While denying recent accusations by former church leaders and members that he’s a bully, House Denver Pastor Brian Kim got a massive vote of confidence from fellow pastors during a closed church meeting Sunday.
House Denver Pastor Brian Kim denied recent accusations by former church leaders and members that he’s a bully during a closed church meeting Sunday. According to a leaked recording, he and his elders also scrambled to explain why they aren’t hiring a third-party investigator and why they didn’t tell their congregation about the accusations for the past year.
“We don’t always agree but we’re not brutes, we’re not bullies,” Kim said. “Why hasn’t House leadership said anything until now? We chose not to make a public statement earlier because we were actively engaged in mediation processes.”
Meanwhile, the number of signatures on a a public petition accusing Kim of 11 charges of bullying, spiritual abuse, and lying has quadrupled from 43 to 176 since El Informe Roys (TRR) reportado on the accusations last week. Signers include people from four ministries where Kim has worked, including the embattled International House of Prayer Kansas City (IHOPKC). Kim was previously on IHOPKC’s executive leadership team. The signers are also from Upper Room, which was House Denver’s former affiliation, and Antioch Center for Training and Sending (ACTS), which Kim founded.
In a statement from the elders, elder Corey Russell called the petition a “tool of division” full of “false accusations.”
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“We categorically reject these accusations,” Russell said. “They are false, unsubstantiated, and misleading. They present opinion as fact, narrative as evidence, and deep disagreement as moral disqualification.”
The whistleblowers called House Denver’s response “extremely disappointing but not surprising,” in una declaración para TRR. The church attracts 562 attendees.
TRR has reached out to House Denver’s elders, and Kim multiple times seeking comment since the petition went public a week ago but received no response.
The petition also outlines the breakdown of a mediation process over the past year, accuses Kim’s elders of not holding him accountable, and requests a third-party investigation. The petition states they are making their concerns public to follow a biblical mandate in 1 Timoteo 5:19-20 to “rebuke in the presence of all” due to the lack of real change and the risks that others could be harmed.
House Denver responded in force on Sunday to defend its leadership and to explain why they believe the whistleblowers are sinning by speaking out. Kim, the elders, two members of a leadership consulting team, and Michael Freeland Miller, a former member of House Denver’s oversight team, all spoke or gave statements condemning the whistleblowers or urging unity and trust in House Denver’s leaders. The congregation often responded with clapping and cheers.
“This petition is . . . a public attempt to discredit and divide,” said Russell for the elders. “We grieve that former members have chosen to escalate this publicly rather than honor the biblical process that they agreed to.”
But the petition’s documentation states that whistleblowers didn’t agree to several aspects of House Denver’s mediation and the process proceeded without their consent.
David Townsend, House Denver’s newest elder, said the whistleblowers are “hypersensitive” to spiritual abuse and offense.
“(W)hether you are going to listen to me or not, you can trust your pastor, Brian Kim, and Grace,” Townsend said.
However, Paul Coughlin, an expert on bullying from the Oregon-based group The Protectors, said sometimes church leaders misunderstand bullying and disbelieve those reporting it. Bullies often charm, groom, and manipulate their community and elders by weeding people out and then lying about those they can’t control, he explained.
“They know that the best lies contain a little truth, but then a lot of poison,” Coughlin said. “This aspect of grooming is so hard for an average church goer to believe that they often attack the person who points it out . . . What’s left are those who are under their spell and control.”
Independent investigation not “biblical”
House Denver’s leaders argued Sunday that they handled the concerns biblically by bringing in a pastoral leadership consulting team (LCT) of three local pastors to mediate, said Russell.
But in the petition, the whistleblowers said they initially asked for an investigation rather than mediation. They also questioned the qualification and independence of the LCT due to certain conflicts of interest that two of the pastors have with Kim and other House leaders.
The LCT didn’t so much investigate as spoke to both sides with a goal of mediating a “conflict,” explained LCT member Peter Young and pastor of Denver’s BridgeWay Church, who spoke in a recorded statement at Sunday’s meeting. The LCT then recommended House’s leaders “self-examine,” read a book, and attend a seminar on emotionally healthy leadership.
Russell said the LCT “evaluated the concerns,” then affirmed Kim’s leadership.
“The LCT concluded their assessment by affirming that there was no disqualifying sin and no basis for a third-party investigation or removal,” he said.
A third-party investigation would cause chaos and “be distracting” from God’s “anointing” on House Denver, said LCT member Mike Polhemus in a recorded statement for Sunday’s meeting. Polhemus is pastor of The Rock Church in Castle Rock, a bedroom community 30 miles south of Denver.
“They need to build what they’re called to build,” said Polhemus.
But the whistleblowers stated to TRR the LCT didn’t meet with everyone with concerns before making their determination.
“So many of the victims of Brian Kim are afraid to share their story publicly but would be willing to speak with a truly independent third-party investigator,” the whistleblowers stated.
If something illegal or financially wrong happened, Kim said he’d welcome a legal investigation. But an independent investigation for this situation would be expensive and would bow to public pressure, he added.
“We believe that biblical governance flows through qualified local elders, not outside consultants,” Kim said Sunday. “None of these voices recommend a third-party review.”
However, an allegation of illegal misconduct shouldn’t be the only type of misconduct to trigger an external investigation, said Coughlin.
“As believers, the law shouldn’t be our measuring stick,” Coughlin said, “as we learn when Jesus explained to turn the other cheek. His point is that the law shouldn’t be our measuring stick; rather, we are to be known for our generous spirit and behavior.”
‘We have your back’
The elders expressed their support and love on Sunday for Kim, who told the congregation he’s bettered the church’s “communication systems” and said the church’s accountability structures are strong.
Russell, who previously worked with Kim at IHOPKC, said Kim is the “safest leader” he’s ever known.
“I have not met many men with the integrity, the character, the humility, the teachability, the safety, and security that I found in Brian Kim as a leader,” said Russell. “I love you so much.”
Townsend affirmed his love for Kim and said he believes Kim deserves a “standing ovation.”
He added, “We have your back.”
The past year has been painful for Kim and his wife, Grace, he added.
“Dealing with these accusations that are absolutely untrue and now having to do it with you, having to defend themselves like this, it’s wrong,” Townsend said. But in what sounded like a contradiction to Kim’s statement on accountability, Townsend said that the church’s leaders don’t answer to the congregation, anyway.
“We don’t answer to man,” he said. “We answer to God.”
House Denver won’t “bow to this,” Townsend added. “We are not going to battle this any longer.”
Those who agree with House Denver’s leaders are welcome to stay and help the leaders build the church, he said.
“You decide for yourself what you’re going to do,” Townsend said. “But we’re moving on as a church.”
Coughlin urged caution when faced with following church leaders who are accused of bullying.
“For bullying church leaders,” he said, “decisions are made to build their kingdom, not los Kingdom.”
Leaders of House Denver Church Discuss Allegations in Meeting – Apr. 6, 2025
Rebecca Hopkins es una periodista radicada en Colorado.
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15 Responses
Looks they are circling the wagons, calling their allies in the Denver area, and breaking out the DARVO playbook.
Lol and you’re pulling out the DARVO games again…truth is they are no giving time and energy to disgruntled weak, cry-babies…We are tired of all these “trauma” games… people need to grow up. I bet most of this leadership and people are calling it “mean”… the church has gone weak and woke… Good on this church to not cave into all these crybabies…
“We don’t answer to man,” he said. “We answer to God.” That reads like an excerpt from a book (fictious) called, “So you want to start a cult: 12 easy steps to build your kingdom here on earth”.
You will answer to God, yes, AND you will answer to man when you have to give account to the court system. You bullying pastors can’t keep getting away with your ungodly workings in the church. You set yourself high, but you will go low and be humbled by God AND man. Repent.
The context of the statement “we don’t answer to man…….” within this article does not imply accountability, but obedience. Just because a group of people, who aren’t even in your congregation, put public pressure on a church to do something, doesn’t mean they are obligated to do so. The group voted with their feet already, so move on.
The Abiathar Priesthood Runs in Packs.
This audio is basically a masterclass in spiritual gaslighting—twisting Scripture to protect power, not people. With a straight face, they tell the congregation that a third-party investigation would “distract from what God wants us to focus on.” Seriously?
Then comes the all-caps WOW moment:
“They need to stay on the wall and build what they are called to build. There is an anointing and calling right now for House Denver.”
Translation: “Don’t look at the fire. Keep building the stage.”
According to them, bringing in a neutral investigation would cause “chaos” and make you “take your eyes off the Lord.”
Then he flips to Ephesians 4 and claims, “These are the words of the Lord, not mine,” before pulling out the spiritual abuser’s greatest hits—completely out of context:
“Don’t let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouth… don’t grieve the Holy Spirit… get rid of anger, rage, bitterness… be kind and forgive.”
This isn’t Ephesians. This is emotional manipulation masquerading as holiness.
Honestly, hats off to these guys—PhD-level gaslighting. If the body of Christ doesn’t cry out for discernment, if we don’t teach people to hear God’s voice for themselves, the Abiathar priesthood will keep running the show while pretending it’s a revival.
“we’re not brutes, we’re not bullies,” Kim said.”
++++++++++++
brutes and bullies are knuckleheads, lacking self-awareness. of course they’d say this. as would their yes-men.
Snakes will be snakes. They cannot help themselves. Jesus warned us about them long ago, but who cares what Jesus actually said in context? The real problem are the people that attend a cult like this. They do not want the real Jesus, nor do they want to know Him personally and pay the required price to do so. They want to idolize a charismatic leader. He hears from God for them. They can blame him when things go wrong, instead of themselves. They want a different Jesus, a different Holy Spirit and a different Father to the ones that are the real ones spoken of by the Holy Prophets of old. They want a different gospel, never mind that makes them accursed. Thus they applaud the snakes because many want to be just like them. Such trample all over the fruits of the Spirit as they adopt the same abusive attitudes and behavior towards each other that the leaders have. No humility for that is the ultimate draw of the cults. You too can be just like God, the original deception returns. You can be have the spiritual power that God has, issue decrees and make the universe bend to your will just like God does. Such as this are abused, but also abuse others. There is no love whatsoever in systems like this.
This man may be a bully. No one who is a bully ever admits to the fact. But this particular “Burn the Witch” report, and the one on Kim before it do not sit well with me.
There is not some kind of gross sin here. If the man is a bully or simply unpleasant to be around you can warn him about his behavior personally and gauge whether he wants to modify his behavior or not. If he does, good. If not a person has the option to simply leave the church. Why would people in the church call for an outside investigation? Bitterness over something they didn’t get? Personal grievance? Hostile take-over? The possibilities are endless. The motivation of the whistleblowers are unknown.
Kim is not required to let some 3rd party hatchet group inside his church to poke around in his personal business. And I see no reason for parties who feel they have been wronged in some way, either real or imagined to want that either unless they are simply out for revenge. If he has not physically abused someone, if he has not broken the law in some way this whole “3rd party investigation!” war cry is unnecessary. If I am in a church I don’t feel is treating me right or teachingcorrectly, I simply leave. These people have the same option. Why the hue and cry to crucify the guy?
@Eddie Cremer Spiritual abuse (or mental/psychological abuse) is just as harmful – and often more so – than physical abuse.
Have you ever experienced it?
I ask because if you had, you wouldn’t downplay it or imply that only physical abuse is harmful.
Ongoing, relentless spiritual/psychological oppression is what Satan engages in. It should NEVER be downplayed.
[Satan never attacked Jesus physically in the wilderness or in Gethsemane!]
It’s often the go-to for the coward, who assumes that if there “are no marks” then he/she can get away with it.
There have been several reports on this website (and they sadly appear often in secular news) of suicides brought on by overwhelming spiritual/psychological abuse.
It is Godly to call it out in order to stop it happening to others. That is what loving (desiring the best for) others requires.
We are our brothers’ keeper!
MacDonald all over again, it’s the congregations fault, not ours.
Who’s teachings allow the blaming of the congregation for their failings? What other ‘church leader’ in Ephesus, blamed the people, not his teachings/actions? What was revealed in Rev 2:2 about the church in Ephesus for standing up to these people? His words will be misused by the unstable/unlearned, and now are practiced weekly by church leaders, refusing accountability.
House Denver’s Chief Leader:
“Our desire is to walk in the light”
Also, …we are dismissing the validity of these claims, and will take part in no investigations, since my closest friends have found me without any fault.
Also, also… the Bible says forgive, so please move on, and all hail Mark Driscoll.
I also call on everyone involved to reflect on what you are actually doing this for. Are you genuinely trying to fulfill God’s will or are you just doing something to glorify yourself and tear down the kingdom of God. This seems like an attempt to divide and turn people away from Jesus and his teachings to me, so someone please clarify what the intention of this is.
Here are the intentions spelled out perfectly for you to read for yourself in the petition 190 people have signed and agreed with:
“Our heart in bringing this charge is not to cause pain, division, or revenge. Our desire is to protect the sheep and prevent further harm to those entrusted to Brian’s leadership and the leadership team surrounding him.
We are not claiming that Brian and Grace Kim are evil people. However, we believe they have unrepentant sin, a lack of maturity, and significant gaps in communication and leadership. Additionally, they have not taken the time to address the unhealthy traits they learned from their spiritual father, Mike Bickle. If left uncorrected, we believe this behavior will only intensify, leading to more victims.”
You honestly think we would go through this kind of effort to “turn people away from Jesus and His teachings”?!
Cristen, respectfully saying this. Unless you have been in the inner weaving of this church, I know it’s difficult to understand. This church and the church that planted it has been extremely abusive, covering up very extreme cases and calling their own accusers often. I can’t go into more detail now. But pray for those who are being brave enough to speak, because it is that serious. Those of us that have worked for these organizations know the faces being saved in these audios and deep, deep issues being covered up by it and its network of organizations.