Lawsuit claims Sovereign Grace Ministries hid abuse claims

Considering the flurry of activity over another “hiding of abuse case” several months ago which involved an IBFer (which, if I remember correctly, was also preceded by some mysterious resignations, etc.), the silence here is deafening.

My guess is that it is due to the fact that most of us aren’t as close this community as we are to the IFB community. We simply have no experience or insight to evaluate whether or not these claims could have any merit. We do know the IFB community fairly intimately though—and trust me, among SGMers, I’m sure there is plenty of discussion going on.

In the ex-SGM community, there has been much discussion of some rather horrific stories for years. Within SGM itself, probably very little. Questioning leadership is not encouraged there with their unusual apostolic, hierarchial structure, the constant warnings about gossip and slander as relates to leaders, and their “think the best” teaching regarding pastors, It will be interesting to see what comes forth.

A recent letter from a church leaving SGM to the board cites their unbiblical teaching on authority as a main reason for the break.

http://www.sovereigngraceministries.org/blogs/sgm/post/Statement-by-Sov…

October 17, 2012

Statement by Sovereign Grace Ministries on Reported Lawsuit

LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY – Today, Sovereign Grace Ministries Director of Finance and Administration, Tommy Hill, released the statement below regarding a reported lawsuit on October 17, 2012:

It has come to the attention of Sovereign Grace Ministries through media outlets that a lawsuit has been filed against Sovereign Grace Ministries related to allegations of child abuse apparently arising in the 1980s and 90s. To date, Sovereign Grace Ministries has not been served with any such lawsuit nor does it have a copy of the lawsuit. Sovereign Grace Ministries is not in a position to comment on the allegations of the reported lawsuit. Child abuse in any context is reprehensible and criminal. Sovereign Grace Ministries takes seriously the Biblical commands to pursue the protection and well being of all people, especially the most vulnerable in its midst, little children.

If this is true, then those who covered up to take responsibility for their sin of failure to report, and not protect children. If this happened, it obviously is very wicked.

http://www.wjla.com/articles/2012/10/sex-scandal-church-turned-deaf-ear-to-alleged-abuse-81189.html

Local paper where SGM leadership has moved

http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20121018/FEATURES10/310180079/Sovereign-Grace-church-group-sued-abuse-alleged

Very sad.

Last year when CJ Mahaney, head of Sovereign Grace Ministries, stepped down to take a leave of absence after key documents exposed him of pride, abusive leadership, failure to deal with so many issues which were highlighted on the survivor blogs, etc, he took refuge at Mark Dever’s church, rather than stay at his own church home as he would have expected his own pastors to do. Other popular church leaders came to his defense and issued public statements regarding the situation: Ray Ortlund, Al Mohler, Ligon Duncan

I would then encourage you to ignore the assaults of wounded people on attack websites and blogs, and that you discount the opinings of those who have no real knowledge of these matters or relation to SGM or authority to comment upon them, and that you refrain from assuming that you (or they) are in a position to render judgment on these things. ~Ligon Duncan

As in my case where my former pastor sued me for speaking out about spiritual abuse, as in the new Calvary Chapel Visalia lawsuit that was just filed and became public last night, church leaders would do well to listen to their congregants a little more closely and see if there is any truth to what they are saying rather than label them as grumblers and complainers.

The very sad thing that I deal with on a daily basis (because people who have been hurt in church consider me a “safe” person) is that people are stumbling terribly in their faith when these abuses occur. Many no longer trust pastors and don’t want to go to church anymore. In sex abuse cases, they are first victimized by the perpetrator and then re-victimized when their pastor minimizes, dismisses, or handles the abuse improperly. (Take a look at the court document I have posted and read how the plaintiff’s claim some of these cases were handled.) Here are just two:

26. In the majority of instances of sexual predation, the Church managed to silence the parents of the child victims, and effectively prevented the involvement of law enforcement. The Church retaliated against those parents who refused to participate in the Church’s efforts to assist sexual predators evade secular accountability. The Church engaged in a series of coercive and retaliatory acts designed to isolate and harm, including threatening families’ financial well­being, threatening expulsion from the church, and threatening legal action against victims and their families.

44. The Church required the parents of Norma Noe to bring Norma Noe to a meeting to be “reconciled” with her predator. When Norma Noe (who had just turned three) was brought into the same room with her predator, she was visibly scared and crawled under the chair. The “reconciliation” meeting created additional damage to Norma Noe, already traumatized by the initial abuse, and traumatized the parents of Norma Noe.

These are very difficult church issues. I am not against pastors. I am against pastors who use their position to lord over their flock and who do not care for their flock as Christ would love His Church. No pastor is going to be perfect. But pastors must do a better job of caring for their flock and pastors also need to do a better job of holding pastors who are out of line accountable for their actions or non-actions.

Wayne -I remember your name from an earlier conversation and appreciate your sensitivity to these issues.

I have been told that an amended lawsuit has been reportedly filed on this case. More cases & defendants added to the lawsuit. This will be the case to watch this year.

It will be interesting to watch how key leaders and friends of CJ Mahaney respond. Does “friendship” status come first with these key church leaders? A few of his friends, Al Mohler, Ligon Duncan, etc, were quick to defend CJ, dismissing the numerous documents and testimonies of victims.

Hi Alex:

I know I’m a bit unconventional, thanks for taking the time to dig deeper. I appreciate that. I actually do agree with you about reviewing churches. That was a first. I’m not sure I would do it again (after getting sued, winning the case, and currently having a former pastor who now blogs about me on his own blog). Yes, for real.

Back to the real subject, the SGM amended lawsuit was filed on Friday and is posted here. The allegations are horrific. There’s also this article which has a number of links (including my recent post as a pingback).

I hope pastors/church leaders will take a close look at this case. There has been a systemic problem of cover-up of abuse by leaders in the church and also leaders outside the church. Remaining silent when there is known abuse is a choice - a bad choice.

Disgusting is the only term that comes to mind after a few minutes scanning the charges. Christ saves us from sin so why are innocent children exposed in a Christian institutional setting to predators? Something is seriously wrong with this model of ministry.

Protestants often exhibit what I term “Catholic Envy.” The Romanist strategy involves setting up an institution which they claim dispenses grace. The church in reality is primarily an organism: “called out ones”(ecclesia). This concept (organizing) seems stuck in the Protestant mind as a way to advance ministry. Instead of organizing, institutionalizing, followers of Christ should build up people as first and foremost.

This, I believe is the exegetical truth. We must all appear before Christ. The question for ministers is: who are you really serving? Are you obedient to the truth of how to minister as expressed in the Bible?

Hi Alex: You made an interesting connection when you mentioned Catholicism. The co-founders (Tomczak and Mahaney) of what is now called SGM are former Catholics.

I think you are seeing what I am seeing. I believe it is a whole culture of bad doctrine that led to these horrific situations. I do not have all the theological/doctrinal knowledge that so many here have, but I do have common sense and what I call a “creepo” meter when something seems off when comparing it with my understanding of the Bible. This group seems to be stuck on the Cross, but can’t get off it. They say gospel, but I don’t think they really apply it. They leave the resurrection and Jesus out of the picture and stay focused on sin. You can read in the lawsuit that they told victims THEY were in sin, even making a toddler reconcile with her sexual perpetrator. Can you imagine?

The lawsuit and blatant mishandling of sex abuse is only one aspect of a much bigger problem. The aspect I deal with on my blog (and I’ve had countless SGM “survivors” contact me publicly and privately) is the kind that is more difficult to discern if you haven’t seen it before. It manifests itself in feeling spiritually and emotionally trampled, continually questioning one’s salvation, feelings that you can never measure up spiritually, etc. They’ve been so beaten down with sin, they forget that we are new creatures in Christ once we become a Christian. This teaching is coming from the top on down.

In an abusive church situation, an abusive leader often beats people down to make them feel like they are “less-thans.” One way of doing this is by twisting verses to show them how bad and depraved they are. The leader then offers a way out and has the answers. The members crave the leader’s every word in order to get out of their grave sinful predicament. In this way, the abusive leader can “rescue” them. Now the leader is regarded as their hero and they will defend their leader at all costs. It is a very destructive system, but you can see why people have this very dangerous hero worship going on. The abusive pastor does not care for souls, he only cares about his position of authority and maintaining adulation by his followers.

Alex - I don’t know if you are a pastor or not, but I thank you for caring about this issue.