In Depth:  abuse

Nicola Laver

A slow but steady fallout following the publication of the Makin Review into John Smyth’s decades-long abuse is under way.

The review criticises ‘powerful’ conservative evangelical leaders – many are explicitly named. Few have been sanctioned so far.

Iain Taylor

Churches and Christian organisations have spoken of their sadness and pain as the official report into well-known charismatic leader Mike Pilavachi said he displayed coercive and controlling behaviour at the church and had inappropriate relationships.

His actions included massaging young male interns and wrestling young men as he used his ‘spiritual authority to control people’.

A new resource on spiritual abuse and pastoral malpractice has just been launched at an event in Westminster Palace.

The book Challenging Leaders: Preventing and Investigating Allegations of Pastoral Malpractice is being produced by Affinity and is due to be published by Christian Focus Publications in March 2023.

Welsh Baptist ministers spent some time recently focusing on the pressing issue of ‘Abuse of power in the local church’.

Phil Swann (see photo) of Llanelli Evangelical Church opened up a topic which the Baptist Union of Wales admits is not often talked about but ‘can do great harm’ to both ministers and members. ‘Recent public cases have drawn attention to how church leaders need be more aware of the potential abuses of power within the local church and the damaging effect this can have on those caught up in such situations,’ it said.

An abuse survivor who is now a bishop says new resources from the Church of England Evangelical Council (CEEC) produced after recent scandals should ‘help churches engage’ with the issue.

Published in the wake of revelations about Jonathan Fletcher and Steve Timmis, the resources include a film, some ‘culture review questions’ and a ‘liturgy of lament’ – all of which can be found on the CEEC website.

The annual conference of ReNew for conservative evangelicals in the Church of England has been held in-person again, after a virtual session last year due to the pandemic.

The event tackled issues of spiritual abuse following recent high-profile cases and the publication of the Thirtyone:eight report into Jonathan Fletcher’s time at Emmanuel, Wimbledon. It also focused on ‘establishing healthy churches’ – the theme for the gathering.

The abuse of power and position by some in Christian leadership was the subject of Living Leadership’s most recent Ministry Masterclass.

Entitled ‘Powerful Leaders?’, Marcus Honeysett, Executive Director of the charity, tackled this challenging topic and outlined the warning signs leaders can be aware of in their own lives and ministries.

A victim of spiritual abuse – but not at the hands of Fletcher or Smyth – shares her firsthand experience:

I am a victim of spiritual abuse. It’s taken 15 years after the events to recognise this – and only then because of recent events.

The Church of England evangelical grouping Church Society says it is investigating ‘very serious and wide-ranging allegations of bullying and abuse’ made about some of its staff and council members.

In a statement issued as en was going to print, Revd Andrew Towner, chair of the Church Society council, and Dr Ros Clarke, Associate Director, said: ‘Some of you may be aware that Church Society, along with some of its staff and Council members, has been the subject of some serious allegations made on social media.

Evangelicals are facing a period of soul searching, heartache and challenge as three separate scandals unfolded.

The release of a review into lessons to be learnt from Jonathan Fletcher’s time as minister at Emmanuel Church, Wimbledon, was expected at any time.

Nearly 400 people in positions of trust within the Church of England have been convicted of sexual offences against children since the 1940s, a damning report has found.

The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse found the Church failed to protect children and young people from sexual predators within its ranks and instead created a culture where abusers could hide.