Dear Pastor,

I am reaching out to you with deep concern about the way Vineyard USA (VUSA) leadership has handled reports of abuse within Vineyard churches.  As a former Vineyard pastor, I believed strongly in the movement’s commitment to integrity, justice, and care for the vulnerable.  However, accounts from victims expose a troubling pattern of dismissal, intimidation, and evasion of accountability by the national office under the leadership of the Executive Team, whose efforts have been led by Robb Morgan and Jay Pathak (and, previously, Phil Strout). This harms victims, local churches, and their witness for Christ. 

This is not the first time these issues have been raised. In 2014, I submitted a formal complaint to the VUSA board detailing serious concerns about the abusive leadership patterns of Michael and Brenda Gatlin.  My complaint was not only based on my own experiences but also on those of about a dozen others who had reported similar mistreatment.  Despite clear warning signs, VUSA’s leadership ignored the complaints, failed to investigate, and instead, protected those in power.  The result was another decade of unchecked abuse, culminating in the devastating harm documented in the 2023 GRACE and 2024 Guidepost reports. The patterns I warned about in 2014—bullying, intimidation, blacklisting, and manipulation—are the same patterns survivors are experiencing now and are courageously speaking out against.  You can read more about the complaint I submitted and the subsequent interaction with VUSA leadership by clicking HERE.  The same patterns of negligence and protection of abusive leadership persist today among the Vineyard USA leadership team.  

However, much more important than my own experience is how the victims and their parents have experienced working with VUSA leadership (and it isn’t good).  I am including a few important documents so you can hear directly from these victims.  I urge you to read them carefully.  You can read one victim’s impact statement by clicking HERE and a detailed outline from the victim and her parents on specific interactions with VUSA staff and misleading updates to the VUSA timeline HERE.  Another victim bravely shared her experience in two different articles that you can access by clicking HERE and HERE.  As you read these accounts, ask yourself: 

• If you or one of your family members was treated this way after being victimized, how would you feel?  Would you feel their needs and feelings have been prioritized throughout?   

• Are you comfortable with how these victims and their families express how they have been treated by VUSA leadership?  Because, not only do these leaders represent VUSA, but they also represent you, your church, the movement and, ultimately, are supposed to represent the character of Jesus.  

These survivors and their families have bravely spoken out, despite VUSA’s attempts to silence their voices and twist their narratives. Their testimonies reveal not only the original trauma they endured, but also the profound harm caused by VUSA’s response (or lack thereof):

• Silencing and intimidation tactics: Victims were explicitly advised to stop speaking publicly about their experiences, reinforcing a culture of secrecy and suppression.

• Prioritizing the needs of abusers over those of the victims:  There are patterns in the communication and actions of VUSA leaders that demonstrate the inappropriate prioritization of the needs of abusers (Vineyard leaders) over the victims.

• Institutional betrayal: Victims and their families faced evasive, vague responses that failed to acknowledge the severity of the abuse or provide meaningful support.

• Minimization of abuse: VUSA omitted critical details, refused to name the offenses for what they were, and failed to hold those in power accountable.

• Promotion of Vineyard leaders who have been credibly accused of abuse:  Not only have abusers been allowed to remain in leadership, but they have even been promoted.

• Failure to implement recommendations: The GRACE report provided clear steps for VUSA to address systemic failures, yet many recommendations remain unfulfilled.  Vineyard pastors and boards are also calling for systemic change that VUSA has been ignoring.

• A lack of transparency: Key findings from independent investigations were concealed from pastors and congregants, making true accountability nearly impossible.

These are not isolated incidents but a systemic issue that must be confronted!  VUSA’s public messaging claims they are learning, listening, and making changes—yet their actions behind closed doors tell a different story.  Survivors deserve better.  The Church must do better. But Vineyard USA leadership continues to double down, protect their own, and blackball anyone who speaks up (notice THIS communication).

As a leader within Vineyard, you have the influence to demand truth, transparency, and real change.

I urge you to:

1. Read these statements in their entirety. Hear directly from the victims rather than relying solely on the national office’s narrative.  

2. Ask hard questions of VUSA leadership. Push for clarity on how they are handling these cases (including the detailed communication) and why survivors have been silenced, dismissed, or treated poorly.  

3. Advocate for independent accountability measures. Without external oversight, VUSA will continue to operate in secrecy and self-protection.

4. Support survivors. Call for full support for their healing and ensure that their voices are centered in any future discussions on reform.  Create a national reporting system through VUSA that involves an outside entity (not VUSA staff).  

Other Vineyard pastors have already called for greater accountability and systemic change in the Vineyard.  Pastor Donnell Wyche from Ann Arbor Vineyard wrote a letter on behalf of their church board and membership expressing their serious concerns about how these matters have been handled (his first letter is HERE and an updated version is HERE), have voted to withhold their 3%, and are calling for the resignation of Vineyard USA board members.  Brian Metzger, Senior Pastor of Raleigh Vineyard, has compassionately expressed his concerns in several articles which you can find HERE.  John Kliewer, along with the Duluth Vineyard board, has sent a letter pleading with VUSA leadership for change HERE, outlined specific requests HERE, and have expressed other concerns HERE.  There are other Vineyard pastors having conversations about what their response will be as they are finding out the shocking details of what has transpired.  

I no longer have a stake in the Vineyard movement, as I have not been a Vineyard pastor since 2013.  However, as a breathing human being alive in this moment, I feel moved and sickened by the accounts of these victims and I feel compelled to appeal to you as leaders to become fully aware of what is happening in your movement, to hold Robb and Jay accountable for the way their leadership has further harmed these victims, and to call for systemic change in the Vineyard movement.  My hope is that you will link arms with those already speaking out and demand significant, immediate change.  This is not just about past failures—it is about ensuring that the Vineyard movement embodies the justice and love of Jesus moving forward.

With deep concern,
Ryan Bauers