Soul Survivor thread 2

[BadSkiingMum]

This is a thread for anyone following the events at Soul Survivor or wishing to discuss their own experiences or the experiences of their loved ones within evangelical, charismatic and pentecostal religious spaces.

The CofE may be beyond fixing, but at least the influx of women into the hierachy will mean fewer sex offenders and men liable to protect them, and they won't be masons.

As a female vicar, I’m sad to say that female clergy can horrifically bully other (usually female) clergy.

Oh I'm sure that's true, the women will on average be no better people than the men, and no less inclined to power politics.

It’s not over yet…
Bishop accuses Archbishops of 'coercive language' www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj0je7mg8ygo

A big, rude, rowdy, hairy fat man in strange clothes.....creep from 100 km

I have just watched the Justin Welby clip from his interview with Laura Kuenssberg and am really, really disappointed.
Justin Welby: Former Archbishop of Canterbury forgives serial abuser John Smyth - BBC News

There is just no sense of empathy or culpability....or even regret.

Yes, in an abstract theological sense he is obliged to forgive Smyth as a Christian, but does he 'get' how dire that sounds to the average citizen today? Most people will interpret that as forgiving a child abuser and letting him off the hook.

This is where churches go so badly wrong as they both hold people to incredibly high standards ('No sex before marriage') but seem so quick to forgive the direst of crimes - especially if they are committed by clergy - because it is the 'Christian' thing to do...

A couple, over the age of consent, together for years, bit not married having sex together is "a sin", or having sex with a "non believer" ....as is people in a position of trust or influence having non consensual or under age sex or abusing them, and almost is seen in the same light "because were all sinners!!"

A couple I knew through a church were happy to, and considered it Christian hospitality to have a known paedophile stay at their house while they had young children. It was unbelievable.

In the same group I was frowned upon for not buying stuff from criminals "Nottingham knockers" because they considered it a kindness to help them make a living. It was quite strange how they could be judgy about some things and then turn a blind eye to all manner of other stuff!

I haven’t heard the clip but when they said on the radio that Welby had forgiven smythe, I must admit I yelled at it ‘it’s not for you to forgive you <expletive deleted>’. How bloody dare he!

Yeah, I'm pretty disgusted by Welby's behaviour and excuses. He covered up so much, and hasn't supported abuse survivors at all. 😡

That's really disgusting behaviour. He doesn't seem to have stood with the victims at all.

The interview upset me all over again - would have been better if he just kept his mouth shut. No-body asked him.

I think he's trying to mend his reputation. Good luck with that one.

It's a feature not a bug: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/apr/05/christian-missionary-group-accused-of-public-shaming-and-rituals-to-cure-sexual-sin

YWAM have been notorious for years for this stuff. That article describes pretty much exactly what happened to me at the hands of Pioneer as well, who have gaslit me and denied everything.

I'm sorry your experience with Pioneer has been so awful @PrimitivePerson . I believe from another thread you were going to approach the individual church that had hurt you. It sounds as if you had a bad experience of that and I am sorry.

Yeah - the church has denied everything.

I'm sorry. That must be very hard. Did they even actually listen to you?

They sort of did, but the three organisations I complained to all obviously colluded in their responses, and relied on it being a long time ago as making it impossible to prove. The church has funded some therapy sessions for me, but has pointed out that they're a "goodwill gesture" and not an admission of liability. That really hurts.

I can see that would hurt. My experience of "goodwill gestures" though is that actually they wouldn't make one unless they knew that had actually been at fault somehow. It is just so it couldn't be used as evidence if they were sued.

I hope you are finding the therapy sessions helpful. Therapy has been a life saver for me.

I had the same with CofE - funded my therapy but the guy is still in post as vicar and will ‘receive more training’ 🙄

Oh, I know what you mean - they definitely know they screwed up badly, but that if they admit it, they'll expose themselves to further action and claims from others. They're attempting to get away with the absolute bare minimum.

That's not a good response for a church!

Hello, hope everyone is well. I am wondering if anyone has any knowledge or experience of the Limitless youth festival, run by Elim Foursquare Gospel Alliance. Has it taken on the mantle of largest Christian Youth festival now that Soul Survivor is no more? Is it a safe environment in all senses of the word or will there be pressure to do things like speak in tongues or be 'slain in the spirit'? A young person I know is attending in August and I just hope they have a good youth camp experience without any spiritual pressure or un-qualified 'counselling' going on...

I don’t I’m sorry. Such a difficult thing- I’m pretty sceptical now of all such things. Our boys’ brigade girls association does some great stuff, but it isn’t deep, spiritually.

Of the one’s that ‘took over’ from Soul Survivor, Satelites is the one I’d pick as a former youth leader and parent.