Questions and Answers

An update on my post about Vineyard USA and abuse allegations in Duluth.

An update to my post on “Learning from Duluth.” For context, please read that post first.

On February 27, 2023, Jay Pathak, National Director for Vineyard USA, asked for everyone in Vineyard USA to be “…praying for all of the truth to come to light. Be praying that everything will be revealed.” He was specifically referring to the situation at the Duluth Vineyard involving the Gatlins. I love this prayer request. I love praying this prayer. And to some extent, this prayer request is why I’ve been writing my recent articles focusing on Vineyard USA, particularly their participation in the tragic events at the Duluth Vineyard. I’m keen for Jay’s brave prayer to be answered. The prayer request was made as part of Jay’s announcement that Brenda Gatlin had resigned as one of three Super Regional Leaders and Michael had resigned as a Trustee with Vineyard USA and from the board of Vineyard Worship.

Recently, public access has been granted to more details as a part of the transparent process of lament, repentance and caring for victims by the local church. The items in the update below are some answers to the questions I’ve been most frequently asked by people who have read my “Learning from Duluth” post. These bullet points contain hyperlinks to source documents – original communication between Vineyard USA and Duluth Vineyard. These are their own words. This is, in part, what “all the truth coming to light” and “everything being revealed” looks like. This is not an interpretation of events or a version of events, these are the communications that you can read for yourself and about which you can reach your own conclusions.

A more comprehensive timeline with hyperlinks has been published HERE. (follow the hyperlinks but please beware as this material can be triggering for people recovering from trauma and abuse)

Top Ten Areas I Have Received the Most Questions About (from the Updated Response Timeline)

1. Vineyard USA is not “victim-centric” and has questioned Duluth Vineyard’s “victim-centric” approach. Link Link

2. Vineyard USA paid Brenda Gatlin 3-months salary after she resigned from VUSA and paid Michael Gatlin 6-months salary after he resigned from Duluth Vineyard (Michael had not been a VUSA employee for over a year). To receive their payout, Vineyard USA required Michael and Brenda to sign Non-Disparagement Agreements. Link

3. Immediately after Brenda’s resignation, Vineyard USA pushed for paying the Galtin’s severance. At first Duluth Vineyard considered doing so, but in the end they resisted and questioned VUSA’s payment to Gatlins. Link Link Link

4. Even after the allegations arose, Vineyard USA both supported Michael and Brenda’s power and failed to take steps to protect the local church from them. Link Link Link January 29, 2023 entry

5. Vineyard USA did not support the particulars of Duluth Vineyard’s church discipline of the Gatlins. Link

6. Vineyard USA mischaracterized or told half-truths about their support of Duluth Vineyard’s church discipline of the Gatlins. Vineyard USA labels Duluth Vineyard’s communications as disparaging and divisive, which is a classic way that abusers try to silence victims. Link Link Jay Pathak’s May 9, 2024 statement

7. Vineyard USA’s National Director appears to believe that whether someone is a “bad guy” is relevant to the appropriate response to their allegations of abuse. Link

8. Vineyard USA posted and kept up a video after the Duluth Vineyard: told them “the video is not very victim centric” and “the video comes across as being from the Gatlin's perspective” link; shared the negative impact it was having link; and asked them in a face-to-face meeting to take it down link May 9-10, 2023 entry.

9. When Duluth Vineyard increased transparency using its Response Timeline, Vineyard USA objected. Link

10. Vineyard USA used family systems theory against the Duluth Vineyard. November 21, 2023 entry.

One of the expressions I’ve learned in Recovery rooms is, “We’re only as sick as our secrets.” I think of that saying when I pray Jay’s prayer for “…all of the truth to come to light…that everything will be revealed.” It’s invoking a practice that is at the heart of getting free from our addictions: rigorous honesty. Rigorous honesty means it's not okay to tell big lies or small ones. It's also not okay to hide information or simply not share key information. As I heard Stanley Hauerwas say prophetically to the Vineyard at a Society of Vineyard Scholars meeting, “Tell each other the truth.”

Adam Russell, a senior pastor of a Vineyard church and one of our Vineyard USA Trustees once told a group of us, “The way the kingdom comes is the kingdom that’s coming.” I’ve been thinking about that saying a lot lately too. What is the kingdom of God response to young women who will suffer their whole lives from what was done to them? What is the kingdom of God response to young women who look to our institution for help? What is the kingdom of God response to allegations of abuse and misuse of position, power and authority? What is the kingdom of God response to parents who ask for justice for their children? What is the kingdom of God response to colleagues in ministry who share stories of harm done?

If I look at our response so far, what kind of a kingdom do I see coming?

Once, in therapy, my counselor asked me a simple question. “What would you tell someone who came to you for help if they told you the same story you just told me?” That’s one of the two questions I’ve been asking myself as reporting victims have bravely and vulnerably reached out to me to share their own stories - not just of what has happened to them but also their experience with Vineyard USA as they have responded to them and their reports. The other question is, “If this was my daughter, what would I do now?”

If you’re a Vineyard pastor and would like to join me for a conversation about this situation, drop me an email at brian@raleighvineyard.org