawsuit, C.J. Mahaney, Chuck O'Neal, Clergy Misconduct, Clergy Sex Abuse, Disturbing Trends, Domestic Violence, Domestic Violence and Churches, Doug Wilson, JULIE ANNE'S CASE, Mandatory Reporting, Mark Driscoll, Narcissistic Pastors, Ravi Zacharias, Recovery Process, Religious Power and Control, Sexual Abuse/Assault and Churches, Sovereign Grace Ministries, Spiritual Abuse, SPIRITUAL ABUSE RECOVERY, Spiritual Bullies

My Church Leaders Were Abusive: Should I share my story publicly with Christian media? Is there something I can do that will affect positive change?

. . we can't change the culture of an abusive church, because while an abusive leader is in power, there is a system of abuse involved. We cannot change an abusive system. But what we survivors can do is provide a safe place where personal stories are told, heard, believed.

Abuse Systems and Transformation Tools, Clergy Misconduct, Clergy Sex Abuse, emotional abuse, Marriages Damaged-Destroyed by Sp. Ab., Misuse of Scripture, Religious Power and Control, Spiritual Abuse, Spiritual Authority, Spiritual Bullies, Women and the Church

Clergy Sexual Misconduct: Why Victims Should Not be Blamed

My blog broke the story on two high-profile cases of clergy sexual misconduct. These are very difficult stories to report on, especially as I get to know the survivors and the ongoing emotional and spiritual trauma they endured with these highly influential church leaders. One common misconception I see repeatedly debated in comments on news… Continue reading Clergy Sexual Misconduct: Why Victims Should Not be Blamed

Clergy Misconduct, Clergy Sex Abuse, emotional abuse, It's All About the Image, Ravi Zacharias, Religious Power and Control, Sexual Abuse/Assault and Churches, Spiritual Abuse, Spiritual Bullies, Women and the Church

Julie Anne Smith Interviewed on Almost Heretical Podcast: Spiritual and Sexual Abuse

Nate is the first person to interview me specifically about the Ravi Zacharias sex abuse scandal and ask me why I thought it took so long for the collective church to "get it."

Clergy Misconduct, Clergy Sex Abuse, Ravi Zacharias

The Vince and Jo Vitale Case Study in Pseudo-Confessions

"Am I the only one bothered by the use of “failure” language in the rush of mea culpas that we now see bursting from the bowels of evangelical Christianity as Ravi Zacharias’s empire goes the way of the Titanic?"

ABUSE & VIOLENCE IN THE CHURCH, Clergy Misconduct, Clergy Sex Abuse, Ravi Zacharias, Religious Power and Control, Sexual Abuse/Assault and Churches, Spiritual Abuse, Spiritual Authority

Ravi Zacharias: Reports of Sexual Predation and Sexual Abuse at Health Spas

And now, Steve Baughman has uncovered more of the same . . . Ravi has a history of seeking sexual gratification for himself, using his position of power and trust to obtain those "favors." This is clergy sexual misconduct and spiritual abuse!

Clergy Misconduct, Clergy Sex Abuse, Ravi Zacharias

Ravi Zacharias Dies; More Lies Uncovered

The two former Ravi-colleagues both clearly remember that Ravi did not preach at the graduation. That was a role reserved for the college president. So they checked the program from that day and then shared it with me.

ABUSE & VIOLENCE IN THE CHURCH, Clergy Misconduct, Clergy Sex Abuse, Ravi Zacharias

Before Evangelicals Canonize Ravi Zacharias, will they learn from Jean Vanier and L’Arche?

The evidence against Ravi Zacharias is, after all, serious and compelling. If evangelicals ignore it they will show the world that they do not take their Holy Bible seriously (1 Timothy 5:20).

Clergy Misconduct, Crazy Things Church Leaders Say & Do, Disturbing Trends, Extra-Biblical Nonsense, It's All About the Image

Christian Music Artist and Pastor Steve Camp Puts God to the Test with #COVID-19

But the people who went to the church may or may not have been infected with the virus. Why was this necessary? Oh yea, it wasn’t.

ABUSE & VIOLENCE IN THE CHURCH, Bill Hybels, Clergy Misconduct, Egalitarianism, Spiritual Abuse, Spiritual Authority, Willow Creek Church/Willow Creek Association, Women and the Church

Bill Hybels’ Mentor, Dr. Gilbert Bilezikian, Accused of Clergy Sexual Misconduct: A Personal Story

I’m writing to tell the story of my victimization by Dr. Gilbert Bilezikian, who was Bill Hybels’ professor and mentor, and was very influential in the development of Willow Creek Community Church. This is a story I take no pleasure in telling.

Clergy Misconduct, Clergy Sex Abuse, Failure to Report Crimes, Sexual Abuse/Assault and Churches, Spiritual Abuse, Spiritual Authority, Youth Groups

Update on Dr. Wes Feltner of Berean Baptist and Clergy Sexual Misconduct

At the very least, we should have seen Feltner take responsibility for his clergy sexual misconduct. That never happened...

Clergy Misconduct, Clergy Sex Abuse, Misuse of Scripture, Spiritual Abuse, Spiritual Authority

Dissecting Victim (oops) Pastor Wes Feltner’s Public Statement

God has instituted qualifications for elders regardless if someone feels a certain calling. Wes Feltner's supposed calling does not override God's guideline for elders.

ABUSE & VIOLENCE IN THE CHURCH, Abuse Systems and Transformation Tools, child abuse, Clergy Misconduct, Clergy Sex Abuse, It's All About the Image, Mandatory Reporting, Meetings with the Pastor, Sexual Abuse/Assault and Churches, Southern Baptist Convention, Spiritual Abuse, Statute of Limitations, Women and the Church

Is J.D. Greear just talking, or are we going to see action?

The SBC has been getting push back about selecting "designated survivors" to speak. Was he doing damage control by mentioning the names of the survivors/advocates they chose not to speak? Were the ones chosen to speak selected so that the SBC can control the narrative?

ABUSE & VIOLENCE IN THE CHURCH, Clergy Misconduct, Domestic Violence, Mark Driscoll, Owen Strachan, Troubling Tweets, Tullian Tchividjian

Twitter Twaddles and Truths

Sometimes there are tweets that really need to be seen wider than the Twitterverse. I will be compiling tweets to highlight here.

ABUSE RECOVERY PROCESS-PROBLEMS, child abuse, Clergy Misconduct, Clergy Sex Abuse, Disturbing Trends, Failure to Report Crimes, Russell Moore, Sexual Abuse/Assault and Churches, Spiritual Abuse, Statute of Limitations

Why is there an admission charge for people who want to attend ERLC’s Caring Well Conference?

SBC has failed miserably with sex abuse cover-ups. This a conference where YOU have to pay to attend hear people discuss issues in which THEY (SBC) have failed. This is messed up. It should be free. #SBC #churchtoo Quote Tweet

Addressing Abuse, Clergy Misconduct, Clergy Sex Abuse, Forgiveness, Franklin Graham, It's All About the Image, Misuse of Scripture, Sexual Abuse/Assault and Churches, Spiritual Abuse, Spiritual Authority

Cissie Graham Lynch – Publicly Criticizing Pastors or Ministries Destroys the Gospel

If we do not publicly call out abusive or neglectful church leaders or ministries then abuse thrives. Silence and privacy is not an option.

Clergy Misconduct, Clergy Sex Abuse, Ravi Zacharias, Spiritual Authority

As a New Christian and Missionary Alliance Minister, Ravi Zacharias Pressured His Brother’s 16-yr old Girlfriend to Have Illegal Abortion

"Ramesh explained briefly the situation to Ravi. I remember Ravi was very angry. More at Ramesh than me it seemed. He was not speaking in kind terms. Only pointing out that this news would ‘kill our parents’ and ‘end your future as a doctor.'"

Bill Hybels, child abuse, Clergy Misconduct, Clergy Sex Abuse, James Dobson, Sexual Abuse/Assault and Churches, Willow Creek Church/Willow Creek Association

Book Review – “Christians in a Sex-Crazed Culture” by Bill Hybels – Part 2 – Bill’s Problem with Porn

[James] Dobson tells Hybels to "get educated firsthand" about pornography? Does Dobson actually mean to say, "Bill [Hybels], get yourself some porn?" There is the implication behind the instruction. So, what does Bill do?

Bill Hybels, Book Review Series, Christian Marriage, Clergy Misconduct, Clergy Sex Abuse, Marriage, Narcissistic Pastors, Willow Creek Church/Willow Creek Association

Book Review – “Christians in A Sex-Crazed Culture” by Bill Hybels – Part 1 – Identifying the One Who is Sex Crazed

During a later anniversary celebration Bill and Lynne [Hybels] stayed in a hotel room described as: "Socially, it was positively scandalous; morally, it was absolutely decadent; theologically, it was totally depraved."