Elmbrook resignations among latest to rock evangelical churches
Revelations spawn #ChurchToo movement
BROOKFIELD - Members of Elmbrook Church, Wisconsin’s largest Christian faith community, were shocked and disappointed in February when Executive Pastor Brodie Swanson resigned amid revelations of infidelities with another church staffer, who also stepped down.
The sense of betrayal hit home again last week when Senior Pastor Jason Webb resigned from the Brookfield megachurch citing “multiple marital infidelities” and an unspecified but “serious addiction.”
In a Saturday service, the first since Webb announced his departure, church leaders characterized the developments as “a crisis” for Elmbrook and asked members for their forgiveness.
“We share your utter shock and sorrow,” church elder Jeff Schultz told worshipers.
He described the actions of Webb and Swanson as “intentional deceptions.”
“Elmbrook family, you have been deeply wronged,” he said. “On behalf of the council of elders, we are very sorry.”
The upheaval at Elmbrook is the latest in a series of high-profile resignations and allegations of sexual misconduct that have rocked evangelical churches across the country.
This year alone, Frank Page, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s executive committee, resigned because of an “inappropriate relationship.” Bill Hybels, founding pastor of the Chicago-area megachurch Willow Creek resigned after allegations of inappropriate conduct with women, which he denied.
The Rev. Andy Savage stepped
down from the Memphis megachurch Highpoint Church after admitting a “sexual incident” involving a high school girl in his youth group 20 years earlier.
And two more men have come forward to accuse Paul Pressler, a former Texas state judge and leading figure of the Southern Baptist Convention, of sexual misconduct.
The revelations have spawned a “#ChurchToo” movement that — much like the secular “#MeToo” — is forcing evangelical Christians to reevaluate how they respond to issues of sexual abuse, domestic violence and even the roles of women in the church.
Churches are “coming to grips with the depth and gravity” of those issues, said Scott Arbeiter, a former lead pastor at Elmbrook who now serves as president for World Relief, the humanitarian arm of the National Association of Evangelicals.
“Churches need to create the spaces where this can be spoken about,” he said, stressing he was not speaking on behalf of Elmbrook.
“We recognize that families, churches and communities flourish when we’re living in the truth. The truth is, we have a national struggle with our sexuality, and it includes our families and church families. We have to be a place where truth and healing can take place.”
Christianity Today, founded 60 years ago by evangelist Billy Graham, has reported extensively on the topic of scandal-triggered resignations by pastors.
In a story last week, on the latest survey by Nashville-based LifeWay Research, it said one in eight Protestant senior pastors say a church staff member has sexually harassed a member of the congregation at some point in the church’s history. And one in six pastors say a staff member has been harassed in a church setting.
Christianity Today, which centers much of its reporting on evangelical churches, also published a recent feature called: “When You Hear Sexual Misconduct Allegations About Your Pastor.”
Founded in 1957, initially as a Baptist Church, Elmbrook became a nondenominational church in 1968. It has reshaped the religious landscape in southeastern Wisconsin, planting a dozen sister churches over the last three decades and drawing thousands weekly to its services.
And for now, the flagship Elmbrook Church is grappling with a leadership vacuum as well as a debate on its own #ChurchToo questions.
Mark Heckman, executive director of central support services for the church, said the church elders are working on an interim plan for the church, and should have something in place for the next two weeks.
Elmbrook’s latest allegations emerged Thursday with Webb’s resignation announcement, which revealed that he has kept parts of his life hidden:
“It is with deep remorse that I write you this letter,” Webb wrote in a letter to church members.
“I have also been struggling with a serious addiction, which has led to many betrayals, including unfaithfulness to my wife, Heather.
“Words cannot fully describe how sorry I am for my sin. The gravity of all of this is not lost on me. I have lied to Heather, my counselor, the men in my life, the elders, the staff and the church.”
“I will immediately seek intensive inpatient treatment for addiction over the next six weeks,” the pastor wrote.
Heckman said it is too soon to know if the recent revelations have affected membership at Elmbrook.
“But we’ll see what the future holds,” he said.
“I have also been struggling with a serious addiction, which has led to many betrayals, including unfaithfulness to my wife, Heather. Words cannot fully describe how sorry I am for my sin. The gravity of all of this is not lost on me. I have lied to Heather, my counselor, the men in my life, the elders, the staff and the church.” Jason Webb former Senior Pastor at Elmbrook Church in Brookfield