Lawsuit Alleges Several United Methodist Churches Failed to Report Identified Abuse – Guest Commentary

Allegations Against United Methodist Churches Regarding Sexual Abuse Response

The complexities of church life are well-known. It’s a crucial part of many people’s well-being, yet sometimes, the individuals within those communities don’t quite reflect the ideals we hold dear. One area that merits reflection is the response of the church when it comes to serious issues like federal crimes. What happens when justice is overlooked?

In Ohio, two women have filed complaints against various United Methodist churches, claiming that their reports of sexual abuse by a former music leader were dismissed. These women, who have chosen to remain anonymous, are represented by the Pennsylvania Newsome Law Firm in Orlando and Spangenberg Shively & Liber LLP in Cleveland.

The complaints target the UMC General Assembly, UMC West Ohio Conference, UMC Great Miami River District, and several specific churches, including Christian UMC in Baltimore and Parkview UMC in Plain City. According to the victims, they experienced abuse as minors under the former music director, described as a “former cult member living in Venezuela.”

The alleged abuser, John Slate, has a history of convictions for sexual acts with a minor, specifically in 2017 and 2019. Despite this, the two women are determined to push the United Methodist Church to take appropriate legal action.

As the victims’ attorney pointed out, “Defendants are responsible to Plaintiffs for failing to prevent and stop sexual abuse despite actual and/or constructive knowledge; for sanctioning, condoning, ratifying, and encouraging policies and practices that permitted abuse; and for creating an environment that allowed Slate to repeatedly harm Plaintiffs.”

The UMC West Ohio Conference has acknowledged the lawsuit and stated that it “takes these complaints seriously.” Documentation indicates that, during Slate’s tenure at St. Andrew’s UMC in 2014, the church failed to report his actions to the authorities and did not follow the United Methodist Church’s own safe sanctuary protocols. Rather than removing him, the church moved him to Parkview.

The women are not asking for an extraordinary solution; they seek what should already be standard practice for any organization. “They desire justice from those responsible for the wrongdoing,” explained Dustin Herman, a partner at Spangenberg.