As I write this, three news stories are swirling, two in the national news, and one with more regional interest:
(3) News of the firing of James MacDonald, pastor of Harvest Fellowship, an influential megachurch in the Chicago area. (Note: by all
accounts, the issues surrounding MacDonald's firing were not relating to sexual immorality or sexual abuse.)
Sexual Abuse -- Catholic and Protestant
The first two stories outline a terrible legacy of leaders who preyed on others in their churches rather than helped them, engaging in destructive, immoral, and in many instances criminal behavior. But what is especially damning to the credibility of the church is how such behavior was tolerated and covered up ... how victims were silenced instead of helped, and how perpetrators were protected and enabled. This was often done out of a desire to "protect the church"
-- its reputation and well-being. The well-being of individuals was sacrificed in order to safeguard the organization so that it could help the masses.
You can argue whether or not that kind of equation makes sense in any context; but it's clearly immoral when it causes people to lie and cover up for individuals, or when others are put in harm's by the silence or inaction of officials. Always remember this: it's not our job to build or protect the church ... it's our job to be faithful and honest. It's Christ's church ... it's his to build and protect. Our loyalty is to Him and to one another. This entity
called "the church" is not ours.
I'm proud of the denomination I'm a part of -- the Christian Reformed Church of North America -- for many reasons, but especially for its efforts in the area of guarding the church from leadership abuses. Long before #MeToo, or the Catholic church abuse story broke, we've had an initiative in our denomination to help congregations raise awareness of abuse in various forms, set in place policies for prevention, and systems for response. In fact, these efforts began
when a study committee was formed in 1989 to address abuse in the church, and make recommendations for how to prevent it from happening, and address it when it does. This led to the formation of an organization and initiative called "Safe Church Ministry," which equips each congregation with resources to address these issues.
In the last church I was in (Loop Church in Chicago, IL), we worked on an updating our Safe Church policy, an effort that continues today, with their new pastor. And now the church I just started with (Bethel Church in Princeton, MN) is also updating their Safe Church policy as well. So I'm thinking about these things a lot.
What has emerged in the aftermath of #MeToo -- at least as I see it in the Safe Church initiatives in our denomination -- is an increased sensitivity to the dynamics of power imbalances in relationships, and a less toleration of the abuse of power in church leadership.
Addressing the Abuse of Power
This brings me to the third story I mentioned, the Harvest Bible Chapel situation. This story is not about sexual abuse, but rather the abuse of power and position. Much like the firing of Mark Driscoll from Mars Hill Church several years ago, the
story seems to be that of highly charismatic leader who creates a toxic, authoritarian environment around him.
This is a big problem in big churches: how to deal with big ego of leaders in these contexts. Mega-churches encourage, if not require, a leader with an over-sized ego -- big personality, highly driven, and a charismatic, dramatic orator (in other words, a good actor). I heard one pastor say that the inevitable result of the American mega-church system is to create leaders running on the edge of burnout, fueled by narcissism and
grandiosity.
I know quite a few large church pastors. Along with having a number of them as friends and colleagues, I've worked with many as a leadership coach and sometimes in my capacity as a recovery counselor. Many are godly, humble, and emotionally healthy ... but those that are have to work really hard to stay that way.
The system they are in encourages them to be busy and driven rather than to take the time to develop and maintain a rich inner life. It encourages them to be narcissistic and grandiose rather than humble. It creates an atmosphere like a carnival house of mirrors, where you are surrounded by distorted projections of yourself from the people around you (fans and critics alike).
When you add to this mix the dangerous lack of accountability and emotional isolation that many of these leaders live with, it's amazing that there are as many healthy leaders as there are.
To be clear, these same dynamics and temptations are there in some small and medium sized churches, but it's not nearly as common or as strong as it is in mega-churches.
What can be done?
Fixing these problems is not complicated, but it's not easy either. But it's vitally important that we do it. The credibility of the church is a real issue. Here are my thoughts:
1. Congregations need to be more aware of the temptations and challenges that their leaders face. I suppose that the news coverage of these abuse cases is helping to do that.
2. Church leaders, regardless of the size of their churches, need training about the dynamics of power in their relationships with people in the church. The dangers of spiritual manipulation and abuse are very real!
3. Churches need systems for oversight and support of their leaders, as well as systems for dealing with abuse allegations. (ie. some form of safe church ministry).
4. In lieu of a formal structure of accountability to a spiritual mentor or director, church leaders need to put these kinds of relationships in place for themselves. Who are you able to be honest with? Who is able to be honest with you?
5. Pastors alike need to be way more interested in cultivating the virtue of humility ... and for this to happen, churches need to be way more aware of its importance, and find ways of highlighting and rewarding it.
The more I study spiritual leadership, the more convinced I am of the essential nature of humility as a virtue for spiritual leadership. Unless and until we understand this, we will keep encouraging and rewarding ego-driven leadership, and will keep reaping the results.
