Tullian and Stacie during their nuptials in August 2016. Photo credit: Facebook, posted by Stacie
The Board of Directors of Godly Response to Abuse in Church Environments (GRACE) released a statement addressing the Tullian Tchividjian sexual misconduct scandal. According to their Facebook page: The Mission of GRACE is to empower the Christian community through to recognize, confront, and respond to the sin of child sexual abuse.
We’re including GRACE’s statement as well as a list of its board members that includes Tullian’s brother, Boz, his uncle, Emmanuel and Michael Reagan, son of President Ronald Reagan:
Statement from the GRACE Board of Directors
The GRACE board is deeply disturbed about the revelations of sexual misconduct by Tullian Tchividjian. As an organization that deals with the abuse of God’s lambs and the damage silence causes we feel compelled to speak. We believe that no material institution is more sacred to God than His lambs – be it church or mission or family. Institutions ordained by God were destroyed at His hand when they became corrupt. Given that we must be what He calls His people to be or we too will have chosen silence and darkness over truth and light.Dear victims – and you are indeed victims. You have suffered and we do not want to add our silence to that suffering. Once again, one of God’s shepherds used his position of authority, his gift of words, his intellect and personality to draw you in when you were vulnerable and in need of care. All power belongs to Christ. Any power we have is derivative and sacred and to be used only for His glory and the good of His people. Anything less is an abuse of that power. You have been victims of the gross misuse of power God intended for your good. We grieve with you. We stand with you in the light. You have with courage exposed the deeds of darkness. Thank you, for we as the Body of Christ need your voices but now that the light shines a failure to respond on our part means we have turned from the light you turned on. We pray for you, knowing full well that each and every one of you has a hard road ahead as you seek newness of life, healing and a restoring of your souls. We pray that the failure of a shepherd will not lead you to forsake the Good and Great Shepherd who turns tables over and cracks whips when those in His church rob His sheep and distort the truth of who God is. We also pray that God will multiply the fruit of your hard labor to step into light to cause the greater body to examine itself regarding the many silenced victims that live in its midst.
Dear church of Jesus Christ, our God feeds and folds His sheep. He speaks truth and does not deceive. He protects us from wolves both inside and outside the fold. He does so by laying His own down at the gate. We fear that we have often helped wolves deceive others and hide themselves in sheep’s clothing for our own gain and comfort. In doing so we have not loved those who prey on God’s sheep for we have left them in their darkness and bondage. There are many untended, discarded victims in our midst. We are called by God to stand in the light they have brought, tend their wounds, lift the fallen and tenderly carry those who cannot stand. We are nothing like our Lord if we fail to do so. May the fruit of this grievous sin bring a sweeping of God’s refining fire through the lives of His people across the globe. At a minimum, God’s “refining fire” requires the Christian community to put in place long overdue reforms that will limit the possibility of continuing transgressions against the vulnerable.
These reforms include:
1. Seminary education of pastors about maintaining appropriate boundaries. Every seminary must provide education on maintaining appropriate boundaries between a pastor and the children or adults he or she may counsel. This training should include instruction on understanding the impact of trauma1 and when and how to refer survivors of abuse to professional mental health providers. If a church is hiring or has hired a pastor who has not received this sort of training, it can and should be conducted after the fact. Continue reading
GRACE Board of Directors:
Justin Holcomb
Matthew Lacey
Diane Langberg
James Luttrull
Duncan Rankin
Michael Reagan
Charissa Sloan Dvorak
Boz Tchividjian
Emmanuel Tchividjian
Laura Thien
Victor Vieth
Related:
Billy Graham’s grandson steps down from Florida megachurch after admitting an affair
Tullian Tchividjian: Christianity is about Good News for Bad People
Church Discipline, Contemporary Grace Style
Tullian Tchividjian: Master of Manipulation
Tullian Tchividjian: A Call to Repentance December 5, 2016
Great staement from GRACE – But needs a little addition, correction… 😉
From the GRACE statement… 2nd paragraph…
“Dear victims – and you are indeed victims….”
“Once again, one of **God’s shepherds**
used his **position of authority,** his gift of words,
his intellect and personality to draw you in
when you were vulnerable and in need of care.”
———-
NOPE
Big, Big, mistake…
This is NOT – “one of **God’s shepherds.**” 🙁
———
Seems, the only “ONE” in the scriptures…
Who calls them self, “Shepherd,”
And, has the “Title,” “Shepherd,”
IS… The “ONE” Shepherd…
{{{{{{ Jesus }}}}}}
I’m-a-thinkin, the GRACE statement could be re-written this way… Yes?
“Dear victims” – and you are indeed victims….
Once again, a man, a wolf, Got by the elders, who **“Ignored”** the Qualifications for elder/overseers, to hire a **“Celebrity.”** A wolf, who did **”NOT meet the Qualifications”** for elder/overseer. And, Entered NOT by the door, Jesus, into the sheepfold, the same is a thief and a robber. And, this wolf, thief and a robber, also mis-appropriated a “Title/Postion” pastor/leader/reverend. A “Title” that does NOT exist, in the Bible. For one of **His Disciples.** A “Title” that comes with Power, Profit, Prestige, Honor, Glory, Reputation, in “Today’s Corrupt Religious system.” ALL those things, Power, Profit, Prestige, highly esteemed among men but is abomination in the site of God.
“Dear victims,” – This wolf, Deceived you, into believing those with…
The “Title/Postion” pastor/leader/reverend…
Have a “Position of Authority” – They do NOT…
“Dear victims,” – You, are NOT alone…
This Mere Fallible Human, and those who call themselves…
senior pastors, church leaders, christian leaders, spiritual leaders…
(ALL terms NOT found in the Bible.)
Have Deceived lots of folks, for lots of years…
Into believing “pastors” have a “Position of Authority.” – They do NOT…
You have been victims of the gross misuse of “Power”…
“Power” that does NOT exist, in the Bible. – For one of **His Disciples.**
You have been victims of the gross misuse of “Titles”…
“Titles” that do NOT exist, in the Bible. – For one of **His Disciples.**
———–
Hmmm? I’m- a-liken King David more and more…
The Lord is MY Shepherd…
Jer 50:6
**“My people”** hath been **“lost sheep:”**
**THEIR shepherds** have caused them to **go astray,**
1 Pet 2:25
For ye were as **sheep going astray;**
BUT are now returned to the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
**{{{{{{ Jesus }}}}}}**
A.Amos Love. GOOD POINTS ALL! Too much of this going on! We all have to start being responsible for ourselves in who we sit under. As the Bible warns about in the last days, there is a great proliferation of wolves and we all need to be on guard. I would especially advise that people come out from the bondage of “tithing” and the guilt associated by the false teaching of what will happen when we don’t. Quit giving the Charlatans money. Give it to the Christian family who is struggling in this economy and needs to pay their heating bill.
Hi JM
Thanks for the reply.
Much agreement…
“I would especially advise that people come out from the bondage of “tithing”
and the guilt associated by the false teaching of what will happen when we don’t.”
I was in bondage to “tithing” – Taught to me for many years, by many “pastor/leaders.” 🙂
And these pastor/leaders told me this “Tithe,” was Biblical. 🙁
By taking, and mis-using, a few verses out of context.
And I should give this “Tithe” of “Money” to God.
And, the pastor would hold on to it for awhile…
To determine how to spend God’s money…. 😉
Then I researched for myself… Found out…
In the Bible, NO one ever gave silver, gold, or money, as a “Tithe.”
In the Bible, NO one ever gave 10%, a tenth, a “Tithe,” of money earned, their wages.
In the Bible, the “Tithe,” was always food to be eaten, or sacrificed to God. Burnt-up.
When was the last time you saw a Benjamin, a $50 bill, burnt-up on a church alter? 😉
In the NT, I found, NOT one of **His Disciples** ever “Tithed.” – Huh?
In the NT, I found, NOT one of **His Disciples** ever gave 10%, of anything, anywhere. 😉
“If” In the NT, **His Disciples** NEVER gave a “Tithe” – Why do WE?
Why do WE, His Sheep, His King and Priests, His Servants, His sons…
Give 10% of wages, to a 501 c 3, non-profit, tax deductible, Religious Corporation…
That the IRS calls church?
———-
But, “IF” you are a son? One of **His Disciples?** You will have a desire to give.
And – Giving is between you and Jesus…
2 Cor 9:7
Every man according as “he purposeth in his heart,”
**so let him give;**
not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
Yes brothers, these institutions are no more than money collecting schemes, in return for your hard earned money you get, bad teaching, marketing techniques, manipulation, and if you’re a lady, there’s a good chance the wolf behind the soapbox has sharp teeth! Buyer beware!
Agreed………tithing is between the sheep and Jesus, for God loves a cheerful giver, not one who feels compelled! God bless, maranatha!