(CP) Eight distinguished charismatic elders, together with theologian and media character Michael Brown, have declared Kansas Metropolis Worldwide Home of Prayer founder Mike Bickle “unfit” for ministry, warning that the 24/7 prayer service has some “harmful cult-like tendencies “. “That must be addressed.
In a joint assertion launched Thursday on the web site of his syndicated radio program “Line of Fireplace,” Brown, together with elders within the charismatic motion — Jack Deere, Dan Juster, Patricia King, Joseph Mattera, Sam Storms, Michael Sullivant and Terri Sullivant — declared Bickle to be “unfit” for public service.
They cited mounting proof, together with stories and public testimony about Bickle's alleged sexual abuse by clergy. These testimonies embrace Tammy Woods, who claimed final month that Bickle sexually abused her within the Eighties when she was simply 14 years outdated.
“First, we’re deeply saddened by those that have come ahead with testimony that they have been manipulated and sexually abused by Mike Bickle. We are able to consider few sins extra dangerous and damaging than manipulative, non secular sexual abuse, much more so when a minor is concerned.” wrote the elders.
“We’re additionally deeply saddened by these whose private religion has been shaken and whose worlds have been turned the other way up by the alleged harrowing occasions. It is a non secular tragedy of worldwide proportions that has affected thousands and thousands of believers all over the world and introduced nice disgrace to the title.” Jesus and in addition dishonoring the popularity of the Spirit,” they added.
“After contemplating the stories now we have reviewed, we should state categorically that he’s sadly unfit to steer the ministry. Regardless of full repentance and private restoration within the Lord, he’s barred from public ministry. (Restored to full fellowship is Mike Himself in his assertion on December 12, 2023 he acknowledged that his departure from the ministry “could also be lengthy and should even be everlasting,” even earlier than probably the most severe allegations have been made in opposition to him.”
Simply hours earlier than Tammy Woods claimed in an interview with The Kansas Metropolis Star that Bickle abused her within the Eighties when she was simply 14 years outdated, her former pastor reportedly sought counseling amid mounting allegations of abuse from a number of ladies.
In posts highlighted on each X and Fb, former IHOPKC worker Ben Anderson shared a replica of the script that Bickle allegedly deliberate to make use of for himself and his spouse, Diane, to create the Jan. 30 video.
The video would reply to allegations that, for instance, he routinely advised his alleged victims that his spouse would die younger, suggesting he might need a future with them in some unspecified time in the future.
Woods advised The Kansas Metropolis Star beneath her maiden title that Bickle abused her in St. Louis, the place he led the church earlier than shifting to Kansas Metropolis and founding IHOPKC in 1999.
Woods mentioned Bickle abused her in his automobile, her house, church and his workplace. She mentioned the abuse, which started when she started babysitting his two sons, included sexual contact however not intercourse.
“He'd kiss my neck, he'd kiss my cheeks, he'd kiss my brow,” Woods mentioned, recalling the primary time Bickle kissed her romantically at her house when she was simply 14 years outdated. kiss' kiss was in my home. He sort of dragged me into the toilet. And he kissed me like a person kisses a girl.”
Woods' story emerged after an unbiased report ready by lawyer Rosalee McNamara was launched on January 31. In that report, Bickle admitted to partaking in “consensual sexual contact” with a girl linked to the 24/7 prayer ministry along with a beforehand admitted relationship with main Jane Doe, who claimed to have been his mistress for a number of years.
One other girl, recognized as “TH,” advised The Roys Report that Bickle started grooming and sexually abusing her when she was 15 and he was a 20-year-old intern on the church within the mid-Nineteen Seventies.
“We are saying this with agony in our hearts as a result of Mike has been a pricey pal and valued colleague to a few of us for years and it’s laborious to imagine that the person we knew was in a position to lead such a double life.” This was acknowledged in a Thursday assertion by the leaders of the charismatic motion. “But we can not deny the proof that spans many a long time and continues to build up, a few of which has been confirmed and a few of which is awaiting formal investigation and judgment by a panel of elders.”
The assertion mentioned that whereas there are various honest supporters of the IHOPKC, “we acknowledge that the proof factors to some harmful cult tendencies which have emerged through the years that must be addressed and corrected.”
“There may be additionally a scarcity of a proper accountability construction for these serving in varied capacities at IHOPKC, overseen by native elders, leading to a failure to deal with severe sexual sins, not simply involving Mike,” they mentioned.
“We don’t deny that the broad define of the historical past of the IHOPKC was credible, however in some methods it seems to have crossed into the realms of non secular elitism. The IHOPKC additionally admitted that its construction was woefully insufficient in coping with severe allegations of sin.” and now it says it's altering its total construction to cope with it.”
Leaders have known as for a extra formal accountability construction within the bigger unbiased world of the charismatic church and hope to resolve it over time with a “unified, biblically based mostly, Spirit-led effort.”
“Having mentioned that, we condemn the exaltation of males and personalities. There aren’t any superstars within the Physique, solely servants. And regardless of how a lot fame or public affect any one in every of us might have, we’re all utter wretches outdoors of God's reworking grace, and there’s not a single factor we might do of everlasting worth that was not begotten and empowered by the Spirit. Other than the Lord we will do nothing and are nothing (John 15:5; 1 Corinthians 3:5-9),” Christian elders wrote.
“It's one factor to present honor and respect to non secular leaders who stroll worthy of God's excessive calling. It's one other factor to make ministers into celebrities and have a look at them as in the event that they have been in a unique class than the remainder of the Physique.” This isn’t solely harmful, however one other type of non secular idolatry.”
Bickle has publicly admitted to previous “ethical failings” however denied committing sexual abuse or “the extra intense sexual actions that some recommend.”
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