The pastors of Causeway Coast Vineyard Church (CCV) in Northern Ireland have resigned due to their lack of support for an investigation into alleged abuse by former pastor Alan Scott, church trustees announced during services today. A statement from church leaders about the resignation has also been posted on the sitio web de la iglesia.
The pastors, Neil and Janet Young—the sister of Alan’s wife, Kathryn Scott—took over leadership at the church in 2017, when Scott resigned after moving to California.
The next year, Scott became pastor of the Anaheim Vineyard. And then in a move, which many within the Vineyard viewed as an “extreme betrayal,” Scott removed the Anaheim church from Vineyard USA, taking with him the church’s assets valued at $62 million. The church was then renamed Dwelling Place.
En Mayo, El Informe Roys (TRR) published an exposé, documenting allegations of abuse against Scott by 11 former pastors, staff, and volunteers from churches Scott pastored.
Several months earlier, CCV, together with Vineyard Churches UK & Ireland, had commissioned an independent review of Scott’s leadership. And in July, CCV issued an apology in response to initial interviews. The preliminary findings found Scott engaged in “repeated patterns . . . of manipulation, inappropriate comments, narcissistic behavior, and certain occurrences of public shaming and spiritual abuse.”
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Today, the CCV trustees announced in their statement that “as the review has progressed, it has become clear that there are very different and deeply held views.”
The trustees said CCV trustees and the leadership of Vineyard Churches UK & Ireland fully support the independent review, but the Youngs do not.
“Sadly, Neil and Janet have indicated that they no longer fully support the statement released on July 2nd or the ongoing independent review process,” the CCV trustees’ said. “They have also indicated that they can no longer submit to the spiritual and structural authority of Vineyard Churches UK & Ireland and the governance of the CCV Trustee Board. In light of this, their future as Senior Pastors of Causeway Coast Vineyard is untenable, and Neil and Janet have come to the sad conclusion that they need to resign.”
The final report of the review by Trusted HR will be released next Sunday, today’s statement said.
“We hope that this will be an important step in moving forward as a community,” the trustees said.
Today was the Youngs’ last day as CCV pastors after they resigned, and they have no further plans, according to the trustees.
The trustees thanked and praised the Youngs for their past six years of leadership.
“There is much sadness in this moment as so much good has been done and so many lives have been changed,” the trustees said in their statement. “We have treasured the leadership of Neil and Janet. They will be deeply missed, and we are thankful for their leadership of our church community for the last six and half years. It has not been easy leading through transition, all the challenges of COVID and lockdown, and the cost-of-living crisis.”
Donna Finney, who spoke to TRR for its investigation told TRR the Youngs’ resignation shows their unwillingness to be accountable.
“The statement released today by CCV clearly demonstrates Neil and Janet’s complete lack of empathy for those taking part in the process, and a flagrant disregard for any authority or form of accountability that would end this cycle of abuse,” Finney said.
But Finney said those who’ve experienced CCV’s leadership problems aren’t surprised.
“I am sure the announcement today may have been difficult for the wider CCV community however for those of us brave enough to speak out this outcome was not unexpected,” she said. “I await the outcome of the final report on fifth November and trust truth and justice will prevail.”
CORRECTION: This piece has been edited to clarify that Janet Young is the sister of Kathryn Scott, not Alan Scott.
Rebecca Hopkins es una periodista radicada en Colorado.
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Let’s imagine for a moment that you are aggrieved with a church leader and want to take that leader down. Perhaps your own sin has been exposed by his teaching and you feel guilt and shame. Maybe you feel that your talents have been overlooked and you haven’t experienced the recognition you deserve. What do you do?
First step is to find other dissatisfied members. In a church of thousands there will likely be others who share your views. A little gossip or the odd snide comment can maybe weed them out. Then you compare stories to reinforce your position and you come to see yourself as victims. You realize that you have nothing concrete upon which to bring your accusations: no sexual impropriety, no theft, no obvious hypocrisy. That leaves the vague and amorphous claims of spiritual abuse, emotional manipulation and cultish behaviour.
Now go back through thousands of podcasts, sermons, conversations, prayer meetings, staff meetings to find “evidence” to substantiate your claims. Put it all together and contact a sympathetic reporter. Sit back and watch while your target is destroyed.
Be in no doubt dear readers that there are hypocritical and abusive church leaders out there. That does not mean though that all accusations of abuse are well founded. Keep your eyes open and your hearts discerning. Look for the fruit in both the individuals accused and in the groups they have mentored. Speak widely with others who have known them. Be slow to judge, and realize that there is not always fire behind smoke.
Thank you Ron for your excellent insight. As a preacher, teacher and leader for some 50 years I have seen the full gamut of abuse and disfunction in the Church. I have experienced a scenario similar to what you describe (not for the only time), through the actions of a control freak woman and the threats an elder reacting against a teaching series.
I would like to comment on the increasing crisis of abuse from prominent church leaders. They have some things in common. These are big personalities with massive egos; they are experts in the manipulating of the unequal balance of power. They are biblically disqualified from church leaders on two fronts. In the first instance, there is no indication that they are genuinely given to the Church by the ascended Lord, as in Ephesians 4. Their gifts come from elsewhere and they do not meet the character requirements. They might appear to teach some truth but there will be error which will dominate.
The problem is exacerbated by the general poor theology in the Church at large, accompanied by unbiblical church structures which allow abuse to flourish.
The saga continues. Will the Young’s show up as the newest pastors at the Dwelling Place in Anaheim now???
Thanks for continuing your coverage of this on-going story.
This is a very sad story.
This sounds like being forced to agree with a denominations vantage point. And if not, lose your job. That sounds weird and strangely, abusive.