The Assemblies of God, Southern MO, Botched a Statement on Joe Campbell’s Five Victims. Are Internal Trials Still Ongoing? Still Looking for Joe Campbell and Jim Bakker.

Posted on by November 18, 2024avatar

“A stiff apology is a second insult… The injured party does not want to be compensated because he has been wronged; he wants to be healed because he has been hurt. ” Gilbert K. Chesterton

These three posts will help you understand the following communications with the Assemblies of God denomination, Pastor Joe Campbell and Pastor Jim Bakker.

  1. “Pastor” Joe Campbell, Who Now Leads Jim Bakker’s Morningside Church, Is Credibly Accused of Molesting a Young Teen He Arranged to Live with His Family.
  2. Pastor Joe Campbell, as well as His Wife Becky, Are Further Credibly Accused of Sexual Abuse By Three More Victims: Kerri, Kim, and Sarah.
  3. Cheryl Almond Waited Years to Accuse Pastor Joe Campbell of Sexually Abusing Her When She Was 14. Could There Be Many More Victims?

On 11/14/24, I contacted the Assemblies of God denominational headquarters, which referred me to the Southern Missouri Network. I was pleased that Pastor Don Miller, the Superintendent, was willing to quickly provide me with a statement regarding the molestations of the five women. I asked him to consider apologizing to the women, and I stressed the traumatic nature of the two internal AG trials involving Kerri Jackson and Phaedra Creed. I noted that I hoped that the AG would no longer conduct such disturbing trials. Pastor Miller said he had read the above posts.

The following is the complete statement that I received before noon EST today. Please pay careful attention to the language, which I hope readers will discuss.

We are heartbroken to hear allegations related to Joe Campbell and any pain his reported actions caused.  Our concern and prayers go out to all who have been affected by these circumstances. When allegations toward a minister arise, we take those matters very seriously and we have a well-established process to address them.  In the case of Mr. Campbell, the Southern Missouri District leadership acted upon the evidence presented to them regarding the minister. He was reported to law enforcement, dismissed as a minister with the Assemblies of God, and is barred from ever again being credentialed with the Assemblies of God.

We pray that those who experienced trauma from the actions of Mr. Campbell can find healing and closure.

Have a blessed day.

Pastor Don Miller
Superintendent
Southern Missouri Ministry Network
(417) 881-1316   Fax  (417) 883-5924
RESOURCE – RELATIONSHIP – RENEWAL

What did I hope would happen?

  • The AG would say these internal trials do not take place now.
  • The AG would reach out and apologize to each woman by name.
  • The AG would acknowledge that they should have notified law enforcement in ALL cases.

What was positive about this statement?

  • The office provided a statement quickly.
  • Pastor Miller had read the posts on the women.
  • They used Joe Campbell’s name in the statement and reported it to the police. They believed Campbell harmed Phaedra, which is essential as we seek an apology from the AG.

What was disturbing about the statement?

  • It is alleged that the AG did not call the police in Kerri Jackson’s case. Campbell was allowed to continue as a pastor, and he molested Phaedra and Kim when he went to Versailles AG. I alerted Pastor Miller of the error and have not received a reply. Kerri was forced to attempt to identify a freckle on Campbell’s male parts and was told she was not telling the truth when she could not during a trial with a room full of men and the abuser.
  • This statement: “We pray that those who experienced trauma from Mr. Campbell’s actions can find healing and closure.” This is not a personal apology. It says “nice things,” but it does not demonstrate sorrow for the actions of the AG and the churches.
  • This statement sounded like an attorney wrote it.

What would this statement lead me to believe?

  • The internal trials are continuing in the AG, and they are forcing young girls to meet in a room full of men as well as the abuser. I call on the AG to stop this abhorrent practice.
  • The AG did not truly show remorse for its actions or the victims’ pain.
  • Whoever vetted this statement left out Kerri Jackson’s trial, in which law enforcement was not notified. Was this omission an error or an attempt to obfuscate?

What needs to be done

  • Does this need to be escalated to the Superintendent of the AG mothership?
  • Does local and national media know of the “internal trials” of abusers and their young victims in the AG?
  • I’m praying that the AG rethinks its statement.

More to follow.

Attempt to reach Joe Campbell and Jim Bakker.

I just got going on this today. The phone number online for Morningside Ministries, where Joe Campbell is the “pastor to pastors,” has been disconnected.

I had to call the central number where folks call to order things or to ask for prayer. I got an older woman who said her name was Vee (I asked her to repeat it.” She said she would give them a message. Her reactions were odd. She wrote down that I was calling about the allegations against Joe Campbell regarding the molestation of 5 women. She was calm beyond belief and carefully wrote down everything I said. She claimed she would give them the message. Is she used to taking calls like this? She told me she was working in the bookstore.

More to come on all of this.

Comments

The Assemblies of God, Southern MO, Botched a Statement on Joe Campbell’s Five Victims. Are Internal Trials Still Ongoing? Still Looking for Joe Campbell and Jim Bakker. — 32 Comments

  1. “When allegations toward a minister arise, we take those matters very seriously and we have a well-established process to address them.”

    If the “well-established process” is to put children in the same room with their abuser, to interrogate them for awful details about their abuse with the alleged abuser staring at them … well, it just doesn’t sound like a method any Christian organization should employ. I suppose they could twist Matthew 18 to support their “process”, but it just adds additional trauma to a child-victim. The AOG needs to revisit such policy and procedure.

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  3. “We pray that those who experienced trauma from the actions of Mr. Campbell can find healing and closure.”

    This statement really distances the church from the victims and shows that church officials feel no responsibility to aid the victims in their healing process.

    “If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?” — James 2:16 (NIV)

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  4. Susan: “We pray that those who experienced trauma from the actions of Mr. Campbell can find healing and closure.” … “If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?” — James 2:16 (NIV)

    I’m not a fan of The Message version of the Bible, but their translation puts that verse this way:

    “Do you think you’ll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything?”

    Right words from the righteous at AOG will never bring healing and closure to the victims in this sad story. It comes across as Pilate washing his hands.

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  6. Some articles by the Assemblies of God on handling legal matters such as sexual harassment
    https://ag.org/Legal-Matters
    Most if not all authored by Richard R. Hammar, legal counsel to The General Council of the Assemblies of God.

    Page 67- of their current constitution covers procedures for allegations
    https://ag.org/About/About-the-AG/Constitution-and-Bylaws
    Note this covers everything from drinking beer on up. They do mention reporting if required by law.

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  8. Susan: This statement really distances the church from the victims and shows that church officials feel no responsibility to aid the victims in their healing process.

    “Pastors” who commit child sexual abuse represent a whole new level of evil. Church elders & denominational officials who cover, protect, and diminish crimes against children run a close second.

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  11. Jeffrey Chalmers: That sounds about right… from what we read hear about how they treat women with sexual abuse charges..

    I do note that they did dismiss Campbell though apparently only after multiple allegations. Also with no reporting to the police. And also he just switched to a new group of churches.

    I did find it odd that the AoG trials describe seem to have been conducted by only men given that AoG has always had women ministers. Their history points out the early women ministers followed by a decline in numbers in the 1920s and a more recent upswing (https://ag.org/Beliefs/Position-Papers/The-Role-of-Women-in-Ministry)

    I do wonder how old was Campbell’s wife when he married her.

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  18. Erp,

    “I did find it odd that the AoG trials describe seem to have been conducted by only men given that AoG has always had women ministers”
    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    the last church i attended was an AOG church. it was a good church. the leaders were good people. but not without blindspots.

    in trying to understand the AOG views and cultue, i read many position papers and many issues of their magazines. yes, in theory they are egalitarian and pro women.

    at the same time, i noticed the magazines were almost 100% images of men’s faces. all but one small article are written by men.

    even the issues with covers that purport to be about women are almost completely written by men, with men’s images… and it turns out almost every article was about men and for men (in relation to women, but about men and for men).

    this is a remarkably stupid blindspot.

    so i am not at all surprised about the remarkably stupid and cruel AOG trial.

    it is a grave mistake, at its own peril, for a church or denomination to be run by men, exclusively or as a majority.

    aside from the appearance of the reality of disgusting discrimination that will repel any objective & thinking human being (as it should), it’s just plain dumb to occupy a silo of the male perspective.

    the smartest, toughest person in the room is a woman. Ignore them, exclude them, tokenize them at your own peril.

    in the AOG’s case, the double standards are scathing.

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  19. Pastor Don Miller, your boilerplate statement simply parrots what they say when they’re caught.

    The lack of personal responsibility means you and your organization are not believable. No, you’re not heartbroken. No, you are not praying for them. Not really.

    I’m right, aren’t I.

    But then again what makes you think they are interested in your sanctimonious and perfunctory offer of ‘prayers’?

    Since it’s simply to make you look less bad, the lack of sincerity compounds the stinging insult.

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  21. elastigirl: the smartest, toughest person in the room is a woman

    If it weren’t for smart-tough-godly women, many churches would have folded a long time ago. IMO, they are the true spiritual anchors, rather than men, in churches across America. From my long tenure in doing church (it’s been a ride), I have found that female believers are by and large the ones who pray, serve and minister with love in Jesus name, while most men play church games without a spiritual bone in their bodies.

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  26. elastigirl: the smartest, toughest person in the room is a woman. Ignore them, exclude them, tokenize them at your own peril.

    Conservative, ‘complementarian’ men prefer to remain stoopid.
    When it comes right down to it, I’m even more convinced that they hate women.
    And for what?
    A bunch of Greek letters all run together on crumbling parchments?

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  28. Max,

    Complementarians want to make sure other boys and men don’t get anywhere better than they do (competitiveness). Be ye Loozahs (a k a garbage) for your Father in heaven is a Loozah (a k a garbage).

    I’m convinced there are good women who are on the point of disobeying, and teaching us how they live well, and not as male minus female, or male instead of female.

    (The AOG I visited 50 years ago was run by Miss Fisher and Miss something else and the music was trumpets. My second brush with AOG 10 years ago was: pretending they weren’t AOG, overamplified, micromanaged by airheads.)

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  30. Max: Something psycho going on with them about women?They couldn’t get any dates in high school?Their Mama was mean to them?

    All of the above and they’re stuck in the Rage Phase.
    “IT’S PAYBACK TIME! WITH INTEREST!!!!!”
    No difference between Biblical Manhood Righteousness and Andrew Tate Fanboy Incel Attitudes.
    Except for the Godspeak.

    A bunch of Greek letters all run together on crumbling parchments?

    No, “SCRIPTURE! SCRIPTURE! SCRIPTURE!”
    No difference from Extreme Islam’s “IT IS WRITTEN! IT IS WRITTEN! IT IS WRITTEN!”

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  31. Susan,

    You are so right, Susan. So much for sacrifice, being a good example of making things right, etc. We are leaders who are ALL talk and no action. We would never never never give up our salaries or our offerings to these women for professional therapy to aid in their healing. Sounds like they don’t read and/or obey 1 John 3:16-18. No practicing what they preach.

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