Re: The Living Word Fellowship, The Walk, John Robert Stevens
Posted by:
Cloudwatcher
()
Date: November 23, 2018 11:25AM
that little red flag Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Latest posting out of TLWF:
>
> An Update from The Living Word Fellowship
> November 20, 2018
>
> We want to express our grave regret for those
> whose faith has been shaken by a recent accusation
> of sexual misconduct by a former leader in our
> ministry and the seeming failure of our church
> leadership to respond appropriately. We want to
> ensure you that you’re not just receiving our
> sincere prayers, but that we are taking meaningful
> action.
> The Living Word Fellowship has taken this
> accusation seriously and aims to respond
> responsibly and decisively.
>
> We have taken the following actions so far:
>
> We have ended the employment of those involved.
> We are in the process of forming an independent
> committee to guide a thorough examination of the
> facts in and around these events and to receive,
> process, and respond to any related information.
> We will post a notice on this website when the
> independent committee is ready to begin its work.
> In addition to examining the facts surrounding
> these events, an ongoing critical evaluation of
> the organization’s leadership practices has made
> us aware of weaknesses in our organization’s
> culture. At times, our culture and central
> leadership practices have fallen short, and people
> have been hurt. However, we do not believe these
> shortcomings are reflective of those servant
> leaders currently in the churches and other
> entities who are actively seeking to be
> accountable to those they lead and to allow their
> decisions to be informed by them.
> This critical evaluation of our culture has led us
> to expedite a decision to eliminate our central
> governing body, thereby making our churches
> independent local churches, governed locally as
> they serve in their communities. It is our belief
> that the people and pastoral leadership of the
> local churches have strong relationships with the
> Lord and with one another and should be empowered
> to serve the Lord in their communities as the Lord
> leads them. Our centralized leadership structure
> has at times made this more difficult, not easier.
> The process of change from a centralized
> organization to independent churches will take
> time, but we are committed to working with pastors
> and leaders within the churches to complete this
> transition as quickly as we can.
>
> We believe the present circumstances, as serious,
> devastating and heartbreaking as they are, must be
> dealt with responsibly, but they also do not have
> to define the future of the churches and
> congregants who have been part of the Living Word
> Fellowship. We also believe the Lord has worked
> positively and powerfully in the lives of many
> people through this ministry in a way that
> transcended the flaws of the leaders.
>
> In all of this, we pray that God may be glorified
> as He heals the brokenhearted and wisely guides
> our current leadership in an orderly close-down of
> the Living Word Fellowship organization and the
> Apostolic Company as its central governing body.
> We also pray that He shows the way forward for
> those churches whose ministry will continue and
> hopefully be strengthened through this challenge.
SEEMING FAILURE????