Despite these actions by The Line of Fire board, a leaked internal email from its sister organization, FIRE International, blamed TRR for spreading "division, anger, and hurt and ruined reputations." "Their desire is not healing nor reconciliation nor restoration but to destroy and humiliate," the FIRE International internal email stated. "They are in agreement with the Accuser of the brethren." Similarly, FIRE Church, another sister organization, sent out an email yesterday that was similarly worded, accusing TRR of spreading division, and urging people not to gossip. "Let me encourage you not to engage in premature judgments, gossip of any kind, or join in vain conversations," wrote FIRE Church Pastor Chris Williams. "And ask Jesus how you should respond to anything on social media or even if you should respond at all."' - Roys Report
Even more disgusting. The Roys Report is reporting the truth. This is the Charismatic Industrial Complex attacking those that threaten their brand; that's all. If reputations are ruined, that would be the fault of the perpetrators, not the victims or those that provide a platform for the truth. The division is wrought by those who propagate falseness within the body of Christ, whether it be in doctrine or in deed. FIRE International obviously does not understand scripture either by misusing the "accuser of the brethren" verse, as we also heard in Bicklegate and the Robert Morris scandal. Do not trivialize what they are trying to do here. By bringing that verse in, they seek to turn the hearts and minds of the sheep who might read these stories. Think about the sheer audacity of this statement. Assuming this story is true and with each passing day it sure seems like it, Dr. Brown abused his ministerial stature to take common grooming steps with a sheep and employee, half his age, when he was married and building his "holiness" ministry. He tried to sweep it under the rug by misusing Matthew 18 but forcing the victim to meet with he and his wife. Now, years later the truth comes out and Brown's supporters accuse the Roys Report of working with the devil, which means by default the victim must be as well. Simply vile. The FIRE International folks are right that the goal of Roys and the function of the truth is not this false reconciliation and restoration notion. That is straight up evil. If the story is true Dr. Brown is done, period full stop. What the goal should be is the truth and then healing for the victim (s). The truth is only divisive to those who do not want the truth to be known. Speaking openly about the truth is NEVER gossip. Realize all they are trying to do is control the flow of information. The smearing of social media is very common too. This is not ten years ago. The majority of reporting and news is now on social media. Let me be abundantly clear. We should not pre judge what happened 23 years ago but we certainly can comment on what is happening right now. When someone you have been close with for decades comes out to say that your answers are lacking and, in another case, not forthcoming - that is not a good sign. When your organization tries to silence the victim, tries to hire a criminal defense firm specializing in defending people accused of sexual misconduct, and sends out fund raising letters accusing the victim of work with Satan? Yeah, not a good look. Also, not a good look to then try and blame and smear the reporting source while boldly declaring you "stand with Dr. Brown."
"The FIRE International email, which included three attachments, was sent to FIRE International missionaries and was signed by FIRE International President Josh Peters, Josh's wife Tobi Peters, FIRE International Chief Operating Officer Dion Light, and Andy and Karyn Pricer, deputy directors of FIRE International's field operations. "We stand with Dr. Brown and his statement," the FIRE International leaders wrote. Peters also urged FIRE International's missionaries not to quickly judge Brown or other FIRE International leaders' handling of the allegations. "Please don't jump to conclusions that are based on opinion," Peters wrote in an email. "Please know that we were not hiding anything from you." The joint letter stated several reasons why FIRE International did not share details of the allegations concerning Brown with its missionaries earlier. For one, they said that the matter was "dealt with" 23 years ago.
However, Erin told TRR that no FIRE School of Ministry staff or leaders invited her to any meetings about the allegations in the early 2000s. They also did not ask her to be interviewed for any official investigations at that time into Brown's alleged misconduct towards her, Erin said. TRR reached out to Peters, requesting documentation of FIRE's handling of the allegations 23 years ago. We also asked what disciplinary or restoration process Brown underwent, but Peters did not reply." - Roys Report
So, according to FIRE International there were four reasons why they were not forthcoming about these allegations. Let me go over a couple of of them. The first was this dismissive, "oh well it was 23 years ago." As if that matters at all. We saw the exact same defense in Bicklegate and Robert Morris. It was obviously not "dealt with" to the satisfaction of the alleged victim. This notion that they all thought it was dealt with I addressed yesterday by examining how scoundrel fallen leaders first refuge is Matthew 18. This paradigm however, was not given by Jesus to address ministerial abuse. Dr. Brown was not peers with Erin at the time of this scandal. He was in a position of workplace and spiritual authority. That is the trust that would have been broken. There was probably no discipline or restoration. Brown said that he and his wife met with Erin in the "spirit of Matthew 18." He assumed that because he was contrite and apologized that this issue was resolved. No harm no foul and he went back to building his ministry empire. The second reason FIRE International provided was that they believe this is all hearsay and a witch hunt. What? This is what happens when people who are not lawyers, try to make legal claims. Roys properly reporting what Erin says happened is NOT hearsay. It is direct testimony. Erin was actually there. While we are at it, how exactly is this a witch hunt? Just another attempt to smear the victims.
The FIRE International email then goes into a litany of scriptures that they use to try and defend Brown. Most of them are predicated on their belief that Dr. Brown has repented and sought forgiveness but that is yet to actually be determined. What was galling was their citing Matthew 7:1-5, which are the key verses above. I say galling because these apply the opposite way of how they intend. Dr. Brown built his ministry on biblical concepts of holiness. This was why he liked false teachers like Bickle and Ravi Zacharias so much. Yet to lecture about holiness when you are building your career on slapping the bottom of your secretary reeks of taking out the plank in your own eye. Before anyone starts to dismiss this victim because the actions were seemingly so minor compared to let's say Bickle, this is only because she stopped the behavior. You start with holding hands. You move into kissing on the lips. Then you start smacking her bottom. THEN she said stop. THEN he realized what he was in the middle of and ran into the refuge of Matthew 18. We do not know what might have transpired next if she had not said no more. The email then concludes with this ridiculousness:
"God used sinners such as Saul, David, Gideon, Sampson, Rachel, many others and Paul being the worst in his own opinion. He forgave all of them and used them for HIS Glory." - FIRE International
Another favorite bible twisting used by those that have fallen from grace. God can use anyone but that does not mean He is or He must. I also do not recall any of these folks burying their sins and not publicly repenting. I do not recall friends of King David calling Bathsheba and telling her to keep quiet. This is simply scriptural abuse to try and provide some cover for their boy at the expense of a wounded sheep. Their email started with the usual platitudes about caring about the victim but they claim that her healing "must be found through forgiveness and emotional healing that only comes from the Lord." Huh? Healing cannot be found also in accountability? Is FIRE International's position that she can only find healing by forgiving Brown? While his surrogates are trying to pressure her to shut up? Please, you're embarrassing yourself. Lastly of note from this Roy Report is that Erin did not seek this out but was approached by other members of the FIRE community who urged her to speak. Erin is quoted as saying, "Forgiveness has come from speaking the truth."
As I said when this story first broke, we should always be cautious but there were eerily similar warnings like we saw when the Bickle story first emerged. This report from Julie Roys is just the second article. We have gone from Brown simply saying that this was all addressed and that he was lacking judgment to full blown efforts from his organizations to blame the victim, try to silence her, smear the reporting, raise money off of it, claim everyone else is working with the devil, and trying to hire a defense law firm to protect Brown. This is yet another reason why 40 million people have left the church in the past 25 years. Look, this story could have been dealt with in a fair fashion. Find an organization that deals with clergy abuse and hunker down until the dust settles. Instead, the machine went into motion to try and destroy the story, the reporting and the victims. Beware beloved that effort is probably just starting. If past is prologue, I would expect Steven Strang to soon try and claim how concerned he is for the victim while providing as much cover to Brown as possible and try and shift this into a discussion about restoration. Dr. Brown is a huge earner, respected voice within Charismania and his role as gatekeeper of all the falseness is vital to the machine. There are very few that carry his gravitas to defend the indefensible. Who will deflect for the Jennifer LeClaire sneaky squid spirits and leg lengtheners like Todd White? I do not root for stories like this and no one should. Brown however needs to call the dogs off and let the process play out without any more abuse. Let the chips fall where they may. Let the abused heal. In Jesus name.
