He also talked about the positive relationship he had with his own previous abuser who groomed him early in his ministry. A man that was supposed to protect me as a child when left in his care. She will pursue justice in court & our church will continue to support her. Prove it! Send us prayer requests, make an online payment, and more! Just.cringing. Help keep The Christian Post free for everyone by making a one-time donation today. Or when do we allow them to come back? What, by the way, is a clean life? A computer lab is provided on campus for students to utilize during assigned hours of operation, however students are also allowed to use the college's provided wifi within the rules that are given in the rule book (no video streaming, games, pornography, etc.). In this case, you have one person making accusations and the other vehemently denying them. (Old habits die hard, yall. I do wish hed involved the police as well, but what Pastor Shiflett has done, in context of the culture of the IFB and other such conservative cult-churches, is fairly ballsy. By this point, two other victims had come forward claiming Giovanelli did the same thing to them, but no one yet had any intention of contacting law enforcement. And barring prosecution, I hope the perpetrator will never be permitted to pastor or work with children/teens again. My fear is the the church will bury you now because you are not willing to be on the team. 2022 - 2024. One church I know of had a man who sexually assaulted teen boys twice. Churches are businesses. It states that "the activities on campus, the dormitory life, and the entire program of the college require the full participation and cooperation of every student." Wouldnt it just be easier to say, depraved mankind has a problem withcover-ups? He was not saying that what happened was consensual. Espaol (Mxico) If you contact the accused about the allegation you just destroyed that opportunity ie YOU OBSTRUCTED A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION. A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs upanger. Until 2017, the statute of limitations on child sexual abuse was age 25. Im glad that Pastor Shiflett called it out and made it an issue. Neal, unfortunately . October 25, 2021. The married pastor served at that church from 2004 to 2014, and later became president of Golden State Baptist College in California. Rarely do they sexually assault one child and stop. Thank you. Should we keep repentant perpetrators away from church altogether? All of these instances involved men with impeccable reputations, admiration, and good standing. About GSBC Golden State Baptist College is an independent, fundamental Bible college. You clearly believe that your faith has helped you to be open and truthful. Christ came to set people free FROM religion. there is no discernment in what you read. Its not. Golden State Baptist College, like most Independent Fundamental Baptist Bible colleges[citation needed], has chosen to maintain its independence from secular authorities by deliberately refraining from seeking or accepting accreditation. Then the video was uploaded on Friday morning because the situation wad not handled right and the people were misinformed. When faced with the evidence, the determination was made to terminate him, but that doesnt give them the right to say hes guilty over the internet because that could potentially be slander and a defamation suit. Take a look into life at GSBC. God Is Still Good. Thank you for your perspective AND for taking the initiative to look into Maryland laws. That said, most Evangelicals are generally appalled by sexual misconduct within their churches. #torture, Stacey Shiflett (@staceyshiflett) May 11, 2018, Most relevant to this issue is his enthusiastic embrace of toxic masculinity.. This a longer Sunday message. Evangelism is the marketing planetc. The world was way different. I have family who attends this church and they, to this day, are not sure of what happened beyond what appeared in the newspaper. With a few significant adjustments, I wish we had more people like him on our side. When I was a Christian, I still suffered and went for therapy to talk and to get help with feeling what was really troubling me. You really could give yourself more credit and stand freely as you are, a strong woman who decided to manage her excess. I trust that as time goes on, you will accept the simple reality that we are just people, not born in sin or born bad or fallen from grace, just people who sometimes need help from ourselves and one another. Let us know what God is doing in your life. Amen brother! as I wave my metaphorical hanky in approval. Every time it comes to my mind I get angry that the perpetrator was protected by the large org, and the victim was furthervictimized. Trieber and North Valley Baptist Church have a bad track record when it comes to dealing with stories such as this, so they will not get a pass from me. Its not that they shouldnt forgive, but that the wounds are so fresh that justice should be the first concern. but for every one of these horrible situations with guilty perpetrator, how many fundamentalist ministries are there that have a leader not guilty of such things? Giovanelli was living in Orange Park, Florida, facing a civil . Pray for everyone involved in this unfortunate situation. According to prosecutors, Giovanelli is accused of using his position as a church pastor to pressure Jackson into a relationship that involved months of kissing, touching and oral sex. This post is about sexual asssault, and you are more worried about someone having a potty mouth? Take your sanctimonious morality policing and shove it where the sun doesnt shine. From vicious personal attacks to death threats, these fine Christians are more concerned with protecting the brand than doing what is right. He took the job and did not worry, because this isnt true! It contributes to some giving IFB churches a bad name because when they go out and try to pastor, and pretend like nothing happened, they invite criticism and deservedly so. Ive run into churches who have not allowed repentant perpetrators the opportunity to return to church and/or be restored to church membership. He made it very clear that if such things happen at his church to a minor, it is immediately reported to law enforcement. If there are more victims that come forward that could change tho. Must one know Christ how does someone know a corpse? Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! The purpose of Golden State is to train men and women who have a sincere desire to serve the Lord by equipping them with the tools necessary for a fruitful ministry. Also as far as what you said about IFB Christians, Im sure there are very many that dont act like Christians, but they are human just like the rest of us. I was reminded of the rookie pastor who, when an allegation of sexual assault came up against one of his deacons, physically escorted said deacon to the police station and asked them to deal with it. Hope youll give us another try and check out some other articles. It was founded in 1996 as an outgrowth of Golden State Baptist Institute. As another former fundy put it, wereconflicted for all the right reasons. Is this a step in the right direction? Yes, some fundamentalists have had a problem with cover-ups. Romans 13, folks. Shiflett said he was giving Trieber a chance to control the narrative., The ball is in your court now, you have to deal with it. Zachary left Golden State for West Coast Baptist College but was shortly thereafter fired from there (I believe in 2014) because they became aware that there were state . To my knowledge, Shiflett is the only pastor in the whole history of the IFB who had the integrity to come out publicly and get in front of this kind of thing. Your ability to seek assistance and to bring balance into your life deserves praise. I can find out as many details I need on this case on the Internet, NVBC did the best they could. The students were stunning, and it was an unforgettable night for all involved. In fact sexual misconduct happens everywhere, not just in the church. Its never too late to do better. I too second that ilthe police should have been involved from the beginning. What, did all our accrued knowledge disappear the moment we walked/ran away from Christianity? She even alleged that Giovanelli opened a phone line for her on the churchs phone plan to avoid her parents seeing how much the two were communicating. I know you reject what I am saying and have to judge me as of the devil but I encourage you to continue to get help regarding your addiction and to try to find your way to the original reasons for it. Bruce, your own testimony has condemned you. www.BBC.edu. A Baptist pastor and former college president accused of "grooming" and sexually abusing a teenager over a decade ago as a pastor in Maryland has been sentenced to 90 days in jail after pleading guilty to lesser charges in December. Golden State Baptist College ( GSBC) is an independent Baptist Bible college in Santa Clara, California, offering bachelor's degrees and master's degree programs in fields related to Christian ministry . North Valley Publications is a small publisher that specializes in books on Christian living and Church leadership. I know the alleged victim was not happy about what was said, or that it wasnt said the way that she wanted, but it was likely handled that way for that reason. Many of the books published by NVP are written by the college's chancellor, Dr. Jack Trieber. There job is to report it. It is virtually unheard of to have an IFB pastor, his deacon board, and entire church supporting a victim in a situation like this. But thats not the churches job to investigate in a criminal matter and its not their place to get justice. Its not even the fact that he messed up! The bad news is that many of them have been conditioned to stay silent; to obey their pastors; to not question leadership. Hey, God has forgiven him and so should we. The pastor and church board never gave a full accounting of the whats and whys of this mans behavior and their culpability in the matter. He usedwhat he calls legal jargon to describe his investigation like cross-examine, gather facts, and evidence. His team believes the allegations are credible and have corroborated her story.Trieber also stated he would investigate.. I dont think I have ever been prouder of a fundamentalist preacher in all my life. Secondly, and please hear me on this, it doesnt take a Christian to recognize thatconcealing crime does not minimize damage to the cause of Christ.As someone who has a pretty negative view of fundamentalism, due largely to the behavior I have witnessed and experienced during my time in it, I can tell you that the best way to restore trust in those who have been hurt by the church is to stop hiding these things. Follow the money, they say, if you want to see whats what. 25:2, It is the glory of god to conceal a thing, but the honor of kings is to search out a matter. In other words, be discrete, dont go nuclear.. .Dead Alive Podcasts. My efforts were completely wasted.. This is exactly why the IFB has such a negative reputation, for decades of dealing with sex crimes in-house, in secret, and without the proper authorities. Even though there are some gaping holes in your message, I can tell you that for the first time in almost ten years, I have this small twinge of faith and hope in IFB leadership. I know one thing for certain, IFB Christians are the nastiest, most violent people I have ever dealt with on this blog. This stuff will happen in any group, without fail, but its how you deal with it that matters most. Of course, the victim can turn to civil courts for satisfaction. Criminal charges were filed last Thursday morning by Sarah Jackson. Yeah, I know first hand how people are treated who dare to talk out of school or tell where the dead bodies are buried, By far, the worst people Ive ever had to deal with on this blog are IFB zealots out to defend their pastor or church from exposure or criticism. The video was getting reported on Facebook, comment sections were getting disabled, Shiflett was getting pressure from other leaders, and eventually the video and related sermon video were removed from YouTube entirely. Calvary Chapel Chino Valley is located at 12205 Pipeline Ave, Chino, CA 91710. The Criminal Investigator lets you know when you need tounderstand. We should hate the sin that was done to them that they did not ask for. Santa Clara, CA 95054; About. I knew this man for years and Im terribly ashamed of his actions because he was raised sooo much better! We were deeply immersed in your end of the pool. Not teach sexual acts.. For those of you familiar with fundamentalist movements, particularly the IFB (Independent Fundamental Baptist), youll know these movements tend to be rife with sexual abuse and cover-ups. That is by far the most important thing you could have done. If you have a link for this, I would appreciate you posting it. Acceptance rate by state; Private School Review 244 5th Avenue, # J-229 New York, NY 10001. View photos of our students during services, activities, and more! Baltimore County police have arrested a former pastor of a fundamentalist Baptist church in Dundalk on charges he sexually abused a teenager on the church's grounds and elsewhere in the Baltimore. A man who was supposed to be our godly leader and council. That pastor trying to do his own investigation like that is almost like a random guy walking up on a murder scene and trying to investigate it for evidence before the police arrive. Giovanelli submitted his resignation. Way to go NVBC on another cover up! And I normally dont comment on stuff like this, but I see a lot of people weighing in and bashing that church for what they should or shouldnt have done and accusing of a cover up etc. That was the point of my above post. Copyright 2023 The Life and Times of Bruce Gerencser Powered by Flywheel. Home; GSBC.edu; Contact Us; Home; GSBC.edu; Contact Us; Category / Academics. a principal, coach, teacher, or counselor whos at least 21 years old, employed by the school, and was in a supervisory position over the student), https://statelaws.findlaw.com/maryland-law/maryland-rape-and-sexual-assault-laws.html. In 1992, the Golden State Baptist Institute was established for this purpose. I get that there are repercussions when you speak out on any given issue, but there are also repercussions when you dont. Giovanelli and went on to make Bro. https://brucegerencser.net/2015/01/does-the-bible-say-thou-shalt-not-judge/. It is for this reason, that I continue to post Black Collar Crime stories, regardless of the threats and abuse hurled my way. Brian, you dont know Christ so you have no idea what you are talking about. Lets now turn our attention to better protecting the flock of God & being more bold & biblical in exposing the wolves. Dont minimize the sin by moving them on to forgiveness right away. It seems Giovanelli needs to wash behind his ears. The alleged incident didnt take place there and it wasnt even in the same state so its not their job to try and press charges. Let's not forget that, Why revival must be tethered to Scripture, Revelation 9: The pit, the smoke and hideous demon creatures, Arkansas Baptist State Convention failed to report abuse allegations against pastor, lawsuit claims, Former NewSpring volunteer sentenced to 75 years for sexually abusing kids in daycare, Megachurch pastor resigns over allegations of sex with 18-year-old members of youth group 17 years ago, Alleged abuse victims sue Catholic Church, say they were pressured into taking unfair settlement. Handle this the right way.. Are you interested in Bible College but not sure what step to take next? On this point, I stand with Pastor Shiflett. Being a preacher is not the same thing as leadership. In feeling, in allowing myself to feel and to talk about that in my family history (child of preacher) I was finally free to say goodbye to church, to faith, to sin, to all the sick ideas of religious indoctrination. Having spent the majority of my life, heart and soul, deep in the IFB, I know full well how unheard of this kind of victim advocacy is. Jesus Never Fails | Golden State Baptist College. Theres a difference between being a preaching technician and being a leader. Stream and download in Hi-Res on Qobuz.com Josh Duggaris a good example of this. It remains to be seen if there is any legal recourse in this matter. PREVIOUS POST. Attendance at the daily chapel service is required. There has been absolutely no proof provided, yet people are ready to hang him and totally ruin his name. I dont need more private cheerleaders. 2021. Giovanelli planned on helping Immanuel Baptist's pastor, Greg Neal, start a new unaccredited IFB secondary institution called North Florida Baptist College. Bible Baptist College - Clarks Summit, Pennsylvani. Am I imagining things? He will not do well because the Christians with good names will get him now. Under the terms of the plea agreement, Giovanelli will not have to register as a sex offender and will be allowed to serve his probation in Florida. Even then, the student "must first obtain special administrative approval in order to attend his home church while enrolled at GSBC." Thank you for your comment!!! The purpose of GSBC is to train men and women who have a sincere desire to serve the Lord. Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. "Some things are of that nature as to make one's fancy chuckle, while his heart doth ache." I say let the police handle it. NEXT POST. Today, the man charged with rape has been arrested and Concord's Trinity Baptist Church is at the center of that scandal for allegedly protecting one of its members and perhaps hiding the victim from police scrutiny. View their 2022 profile to find tuition cost, acceptance rates, reviews and more. I feel sorry for the victim and everyones anger. I dont know much about the man or his ministry, but I am thrilled that he went public with the story and hisexperiences. Golden State Baptist College - Santa Clara, CA How Can We Help? How many ministries when someone is caught, the police are properly called and the perpetrator handled by the authorities? Neal, himself, was caught up in a sex scandal in 2011 when he was accused of video voyeurism. A couple things people should realize before bashing nvbcs statement is that they had to be very careful about how they worded their statement in order to avoid a potential lawsuit. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Threads 1 Messages 2. Programs [ edit] The rest of Triebers statement went something like this: the church and related ministries are blameless, and please pray for our church and the rapist. Had to be such a miserable life. I can only imagine the shit the victim has had to deal with. I think they handled it as best they could under the circumstances you stated. Ya nobody wants to be associated with it so I understand the backlash but we have to understand that it is everywhere and we should do our best to expose it. a ministry of North Valley Baptist Church of Santa Clara, California. Youre welcome. Nothing in this post should be construed as an accusation of guilt. As far as guilt or due process is concerned, thats for the courts to decide. Golden State Baptist College General Communication and Media Studies. Regarding his own victimization, Shiflett says, I was a victim because people knew and never said anything. When someone comes forward as he and the victim did, this inspires other victims to come forward as well; hence, we now know that Giovanelli had at least 3 victims, not just one. I tried not to get it on the internet. I think rational people can look at the evidence and come to a sound conclusion. But unfortunately, the way the law works in this country he needs to be convicted of a crime. Golden State Bible College President on administrative leave over allegations of 'inappropriate conduct', "fundamentalism has a problem with cover-ups". Because you are not willing to be seen if there is any recourse! Would appreciate you posting it the right way.. are you interested in College... Ive run into churches who have a link for this purpose did all our accrued knowledge disappear the moment walked/ran! One-Time donation today clearly believe that your faith has helped you to our. 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