🚩Tikkun had released a statement today that has an abundance of red flags, including Ron Cantor ‘s “mutually agreed upon leave of absence” from the board, and I’d like some clarity. 🧵
I’m curious who has had concern about Ron Cantor’s social media posts regarding Brown— I have only heard a deep sense of gratitude and relief over his strong stance for a transparent, true third party investigation where victims have a safe place to come forward. It’s what caused many of us to take the risk and trust Tikkun in the first place.
While Tikkun makes a statement clarifying that say believe clergy abuse is a problem, they immediately follow up with a statement that discredits victims.
🚩 I’m deeply concerned that this signals a move to preemptively discredit a large swath of the allegations as “bandwagon reports” in an attempt to save the reputations of IHOPKC and Line of Fire.
🚩 This portion of the statement undermines Tikkun’s earlier assurance that Tikkun, as an org, does not require leaders to adopt a partly line.
🚩 I’m unclear how Ron’s posts on social media could impact a third party investigation, as investigations are the job of qualified third parties based on testimony, not social media postings.
I again have concerns that this signals an attempt to discredit the victims who came forward at later stages, finding courage as a result of Gracia, Jane Doe, and Erin’s bravery.
🚩 This seems like doublespeak from Tikkun, who said in the earlier statement that Ron was entitled to express his opinion.
Why is Brown allowed to address the investigation, publicly in statements?
Who is in charge of what constitutes due process, and why does that require public silence? This seems an opposition to their earlier statement that victims often have to come forward publicly.
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I want to state this so clearly :
THIS IS SPIRITUAL ABUSE.
A victim is ALWAYS entirely in control of their story— you do not ever, ever have to share it with leadership no matter what kind of process they have for reporting.
You own your story and you have EVERY right to go forward to the media, to a lawyer, or post it on socials.
What Tikkun is saying here is spiritually abusive, and they have ZERO right to assert authority over your story, or when and where you tell it.
SPEAK FREELY.
There’s a lot here:
🚩Dialogue is NOT trial and judgement
🚩You ARE both able and biblically qualified to judge for yourself based on what you hear and see.
🚩It’s very concerning to me that Tikkun is using its role to undermine the right of congregations to discern for themselves. I absolutely validate the need for qualified investigations , but I also stand by each person’s right to discern for themselves based on testimony.
🚩How is Ron failing to “submit” to an investigation he has no role or deciding power in?
🚩 In combination with earlier language, this seems like an attempt to prevent further organizational damage to Line of Fire and to suppress the voices of victims.
🚩 I would very much like clarity on whether the report is still going to be released to the public simultaneously with the board as Tikkun promised.
If that doesn’t happen, trust has been lost
I have serious misgivings about the sudden of Ron Cantor from the oversight committee— especially if both Tikkun and the Line of Fire board are receiving the reports directly, rather than the report being released to the public. That would be an unacceptable lack of transparency.
@IHOPKC has announced a series of trainings on child predation led by Theresa Sidebotham.
There’s a wide variety of organizations that specialize in these sorts of trainings — some even offer them free of charge.
So why Sidebotham? WELL….
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On one hand, it seems that she has extensive experience with investigations—with an org called iHart.
🚩HOWEVER, iHart was OWNED by Ethnos360, the very org that “hired” it to investigate. Survivors have repeatedly raised concerns over her handling of allegations. matthewmcnutt.com/2019/03/25/eth…
Digging a bit further, we find this article criticizing a report authored by Sidebotham.
I’ll link to the article itself at the end, it’s got a fantastic analysis. But we’re also gonna dig into that paper in this thread because OH MY GOODNESS
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To every single “Spirit Filled” leader in the USA:
I’ve heard you boast for YEARS about your special revelation—Strategies from Heaven! Prophetic Utterance! Divine Wisdom! Apostolic Authority! Some of you claim to see secret sin!
How is it then, that in two decades, I have yet to hear of even ONE case where you have foreseen and then correctly handled clergy sexual abuse?
Tell me, what good is it to me—a woman who was sexually abused as a child—if you hear from heaven, but you do not hear me?
What good is it if you have the faith to move mountains, but are unmoved by the cries of the broken? Who does that faith serve?
What good is your prophetic utterance, if you refuse to be a voice for voiceless? You are so quick to speak on things outside of your influence, but when it comes to men you share stages with, you are SILENT in the face of abuse. You take your check and shut your eyes as the men you share stages with prey on the very ones Jesus came to redeem. When you *finally* speak, it’s when our own throats are so hoarse that we no longer sing.
Tell me, and every victim of abuse: what good is your leadership, exactly, to me? Surely when Jesus said “Peter, feed my sheep,” he meant for you to nurture and protect—not fatten them for slaughter.
Here is what I’d like to know:
1. As a minister, are you trained in trauma informed care for victims disclosing abuse to you? Are you willing to do that?
2. What protective policies do you currently have in place?
3. Are you open to having those evaluated by an expert like GRACE?
4. What is your policy on ministering alongside ministers with current allegations of sexual or spiritual abuse?
5. Who is on your board?
6. Who are you accountable to?
7. What does financial transparency look like in your ministry?
These questions every single minister should be able to answer—or should be engaging with deep and honest assessment, at minimum.
“He who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and he who is unfaithful in very little is also unfaithful in very much.”
To me, it’s very simple: God wouldn’t not give apostolic authority to the church if it cannot even correctly steward the authority it already has. So if you want to “be great in the Kingdom,” learn to serve the ones given to you to protect.
Show me “the goodness of God in the land of the living,” because I no longer believe that I will see it from you—that is why so many of us are deconstructing. We aren’t leaving. We’re fainting.
Where are you on Mike Bickle, @BethelRedding? Why would God entrust the “Seven Mountains” of influence to you, if you refuse to use your influence to advocate for victims of abuse?
You didn’t even deal with a known sexual predator in your midst, despite multiple people notifying you. His SON had to do it, and you only acted when it went viral.
🧵Both Joanna and I were approached at 19 and told we were “another Misty”— she was the 2002 edition, and I was 2004. (If we can find the 2003 edition, we could have some sort of club!)
It’s an alarming pattern, and I know of at least two other women who were told this at around the same age.
Joanna’s story is below and worth a read—different details, but a clear pattern especially when taken with the other stories emerging. For me, it was done with prophecy. —>
Pathway through my internship, there was a prophecy session—it was really pumped up as a moment where God would impart direction, since a lot of us were beginning to think about next steps. I came in late, because I’d been sick.
When I walked in, my internship leader was at the podium. He immediately singled me out in front of everyone and started prophesying very huge sounding things about worship leading, the scope of my future ministry.