Michael Brown, host of the nationally syndicated radio program Line of Hearth, who can also be president, founder and professor of sensible theology on the FIRE Faculty of Ministry, admitted to “some lapses in judgment” however denied allegations that he sexually abused a former worker who had beforehand The 23-year-old mentioned he handled him like “a member of the household.”
“Each Nancy and I had been shocked and appalled by the combo of accusations, accusations, misrepresentations and mischaracterizations. That's why we wholeheartedly help our board's rapid determination to launch an intensive third-party investigation,” Brown mentioned in a press release to The Christian. The put up, which was additionally shared with The Roys Report, printed the allegations Monday evening.
“Nancy and I had a relationship with the girl in query and we thought of her a member of the family and he or she acted like one who considered our relationship the identical. Nevertheless, she was not a member of the family and features of my interactions along with her although completely non-sexual in each manner , mirrored a particular lack of judgment on my half,” Brown added.
The previous worker, recognized by TRR solely by her pseudonym Erin, mentioned she stop working on the FIRE Faculty of Ministry in 2002, when she was simply 21, as a result of she grew to become uncomfortable with Brown's frequent butt-slapping, lip-kissing and holding episodes by the hand.
“He was alleged to be the godfather,” Erin advised TRR. “He was alleged to care for me.
Erin mentioned that when she was 18, she attended the Brownsville Revival Faculty of Ministry in 1999, the place Brown served as president till he was fired in 2000. Brown then based the FIRE Faculty of Ministry in Pensacola, Florida, the place the college operated till 2003, when it was relocated to North Carolina.
Erin defined that she adopted Brown to his beginning college and he requested her to name him “Dad” and he or she obliged.
She recalled that as a result of she had a troublesome dwelling life, she initially loved the eye Brown gave her. She mentioned they’d write cute notes.
“I checked out it as a blessing due to the respect all of us have for him,” Erin's sister advised TRR.
In keeping with Erin, lower than a yr into her tenure on the new college, Brown — who was concerned in advising the Kansas Metropolis Worldwide Home of Prayer as they navigated founder Mike Bickle's sexual abuse scandal — began holding her hand.
“He picked it up within the truck … and he mentioned, 'You all know I think about (Erin) my daughter,' and he mentioned, 'That's why we're holding palms, as a result of she's like a daughter to me.'” Erin mentioned.
The hand holding ultimately progressed to additional contact together with kissing. Erin mentioned she was alone in Brown's workplace at some point when he requested her to kiss him on the lips. She mentioned she didn't wish to kiss him, so she kissed him that day. Nevertheless, kissing on the lips grew to become a part of their parting methods once they frolicked alone.
“It wasn't (Brown) asking for a kiss anymore,” she recalled. “He (Brown) was leaning in to get the kiss. … I knew I couldn't cease it, or I felt like I couldn't cease it.”
Brown later started slapping Erin on the buttocks, Erin mentioned.
The publication cited a number of former division staff who say they witnessed what gave the impression to be inappropriate conduct between Brown and Erin, together with Erin sitting on his lap.
Erin additionally advised TRR that whereas she was watching the home, she discovered a letter for Brown and his spouse, Nancy, during which he admitted to having an inappropriate relationship with a married lady.
“The letter principally said that that they had a speaking relationship and the way they’d dream of getting sexual relations with one another and what they wish to do collectively, how she needed to wrap her legs round him, how he performed into it.” Erin mentioned.
Nevertheless, in his response to CP on Monday, Brown denied ever committing adultery, however mentioned he had beforehand confessed to the affair and believed the matter could be resolved.
“I can categorically state that in 53 years within the Lord and over 50 years with Nancy, I’ve by no means dedicated adultery or been sexually intimate with one other lady, nor does she declare to be. But I have to ask with all humility and humbleness.” within the concern of the Lord if an article on the Royce report is one of the best ways to take care of these accusations and allegations,” Brown mentioned. “Does it glorify the Lord, construct up the Physique, carry therapeutic and restoration, or advance the reason for reality?”
Regardless of Brown's denials, two weeks in the past the Hearth Safety Board reportedly employed the legislation agency Mitchell, Stein, Carey and Chapman to conduct a third-party investigation, the outcomes of which will likely be launched when accomplished.
Erin mentioned the expertise she had with Brown made it troublesome for her to belief ministry leaders. Brown insists he was unaware his conduct had affected her as reported and is keen to work to make amends so therapeutic can happen.
“The very fact is that my conduct in direction of her was definitely silly and irresponsible – however neither sexual nor amorous no manner – and my high precedence, like Nancy's, is to have a chance to come back collectively in an setting that’s acceptable to her and to carry therapeutic the place I can take full accountability for the issues that clearly damage her so deeply, the issues that I believed we addressed 23 years in the past,” Brown mentioned.
“Sadly, when Nancy and I discovered by Royce's message that there was an offense on this lady's coronary heart in opposition to me, we weren’t allowed to observe Jesus' command in Matthew 5:23-26, however had been solely given the chance to supply a response to the article, which will likely be printed on-line, what occurred to the biblical course of? he requested.
“That being mentioned, whether it is true that she has carried this ache for 23 years and I’m accountable for it, I’m ashamed and would beg for forgiveness and a chance to result in therapeutic and restoration. Her well-being stays our precedence.”
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