Witness

“Abuse, Inaction, and Failure of Leadership in the Vineyard Movement.”

In an article just published by Ryan Bauers, he comes forward as the whistleblower who contacted Vineyard USA in 2014 with complaints of clergy abuse against Michael Gatlin, former director of Multiply Vineyard, former pastor of Duluth Vineyard, former part of the ReOrg team, and former Trustee of Vineyard USA. In the article, Ryan shares details of his communication exchange in 2014 which provides receipts for who knew what and when about the Gatlin’s toxic approach to leadership. Reading his complaint and allegations is like reading a preview of the Guidepost report that was commissioned by Vineyard USA and recently released in 2024. At the time his allegations were made in 2014, no formal, independent investigation took place.

It's impossible to read Ryan’s complaint and not wonder what damage could have been prevented if our leadership culture was victim centric rather than one of circling the wagons to protect certain people. The title of Ryan’s article is “Abuse, Inaction, and Failure of Leadership in the Vineyard Movement.”

Ryan writes, “To be clear, the complaint I sent the VUSA board wasn’t just focused on what I alone had experienced, but moreso, my goal was to amplify the voices of more than a dozen others who had shared similar experiences and to bring to light what I witnessed happening to others: a pattern of the Gatlins abusing their power, bullying, intimidating, blacklisting people, using condescending language and actions, defensiveness whenever questioned, speaking poorly about others, etc.”

Before sharing the content of his complaint, Ryan sums up the response he felt he received at that time:

“My complaint letter to the VUSA board in 2014 outlined serious concerns about the actions of a VUSA employee and a pastor under their oversight authority. And, what did the VUSA board do? Nothing credible. Individually and collectively they failed in their responsibility by choosing inaction. They did not investigate. They did not formally respond to my allegations. They did not respond to others' allegations. Instead, they sidestepped my complaint by acting like it was just a personal conflict, “I got your note and again I will say that conflict resolution has a timetable. This letter to all, will not hurry that along.” (Phil Strout, the National Director of Vineyard USA at the time, wrote to me in an email - the only response I received). I emailed Phil back (and copied the rest of the Vineyard USA board) to make sure they understood that my outreach was not just about my personal conflict with Michael, but was much broader than that, “I am writing to bring to your attention what I believe are unethical and unScriptural actions by a Vineyard leader - Michael Gatlin . . . I am also writing, as I note in the letter, because I am concerned that Michael is (and has been) treating other people in a similar manner - bullying people, belittling people and using his power to harm and manipulate - and I would hate to see it affect others.” It was later revealed that Jay Pathak (the current National Director of VUSA) told Michael that he was shocked by my “dissociation from reality” and later labeled me a "bad guy" (a classic trick abusers use - attacking victims when they speak out and share their experience or other’s experiences.)”

You can read Ryan’s entire article HERE.

Earlier this week, Kim Roberts with the Ministry Watch website posted an article about Vineyard USA, Michael and Brenda Gatlin and the Duluth Vineyard. She took time to work through the documents linked in the timeline of events post on the Duluth Vineyard website. In her post, Roberts offers a summary of key events and questionable responses by Vineyard USA. For those with a limited amount of time to catch up on the details, you can read the article HERE.

(The accusation will be made, has been made, that my posts (and others) about this situation are sinfully divisive. The desire for victims to tell their stories and to align ourselves publicly with those who have been wronged is not sinfully divisive. It might be the kind of divisive Jesus describes will accompany those who choose to follow him. Giving witnesses a public forum in which they can share their stories when the direct approach of appealing to those in power has resulted in silence, a lack of investigation and worse, is not divisive. Posting to social media and websites is no more divisive or inappropriate than those in power using their own private mailing list or access to their website/server to publish their own version of a narrative. It is both inaccurate and inappropriate to blame the person who turns on the light for the mess in the room.

I love the Vineyard. And my best understanding of what that means is that I’m compelled to align myself with victims, the marginalized and the abused in solidarity and support.)