A multitude of swirling clouds in Jupiter’s dynamic North: North Temperate Belt
“Whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted with important matters” ― Albert Einstein
I don’t get to do this very often. Given the past couple of weeks, this came at a good time. I’m often asked by well meaning folks how I can continue with my faith when I cover so many cases of sex abuse in the church. They often seem to understand when I explain that pedophiles and molesters usually go wherever there are children and teens along with adults who will trust them. The same thing has happened for the Boy Scouts, schools and youth sports.
However, the first (and wrong) response of churches, when they discover that there were possible incidents of sex abuse within the church, is to hush it up quickly. That is their first mistake which usually leads to more coverups and eventual discovery and condemnation.
I don’t know anything more than what is said in this statement. However, if the statement is truthful (and I believe it is at this point), then it appears that this church is doing it right. I don’t remember hearing of this church before I saw this statement today.
For what follows, the italics are the words of the church and the bold words are comments from me.
The title itself tells us of the honest and openness of this church. They have already contacted the premier third party, autonomous investigation group which was started by Boz Tchividjian. if this group is involved, they will leave no stone unturned and no undue influence will be allowed to interfere with their investigation.
May 6, 2020
Dear LMPC,
As a pastor, I find enormous delight in proclaiming the good news of Jesus. In these days of global pandemic, there is a lot of bad and sad news that is very hard for us all. Sadly, I write to you now with very hard news about the effects of sin in a broken world.
In June 2019, an inquiry concerning potential past sexual abuse by an individual previously associated with LMPC came to me. Immediately, I formed a small committee, which was soon approved by the Session, to investigate further. After careful internal investigation, we learned of multiple incidents of alleged abuse from a summer youth intern over 35 years ago who was also a volunteer during the school year. The alleged offender, whose name is Paul Warren, is now a member of a Presbytery in another state, within our denomination.
This was a confusing situation for the church because it appeared the activity may have happened about 35 years ago. Also, there was an inquiry as opposed to an accusation. This church notified the Session and started to look into what may have happened. They learned the worst. It appears that there were multiple incidents that had occurred and that these could be traced to one summer intern.
Better yet, the church named the alleged offender, Paul Warren, who is still involved in this denomination in another state.
Well done!!! So many of these incidents are downplayed by a pastor and the name of the perp is protected because “it was just alleged.” This is dangerous when it comes to a potential molester who could still be involved in similar activities. Also, by coming forward with the name, it encourages others who may be victims to come forward.
Churches, this is how to respond. They cared more about protecting the potential victims rather than protecting themselves.
I was able to meet with the alleged victims to listen, to offer pastoral support, and to provide professional counseling assistance should they desire it. As is common among victims of abuse, they had never reported the abuse to anyone outside their circle, and they asked that I keep their identities confidential. I have honored their request.
The church even met with the victims offering them support which included professional counseling. Many churches, including one I know very well, refuse to offer professional counseling since their families “can afford it.”
They also did the right thing by not releasing the names of the victims, at the request of those victims, which is the right move. Many of these victims had never spoken of their abuse which is quite typical and the emotional pain is significant as this process begins. Kudos to this church which made them feel safe to speak of their abuse.
Our Actions as a Result of the Meeting
We immediately sought counsel as to our legal reporting requirements and followed the counsel we were given.
We asked the alleged victims to give us a written report, and we submitted a summary of the abuse allegations to the alleged abuser’s Presbytery.
We contacted GRACE (Godly Response to Abuse in a Christian Environment) to discuss next steps. In recent years, GRACE has worked with various Christian institutions and abuse survivors in addressing allegations regarding sexual misconduct and abuse. As a result of conversations with them, we contracted with them in early October to conduct an independent investigation. That investigation is currently ongoing. We are fully cooperating with GRACE in their investigation and are following their lead and advice on any further steps we need to take.
Notice their actions. They proceeded in a manner that they understood to be legal. They sent a copy of their findings to the church where the alleged perp attends. The following makes it all come together. They contacted G.R.A.C.E and asked them to come and make sure they did it right. In others words, they will willing to lay their cards on the table and open their church to scrutiny.
Three Primary Goals of the Investigation
to discover if there were any more alleged victims;
to decipher what, if anything, the church leadership knew at that time and determine if it acted upon any knowledge; and
to give a report to the alleged abuser’s Presbytery.
Again, this shows their openness to the truth, something that many churches have been willing to fudge when the going gets tough. Not this church!
Our Commitments
As always, our deepest commitment is to glorify God as we seek first his Kingdom and his righteousness. We believe the best way to glorify God in this is to have our primary commitment to be the care of the alleged victims. We want to fully acknowledge what happened over 35 years ago, and to express sorrow for these incidents and contrition toward the victims and their families. Before the face of God and according to his Word, sexual abuse in any form is unacceptable. We want to say, to any and all victims of any and all sexual abuse: we grieve with you.
Wow-good theology. They believe they glorify God by having their primary commitment be directed to the care of their alleged victims. This also includes acknowledging what happened so long ago and expressing sorrow for the pain of the victims. They even reached out to all victims of abuse by saying they grieved with them. For some reason, I think this may be possible with this situation.
Second, we are committed to discovering what we may not know for the sake of redemption and healing. Therefore, we invite anyone who may have been sexually abused at LMPC, or anyone who has information regarding such abuse at LMPC to contact GRACE in confidence. The investigation is being led by Danielle O’Malley with GRACE and she can be reached directly at danielle@netgrace.org. You can also contact her associate on this case, Larry Shorter, at larry@netgrace.org. Please be assured that any contact with these two individuals would remain completely confidential.
The want any victims or those who have information to contact G.R.A.C.E. They are seeking the truth, even if ii is painful or difficult.
Finally, if we discover that church leadership at the time of the abuse was aware and did not act, we are committed to confess and repent publicly. Please do be assured that no current or recent staff members were previously aware of the alleged abuse or the alleged abuser.
Our Current Child Protection Policy
We want to reassure you that our current Child Protection Policy is rigorous, and that any changes we make to it will only strengthen it further. Our Child Protection Policy has been in place for over 20 years and is updated almost annually. At our request, GRACE reviewed our current policy, and we have already begun the process of making improvements based upon their review. Please know that we consider it one of our greatest callings to make every effort possible to ensure the safety of minors while they are in our care.
They even opened their child care policy to GRACE. I know they got good advice.
Questions and Concerns
We understand that this letter will probably raise many questions. In that light, we have scheduled a Town Hall Meeting on May 17, 2020, at 4:00 p.m. which we will hold virtually via the digital platform Zoom. You will soon receive an email with a registration link for the Zoom meeting. Throughout this process, I (Brian Salter) will be your only point of contact. However, please understand that until the independent investigation is complete, we will be very limited in information that we are able to share, and we will always protect the alleged victims in every way, including their request for complete confidentiality. Please also know that we will hold a follow-up, in-person meeting after the investigation is complete and after we are able to meet publicly. You will be able to ask any questions you may have at this meeting.
They are keeping the communication lines open with their church members even if information is limited until the investigation is complete.
Our Hope and Need
I know that the weeks and months ahead will be challenging for our church family, but our God is a strong refuge and risen Redeemer. He will hold us fast! Together may we rest in his loving, sovereign care and also trust in his powerful, redeeming work.
Please make a commitment to pray faithfully and consistently for this difficult process. Pray for healing, repentance, justice, wisdom, and discernment. Through this turbulent storm, may God grant us strength to live by faith, with hope, and in love because of the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Tearfully and prayerfully,
Brian
To Brian and the leaders,
Thank you for your actions which give me hope that there are churches that are trying to do the right thing when it comes to abuse. I shall pray for you as you go through this process. I’m kind of hoping that you might do a followup when the process is completed. If you do, I will write about it. Well done!
Folks: This letter from LMPC should be shared with your church leaders if they need advice on how to do it right.
1st?! Love that even 35 years later they still pursued this.
“Better yet, the church named the alleged offender, Paul Warren, who is still involved in this denomination in another state.”
Contact tracing.
how very encouraging. thank you, Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church.
to the victims, i am so very sorry. I hope there is some resolution and a modicum of healing and peace for you.
“Three Primary Goals of the Investigation: to discover if there were any more alleged victims; to decipher what, if anything, the church leadership knew at that time and determine if it acted upon any knowledge; and
to give a report to the alleged abuser’s Presbytery.”
Constraint those goals with the evident priorities in the scores of instances chronicled here and elsewhere, where little to no digging for other victims occurs (too often because they know of other cases), the leadership (sic) closes ranks and safeguards self interests (often targeting, pressuring, isolating, vilifying, and mocking the victims), and not a word goes out to other places where the person of interests has gone. What a stark contrast as to what true care for the body of believers looks like.
Based upon these reports LMPC is committed to finding the truth in this, no matter how painful or uncomfortable it may be. But ultimately, it will be a blessing for that fellowship.
Well done LMPC.
This is how it should be done.
What alternate-history parallel universe did this church come from?
JDV,
“the leadership (sic) closes ranks and safeguards self interests (often targeting, pressuring, isolating, vilifying, and mocking the victims), and not a word goes out to other places where the person of interests has gone. What a stark contrast as to what true care for the body of believers looks like.”
++++++++++++++
i reckon if money were removed from the equation (church based on bivocational ministers, minimal overhead, and zero balance at the end of the day as opposed to church-as-profit-center)… LOTS would change.
(it’s almost laughable thinking about it… laughing for joy, … cynical laughing, too)
Headless Unicorn Guy,
“What alternate-history parallel universe did this church come from?”
++++++++++++++
the future? perhaps not-so-distant future? (on this planet, in case anyone was wondering)
This is great!
And a new hope for ‘churches’ everywhere to start a new tack into the wind.
All they (generic they) need to do now is put rigorous protocols and vetting procedures in place before ‘volunteers’ can get anywhere near kids and teens.
Wade Burleson championed this approach years ago, but they (again, the great generic they) would have none of it.
I bet there plenty of churches that “do it the correct way”…. as Max likes to say, there are plenty of “smaller” churches that are just “doing their job” ….. they just do not try to be in “lime light” like so many of the subjects of TWW posts.
Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.. ( boy, I wish I could claim that cutesy phrase!)
Muff Potter,
Well PCA and Continental Reformed Churches have their Book of Church Order, so I would think that would help in their dealings even if such things are not spelled out their BCO.
Jeffrey Chalmers,
This is very true. Sadly, as is the nature of many things in life, it’s the bad apples that get noticed. This isn’t to pick on this site; just an observation that the stuff that tends to make the news is the bad stuff, in all areas. The bad stuff does need to make the news in order for change to happen.
Churches should just recognize that telling the whole truth is always better than damage control. One would think that churches would learn that hiding things makes things worse. You aren’t protecting the church’s reputation; you end up damaging it far more when proper action isn’t taken.
Thanks for pointing out this church, Dee.
Reading their letter was like a breath of fresh air. Thank you, Dee, for posting it. How heartening to know that at least one church is doing it right!
And yet, the powers that be often don’t give much more than lip service to the dangers of creating institutions so closely enmeshed with significant and ongoing financial commitments.
I know of some situations where there was an open door to take on debt or complex land-business-finance commitment but didn’t rush ahead and were extremely careful,and prayerful, and appear to the better for it. I’ve also encountered almost the exact opposite, and the results have been troubling.
If you look at the church website, they also have information about the GRACE investigation prominently displayed.
I don’t know how much is money…I think a lot of cover ups would happen regardless due to people taking sides with current leadership (if they are the ones accused), men over women, adults over children, popular members/staff over unpopular etc.
There are a lot of dynamics involved in cover ups.
All of that said, kudos to the church for taking charges seriously and acting on them in a way that seems to prioritize victims and protection of church members as much as possible.
To the victims of this man, I am sorry you had to go through this at all. I hope you have recovered and are able to move forward.
To LMPC, thank you for handling this abuse in a God honoring way.
Paul Warren is not just “a member of another presbytery.” He is a PCA PASTOR. He attended Covenant College at the time of these incidents. I want to know why his presbytery has known this information and done nothing, and I want to know if Covenant College is doing anything to determine whether any such abuses happened while Paul Warren was the Carter Hall Resident Director in the late 80s.
This sort of story does get into the news. Where I live, the correct approach also includes the response to the media: telling the story with the right blend of frankness and sensitivity, while preserving the confidentiality of survivors.
It is refreshing to hear a church is doing the right thing. I pray for peace and comfort to those who have suffered all these years. May Justice be served.
Wonderfully refreshing! That is the way to heal. That is the way to care well. Finally a church that really loves and looks to God and actually lives the faith they proclaim. What a contrast, humility instead of arrogance, revealing instead of coverup. May the Lord bless them abundantly for there willing hearts and keep their path straight.
Well done covenantgrad to flag these questions up, and they do recur in other denominations even when a section of it is “seen” to be doing its job “relatively” well. Sometimes part of an institution has to break ranks as a final warning to the rest of it to come clean quickly.
covenantgrad,
Can you tell me the church which he pastors? I may need to do an update on the story today.
covenantgrad,
Found him! That was easy. http://abbottchurch.org/about/staff/
Looks ike its time for another post AFTER I give the church a call…
It appears he preached on 5/24.
OK-Got enough information. I will plan to write about this today. LMPC did their part and GRACE is coming in. What is Warren’s current church doing? There are some interesting things in his bio.
Confirmed, that is him. And I have confirmed with more than one person connected to the church and Covenant College that he is the one under investigation.
Since the church he is pastoring and his wife and children may be unaware of the situation perhaps it would be better to let GRACE and LMPC handle the investigation and contact the church.
LMPC is located on Lookout Mountain, Tennessee. I have often attended there with my family who are members and it is a conscientious church that will take these allegations seriously.
I also attend a PCA church in the next county from the church he is pastoring and know that these allegations will be taken seriously by those in charge as they have been in the past when issues have arisen at other churches in the area.
covenantgrad,
Hopefully Dee will have some more details. The timeline isn’t particularly clear to me as to when the presbytery was notified. It may be that something is happening that hasn’t been made public or that the presbytery hasn’t had knowledge of the allegations for very long. We know LMPC started investigating in June 2019, but as their letter to the congregation is only from the past couple of weeks, it may be that the other presbytery has only known about this a short time. If the alleged victims aren’t pursuing criminal action, it may be that church courts are the only recourse here, and presbyterian church courts don’t move very quickly most of the time.
Meg</strong I meant to say than contact the church not and contact the church