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Participants place flameless candles in front of crosses April 29 during a Service of Lament, Confession and Hope at the United Methodist General Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina. The service commemorated victims of sexual abuse within the denomination and called the church to greater accountability.
John Sumwalt at 16 was a wrestling champion in 1967 when he was sexually assaulted by his United Methodist pastor. ‘After therapy and much prayer I reached a point of full forgiveness,’ he says. ‘I do not, of course, excuse the behavior. I held him publicly accountable.’
Members of the Wisconsin and Northern Illinois delegations stand May 3 while an apology for sexual misconduct within the United Methodist Church is read during the final day of the United Methodist General Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina. Council of Bishops President Tracy S. Malone said, ‘Sexual misconduct is a current and real problem within the United Methodist Church. Today we acknowledge there are people here who have been mistreated, abused and assaulted by clergy and lay leaders in the Church.'
Bishop LaTrelle Easterling gives a sermon during morning worship at the United Methodist General Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina. ‘The church cannot simply bandage the wounds of the abuse,’ she says. ‘We need to speak to the abuse itself.’ She called on those present at the General Conference to find purpose and direction in Luke 4:16-21 and Jesus’ proclamation that ‘I have come to liberate, free, uplift and unbind and love. I have come to end oppression, bondage, domination, abuse and hate.’
I was 16 years old in August 1967. I was the sophomore class president and sectional wrestling champion; I was still basking in the afterglow of participating in the state tournament. It had been the best year of my young life.
John Sumwalt
John Sumwalt is a retired pastor and the author of “Shining Moments: Visions of the Holy in Ordinary Lives” and “How to Preach the Miracles.” Email johnsumwalt@gmail.com or call 414-339-0676 to reach him.
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Participants place flameless candles in front of crosses April 29 during a Service of Lament, Confession and Hope at the United Methodist General Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina. The service commemorated victims of sexual abuse within the denomination and called the church to greater accountability.
John Sumwalt at 16 was a wrestling champion in 1967 when he was sexually assaulted by his United Methodist pastor. ‘After therapy and much prayer I reached a point of full forgiveness,’ he says. ‘I do not, of course, excuse the behavior. I held him publicly accountable.’
Members of the Wisconsin and Northern Illinois delegations stand May 3 while an apology for sexual misconduct within the United Methodist Church is read during the final day of the United Methodist General Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina. Council of Bishops President Tracy S. Malone said, ‘Sexual misconduct is a current and real problem within the United Methodist Church. Today we acknowledge there are people here who have been mistreated, abused and assaulted by clergy and lay leaders in the Church.'
Bishop LaTrelle Easterling gives a sermon during morning worship at the United Methodist General Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina. ‘The church cannot simply bandage the wounds of the abuse,’ she says. ‘We need to speak to the abuse itself.’ She called on those present at the General Conference to find purpose and direction in Luke 4:16-21 and Jesus’ proclamation that ‘I have come to liberate, free, uplift and unbind and love. I have come to end oppression, bondage, domination, abuse and hate.’
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