Come along with me through a discussion of church characteristics and how pastors tend to operate under the threat of misconduct exposure. Let’s look at common techniques of leadership during the cover-up process. The news feeds carry several stories of churches with similar circumstances and outcomes. I examine four churches, two church organizations and one bi-national ministry to house and school minor children to see the stories behind events and the consequences of choices made by leaders when the allegations of abuse became public. Then I address whether the cover-up was successful, leading into the events that happened afterward. Were the leaders in these settings able to protect their personal ministry images by the way they reacted to their situations? The analysis wouldn’t be complete if I didn’t go one step further and give a biblical approach to abuse allegations. Hop on the research train with me and let’s see where the tracks take us.

 

Joy S. Taylor — Author