In the wake of mounting allegations of sexual and spiritual abuse by IHOPKC founder Mike Bickle, eight prominent Christian leaders have released a joint statement declaring he should no longer be involved in ministry.
These eight voices—Michael Brown, Jack Deere, Dan Juster, Patricia King, Joseph Mattera, Sam Storms, Michael Sullivant and Terri Sullivant—write that Bickle is “unfit” for ministry, and IHOPKC has “lost credibility in the eyes of many.”
From the time that the charges were first brought against Mike, while addressing this scandal on different levels within our own circles of ministry and in various public settings, we have been waiting for proper investigations to take place and all charges to be known before making final, definitive statements. Some of us have also been working behind the scenes over these months to help ensure that a proper investigation takes place. But since this process has dragged on for so long, we can wait no longer and feel a sacred responsibility to make this unequivocal, joint statement.
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The leaders reviewed six specific areas of consideration in preparation for the statement:
- Reviewing the testimony of Jane Doe
- Reviewing the testimony of Tammy Woods
- Reviewing the investigation conducted by Rosalee McNamara of the Lathrop Law Firm
- The public admittance of some of the allegations by Mike Bickle
- Attempts by members of the statement to meet with Bickle privately, which he did not agree to. As well as his lack of denial against the “growing number of charges coming against him”
- Various meetings between the members of the statement with leaders from “both the Advocacy Group and IHOPKC leadership”
Within the body of the statement, the leadership team issued five points from their review of the investigation and allegations at hand:
First, we are deeply grieved for those who have presented testimony that they were manipulated and sexually abused by Mike Bickle. We can think of few sins more damaging and destructive than that of manipulative, clergy sexual abuse, all the more in the case of a minor. We are also deeply grieved for those whose personal faith has been shattered and whose worlds have been turned upside down because of the alleged agonizing events.
Second, after considering the reports we have reviewed, we must state categorically that he is, sadly, unfit to lead a ministry. Even with full repentance and personal restoration in the Lord, he is disqualified from public ministry. (Restoration to full fellowship is of course possible.) Mike himself, in his statement of Dec. 12, 2023, acknowledged that his stepping down from ministry “may be long and it may even be permanent,” and that was before the most serious charges against him had even been raised.
Third, while we know that many fine believers and leaders have served at IHOPKC and are part of the related, global prayer movement, we recognize that the evidence points to some dangerous cult-like tendencies that emerged over the years that need to be addressed and adjusted. There has also been a lack of a formal structure of accountability for those serving in various capacities at IHOPKC, overseen by local elders, resulting in a failure to deal properly with serious sexual sins, and not just pertaining to Mike.
Fourth, we recognize and grieve over the lack of accountability structures in the larger, independent, charismatic church world, where there are no real courts of appeal, few, if any, boards of city-wide or trans-local elders to consult, and no formal structures in which serious allegations can be heard and adjudicated. We have been aware of this need for many years, and it is our hope that now, at last, a united, biblically based, Spirit-led effort can be made to address this gaping hole in our midst.
Fifth, we recognize that many younger believers now feel disillusioned with our generation of leaders, feeling let down by us or, worse still, perceiving us to be part of the “old guard” that is determined to protect our interests or, even worse, enabling serious clergy misconduct. This, too, breaks our hearts, as we have spent decades investing in the younger generations–right until this day, considering it a sacred privilege–and we carry a fatherly (or motherly) burden for your well-being. God Himself knows!
As the investigations into abuse continues, and as new revelations come to light, the leadership team implored their fellow believers to keep all involved in prayer, and that God’s will and justice be done in this tragic situation.
Please keep praying for those who have been sinned against, along with all those who have been hurt, and pray also for IHOP, for Mike and his wife and family, and for the church globally that has been impacted. God desires to bring repentance, cleansing, healing and restoration to all.
Know that we are praying for you and we are here to serve you, believing that somehow, God will bring good out of evil and light out of darkness, for the purification and healing of His people and for His honor and glory.{eoa}
To read the full statement, click here.
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James Lasher is Staff Writer for Charisma Media.
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