Last night, ABC News’ 20/20 show was devoted to a sexual abuse scandal in an Independent Fundamental Baptist (IFB) Church. You can watch the full episode here, or the print version can be found here.
I learned of the airing of this show from a news item posted over at Sharper Iron, where there has been quite the discussion of this. I’ve shared some thoughts there and thought I should bring this to the attention of my blog audience. I also read Bob Bixby’s helpful thoughts prior to the airing of the show. I think he was spot on, all around.
Now as for the show, several questions I had from the back and forth that I was reading beforehand were answered. The specific details, as terrible as they are, seem much clearer. I know what the accusations are, but do I think they’re true?
Well, I should let you see Pastor Chuck Phelp’s side of things here. This site including disclosures and a statement by the victim’s mother was put up right as 20/20 aired. It wasn’t available previously.
To back up a bit, Tina Anderson was a girl attending an IFB church and private school in New Hampshire. She was molested by her father when she was young, which is a documented fact. Then a 38 year old man in her church raped her twice, while she was only 15. After confiding in her pastor, she was counseled that she should have “called out” like the victim in the Pentateuch was supposed to. If she was living in OT times she would have been stoned, the pastor told her. She did say no, and resisted but in some way the pastor thought she had sinned. She was encouraged to write a letter confessing her sin and her pregnancy to her church; and as someone under the spiritual control of her pastor and in a system where her whole life was wrapped up in the church going to the school and church for every function, she complied. Then at a business meeting, a matter of discipline was brought to the church. First, the perpetrator stood and confessed to adultery. Then on a separate matter, at least that’s how three witnesses who appeared on camera said it was described, the pastor then read the letter written by Tina, the victim, as she stood in front of the church sobbing. There wasn’t any admission that the adulterer’s companion was actually this minor.
Later she’s whisked away to Colorado to another IFB church and home where she brings her pregnancy to term and puts the baby up for adoption. When she returns to the church, she is not allowed back in to the school as she’d be a bad influence. She thought she was in some way responsible for the crime done to her and still went along with everything in her desire to be right with God. After all, IFB churches were all she really knew. Meanwhile, the man who did the crime continued on as a member in good standing at the church.
The pastor has evidence that he called the cops, but they never pursued the matter. And the pastor, Chuck Phelps, now has moved to another church. It was 13 years ago or so, when these events happened, with Tina only recently having the courage to press charges. Pastor Phelps now admits he made mistakes in handling the matter, but he claims this was a consensual dating relationship that turned sexual. Yes, he believes that even though the other party was 38 and Tina was only 15 (with a history of abuse done to her)! I hardly understand how he could seriously think this way.
Anyway, you’ll have to watch the 20/20 episode and read Pastor Phelps’ statements yourself. I can’t claim to know that Tina is not lying, but her story does have a ring of truth to me. Having been in some strict IFB churches, and seeing a high level of control over every aspect of your life, I can imagine many of the points shared to be true (and also how the church would spin it positively). Pastor Bob Bixby feels the same way and discusses the groupthink mentality quite well in his initial reflections on the 20/20 episode.
The report additionally provides audio excerpts of IFB pastors offering chilling advice on spanking and discipline. Jack Schaap of First Baptist Church of Hammond, IN and Hyles-Anderson College is the only pastor who really gets face time. Three separate times they show him saying demeaning things about women and what have you, but they do not name him. They don’t name anyone but they do imply that the IFB movement is akin to a separate Church, like the Mormon Church or the Catholic Church, etc. But I can’t really blame them for not knowing all the ins and outs of how IFB churches associate and don’t associate with each other.
The current pastor at the church in New Hampshire did a great job in dealing with the 20/20 interview. He put us at ease that the environment that allowed this to happen to Tina has changed for the better, and shows a considerate and compassionate side of the IFB movement.
Jocelyn Zichterman and her IFB Cult Survivor Facebook group also get a lot of air time. While for some, Jocelyn’s ministry can be helpful, I think she often groups all IFB churches together as culpable for the crimes of a few. I have long opposed IFB abuse, but I take pains not to broadbrush the entire movement. I don’t advise that leaving an IFB church is the single answer for everyone struggling with the shortcomings of fundamentalism.
The word “cult” has various connotations, it applies to controlling groups that exert pressure to conform to their rules and practices, but it’s also used specifically of groups that teach unorthodox doctrine. While some IFB churches (and even groups of churches) might deserve the definition “cult” in the first (and even second) sense, there isn’t enough of a structure and similarity between the thousands of widely different IFB churches for all of them to be operating in unison.
While all IFB churches aren’t abusing and covering up abuse, they do nevertheless share a propensity for it. The preacher as “man of God” teaching, the emphasis on authority and control, the lack of openness by church leaders, often no accountability for senior pastors, no denominational checks and balances, a persecution mindset and remnant mentality, a tendency toward externals and legalism, emphasis on corporeal punishment — all this can combine to make IFB churches in general susceptible to such abuse. IFB churches need to admit this and work to safeguard their churches from the horrific evils of physical and sexual abuse. I know many of them do, but more can be done to take a stand against this widespread problem. Sadly, the case in New Hampshire is but the tip of the iceberg.
Let me be clear. Many good IFB churches exist where abuse of any kind is unthinkable. Many don’t have any of the problems I listed above (although they share a history and culture where these tendencies do exist). Several are among the best churches one can find and I recommend them. But it’s high time the wackos and crazies that call themselves fundamentalists get ejected from the IFB movement. Separation from excess and abuse on the right is as important as separation from compromise and error on the left.
Alright then, let’s go ahead and discuss this issue in the comment section here. More can and probably should be said about this. We can only speculate about the outcome of this particular case, until the judge has his say, however. But often it is events like this that raise questions and start people thinking again, which is always a good thing.
Well said, Bob! This is not an occasion to “circle the wagons” but to expose and expel the evil within our movement. These problems are not in any definition “fundamental” and should be ceased immediately! I am happy that I am a part of a truly fundamental baptist church. Any inclination to try to protect these pastors only proves your statements above about unquestioned authority. Purification of the church, while painful, is necessary.
Good work, Bob. It is an issue that needs to be truly faced, and will be by the honest and more moderate in the IFB movement. The extremist churches that are engaging in cover-up will not for the most part. Like the Word of Faith ministries, they’ll circle the wagons and see it as persecution. But focusing on them is necessary, if it won’t bring the leaders to repentance, it’ll at least encourage some of their followers to flee such environments.
I recall, in my short enrollment at BBC in Springfield, MO a prison minister in a chapel service shared statistics that showed that fundamentalism has the highest rate of child abuse. This is a problem the whole movement knows about, but unfortunately is so autonomous and independent that they won’t get on the same page to ensure the tendency on the part of some will be crowded out by those who are against this sin.
Even among those who never get accused of abusing or covering up abuse, some pastors of a more macho personality, can sometimes glamorize corporeal punishment (even if unintentionally) by their humorous reminiscing about how their daddy used to tan their backside, to nostalgic laughter from the congregation. I can confess that I have allowed such a culture to make me less than diligent to reign in my own anger in disciplining some of my children in the past and it has in no way borne anything like good fruit in their lives. Disciplining in love must be better promoted among some of the more strident in IFB churches. This is an area of weakness in the movement of which I’ve been painfully aware for years. It was also among the reasons I decided to get away from the movement altogether. I’m convinced the personality projected from the pulpit informs, to greater and lesser degrees, the way the Christian in the pulpit lives his Christian life. For some, the answer is to seek ministries where the Word of God is delivered thoroughly and earnestly without glamorizing anger and other ungodly attitudes.
Well said Bob. Your thoughts on this have been some of the best I have read. Thanks.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this Josh and John. John I hear ya on the discipline part. The other point you mentioned is so true. What’s projected from the pulpit educates as much as the substance of the teaching. I’ve heard of many who take what “Preacher” says way too far and apply it inappropriately. But with the wild and fiery preaching style that is typical of IFB churches, how’s a typical follower to know that he’s taking something too far, after he was fired up to do it?
Most may never get a clue, but those listening to others inside and outside their tradition should. That’s why people can’t be silent about it.
I think the IFB movement could benefit from 2 things greatly.
1. A return to expository preaching. If done right this would limit greatly the foolishness that I heard from IFB pulpits on Fri night. Feed my sheep is still the mandate for shepherds. In my view topical preaching is killing the movement.
2. A serious look at multiple elders who provide accountability and guidance.
Totally agree on both counts.
All IFB churches may not have sexual abusers, but ALL are emotional/spiritual/psychological abusers, especially as kids. I speak from 25 years of experience, as do thousands on this support group:
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1303929509#!/group.php?gid=35429320847
Wow – ALL – really! Considering I grew up in an “IFB” church and was not abused in any way, it seems you are wrong.
I concur, Dave. I said so in my post already, though. It seems like a widespread propensity and problem, but it’s not that extreme. Spiritual abuse does widen the scope more than my post, and that is a problem, but defining that can be in the eye of the beholder. I’d agree that’s a rampant issue but there really are varieties aplenty in the IFB movement. Several strands, and not all are a type A controlling kind.
Bob,
Like you said, until we know the judges final verdict, we will not know the outcome. But, I think the issue we have overall with this whole thing is that there are a lot of untied loose ends, and a lot of “he said she said.” I do not want to minimize at all what was done to Tina, and my heart breaks that it wasn’t handled better because I’m a biblical counseling major and my heart is sensitive to those types of issues.
But here is the confusing part. At least 1, if not 2 of the 3 church people interviewed had children expelled from the school or they themselves were disciplined from the church according to current members that I know from school, so I can understand how they might want to spread hate about that church. Also, the people I know from that church said that after the 1st time Tina was raped in the car, she willing let him into the house when she was home alone, thus being raped a second time. Then supposedly there was a 3rd time. This time supposedly Tina lied to her mother, and her and Mr. Willis went out alone to a nice upscale restaurant for her 16th birthday. According to those church people, there was a hotel attached to the restaurant where she was supposedly raped a 3rd time. But, the thing that doesn’t change is that this man broke the law in raping this girl, whether or not it was consensual as many say. She was underaged period. No getting around that.
So in my mind there are a lot of details that we really don’t know, or may never know the truth to. That being said, I think the situation could have been handled better on a counseling level. I pray that because of this, more churches everywhere, whether IFB, Evangelical, Southern Baptist etc, will see the need to better handle situations like this and the importance of carefully handling the Truth of God’s Word in reaching out to those who suffer from sexual abuse, and the importance of seeing offenders brought to justice.
Thanks for sharing, Ben. Lots of questions…. But the main points are clear.
As a counseling major, shouldn’t you know that victims of these types of crimes rarely — if ever! — act rationally when they are confronted by the perpetrator?
Even if all of this is true, the fact that victims act irrationally after being victimized is also true and doesn’t necessary have any impact on the truthfulness of her claims.
brgulker – I completely agree with you, and I guess I should have stressed what you said. I am in no way agreeing with the details that people from that church are saying because in most cases it is not first hand knowledge. A lot of times it is so and so told me from so and so. My goal was only to point out what IFB people from that side are saying and to stress how there are so many unknown details. But like I said and Bob said, the main points are clear, and no matter what details people have it doesn’t chance that she was a minor and is suffering pain from this. Again, I agree that victims do not act rationally in those situations. Sorry for the confusion. And thanks for pointing that out since I didn’t make that distinction.
Good points Bob. As a believer who grew up in an IFBA(michigan) church, I would like to add how the 20/20 investigation hit home in numerous ways. 1st, while there certainly are instances of sexual abuse (i.e. 3x at Marquette Manor indicates a severe problem in isolated areas), it is not typical of most IFB churches. However, the environment that is promoted by many IFB churches actually is one that would enable predators. Male domination, pastoral authoritarian leadership/dictatorship, inability to raise questions for fear that you will be labeled a rebel. IFB churches need to recognize these potential pitfalls – they are obvious to outsiders and even to many who grew up in the church. 2nd, while I liked the current pastor of the New Hampshire church and thought he was well balanced and had a heart of compassion, I was very disappointed that he vehemently denied that IFB churches are a network. IFB churchs band together extremely close and there are many examples: IFBAM, IFBA(anystate), IBFNA (which happens to be where Chuck Phelps is speaking in a month or so), American Association of Christian Schools, MACS (michigan), Bob Jones University, Northland Baptist Bible College, Maranatha Baptist Bible College). We need to call it what it really is – a deeply embedded network of like-minded churches. 3rd, IFB churches sometimes have a tendancy to go after the outward conformity rather than heart transformation. While this is really unfortunate, what makes it worse is that the conformity generally falls in line with only 1 man’s convictions (the pastor’s). Instead, let’s let the Holy Spirit lead convicting men of sin. And for the things that are not main nor plain in the Bible, let’s enjoy the churches diverse make-up!
Jon, excellent points! Spot on. Thanks for sharing.
Quite – spot on it is. My ex-wife was from an IFB background. I didn’t understand until well after we were married how far this sort of church is from what has historically been understood to be Christianity.
Did anyone record this episode Friday? I would like to get a copy of it as my mom only caught the last 15 minutes of it. Thanks.
I bet you can purchase it through ABC News. I give the link in the post to where you can watch it for free online. But they only keep past episodes up for so long (and you need high speed). I’m sure you could contact them via the show’s website: http://abcnews.com/2020 for details on purchasing a video copy.
Bob Hayton
Jeff,
The video is available to watch for free at: http://www.hulu.com/watch/231215/abc-2020-fri-apr-8-2011
Maybe, at the very least, this will bring unity and purity to the IFB churches. It is high time we stop fighting amongst ourselves, and embrace what we say we believe. Truth in Love!
Amen!
I like your comment that we shouldn’t leave the IFB because of some perceived “wrongdong” on our pastor’s part. I feel sorry for the young lady involved in this story for the perceived misconduct that she endured. But I don’t think that’s close to as bad as leaving a good church and exposing yourself to false doctrine and new evangelicalism. Did you see this so-called “church” that this young lady has now drifted to? They had a rock band and obviously are liberal! They obviously have no problems with Steve Green or Sandy “Fatty” and would actually endorse those kind of musicians. The biggest problem I see is the rebellion of the people who don’t want standards and want to go liberal churches.
Finding a good church is important, and music is important. But styles of music is not that important in my analysis.
I’m sorry–this may be a misunderstanding on my part–but did you just say that a church that uses rock music is a greater evil than a church that covers up sexual abuse of minors? If so, I do believe you represent the part of the IFB movement with which I disagree. The part that gets something stuck in their craw (rock music, with which, by the way, I also disagree) and then uses that issue at the “root of all evils.” I honestly can’t think of a worse thing to happen in church than for there to be a rape of a minor and a subsequent cover-up. Very ungodly stuff. Not that I am saying that is what happened here, but I am just following your use of it as an example.
[...] a few more thoughts about the 20/20 report on Independent Fundamental Baptist Churches. These may be random, but I thought I’d push this [...]
Bob, I respect your opinion and don’t mean to be unkind, but the fact of the matter is that you are way, way, way off base. Music, amongst other things, is very important. If you would have watched the show you would have seen that at the so-called “church” that this young lady now attends they have a rock band playing right up on the platform. That is worse than any so-called abuse that may have occurred at her solid, fundamentalist, separated church that she went to before. I’m beginning to doubt her story and of others like her because I think they just don’t like to have solid music standards, dress standards and other separated positions and are just using some flimsy excuse to go into a liberal, non-separated, compromising “church.”
Thinking like yours is the reason a lot of people refuse to become Christians.
I’m calling Poe’s law on this one. I think this is very clever satire.
Might be Darrell… Hope so. Jack hasn’t responded again, so maybe.
Jack – Forgive me but you really need to wake up and smell the coffee. So let me get this straight, Tina’s church was solid, fundamental, seperated church! All I can say is WOW! To permit child abusers to work with children, who then rape said children, then Pastor comes along and neatly sweeps the whole thing under the rug and sends Tina out of state where she can’t be around to be interviewed by the police, quite a “solid” church.
Having music in the church that Jack disagrees with is worse than Tina’s abuse! Hope your kidding, but if you are, why? Jack I must have missed the part in the bible that said Jack was going to be the director of music here on Earth while he was gone.
Your standards are just that your standards, that’s what is wrong with the IFB, many un-educated pastors spouting off their pet standards and thinking others are supposed to have those same standards.
When someone places a higher value on standards and seperation than on a deep, intimate personal relationship with God, then that becomes a worldly philosphy.
Bob – You have been so “fair” over this issue, I would have let alittle more fire fly.
The main problem, as I see it, and someone upthread commented on it, there is no accountability for the IFB Pastor, he is king over all his domain, and no one can tell him or suggest anything to him, and most of us humans just don’t do to well with that type of authority. The board of elders would probably be a very good idea, and that seems to be the best solution at hand, and I’m not speaking of a group of “yes” men deacons, which is almost always what you see in IFB churches. They (deacons) have been taught by the MOG (man of God) himself not to question his authority.
I would suggest this to anyone who is a member of an IFB or considering joining an IFB, see if the pastor is trying to make everyone adhere to one translation (KJV) only, if he is, then I would pass by that church and try another. I believe this is where the mind control, brainwashing manipulation begins.
Bob,
I thought about your suggestion that the more extreme elements in the IFB be dealt with and expelled. This does sound good, but it couldn’t work. Because these churches are independent, as they should be, no one can hold them accountable for their practices. Any nutcase can take the IFB name and do as he wishes. The IFB label has been tarnished beyond repair, also there are too many dictator pastors in the movement with no oversight or accountability. I would suggest that good doctrinally sound IFB churches drop their IFB label. I think it is the responsibility of good churches to distinguish themselves from IFB churches who have corrupted the IFB label. Even outsiders and the media are pointing the finger and bringing the churches sins to light. This is a huge problem, for conservative evangelical churches to be exposed like this by the world. The IFB has all but lost its right to stand up and condemn sin in the culture. And no one can tell the good ones from the bad ones because they all share the same name.
The issue of returning to a biblical form of eldership in the local church keeps showing up in this thread. This is definitely a must: IFB pastors reading this should seriously consider reading Elders in Congregational Life, by Phil Newton. This author was interviewed last week by Scott Oakland on the ReformedCast but his website hasn’t yet been updated with that program. It’s worth listening to on this topic.
http://www.alliancenet.org/CC/article/0,,PTID314526_CHID598026_CIID2112604,00.html
http://www.alwaysreforming.org/
I wanted to write a short thought on the bigotry of IFB Cult Survivors. I understand that bigotry may seem like a harsh word, but I believe that it is fitting. We find ourselves living in a society of blame. Our coffee is at fault for burning us. Our children have disorders, not discipline issues. Everything that used to be called sin is now either a disease or a disorder. There are support groups for all these ills and the latest one is enough to make your stomach turn.
The IFB Cult Survivors, started and led by Jocelyn Zichterman, is a Facebook group spewing hatred for everything IFB (Independent Fundamental Baptist.) The act of attributing blame and punishment on an entire group of people because of the actions of a few is bigotry at its highest form. It is as bad as racism. Much of the ill will that people have toward people of differing races is over some bad experience, real or imagined, that they or someone else had with a particular member of that race. Is it then fair to lump an entire race of people together as bad apples? I think not. We would call that bigotry. In the same way, it is unfair to label an entire sect of Christianity in this way.
While these people have alleged grievances with people from our movement, they are only that: PEOPLE from our movement. In every case that I am aware of, the accused is a middle-aged white man. Should I then assume that all middle-aged white men are rapists and molesters? Often on the news, I see that a robbery suspect is a young black man. Should I deduce that all young black men are robbers? Where does it end? Christianity is the only unprotected group in America. We cannot say anything negative about homosexuality or feminism. We are much to sensitive for such atrocities.
1 Peter 4:12-13
 12Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
 13But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
Last summer, my family was victim to the poor driving of an elderly couple from Texas. Will you join me in calling for a revocation of driver’s licenses for all citizens of Texas? Seems stupid when you see it for what it is…huh?
Josh,
I think you have a point in there somewhere, but I think you’re gravely mistaken to call the victim of rape a bigot. Honestly, I think that’s missing the point entirely.
Let me ask you this — if the IFB and/or the local congregation had handled her situation better, do you think she would be filled with hate as she seems to be now?
Perhaps I wasn’t as clear as I should have been. I am not calling Tina Anderson a bigot. I am calling anyone who paints blame and guilt with such a broad stroke, covering both guilty and innocent alike, a bigot. I do not miss the point that evil, heinous evil exists in the IFB movement. May God judge swiftly and severely these predators! But the IFB is just that; a movement. If there is any blame to be had it is with that particular INDEPENDENT pastor and INDEPENDENT church. You talk of the IFB as if there is a headquarters and a CEO. There isn’t. Is my church in VA Beach responsible for the folly of men in New Hampshire? I am not condoning these acts, rather I am condemning them and saying that I do not want to be lumped in with such behavior. I think I made it clear what bigotry is. Do you not agree with me at least in that definition?
Josh, I think that’s fair to a certain point, but I think Darrell’s point has a lot of merit as well. I agree that you can’t write off the entire movement as a cult. You’re right to point out that individual churches and pastors ought to bear the weight for their own actions, not those of others.
But I also think Darrell is right to point out that it’s fair to hold formal organizations/institutions accountable for their contribution the culture that breeds/facilitates these types of situations.
[...] abuse of children by churches who turn on the pastor’s victims rather than the pastor. Well, here’s a guy who says that’s better than going to one of them liberal [...]
There are colleges. And those _do_ have a CEO.
There are associations and those have chairmen (of which Chuck Phelps is one).
These types of responses to abuse don’t just spring into the mind of a pastor fully formed and independent of everything else in the world. They are the product of a line of thinking. A philosophy and worldview that are propagated by educators and thought leaders within the movement.
There are too many stories with the _exact same_ elements in them to be coincidence.
The idea of independence is that the local assembly or church doesn’t answer to the university president or the chairmen of any board or association. They are all individual, self-governing bodies. Are you not familiar with how an IFB church works? I am not trying to sound condescending, I am just asking if you are viewing this from the outside looking in… None of the victims (that I know of) were victimized by colleges or associations, rather by individuals often related to them, in their respective independent autonomous churches. This is the very definition of independence. There is not an IFB-wide policy on anything, especially harboring sexual predators. You are looking for something that doesn’t exist.
I went to an IFB college that I will keep nameless. I enjoyed my time there and made some life-long friends there. However, while in college I noticed some inconsitencies both at the college and at my home church. I didn’t say anything about it but continued to let God lead in my heart.
Long story short is that I found being an IFB to be claustrophobic. How can you say that a certain style of worship pleases God and another does not? I feel that IFB church’s spend to much time preaching and teaching on standards then evangelizing the loss. These are the things that I came to understand as I closed out my time in college.
All that being said I am now a member of a Southern Baptist Church and have found them to be much more balanced and teaching the actual Bible, not opinions.
Assuming that it is fair to hold certain organizations/associations accountable for their part, who? And, how do you quantify there part in a culture? Give me an example of an organization/association, their part, and what you feel is a suitable holding of accountability.
Young preachers at many fundamentalist colleges are taught by example (and in some explicitly by words) that being a “man of God” means being the absolute and total leader of a church who is not to be questioned only obeyed.
When a pastor leaves that, establishes no accountability for himself in his church, and then proceeds to abuse others, then I would say that those who taught and demonstrated that philosophy both to him and to his congregation bear some of the blame in allowing that man to rampage unchecked.
Each of us makes choices but those who enable abusers are not themselves innocent. And many fundamentalist institutions teach many such terrible lessons, some explicit, others only by example but they teach them none the less.
Still looking for specific answers.
Josh,
I’ll be posting my response to you as another blog post on this subject.
Here: http://www.fundamentallyreformed.com/2011/04/12/2020-ifb-take-3/
Thanks,
Bob
I do not believe I saw one woman voice her thoughts on this matter. So I will be the first. I grew up in and IFB church and went to an IFB college. Actually the one mentioned in this piece. I recently left my IFB church after 30 years. And it has opened my eyes to so many things. I always felt there was a double standard in most of these churches. Women do this and that, but where was the preaching to the men? I have seen way too many men leave their wives for other women, not because they are too fat or have eaten too many donuts, but because the men were not taught “proper christian leadership” in the home. While growing up I saw more women being the spiritual leaders in their home. Stop with the standards and preferences. Let’s get back to the main thing in our churches. It’s about each and everyone of us having a personal relationship with Christ. If we are seeking the Lord at church, or at home, then the other things should fall into place.
Amen, sister. Happy for you. Thanks for sharing.
“Baptist pastors react to 20/20 story calling them cults”
http://www.greeleygazette.com/press/?p=9122#printpreview
I grew up in an IFB church and I am a survivor of sexual abuse. I was molested by the pastor. We are taught, directly and indirectly, that women must submit to a man and that the pastor’s are God’s anointed and what they say is the (more or less) directly from God.
I know that not all IFB churches are bad and not all pastors are evil and not every male in an IFB church is a sexual predator. Because I am a survivor, this subject is very dear to my heart. The stats are staggering – 1 in 3 girls is sexually abused (in one way or another) by the time she’s 18. It’s 1 in 6 for boys. Abuse happens in all churches and it happens outside the church.
I believe some IFB churches breed sexual abusers. The man is seen as the ultimate authority. Women and children have no voice and are to do what they are told.
I have many IFB friends and while many of them are sad for Tina and what happened to her, its seems as though they are only interested in defending THEIR church. “We’re not like that” seems to be the mantra I’m hearing. Some distinct separation (as been stated already) needs to occur. If you don’t want to associate with people like Jack Schaap (and others) somehow separate yourselves. Most IFB preachers are educated at the same places. They attend conferences together. An IFB church may be independent, under no ruling authority, but they are completely intermixed. I can go to many IFB churches around the country and people know former pastors I’ve had and there is someone in the congregation who knows someone I do.
It just breaks my heart that no one in an IFB church seems to be standing up and saying, let’s take a real hard look at what is going on. f
Kathy,
Your story is sad. Thank God for his grace in your life, preserving you. Thanks for sharing your perspective. Perhaps the time has come to not so quickly self identify as IFB. What can be done will vary, but pastors should speak out against this event now that this story is so big….
Another thing, Kathy, and this would not have helped you, as most churches in most denominations teach that the pastor is a spiritual authority over his people, but the Bible is very clear about the area of women submitting to men. Our Sunday school class has covered this several times this year and I always hear from women who are seeing it for the *first* time. The KJV clearly says in at least four places (all the places where women are told to submit) that it is to “their *own* husbands” (emphasis mine). We have a lot going on at our church (a school, college, etc.) and we do get the occasional man who has been wrongly taught that *all* women are to submit to him. We are learning ways to politely disengage in such situations. After all, we *all* need to learn and it is a lifelong process. In this particular case, I believe there is a direct correlation between, say, asking another woman to get you a cup of coffee at a church social when your wife is standing right there, and the larger issue of believing that women were created as inferior vessels to be thoughtlessly used by men.
A few of us have been conversing about whether or not IFB churches as a whole share the responsibility of what’s happened in stories like this one.
In my view, this would be a unifying doctrinal error that all IFB churches share to some extent, and without question, this is one of the reason abuse happens. Insofar as any particular congregation perpetuates this type of sexism, it shares the blame, IMHO.
Two issues are the over-riding factors in our response as ministers of God’s Word that would allievate most of this. First we must be “Wise as serpants, but harmless as doves”—-And we must as a foundation of our approach must be a gracious humility as a blood washed sinner than a spirit of “bless God” we are the only “right” ones that will enter heaven that has the “only” Bible, the “only” doctrine, the “only” discipline system, the “only”….the “only”…the “only”….. And men..listen to your wives! They have a wisdom beyond our understandings and be a wonderful source of ministry as they are included in your “team”.
Whether it’s an IFB church, Southern Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian…whatever…the fact is, the church needs to open it’s eyes and confront the issue of sexual abuse. 1 in 3 girls. The next time you’re out at the mall or in a crowded place, start counting out every third girl. Abuse is rampant. As a survivor, and as I have shared my story, I am constantly having people come to me and say, “that happened to me too.”
Jesus said that if anyone does anything to harm children, it would better that a millstone would be hung around his neck. Jesus loves children. Satan wants to get to our children. Sexual abuse destroys children and some never recover. Some are scarred for life and others live with the shame their entire life. And some, have been able to enjoy the freedom from being released from the shame.
If the IFB or any other church thought this was just a Catholic issue, this story should open people’s eyes.
If the IFB church thinks this is a smear campaign, of course Satan is the architect, then they need to read the passage of Joseph being reunited with his brothers. HIs brothers meant it for evil, but God meant it for good. Something needs to change in the IFB. Something needs to change overall in churches who think that abuse does not happen in their churches or to their congregation. THey can take this and turn it into good, if they can just get their eyes off their own individual church and stop saying “don’t lump us into that category!”
Other women (and men) are going to find strength in Tina’s story and I know more and more stories will come out. What will the church do? Blame other churches? Other pastors?
To the dear victim of child sexual abuse–I send my love in Christ and thanks to Him for the healing you have experienced. Not only are we talking about one in every 3-5 girls, but also one in every 6-10 boys. And, since the overall rate of gay males is right around 2% of the male population, those are some men who are very active when they get started with molestation (not saying all gays molest, you know, but someone is doing it!).
Statistics aside, every molested child is a child whom Christ loves and for whom He died. There is never an excuse for keeping such a secret in the Body of Christ.
Our church is very open with church discipline proceedings and with removing people (adults) from ministry when they have compromised themselves. I don’t know of any molestation within our church, but statistically it must have happened at some point. On the other hand, isn’t the point of 20/20 the cover-up of such a situation by church leadership? I mean, if the Pastor doesn’t find out such a situation exists in a private home, he and the church are not on the hook for that situation, right? I do agree that when a Pastor gets a report, even from a child who seems mixed up, he must act as a mandatory reporter and call the authorities. There is no place for someone deciding that the child is a liar or confused and gaffing the situation off. It is up to the authorities to decide on that. Thankfully, my church sees it that way, too. I am sorry for the people in churches that don’t behave proactively when they receive such information. And I agree that that happens in every denomination. People like to bury their heads in the sand.
[...] ABC News’ 20/20 Show Lampoons Independent Fundamental Baptists [...]
[...] departure from the IFB movement as a whole. I wonder how much of this is in part due to the recent 20/20 expose on the IFB movement? Perhaps other pastors and churches need to think through this issue themselves. Understandably, [...]
[...] Bob Hayton, also a former IFB pastor, shares the same view of Bob Bixby from Hayton’s Fundamentally Reformed: While all IFB churches aren’t abusing and covering up abuse, they do nevertheless share a propensity for it. The preacher as “man of God†teaching, the emphasis on authority and control, the lack of openness by church leaders, often no accountability for senior pastors, no denominational checks and balances, a persecution mindset and remnant mentality, a tendency toward externals and legalism, emphasis on corporeal punishment — all this can combine to make IFB churches in general susceptible to such abuse. IFB churches need to admit this and work to safeguard their churches from the horrific evils of physical and sexual abuse. I know many of them do, but more can be done to take a stand against this widespread problem. Sadly, the case in New Hampshire is but the tip of the iceberg. [...]
[...] Chuck Phelps’ case, he filed a report, but allowed the victim to flee the state while the police sought her in vain. [...]
It should be noted that most any reference on Chuck Phelps page that the Willis / Anderson relationship began as a consensual dating relationship have been removed. The only statement that remains refers to the relationship being established by Mr Willis. It seems, that in the wake of pressure, scrutiny, and exposure, stories (at least publicly presented) change. In this electronic day and age, you cant help, but leave electronic evidence. If there is anything men of accountability in the IFB are lacking, its an awareness of how far things spread on the internet and how easily they can be held accountable.
I know I’m way late on this topic, but I’m going to comment anyway because I think a couple things need to be stated and no one else seems to be willing to do so. I’m not privy to any special details. I’m just stating what I see as missing from this conversation on this page.
First off, the man in this situation committed a crime. He should have suffered a legal consequence. As far as I can tell, the pastor turned him in to authorities as he should have done and submitted him to the only church punishment available. I wouldn’t expect him to do more than that. Assuming the man repented of his actions and lives accordingly afterward, the church should not expel him. They should certainly be wary of his tendencies though (i.e. not let him work with teens, etc ). If he did not repent of his sins, then they can and should separate from him. That’s my understanding of Biblical church discipline which I admit might be lacking. The law should have done more. I don’t fault the church.
Now… I guess I’m going to come off very politically incorrect here, but I think a lot of people are taking issue with the fact that the pastor submitted the girl to church discipline as well. Apparently she shouldn’t have had to suffer that because she was the victim (and she was) to begin with and this just added to her suffering. While I certainly feel for this girl because she fell into a trap, I do believe there are cases (maybe not this one – I don’t know) where the teenager is very much aware of what they are doing. When I was 15 there were girls – or at least one that I know of – in my class that sought out relationships with older men. She was not innocent in it all even though she was under-age and quite foolish. Church discipline would be appropriate and actually necessary in that circumstance. I wouldn’t have been surprised to see the girl I knew on that 20/20 episode lamenting the way her church mistreated her (I don’t know if she even had a church much less if they disciplined her), but from my personal memory of the situation I would have known better. If this was such a case, then I would not fault this pastor at all.
I’ve also witnessed a lot of stories come back from disgruntled ex-members not just of churches but of companies and any other kind of organization. Often they are technically true in word, but are framed in such a way to maximize the scandal.
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