As they now face multiple civil lawsuits related to sexual abuse, leaders of the Vineyard Church in Duluth, Minnesota, and its parent organization Vineyard USA, are set to meet next month to discuss ways to increase accountability on a national level for sexual abuse.
Vineyard Church’s Interim Lead Pastor John Kliewer disclosed the upcoming meeting in an update last Friday which also highlights his disagreement with Vineyard USA “about the relative importance of victims and perpetrators (pastors) in our response to abuse.”
Both The Vineyard Church and Vineyard USA, have been named in nine civil lawsuits alongside Jackson Gatlin, a former young adult and online community pastor at The Vineyard Church who accepted a plea deal in November for criminal sexual conduct with a child.
Gatlin, 36, was charged in 2023 with sexually abusing five teenage girls but pleaded guilty to only one count of sexual assault. On four other counts, he entered an Alford plea. in which he admitted there is sufficient evidence to find him guilty during a trial but maintained his innocence. He was sentenced to 13 years on two sexual assault-related charges, another 13 years for two other sexual assault charges plus eight years for one additional charge, according to Northern News Now. All his sentences are expected to run concurrently.
Duluth Vineyard, Vineyard USA to discuss accountability for abuse | Church & Ministries
No comments:
Post a Comment