Sept. 22, 2022, 1:46 p.m. CT Last summer, hundreds of accounts surfaced online criticizing Covenant Fellowship Church for mishandling alleged incidents of sexual abuse committed by church. Per a New York Times opinion piece from June 13, 2016 called South Koreas Misogyny, Women made up 86 percent of all violent crime victims in 2013, according to police data (most violent crime is sexual in nature, and women suffer disproportionately from sexual crimes)., Per a June 23, 2021 article from foreignpolicy.com, sexism has been a long-standing issue in South Korea. The victim was suicidal and traumatized by her initial and continuous interaction with Pastor Min, the friend stated in testimony included in the report. Court documents from that case said over years,"Caleb D. Treat repeatedly preyed upon female employees and church members but the church "failed to take effective action.". Especially in the Korean community, to call out a pastor, youre going against God-given authority.. Women in many Korean churches are told to be submissive, former CFC members said. . The audits confirm that CFCs financial affairs are handled in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. When Casey or Wendy Treat travel to speak at ministries in the US or abroad, approximately 90% of their expenses are paid by the ministry that extended the invitation. And you almost feel like people won't want anything to do with you if you speak your truth, she said tearing up. We exist to build a church that connects our world to Jesus and leads them to become like Him. That lawsuit names the Christian Faith Center, founders Casey and Wendy Treat, and among other defendants,. He is a contributing writer for Christian Headlines and the host of the For Your Soul Podcast, a podcast devoted to sound doctrine and biblical truth. (Illinois defines criminal sexual assault as using force or threat or force, and the defendant knows the victim is unable to give knowing consent.). Weve lost our reputations. He'd call me into his office and ask for different things, JanetRussell said. It also alleges that Chung urged a woman not to go to police when she sought his counsel after being sexually assaulted by another church member. Do they believe me? she said. Pastor Min Chung CFC Scandal, Resignation: Wife Son Family Bio save. Hi. "I went to my head pastor and I was emotionally distressed," she said. It was probably five or six times with the groping and comments. She bangs on his door all hours of the night until he finally comes and gives her justice, LeCroy explained. A vote by the Presbyterian oversight group on July 13 to remove Chung as a minister failed to get the necessary 2/3 vote. In September 2019, two other whistleblowers met with Kim as a final step to urge leadership to take proper steps, the report states. The report doesnt offer explicit details of the incident, but states that the touching was in a way that could be constituted as sexual assault under Illinois law. GRACE said in a statement that although all that remained in the investigation was a minimal number of interviews, primarily with CFC leadership, it had been informed by CFC that the assessment would not continue. A year later, the group of 14 whistleblowers submitted their report to the PCAs Korean Central Presbytery and called for the KCP to investigate Chung, arguing CFC associate pastors had failed to discipline him, said Park. In our previous meetings, they had acknowledged that [Chungs case was] within the scope, so Im not certain why that changed.. In that same month, Courson announced that he was joining K-Wave radio as a teaching pastor. My heart breaks. This is so disheartening. Itsa shaming process that happens. Children's Ministry Team Leader. FEDERAL WAY, Wash. Another lawsuit was filed Friday against a megachurch in Federal Way. A male escort named Mike Jones publicly claimed that Haggard had been a client for years. Give a gift of $30 or more to The Roys Report this month, and you will receive a copy of "Escaping the Maze of Spiritual Abuse" by Dr. Lisa Oakley and Justin Humphreys. We extend an invitation to worship with us if you are ever in the Champaign area.. Coverstone confirmed in a separate email to WBEZ that Kim, who had been accused by former church members of failing to respond properly to Chungs sexual misconduct, had been accepted into the Presbytery of Northern Illinois in January. While it was always consensual, and there was never sex outside of marriagethere was never adulterystill, we let things go beyond what God requires of a relationship., When it comes to this area of women, I take full responsibility and I am truly sorry to our church community, he continued. The Russells said they have donated 10 percent of their income for years to the church, along with many other parishioners. Many CFC members are students there who hail from the Chicago area. Those fears are both particular and personal: For the 1 in 3 women (and 1 in 4 men) who are survivors of sexual assault, reading headlines about abuse and impropriety might trigger deep-seated . The friend urged the victim to tell Chung she hadnt consented to his touch. A Committee of the Board of Directors meets to establish the compensation for every member of the Treat family. He cited an example in the Bible, in the book of Luke, where Jesus tells the story of a woman and an unjust judge. CFC believes missions is the purpose of the church. Front-runner for Oscar. Kyle Carnahan. Also, any comments with profanity, name-calling, and/or a nasty tone will be deleted. Langberg helped an ad interim committee of the PCA write a new report on domestic and sexual abuse in churches. He said in a statement to WBEZ that the presbytery is currently working with CFC and is discussing whether to receive the congregation into our jurisdiction. Sunday School 10:00AM Sunday Morning Service 11:00AM Children's Church 11:15AM Tuesday Evening Service 7:00PM Now, former members and others familiar with the church say CFC is quietly reversing course. If they found out, they would be devastated and you know how people talk, and I wouldnt want them to have to go through that. . The employee who is under investigation has been placed on leave and is not currently preaching or otherwise involved in ministry work at CFC.. Some members of the allegation group also said they lacked confidence the KCP would handle any future cases differently, given the ties many of the pastors had to Chung. Fellowship Church Pastor Ed Young Fellowship Church Claims they threw my paintings in the trash . texas sage tea benefits. However, the KCP determined at an April meeting that looked only at the single incident that Chung had been restored to God, as well as the woman, and that that discipline instituted by CFC pastors was found to be sufficient.. In an email to Roys, Kim wrote that the decision to terminate the churchs agreement with GRACE was made with much prayer and deliberation.. January 25, 2018. cfc church scandal illinoispatricia callahan obituary. For investigators at GRACE, CFCs decision to terminate the assessment is a highly unusual move. My mind was racing. "When [the pastor] sexually assaulted me, I knew what would happen," she said. Send us an email at investigate@kiro7.com, Multiple western Washington residents indicted in connection to coast-to-coast drug ring, Bank accidentally left unlocked in Fresno, police say, Powerball jackpot winner identified as longtime Boeing employee, Big snake: Officials discover 14-foot python in New York, Court finds Federal Way gun store in contempt of court. Yet this generations aggrieved version of sexism has taken on a different character from their fathers more traditional version of sexism featuring machoism and strict gender roles., https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/13/opinion/south-koreas-misogyny.html, https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/06/23/young-south-korean-men-hate-liberals-feminists/. Hope City Church in Houston, Texas once touted as the "fastest-growing church in American history" announced earlier this month that its pastor, Jeremy Foster, has resigned due to an adulterous affair.. Foster's resignation is the latest in a series of scandals linked to the Association of Related Churches. This story originally appeared at MinistryWatch., Religion Unplugged56 BroadwayNew York, NY 10004, Religion Unplugged is a production of The Media Project and a member of the Institute for Nonprofit NewsEIN: 83-0461425site design by Peter Freeby, Clemente Lisi, books, Pope Pius XII, Jews, Zenger, Hamil Harris, Primary Feature, Samuel Rodriguez, National hispanic christian leadership conference, Uvalde, Uvalde school shooting, Zenger, Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment. He said, Your parents are well-respected members of their church, your fathers an elder [at their church], Rhee recalled. Many other ministries have removed Chung from their boards and speaking schedules. [Churches and presbyteries] are not trained to look into [abuse], Langberg said. I'm trying to give the voice to the other women who are still out there, who are still figuring out how to heal, JanetRussell said. In response to the allegations, Courson published a video on Aug. 8 apologizing for his mistakes in his dating relationships but maintained that adultery was never involved. What remains is for the regional body that originally adjudicated the case to respond about procedural steps needing correction for the future.. Pastor Chung was claimed and accused in the scandal for certain genuine wrongdoings of sexual and obnoxious attack. Pastor KJ Kim acknowledged that Chung has been accused of a pattern of abusing his authority. (The version of the report released to TRR referenced and summarized the texts instead in the interest of the victims privacy.) Diseo y fabricacin de reactores y equipo cientfico y de laboratorio Men. But he said the church had recently decided to hire an outside group to investigate in order to work towards rebuilding trust and create a healthier culture that better reflects Jesus.. I'm very concerned that he could be doing this to other women still,Russell said. Her husband, 13. cfc church scandal pastor minexamples of misfeasance in healthcare. That process is currently underway. mike wedderburn partner. According to a lengthy investigation by National Public Radio station WBEZ in Chicago, Covenant Fellowship Church and its former head pastor Min Joshua Chung for years fostered a misogynistic environment that included sexual mistreatment and oppression of women. We lost our church family and community, she said. MC (Min Chung) is anointed by God, God only exists at CFC and there is no other place like CFC, Lee said, describing the church environment. For Janet Park and other members of the group that filed the initial allegations against Chung and the CFC pastors, the GRACE termination felt like a particularly painful blow. According to U of I spokeswoman Robin Kaler, Covenant Fellowship is once again a registered student organization with the university this school year giving the 32-year-old congregation access to the schools facilities and a new crop of potential members. Park is one of the whistleblowers who submitted the report to the KCP. About CF LOCATIONS FEDERAL WAY Campus Info MILL CREEK Campus Info ONLINE Campus Info NEXT STEPS New to Christian Faith? Pete Singer, GRACEs executive director, called the cancellation very rare, adding he is aware of just one other organization that has done the same. Editors note: This story has been updated to clarify when the KCP received the whistleblowers allegations and to more accurately state certain charges. Adult Ministry Team Leader. LeCroy said victims of abuse, who cannot get redress via the means provided by the church or denomination, can take to various means to seek justice. Bryan Chapell, the PCAs stated clerk, confirmed to WBEZ in a statement that the discipline matter has been concluded by the SJC. Recent allegations have surfaced of the abuse at Covenant Fellowship Church in Champaign-Urbana. Illustration by Andjela Padejski, Photo by Manuel Martinez / WBEZ News, Fertile Soil For Abuse: A Reckoning At Covenant Fellowship Church, CPS knew for years about sexual misconduct claims against staff at a city high school, but promoted principal anyway, records show, Inside the sexual misconduct scandal involving workers at Evanstons beaches, How Covenant Fellowship Church Is Dealing With Old Sexual Abuse Allegations, Confrontational Chicago police union boss John Catanzara Jr. wins reelection, Oscar Lawton Wilkerson Jr., last known surviving member of the Tuskegee Airmen in Chicago area, died at 96, When it comes to Madonnas plastic surgery: Its her body and her choice, Here are five takeaways from Chicagos municipal election. The report, published in June, is intended to provide resources to handle abuse cases and to offer best practices and guidelines for elders, churches, presbyteries and other entities. Follow her on Twitter @WBEZeducation and @soosieon. The church that Min pastored operated without a board of elders or denominational oversight, which allowed him to create a system with few checks or balances. The reports were made to a campus pastor who has since relocated to another state in order to lead his own congregation. Rev. Covenant Fellowship Church in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, whose previous pastor Min Joshua Chung (left) resigned last year following abuse allegations, has terminated an independent investigation led by nonprofit group GRACE - Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment. Go to our Twitter feed and Facebook page for more content. cfc church scandal pastor minemn meaning medical. Even the friend in whom the victim confided feared she would be cursed by God if she spoke against Chung. Loving God, serving people and sharing Jesus is our passion. J-Gen canceled its summer retreats to grieve and reflect.. into silence those who knew of the incident, the report states. CFCs leaders, pastors and members of its congregation work together in service to the poor and disadvantaged. It is interesting the there were 5-6 million Presbyterians in the 1960s the number now is down to paltry 1.5 Presbyterians in the U.S. 1 Million Liberal (PSUSA) 4 ervna, 2022; Posted by: Category: Uncategorized You have entered an incorrect email address! Sources at GRACE told WBEZ that the group had conducted interviews with more than 40 former and present CFC members, many of whom spent hours talking about their experiences. The most recent was nearly a decade ago during the great recession. Kim also alluded to the KCP investigation. We are accountable to our congregation and the denomination that has charge over its leaders and we believe that this is best for our church and its future. Check out our new Instagram account. According to the report, Kim was initially more interested in stopping the spread of gossip and keeping Chungs sexual misconduct private than holding Chung accountable or protecting victims. At the same time as former and current members of CFC were being interviewed by GRACE, the case against the figure at the center of the controversy Min Chung made its way through the PCAs judicial system. M-T: 9:00a to 5:00p F & S: Closed. Other whistleblowers said in the report that that isnt true. A video was posted by a person named Tim on his Youtube channel regarding the acquiescence of Min Chung. cfc church scandal pastor min. Since 2008 the organisation has hosted summer camps and retreats all over Texas. The lawsuit alleges Pastor Moses Masitha grabbed JanetRussell, sliding his hands down her back and squeezing her rear end.. Rebecca Hopkins is a journalist based in Colorado. cfc church scandal pastor min. A few months later, a group of pastors dissatisfied with the presbyterys April 2021 determination filed a complaint in an effort to indefinitely suspend Chung from ministry. But that system broke down: Oversight entities had limited power and the denominations governing rules proved to be inadequate for addressing the issue of abuse in the church. Plan Your Visit Guest Info 4100 Millersburg Rd Evansville, IN 47725 Get Directions Under the previous structure, CFC was an independent church, with just Chung and the associate pastors, as individuals, belonging to the Korean Central Presbytery (KCP), one of the regional bodies within the PCA. Those who looked deeper discovered sexual misconduct and abuse of power by Chung, former long-term church members, pastors, and leaders state in a 67-page report released to The Roys Report (TRR). . Leslie Massey continued to receive a salary for many months following her departure from the workplace. They were also concerned that other victims may exist, she said. An arm of the Presbyterian Church in America is allowing Min Joshua Chungarguably the nations most prominent Korean-American pastorto return to ministry despite allegations of sexual misconduct and cover-up. As a highly sought-after crusade and conference speaker, God uses him mightily to preach a contemporary message with the "old . Almost every day of the week, they try to recruit people, Ma said. We judge that his relationship with God is restored as we consider the grace of God. You're gone. CFC treated Leslie Massey with compassion and respect even as it defended itself against her claims. Its horrific, it's gross - the sexual exploitation and doing nothing about it, said Joan Mell, the attorney representing Kelly and Janet Russell. However, there have also been a number of accusations of abuse of power and harsh treatment towards others that continued to surface regarding this same pastor, Kim continued. Harry, Elder . In the wake of the revelation of Caleb Treats relationship with Leslie Massey, Caleb Treat withdrew from the Church; underwent intensive personal and marital counseling and relocated with his wife and children to another state. Saturday 5:30 PM Sunday 8:00 AM Classic Venue Service Sunday 9:15 AM & 10:45 AM All services are live and in person! Watch Live. Min Joshua Chung founded Covenant Fellowship Church in 1990 as an outreach effort to local college students. He married us, he said. They chose to ignore the following information. She writes for American City Business Journals BizWomen. In one instance, Chung assaulted a woman in the back seat of a car in 2001, the report alleges. Parking Lot Outreach. In addition to the alleged sexual assault, the report lists several other allegations against Chung. Several CFC Survivors came forward to tell their stories on an Instagram account. It has seen only statements from three individuals in a recent newspaper article. Ive also apologized to our church leadership Im going to be taking time away to learn, to reflect, to grow.. She says he then began to force himself on her and pull his pants down until she pushed him off and ran into the bathroom, locking the door until he left. Russell says looking back, there were other signs that something was wrong. He still preaches as a member in good standing. Eventually, that group reconsidered and completed the assessment. CFC promptly retained an experienced, independent outside investigator to interview witnesses. A total of 19 people signed on to the report or are cited as witnesses. Rhee told WBEZ she reported the incident to Pastor Chung. Russell said when she saw Masitha still preaching in the fall, she and her husband couldnt bear it any longer and left the church in late September. January 24, 2018. cfc church scandal illinoiserror: unexpected symbol in ggplot. There was never a feeling that this should be reported.. Chung, who founded the church in 1990 on the University of Illinois-Champaign Urbana campus, announced in the summer of 2019 that he would transition out of the head pastor role and a team of associate pastors would lead the church. Nothing was ever followed up on with me. Esther Yoon-Ji Kang is a reporter for WBEZs Race, Class and Communities desk. For almost 20 years, Chung kept the alleged sexual assault from church leaders and his wife, Park said. Home; About; Gallery; Blog; Shop; Contact; My Account; Resources cfc church scandal illinois. These will be addressed in order below. The pastor's statements have forced the church to state publicly why he left-something they had previously, and appropriately, preferred to keep within their church family. According to a lengthy investigation by National Public Radio station WBEZ in Chicago, Covenant Fellowship Church and its former head pastor Min Joshua Chung for years fostered a misogynistic environment that included sexual mistreatment and oppression of women. The SJC decision stated there can be no reasonable hope of just proceedings with no cooperating victim, although Chung himself had admitted to sexual misconduct. 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A 124-page extended version of the report, containing copies of texts describing one victims assault and subsequent intimidation, was submitted to an investigative team of the Korean Central Presbytery (KCP) in November 2020, following up on a five-page allegation letter the whistleblowers sent in August. But The Roys Report said Kim has been accused by a whistleblower group of covering up other past misconduct by Chung. Facebook photo. Get new articles and breaking news delivered to your inbox. The church hired GRACE to begin the independent assessment in August 2021, and the organization had been gathering information via one-on-one interviews, documents, listening circles and an anonymous survey.