Although he has walked with Vonda through the long painful process, Dyer says his wife has had to bear a heavy weight alone. He also notes that because abuse impacts families and congregations, “fallout” is severe when allegations are mishandled.
Scott Dyer describes how Hybels made a “direct attack on my marriage” and then placed a “cloud of suspicion” on both his wife and him. “Dealing with the fallout was like a full-time job for both of us every night,” he says, leading to loneliness and exhaustion. During the ordeal, however, Dyer says he observed God working through Vonda as she counseled other victims and respectfully told her truth.
To fellow church leaders, the pastor warns that “collateral damage” is immense unless they remain lovingly transparent and put other people’s needs above their own. Abusive clergy should be on notice, he says, because “the Lion of Judah is on the move,” and “will defend his Bride.” Even those who aren’t overtly abusive must “stop objectifying women, even in subtle ways.”
The #ChurchToo movement, says Dyer, is Jesus’ way of “cleansing” his church: “Just as [Jesus] cleansed the temple of the moneychangers with righteous anger, he is fiercely ridding his church of the things that are poisoning her from the inside out.”
Men and church leaders, the pastor adds, must follow Jesus’ example by exercising humility, letting go of the need for power, and serving “our sisters instead of ourselves.”
