Former Pastor Cuts Ties with Vineyard Church Amid Controversy
John Kliewer, who once served as the interim senior pastor at Vineyard Church in Duluth, Minnesota, has severed his relationship with the church following a tumultuous period marked by false accusations and a scandal surrounding sexual abuse. Despite allegations of leadership abuse against him, an independent investigation found these claims baseless, leading Kliewer to formally disassociate himself from the church.
The Duluth Vineyard Church Council acknowledged Kliewer’s departure and, in a recent statement, emphasized their commitment to maintaining truthfulness and accountability. The Council expressed regret for any pain caused to Kliewer, noting, “We recognize that our public statements addressing the allegations and the investigation caused you pain, and that was not our intent.”
Vineyard USA, the parent organization, had previously voiced concerns about Kliewer’s leadership style, stating in a letter dated March 6 that he wielded power in unhealthy ways. However, these allegations were later dismissed by an independent investigation which cleared Kliewer of any misconduct.
Kliewer’s wife, Lauralyn Kliewer, has been vocal about the ordeal, sharing on Facebook that her husband’s wrongful accusations led to post-traumatic stress disorder. “John’s therapist diagnosed him with PTSD and nearly hospitalized him for clinical depression,” she wrote, criticizing the settlement as insufficient.
The church and its parent organization are embroiled in broader legal troubles, being named in nine civil lawsuits related to Jackson Gatlin, a former pastor at the church who accepted a plea deal after being charged with sexual misconduct involving minors.
Gatlin, who was charged with abusing five teenage girls, took an Alford plea for multiple charges, receiving a 13-year concurrent sentence on several counts, as reported by Northern News Now.
Lauralyn Kliewer questioned the church’s use of non-disclosure agreements, arguing that such measures contradict promises of transparency. “We re-commit ourselves to truthfulness and accountability going forward,” the church council claimed in their statement, but Lauralyn challenged the sincerity of this commitment due to the NDA imposed on her husband.
This article was originally written by www.christianpost.com
