We (the victims and the lawyers) all knew about the statute issue at the outset.  But fighting for justice means doing so even against known obstacles.  We had a conspiracy theory to overcome the statute but the Court rejected it.  The victims are all brave and courageous people whose willingness to fight against evil has already made a difference in the world.  Also, please realize going forward with a civil lawsuit does not in any way prevent criminal actions – perhaps may even make it more likely.  And please keep praying, as we think the Court erred, and will be appealing her ruling. 

All the best,
Susan L. Burke

If you read the 2nd Amended Complaint you’ll notice the emphasis on the conspiracy by the Defendants being discovered by the Plaintiffs in August, 2011.  Susan Burke and Bill O’Neil hoped to overcome the statute of limitations using this legal argument.

These two lawyers took the case knowing it would be hard to argue successfully.  They invested a lot of their own resources for the good of justice, the cause of the Plaintiffs, and the prevention of sex abuse.  The same is true of the Defendants.  One told me, they planned to keep $1 in damages and put the rest into a non-profit Foundation to help the victims of abuse. 

The law “may” require the Judge to dismiss the case due to the statute of limitations.  If so, she did no wrong but that does NOT mean justice has been served.  It has been circumvented.  God is interested in justice.  Civil authorities often fall short in providing it.  Then again the appeal may be successful. 

This much I can tell you with certainty.  Going forward with the appeal “does not in any way prevent criminal actions – perhaps may even make it more likely.”  “Criminal actions.”  That means arresting people.  “More likely.”  That is an understatement by Ms. Burke.

The criminal investigations are going on behind the scenes.  Believe me when I say no one cited in the lawsuit is sleeping well at night.  There are numerous criminal charges under consideration from obstruction of justice to rape.  Plaintiffs are determined to press ahead.  They may never be remunerated but they are not going to let their abusers, abuse others.  The dismissal was excruciating but they are undeterred.  Pray for them.

Pray also for law enforcement officials, witnesses who provide testimony, and victims in other churches who are afraid to come forward.

It has been exactly seven months since the original complaint was filed.  I’ve been covering developments every step of the way and doing all I can to alert leaders in the Body of Christ so they can benefit and take the action needed to stop pedophiles and protect families in their churches, institutions, and ministries.  

I am constantly contacted for information.  I’ve put together this overview so people can have a comprehensive knowledge of all that has transpired over the past seven months.  It is a short book but one that needs reading.  I agree with radio talk show host, Janet Mefferd, when she says this is “America Evangelicalism’s biggest sex scandal to date.” 

The following is presented in chronological order.

The original Class Action Lawsuit was filed on Oct 17, 2012.  It named three plaintiffs and nine defendants.  The First Amended Lawsuit was filed on Jan 11, 2013.  It named eight plaintiffs and 14 defendants.  The Second Amended Lawsuit names 11 plaintiffs and the defendants remain at 14.  Some of the pseudonymous plaintiffs are now using their proper names. 

I will begin working on a post tomorrow.  The lawyers for SGM have been roundly dismissing the class action lawsuit for a lack of details.  No longer!  This amendment provides great detail.  All horrific.   

It is no wonder SGM and the other Defendants are doing all in their power to hide behind the First Amendment.  From my perspective, they are doomed if it goes before a jury.  I can’t imagine the Judge dismissing most of the complaints.  Most of the lawsuit will proceed.  Furthermore, a lot of people are now under criminal investigation.         

C.J. is one of the "high profile and charismatic leaders" that dominant "a symbiotic network."  He has "branded" himself with the help of other celebrities and "owns the copyright" to "gospel centered." These men are "answerable to nobody but themselves and with no transparent accountability."  From their positions of power "criticism [is] effectively stymied."  I agree with Trueman, "it is a "bleak and disturbing scenario."  There are many other outstanding points in this article.

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What if Life Was Complex?
ARTICLE BY CARL TRUEMAN  APRIL 2013 

This month, I thought I would use this column to indulge in a little thought experiment. What, I wonder, if the conservative evangelical church world came to be dominated by a symbiotic network of high profile and charismatic leaders (think more Weber than Wimber), media organizations, and big conferences? What if leadership, doctrine, and policy were no longer rooted in the primacy of biblical polity and the local church? What if, in other words, all of this became a function of an Evangelical Industrial Complex? 

It is an important question. It is probably a year or so since I raised the question of the impact of celebrity on evangelicalism. As I was told then, celebrity either does not exist in the evangelical subculture or is of no real importance there. Thus, I suspect the Evangelical Industrial Complex either does not exist or exerts no influence; but it is entertaining to imagine what would the signs be that it was a real issue (which, I am sure you will agree, it is not). 

One Sunday not long ago, I enjoyed a wonderful morning worshiping and hearing God’s word preached to God’s people.  I came home and after some personal Bible reading, spent the remainder of the day writing.  I was tired and went to bed early.  During the night, I woke up needing to use the bathroom.  When I leaned over to flush, I blacked out and collapsed to the floor! 

When I came to my senses, I found myself face on the floor, crammed between the toilet bowl and wall.  It was bizarre.  I tried to get up and manage to stand - momentarily.  Then I blacked out again and crashed to the floor on the other side of the toilet.  I regained my senses but slowly. 

After a while I was finally able to extricate myself from my lodged position, move my body across the floor, and prop myself up sitting against the wall.  I waited until I was reasonably lucid.  Then I managed to pull myself up with the help of the sink and return to bed laughing!  It was hilarious!  I could not believe what had happened!  

Then Larry, Paul and Brent left, Dave “resigned” and C.J. “transitioned.”  Last I heard Steve was a “bishop” (i.e., a regional overseer).  Joshua Harris was supposed to take over SGM this September when C.J. turns 60.  He’s gone.  So too 80 plus leaders who were some of the most gifted and honorable men in the former movement.  More leaders plan to leave.  

Who is left to assume the leadership of SGM?  We now have our answer, Mark Prater.  According to the Executive Committee (a.k.a. Board of Directors), he is the best possible leader in all of SGM.  Mark will serve a four year term as Executive Director.  I quote them. 

The plaintiffs in the case are disputing the church’s claims and have filed notice they plan to expand it with additional charges — including one alleging abuse by a Maryland pastor who recently had been chairman of the Sovereign Grace board. 

The lawsuit was originally filed in October 2012 in Montgomery County, Md., the longtime base for the church. 

The lawsuit alleges that the church fostered a climate of fear and unquestioning obedience and that it pressured young victims and families involved with Sovereign Grace churches in Maryland and Virginia to forgive abusive members who had professed repentance and not to report them to police. 

The lawsuit was expanded in January with new allegations. In all, eight plaintiffs are suing, all using pseudonyms. 

Sovereign Grace Ministries was once whole heartedly committed to the authority, simplicity and sufficiency of Scripture.  No longer.  Over the past year, its leaders have abused, twisted, and set aside Scripture in order achieve pragmatic ends.  SGM used to be characterized by a radical obedience to Jesus Christ; we were little concerned about the opinions of men.  We were glad to be foolish for Christ and despised in the eyes of the world (religious and otherwise).  We danced, shouted, spoke in tongues, and cast out demons.  The Book of Acts was real to us.       

The Sep/Oct 1994 issues of our magazine was titled, “What Do We Do When the Spirit Says…Jump!”  The Nov/Dec issue was titled, “Times of Refreshing – Overwhelming Encounters with the Spirit of God.”  For over a year, churches throughout SGM were being overwhelmed by powerful encounters with the risen Lord which resulted in changed lives.  People by the thousands were being baptized in the Holy Spirit and filled with the Spirit.     

From our inception in 1982, we desired all the gifts of the Holy Spirit to be in operation for the purpose of evangelism, church planting and church building.  The premier issue of the magazine in Sep/Oct 1983 was titled, “Restoration of the Church – Are You a Pioneer or a Settler?”  The next three issues were successively titled “Evangelism as a Lifestyle,” “Apostolic Team Ministry,” and “Becoming a Prophetic People.”  C.J. wrote the featured article on becoming a prophetic people because he was a prophet as noted in his biography.  Here are several quotes from his article. 

• Two churches were added to the list since August (Louisville, KY; Cebu Philippines)
• One was never listed (Melbourne, FL)
• One new church should be added (Wissinoming, PA)
• Two church plants never joined SGM (San Diego, CA; Mandeville, LA)
• Two churches remain on the list but have decided to leave (Downingtown, PA; Cleveland, OH) 

There was also a major development over the weekend when three international churches were removed from the list.  Those churches are from Sri Lanka, Philippines (Fernando Impang) and Mexico (Mario Jacobo).  

The brothers from Sri Lanka cannot be listed by name because of the severe persecution they face.  Fernando is a dear brother from Bohol.  Much has been written about him on the SGM website over the years.  Mario planted our fourth international church in Tijuana in 1995.  He is an extraordinary man and been a part of SGM for 25 years. 

Bottom line: 25 out 107 churches have effectively left SGM over a nine month period.

Kenny was on staff for ten years at Covenant Fellowship Church with Dave, Mark Prater, Jared Mellinger, Jim Donohue, Andy Farmer, Marty Machowski, et al..  Men like Kenny or Mark Altrogge or Joshua Harris don’t leave SGM over a trifle.  For them (or me), it is like growing up Catholic and then leaving Romanism.  It is hard not to feel like an apostate and there’s pressure to stay.  

For example, “How can you leave now?  SGM is changing.  Stay and help to make us even better.”  Or, “You need SGM.  What’s motivating you.  to be an independent church?  Pride and self-sufficiency?”  Or, “Why are you still upset with C.J. and SGM?  He has been so humble.  Why haven’t you forgiven C.J. the way Christ has forgiven you?”  Or, “Have you forgotten you are the worse sinner!  Get the log out of your eye first.  Stop finding fault.”   Or “You must be bitter and offended.  Why else would you leave?  Have you been listening to slander instead of believing the best?”  And on and on it goes