All Abuse articles
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Interviews‘There was a lot of psychological bullying’. Matt and Beth Redman on Mike Pilavachi abuse
Matt and Beth Redman’s new film Let There Be Light explores the emotional abuse the couple experienced at the hands of Soul Survivor’s Mike Pilavachi. They spoke to Megan Cornwell about why they made it, and what they hope will change in the Church
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News AnalysisIs the Church of England still institutionally racist?
It’s three years since the Church of England pledged a sweeping programme of reform to overturn racist culture in the Church. Following Racial Justice Sunday, Tim Wyatt asks what progress has been made
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Opinion'I'm still healing from what happened at Soul Survivor'
When Kye* joined the staff team at Soul Survivor, he was a passionate believer in the ministry's values and mission. But his early optimism was soon dented by what he calls a "culture of control" overseen by the church's leader, Mike Pilavachi. Ahead of the release of Premier Christianity's new investigative podcast series, 'Soul Survivors', Kye shares his own story
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Regular ColumnistsThe way of love: St Paul's answer to leadership failure in the church
When the early church was in a mess, Paul’s radical teaching helped convict leaders of their sin. His words are as relevant today as they’ve ever been, says Lucy Peppiatt
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OpinionAbuse and violence against women is rife. Why does it keep happening?
From Lawrence Fox’s misogynistic comments to allegations against Russell Brand and the murder of Elianne Andam, there is one common thread. Men who see women as objects. It isn’t how God created us, says Bekah Legg
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News AnalysisInvestigation finds Mike Pilavachi 'used spiritual authority to control people'. What happens now?
The Church of England’s National Safeguarding Team has said Mike Pilavachi used his spiritual authority to “control” people, and this led to inappropriate relationships, including “massaging of young male interns”. But questions remain, and more investigations are set to take place. Megan Cornwell reports on what’s likely to happen next
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OpinionThe silence from Christian leaders on Mike Pilavachi is hurting victims
11 days on from the investigation that concluded Mike Pilavachi “used his spiritual authority to control people”, many of his colleagues in ministry have remained silent - or tried to minimise their connection with him. Jane Chevous says the Church must do better
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News AnalysisUpdate: CofE substantiates allegations in Mike Pilavachi investigation
The Church of England's National Safeguarding Team has released its initial findings into allegations against Mike Pilavachi
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News AnalysisExplained: Why was Brian Houston taken to court and why did he quit Hillsong?
Brian Houston has been cleared over charges arising from his decision not to report his paedophile father to police. But the former Hillsong leader is no longer part of the global church network he built. Tim Wyatt has the full story
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OpinionSad, but not sorry: 5 lessons to learn from the Brian Houston trial
Hillsong Church founder Brian Houston has been acquitted of concealing the sexual abuse his father committed against a young male in the 1970s. While Houston was found ‘not guilty’ of the charge, he nevertheless has made mistakes which today’s church leaders should learn from, says Justin Humphreys
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ReviewsThe Secrets of Hillsong
The latest TV docuseries to scrutinise Hillsong’s failings is the most thorough and fairest yet. As Carl Lentz gives his first interview since being fired from the megachurch, Sam Hailes argues that we can’t blame the media for wanting to shine a light on abuse and moral failings in the Church. It’s time to learn the lessons
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OpinionThe Archbishop of York is wrong. The Lord’s Prayer isn’t problematic
The Archbishop of York recently called the Lord’s Prayer ‘problematic’ because it refers to God as ‘Father’. Christians might like to debate the gender of God, but there’s a reason scripture uses the male pronoun, says Tony Wilson
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Opinion‘The Church of England is not survivor focused when it comes to safeguarding’
Jasvinder Sanghera CBE was sacked last week from her role as survivor advocate on the Church of England’s Independent Safeguarding Board amid claims of a breakdown in relationships. In this interview, she sets the record straight
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ReviewsShiny Happy People: Exposing the secrets of an evangelical poster family
Amazon’s hit documentary makes for uncomfortable viewing, says Sophie Killingley. But she believes Christians should engage with it, and be mindful that such abuses aren’t confined to America’s Bible Belt. They could happen in a church near you too
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OpinionPhillip Schofield: Sin, power and how to resist the urge to be a Pharisee
In the court of public opinion there is rarely room for forgiveness or redemption, observes Tim Farron MP
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Regular ColumnistsHow can you worship the God of the enslavers?
Q: When the rapper Jahaziel renounced his Christian faith, he listed a number of objections to belief, including “Christianity’s involvement in the slave trade”. He spoke about wanting to “return” to the religious traditions of his African ancestors. His story is representative of a large number of ...
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Real LifeI was abused by a deacon in my church. God helped me forgive AND seek justice
Forgiveness was not the end of the story for Cerys Morgan. She explains how God also led her to seek justice in her abuse case
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News AnalysisThe Church of England's safeguarding crisis explained
Survivors are losing trust in the Church of England's ability to do justice in cases of abuse, while a leading bishop says his name has been unfairly “besmirched”. Rosie Dawson has the full story
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OpinionPoor reporting on Soul Survivor is damaging for everyone - alleged victims included
Media coverage of Mike Pilavachi and Soul Survivor has lumped serious safeguarding allegations together with vague and nonsensical claims about the festival in general. It distracts from the allegations and does any potential victims no favours, says Tim Wyatt
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Magazine FeaturesRavi Zacharias’ sins of sexual abuse went undetected for years. Here are the lessons the Church needs to learn
As an explosive new report into Ravi Zacharias International Ministries reveals the toxic culture that enabled an abuser to go undetected for years, Megan Cornwell looks at the lessons for the Church
