272. TNE RESPONDS: Robert Morris, Molestation Allegations, and Evangelical Corruption

The New Evangelicals Podcast

Summary

In this episode, Tim discusses the recent allegations against Robert Morris, the lead pastor of Gateway Church, who admitted to engaging in inappropriate sexual behavior with a 12-year-old girl when he was in his early 20s. Tim criticizes the response from Gateway Church and highlights the systemic issues within the evangelical church that enable and protect abusive pastors. He also addresses the harmful narratives propagated by conservative media about the supposed dangers of drag queen story hour, while ignoring the real threat of sexual abuse within churches. Tim calls for accountability and a dismantling of the toxic structures within American evangelicalism.

Takeaways

• The allegations against Robert Morris are serious and have not been disputed by Gateway Church or Morris himself.
• The response from Gateway Church and the language used in their statement minimizes the gravity of Morris' actions and prioritizes his healing journey over the survivor's experience.
• The American evangelical church operates as a corporate entity focused on growth and spectacle, often prioritizing the protection of the organization over the well-being of survivors.
• The evangelical church needs to address the systemic issues that enable and protect abusive pastors rather than blaming individuals or dismissing the problem.
• Conservative media's focus on supposed threats outside of the church, like drag queen story hour, distracts from the real issue of sexual abuse within churches.
• The current structures of American evangelicalism need to be dismantled in order to restore the witness of Christianity and prioritize truth, character, and integrity.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Content Warning

00:41 Unpacking the Allegations Against Robert Morris

10:27 The Toxicity of American Evangelicalism

24:53 The Need for Church Accountability

26:19 Dismantling the Structures of Evangelicalism

Read the Article on Robert Morris

Robert's Full Response Video

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