“Unfortunately, we´ve also seen a historic rise in the distribution of child pornography, in the number of images being shared online, and in the level of violence associated with child exploitation and sexual abuse crimes. Tragically, the only place we´ve seen a decrease is in the age of victims. This is – quite simply – unacceptable.” –Attorney General Eric Holder Jr.
What is Taylor University?
From Wikipedia:
Taylor University is a private, interdenominational, evangelical Christian university in Upland, Indiana.
In 1846, founded, as one of the oldest evangelical Christian universities in the country.
The university is named after Bishop William Taylor (1821–1902). The university sits on an approximately 950 acres (3.8 km2) campus[6][7] on the south side of Upland. It also preserves a 680 acres (2.8 km2) arboretum and an additional 668 acres (2.70 km2) of undeveloped land northeast of campus which have 80 acres (320,000 m2) more of arboretum space.
Taylor University has 1,910 undergraduate students, 108 graduate students, and 524 distance learning students.[9] The student body hails from 46 states and 43 foreign countries, with 35 percent from Indiana.[10] Taylor is a member of NAIA with 15 men’s and women’s sports teams. The university is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities and the Christian College Consortium.[11]
In 2019, Dr. Paige Cunningham was named as the current interim president in August 2019.[
A Taylor University professor (now a former professor) Dr. Jeff Marsee was arrested and charged with molesting a child and possession of, and posting of, child porn.
On January 15, 2021, the following letter was posted by Dr. Paige Comstock, Interim President of Taylor University. (A copy was sent to me.)
Dear Taylor Community,
I write to you with an important update to a situation about which we reported last month regarding a former Taylor employee. Today, the Indiana State Police (ISP) announced the arrest of former Taylor professor Dr. Jeff Marsee. The full statement is available here.
The arrest follows an investigation that began last fall, which initially focused on allegations of sexual abuse.
This is difficult information to share. It is even more difficult to learn that a former member of our Taylor community has been charged with grievous harm to a child.
As a reminder, the initial reports were made to the Upland Police Department and then shared with Taylor University. Upon learning of the allegations, Taylor University placed Dr. Marsee on administrative leave and barred him from campus. Taylor also reported the allegations to the Indiana Department of Child Protective Services, and then worked with local and state law enforcement to investigate the allegations. Taylor continues to fully cooperate with ISP.
Given the gravity of the misconduct allegations, Taylor University has independently retained an outside firm of forensic experts to investigate the allegations of abuse.
While the criminal investigation is not yet complete, the Indiana State Police have informed us that none of the individuals were students at Taylor when the alleged abuse took place.
We know it takes courage to come forward with information about possible sexual abuse, and are grateful for those who have offered information to aid in the investigation. If you have relevant information about this or any other situation involving sexual abuse, we invite you to contact one of the sources below. Please know that you do not need to process this information alone. Our Counseling Center is available to assist (765.998.5222).
Please join me in continuing to pray for the victims and all those who have been affected by this situation. Please also pray for the local community and for our campus community to be comforted and restored by the Holy Spirit.
In Christ,
Paige Comstock Cunningham, PhD, JD
Interim President
Taylor University Police Chief Jeff Wallace (765.998.7765)
Taylor University Vice President of Student Development Dr. Skip Trudeau (765.998.5368)
Indiana State Police Detective Joshua Maller (765.475.8111)
Here is the statement from the Indiana State Police.
Upland Man Arrested for Possession of Child Porn and Child Molesting
Upland – This morning, a criminal investigation by Indiana State Police Detective Josh Maller resulted in the arrest of Jeffrey Marsee, 59, Upland, IN on numerous felony charges.
On December 9, 2020, Detective Maller initiated a criminal investigation, at the request of the Taylor University Police Department, into allegations of possession of child pornography and child molestation involving Jeffrey Marsee, a Taylor University employee.
During the investigation, evidence revealed that Marsee had allegedly committed sexual acts with a then 12 to 13-year-old boy. The purported crime occurred at a Grant County home between the summer and fall of 2002. During a forensic examination of Marsee’s electronic devices, investigators allegedly located child pornography. Further investigation revealed evidence that in 2016 Marsee purportedly uploaded photos containing child pornography to a web-based chat group.
Today at approximately 9:24 a.m., Indiana State Police Trooper Weston Shanks arrested Marsee at his Upland home. Shanks served Marsee with two Grant Superior Court II arrest warrants. One warrant alleged a single felony charge for child molesting. The second warrant alleged six felony charges for two counts of child exploitation and four counts of possession of child pornography.
Marsee is incarcerated in the Grant County Jail with bonds of $100,000 and $20,000.
Marsee was dismissed from employment at Taylor University on December 11, 2020. All questions related to his employment should be referred to the university.
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law..
Synopsis of the alleged crimes, arrest, and the response by Taylor University
- Thankfully the extended statute of limitations law in Indiana allowed Marsee to be charged for molesting a 12-13-year-old boy in 2002.
- A forensic exam of Marsee’s electronic devices turned up child pornography.
- In 2016, it appears that Marsee actually uploaded photos containing child pornography to a web chat group.
- Marsee was fired from his position on December 11, 2020, shortly after TU learned of the criminal investigation which began two days earlier.
- Taylor University independently retained an outside firm of forensic experts to investigate the allegations of abuse. I did not find the name of this firm of experts.
- TU announced the arrest to the students on the same day that the arrest occurred: January 15, 2021
- As of this announcement, it does not appear that TU students were molested but the school is asking for those with information to come forward.
Thoughts on this announcement by President Comstock
- It is obvious that law enforcement worked closely with the University.
- They fired Marsee pretty darn quickly which was wise.
- Did they ever receive any reports on Marsee in the past?
- It Is good that they got an independent outside group to investigate how they handled this and to see if there is anything they should have done.
Some suggestions and thoughts
- Although the molestation happened in 2002, it is highly probable that there have been other victims. The average pedophile has had over 100 encounters by the time they are caught. Did he attend a church or help with youth sports or Boy Scouts.
- They should name the forensics group conducting the internal investigation.
- Marsee went from viewing child porn to uploading child porn which might indicate an escalation in his behavior. Child porn is despicable. Can you imagine a little boy crying for his mommy while being raped for the enjoyment of Marsee and his friends in the web chat group?
- Because Marsee was an adjunct professor, it is possible that the students are concerned and upset by what has happened. TU should bring in trauma-informed counselors to talk with any student who is having trouble processing this.
Prediction:
It is highly likely that there are more young victims which makes me sad. Please take a minute and pray for the victim of molestation, the potential victims, and the untold number of victims of child porn.
first
On ratemyprofessors.com, Professor Marsee is rated by his students, across the board, as “Awful”, for various specific academic reasons. (The ratings are dated 2017, 2018, 2019 – long before criminal apprehension.)
That Taylor University would retain Dr. Marsee for scholarship says a lot about the quality of education at this self-described “Evangelical” university.
Furthermore, he’s a criminal.
Christians can/should do better, if they care about students, of all ages.
How did Marsee gain unfettered access to kids?
Fitting this post after the final Allen/Farrow Doc drop last night.
Evangeos have their own “nobility”/aristocracy/PhD’s & such, of inhouse evil creeps that say “Let us pray” while preying on children.
BFF’s Allen & Epstein, imaged as cultured & bronzed glam guys, are basically child rapists. Wonder how many glam gospel guys are basically the same. These bonhomies are badhomies. Truly bad to the core, nothing more. And nothing worse than targeting children for power-play sex. Evil.
The Lolita thread runs through literature & film with sympathy for the old guy needing a muse to uphold his dynasty (for the sake of humanity – take one for the team, child). Even King David was given a young thing to revive/preserve his manhood, for royalty’s sake, for the kingdom, 1 Kings 1.
Hello – King Jesus came, died, & rose to save women & children from this evil con. He’s the only King God desired for us in the 1st place. Jesus requires no muse, nor violates children.
IF it is shown that Taylor U. did not cover up anything, it will be refreshing to see a proclaimed Christian organization to act in a admirable manner…
The cynical side of me says you can never “prove” there was NO cover-up, lets all hope that a disgusting cover-up is uncovered… (note, I am saying we should not expose cover-up…. just that it would be great to see a sad situation handled well)
Jeffrey J Chalmers,
I agree with you. I would like to know the name of the group doing the investigation.
Jeffrey J Chalmers,
Typo like always… Lets all hope that NO disgusting cover-up is found”…
IMHO, the issue of “cover-ups” is THE issue of not just TWW, but the whole scandal ridden “Christian Industrial Complex” Human history, not even considering ALL of the Bible stories, is full of people “falling”, or worse, being depraved their whole life..
Christian orgs should be the “light” that exposes evil, demands justice, comforts the victims, AND forgives those that repents…. in this order…… sigh…
From the OP: it is possible that the students are concerned and upset by what has happened. TU should bring in trauma-informed counselors to talk with any student who is having trouble processing this.
That.
From the OP: It is highly likely that there are more young victims which makes me sad….[support] the victim of molestation, the potential victims, and the untold number of victims of child porn.
That.
From the OP, “Did he attend a church or help with youth sports or Boy Scouts.”
I used to help with a youth sports organization. Every year, players for one of our sports had to be weighed for team placement. Making weight was a huge deal.
For days before the official weigh-in, coaches would use a scale at the practice facility. If a young boy was a pound or two over, the coaches would have him remove a garment and step on the scale again.
This took place outdoors, in a public park, right beside a big parking lot. The coaches had done this for years.
The first time I saw a boy strip down to his underpants, I put on my “don’t mess with me” face and ended this whole practice. On the spot I made up a standard: take the scale indoors, to a private room, with a minimum of two adults.
The coaches thought I was a hysterical female, but they went along with my idea (I had a little bit of clout). The umbrella organization for the sport also updated the dress code, allowing players to wear swimsuits at the official weigh-in. They actually had to write a rule against children stripping down to underwear.
When children are stripped of clothing, they are also stripped of their dignity and sense of modesty. This harms them, and might also make them vulnerable to predators.
When, when, when will these terrible stories end? I sometimes wonder, Dee, how you survive investigating and reporting all these awful accounts. I keep thinking that your work will warn these abusers that they can’t get away with it and the numbers will dwindle. But I can only imagine how many do get away with it and are never arrested and put away. Thanks a thousand times for your work!
Friend,
Thank God for people like you. God bless.
I’ve long advocated protocols that greatly lessen the chances of predators gaining access to kids. They’re long overdue in both church and secular venues for kids.
Would it be a perfect mechanism, and weed out all adults with predatory motives?
No, but it would still be better than nothing.
From the OP: it is possible that the students are concerned and upset by what has happened. TU should bring in trauma-informed counselors to talk with any student who is having trouble processing this.
That.
From the OP: It is highly likely that there are more young victims which makes me sad….[support] the victim of molestation, the potential victims, and the untold number of victims of child porn.
That.
Forgive me for going completely off topic but I have just read this awful, superficial, piece by an SBTS alumnus on the TGC website which was featured by Tim Challies today. If ever an article diminished the person and work of the Lord Jesus, this is it, in my opinion. He seems to fancy himself as an exegete but as an M Div at SBTS requires only 88 hours of study, he has a long way to go before he should be touted as a “contributing editor” for TGC or is this their gold standard?
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/jesus-high-priest-training/
Consider this from Dr Martin Lloyd-Jones on the same passage in Hebrews – “Now the Bible teaches us everywhere that the Lord Jesus Christ is our great High Priest – what exactly does it mean by that? There is a wonderful account of this in Hebrews 5:1-5. The author’s object in writing his epistle, in a sense, was to show the pre-eminence of the Lord Jesus Christ. In particular, he wanted to show His pre-eminence over Aaron, and especially that He is the great High Priest who had done this perfect work….So you see that our Lord satisfied all the demands which are laid down. He did it in His person through being born as a man. He could not have been our High Priest if He had not taken human nature unto Himself. He must be one who is `taken from among men’, so the incarnation was essential. He therefore became man, the Word was made flesh. He took unto Himself human nature in order that He might represent us as one taken from among us, and knowing us and understanding our frame. Having Himself experienced the infirmities, though still without sin, having been tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin, He is the High Priest who can represent us and speak on our behalf. And we have seen that He has an offering to offer, a sacrifice to present that has been accepted of God. So He intercedes and ever lives to make intercession for all who come to God by Him.”
Apologies again for the diversion
Lowlandseer,
Lots of folks teach that Jesus understands us because he lived the full human experience. This writer breaks new ground here: “The words ‘It is finished’ were an announcement that his training was complete. He’d learned everything he needed to be a merciful and faithful high priest for you and me.”
Sorry-not-sorry that I do not believe capital punishment is a training phase. Moreover, if Jesus was not fully trained until he died, what am I supposed to make of the Sermon on the Mount, the Great Commission, etc., etc., etc.?
Ava Aaronson,
There’s an old saying, “Nothing is ever obvious until it’s first pointed out.”
We don’t always see what happens around us. TWW helps us to know what to look for and demand.
Friend,
Friend,
“Smiley face” emoji. (Didn’t show above.)
The opening line is a whopper: “When it came to being our high priest, Jesus wasn’t born ready.” (Uhhhh, Jesus ‘is’ God … you mean God wasn’t ready?!)
The New Calvinist continue to distort Scripture to subordinate Jesus. They hardly talk about Him in their “sermons” and pretty much ignore the Holy Spirit altogether. They’ve tossed the Trinity aside. “God” gets all the airtime, along with Calvinist icons of course.
I’m sure the NeoCals think this is a great article. I can hear them saying “Wow, Daddy, Wow” and extracting material for their next sermon.
They. Just. Don’t. Get. It.
Ava Aaronson,
🙂 to you too
With dewy eyes, trembling lips, and suddenly-moist crotches.
Not too many years ago, we had reports of “Pervert of the Year” in the American church … then it went to “Pervert of the Month” … progressing to “Pervert of the Week” … now it seems a “Pervert of the Day” is popping up somewhere in the Christian Industrial Complex.
When will this madness end? I have a feeling that we won’t see any improvement until we have Ananias and Sapphira moments in Christendom, with church leaders who can discern deceivers before they let them in the door. (unfortunately, leaders are in the pervert ranks too!)
Max,
I skimmed the article, but the book of Hebrews does repeatedly say that Jesus learned obedience and was made perfect through his suffering. There was something he lacked according to his humanity that was necessary to be our high priest.
Are lurid comments really necessary?
Max,
Good point. Leadership and discernment, two gifts the Holy Spirit gives to the church via church members. Rom. 12, 1 Cor 12, Eph 4.
When a leader is willing to listen to a discerner, it will be a new day for the Body of Christ.
As non-leaders, in our family, when we have fellowshipped with and LISTENED to a discerner, this has changed our lives. The leadership, however, were NOT listening so shenanigans were going on, that our family avoided. Ever grateful to God’s HS to stay clear of evil.
Commonalities of this case and the gentleman of the recent Atlanta incidents:
1. Religion, SBC for Atlanta guy, Evangelical for other guy
2. Porn addiction
3. Violence (one against children, the other against women)
4. white
5. male
6. no partners, adult interpersonal relationships evident
What seems striking is the interpersonal relationship void. Missing the joy & real work, rewarding work, of life. Unfortunately, our religion and church affiliation doesn’t always take us there.
The Atlanta guy writes that he loves pizza, guns, drums, music, family, and God. Turns out he also loves porn and massage experiences. So his god and family of origin weren’t doing it for him. Job? Purpose?
This professor had colleagues, worked with adult students and frequented spectator sports. Didn’t work for him.
OTOH, RZ had it all, an adoring wife and lovely children, with his adoring org people and fans everywhere. Not good enough.
God’s people are sometimes people of another god, it seems. Even though it appears that God has showered them with blessings galore.
https://www.salemnews.com/news/local_news/gordon-college-president-named-president-at-taylor-university/article_1da6135a-7a2e-5298-a181-f6f6f6884198.html
“Gordon College president Michael Lindsay has been named the new president of Taylor University in Indiana”
“Taylor University has had an interim president since 2019. Chris Goeglein, the chairman of the board at Taylor, called Lindsay a ‘gifted individual of deep personal faith and proven servant leadership’.”
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/profile/d-michael-lindsay/
2017:
https://www.wgbh.org/news/2017/07/20/local-news/new-report-claims-gordon-college-mishandled-sexual-assault-complaints
https://archive.thinkprogress.org/students-say-evangelical-college-turned-a-blind-eye-to-serial-rapists-125043f31bb9/
Yes, Scripture refers to their god as “the god of this world” … the world, the flesh and the devil control them, not Holy God.
Jesus was fully God and fully man. As fully God, Jesus didn’t have to ‘learn’ anything since He was omniscient. He knew everything and He certainly didn’t lack anything. As fully man, Jesus chose to experience what humanity goes through … for me and for you, Robert. I don’t trust preachers (priests) who haven’t been through something – suffering has a way deepening us in faith and trust in Jesus. Jesus went through something, not because He ‘had’ to learn from anything from it, but because he ‘chose’ to. Jesus “learned” obedience not because He had disobeyed, but because He desired to fully enter the human experience and, thus, be the perfect sacrificial lamb of God for ALL humanity. This is why I worship Jesus and not the teachings of men; this is why I focus on the Gospel of Scripture and not the gospel of New Calvinism (such as Mr. Dillehay’s distortion of Hebrews). Christ came into this world as High Priest, full qualified with no more learning or training necessary; He remains in that position as our Savior, advocate, and judge.
That’s it. Quote.
Max,
Well said Max, and I concur.
“I really feel like God is wanting me to be a leader in the church…” (Robert Aaron Long, Atlanta spa shooting suspect)
Whew! I’m sure glad he didn’t fulfill that “calling” … we have enough whackos in American pulpits already! Yep, there is a spirit which has descended on the Christian Industrial Complex … and it ain’t holy.
Well, he did suffer death on a cross which fulfilled his ability to be our high priest. He could, obviously, only do that once at the end of his time on earth.
Jesus did die for our sins. The word ability, though, can suggest that Jesus learned something through being executed. I think it is more accurate to say that his death was a fulfillment of prophesy, and that he shared in the worst possible of human experiences.
My other concern with the article (not with your words) is that abusive churches recommend suffering. They say women should stay in an abusive marriage for a season, corporal punishment of children is required by “God’s rule book,” and more. When church leaders hold Jesus’ suffering up as something to emulate, no battered wife or child has any excuse to complain.
FEATURE, NOT BUG.
That is absurd!
I concur with what you said about people suffering to emulate Jesus. It’s a nasty recipe for church approved abuse . . . for a night . . . for a season . . . Absurd as well!
While “abusive churches recommend suffering”, real-deal Jesus-believing Gospel churches go to where suffering people are to relieve their misery with the love of Christ. Scripture teaches that “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (suffering isn’t on the list). As a Christian for several decades, I have suffered on occasion but I haven’t gone looking for suffering to fill a checkbox. The New Calvinists are a strange lot, but look at their leaders!
The New Calvinists go overboard on everybody has to suffer, that if you are the elect you ‘will’ suffer. Piper did some odd-ball teachings in this regard years ago which steered the young reformers in this direction – he advised the YRR to not waste their suffering.
Bridget,
Max,
Life is hard. I’m grateful that we can gather here and share perspectives.
Friend,
Iron sharpens iron, Friend.
Yeah… that was weird. That Jesus’ lesson was “obedience” is a little questionable, too. I notice the author didn’t point out that Jesus obeyed God, NOT the earthly or religious authorities. Even the whole scene with the young Jesus staying behind in Jerusalem instead of going home with Mary and Joseph. Granted, I’m not an M.Div., but I take that as Jesus pointing out that he owes obedience to God even over his parents. If Jesus was without sin, then he could not have dishonored his parents, as the author’s reading of the boy-Jesus in Jerusalem story implies.
Wild Honey, your interpretation of “obedience” is the one held by most Christians. The New Calvinists remind me of the Athenians which Paul encountered – they are always looking for some new twist of Scripture – a revelation that will cause the dudebros to be in awe … but they end up worshiping the Unknown God. TGC would be wise to take the keyboard away from this young whippersnapper.
Yes it is absurd.
That Jesus needed to ‘learn something’ in his humanity is equally absurd.
Agreed, and words I recall hearing are that Jesus experienced or suffered certain things.
But surely there is a reason for Jesus not taking full charge as an omniscient baby. Why do you believe Jesus lived thirty years before starting his ministry?
I believe it’s because he fully took part in our humanity and all it entails.
Newborn baby, childhood, teen years, to grown man.
And in all phases, he was and is Almighty God.