New Allegations Surface Against Grace Community Church
Grace Community Church of Sun Valley, California, once led by John MacArthur, faces a new lawsuit that accuses the church of aiding an alleged child abuser. The legal action was initiated by Jane Doe and her children in a California court, claiming that the church attempted to hide the abuse.
Jane Doe, together with minors identified as “J.J.,” “A.J.,” and “R.J.,” filed a lawsuit against Grace Community Church (GCC) and Clinton Jung last September. The suit was brought in the Superior Court of the State of California in Sacramento County.
According to the provided complaint, Doe, who was married to Jung, reported to church leaders in early 2021 that Jung had sexually abused their young daughter. The suit accuses GCC of failing to report the abuse and urges Doe to stay in the marriage despite ongoing abuse.
The complaint alleges that the church supported Clinton Jung, allowing him to continue abusive behavior. “At numerous points, the Church colluded with Clinton to force Plaintiff to remain in the home with him and under his control despite knowing he had engaged in domestic violence and was likely to do it again in the future,” states the complaint.
Jung was accused of abusing his children during supervised visits, including incidents where he allegedly forced J.J. to engage in inappropriate actions. The plaintiffs seek a jury trial, citing claims of childhood sexual abuse, negligence, and aiding domestic violence.
After extensive investigations, the district attorney could not file charges against Jung, citing insufficient evidence to prove intent beyond reasonable doubt. A 2023 letter from the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office criticizes GCC for obstructing evidence concerning Jung’s intent.
The letter, referenced in the lawsuit, states, “[T]he pastor and elders at Grace Community Church muddled what could have been helpful evidence as to [Clinton’s] intent.” It further criticizes the church’s handling of the matter internally without legal reporting.
Shounak Dharap, representing the plaintiffs, described the case as part of a lasting pattern of behavior. “The allegations in this case are about an ongoing pattern,” Dharap said, highlighting concerns about how churches should protect children.
Grace Community Church has not commented on the lawsuit. This is not the first accusation of mishandling abuse claims against the church. Past incidents, including reports from 2002 and 2024, involved allegations of mistreatment of women reporting abuse by their spouses.
Previous claims against GCC involved public shaming and excommunication of women who reported domestic abuse. One such incident involved a woman punished for separating from her husband, who was later convicted of child molestation.
In another case, Lorraine Zielinski accused GCC of inappropriate discipline during her effort to separate from an allegedly abusive husband. In her email to church leaders, she described feeling dismissed and bullied during counseling sessions.
This article was originally written by www.christianpost.com
