“We would also, until the investigation is done, place our parameters for ‘non-registered sex offenders’ around the individual,” the elders said.
Shortly after the members’ meeting in July 2019, Chris stepped down as an elder at TVCD, eventually leaving TVCD altogether. What Chris went through at TVCD caused what he described as “intense deconstruction.”
“My faith looks nothing like it did,” Chris said. “I’m still just trying to have grace for myself—still five years out—I still feel shame and responsibility about what happened and how I was complicit.”
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“I’m at a point where I believe there is a God. That’s about as far as I’ll go,” he added. “I think he’s good.”
Anna said that she is “relieved that we still have some faith, not because we were at The Village, but despite them and despite the things that we saw.” She added that she is thankful that she and Chris “saw the light and got out before their children were older.”
Chris and Anna now “loosely” attend a Methodist church. “We will probably never again in our lives have the same ‘church is everything’ type of attitude,” Anna said. “People live and they learn. And we have learned some really hard lessons.”
The Village Church Releases Statement
“The Village Church cares deeply about protecting children and the most vulnerable among us,” TVC told ChurchLeaders following the release of the “Bodies Behind the Bus” podcast episode. “We have made it one of our top priorities not only to provide for the spiritual care of our members and guests, but also to provide for the safety of those attending our gatherings.”
TVC explained that it employs “best practices—background checks, regular training, and various security protocols—that are informed and shaped through ongoing work with external experts.” TVC said it “continues to invest resources in our growing care ministry to provide Christ-centered transformation, hope, and support.”
“We remain committed to serving as a refuge for the broken and suffering to receive the hope of the gospel,” TVC concluded.
