An Indiana pastor has been stripped of his credentials amid accusations he helped cover up his relative’s abuse of multiple children, a leaked document shows.
Jared Olivetti, formerly senior pastor of Immanuel Reformed Presbyterian Church in West Lafayette, Indiana, was deposed from ministry in the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America (RPCNA), according to an RPCNA letter obtained by The Roys Report.
His credentials were revoked after he was found guilty of misconduct Friday in an ecclesiastical trial, the letter shows.
In a statement today, the RPCNA asked for prayers for the alleged victims, their families and others in the congregation. Prayers were also requested “for the repentance and restoration of those who have done wrong.”
The three charges against Olivetti related to his qualifications as an elder. Among other things, he was found guilty of failing to stay “above reproach” in how he handled allegations that a relative sexually abused children at his church, the letter stated.
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The letter also declared that Olivetti’s conduct threatened “dishonor on the name of Jesus Christ,” the denomination, his local church and himself.
The evidence against him “was clear and convincing,” the letter stated, and the verdict was unanimous.
Olivetti is now forbidden from being a pastor or elder anywhere in the RPCNA, according to the letter, which was sent to the denomination’s presbyteries. He has also been suspended from membership.
The verdict may be appealed. RPCNA members can also file a complaint about the trial or verdict within 30 days, the letter states.
Olivetti did not show up for his trial or the reading of the verdict despite repeated requests to attend, according to the letter.
Representatives of the denomination and Immanuel’s presbytery did not respond to inquiries from The Roys Report for this story. The RPCNA letter shows that anyone involved in the trial is prohibited from discussing it until after any appeals are resolved.
The Indianapolis Star first reported the allegations against Olivetti and broke the news of the verdict over the weekend.
Olivetti resigned in January as senior pastor of Immanuel, which is part of the Great Lakes-Gulf Presbytery of the RPCNA. Three Immanuel elders also resigned.
When he resigned, Olivetti had already been placed on leave by the denomination pending his ecclesiastical trial. A presbytery spokesman told The Roys Report in January that even though he was on leave, Olivetti’s denominational credentials would still be valid until the conclusion of his trial.
Meanwhile, some in the presbytery have been pushing back against media coverage of the scandal.
Just before Olivetti’s trial concluded, the Great Lakes-Gulf Presbytery voted to form a committee to investigate alleged “libel in the media against Immanuel.”
Nathan Eshelman, newly elected presbytery moderator, summarized what happened at the presbytery’s annual meeting in a Facebook post last week. In the summary, he wrote that the presbytery had voted to form a committee “to investigate and bring recommendations concerning alleged slander and libel in the media against Immanuel and its elders by RPCNA members.”
Immanuel’s new elders and a large portion of its members were at the presbytery’s annual meeting when matters related to Immanuel came up on March 4, according to Eshelman’s summary.
Immanuel’s moderator reported “spiritual unity in the congregation as well as a season of growth despite pains,” Eshelman’s summary continues. “The tensions were obvious between the congregation and some in the presbytery, but the presbytery did express love to Immanuel Church and their new ruling elders committed to working with the presbytery towards healing the divisions.”
Elders at another church in Indiana, Bloomington Reformed Presbyterian Church, also wanted to ask the denomination to “critically review” the work of the judicial commission that charged Olivetti and three former Immanuel elders. Ken de Jong, an elder at the Bloomington church, was provisional moderator at Immanuel after Olivetti and the elders resigned.
The Bloomington elders’ request was judged premature since none of the trials were finished at the time.
This story has been updated to accurately describe the denomination’s appeals process.
Sarah Einselen is an award-winning writer and editor based in Texas.
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5 Responses
So much cover-up and obfuscation…
The question has to be asked – is this simply a fundamental endemic characteristic of the evangelical scene with it’s self-professed “light of the world” mentality…????
Greg, it’s a mentality problem all right – hear no evil, see no evil, and don’t you ever talk about evil happening inside the church. You might like this blog which has helped me greatly to understand what’s behind all this abuse being covered up by church leaders: https://unholycharade.com/2022/03/little-gods-the-wicked-demand-worship/
The small scale of both the churches and the RPCNA denomination as a whole, combined with their expressed “high view” of the Scriptures and of God, make any failing seem especially threatening. So, hoping to protect institutional interests, when a scandal breaks leadership circles the wagons and tries to bury the story.
“High View” is more of their theology of the church, meaning that the church leadership are akin to the Old Testament priests or Roman Catholic Priest/Pope. There are RP sermons still up on SermonAudio that lack any differentiation between the voice of your church authority and the voice of God, as if the pastor becomes the inerrant voice of God when he ascends to the pulpit.
I think even well-meaning RP elders fall into this trap, and when their elevated status of giftedness is called into question by something earth-shattering like this, they must choose between humility and image. Because of this high view, we have situations like Immanuel, where the pride of being “the Vicar of Christ” becomes the idol and the requirements of the office to protect the least of these are ignored.
I would argue that these men have a “low view” of Scriptures and God, because they put their own image ahead of Scripture and God.
Having been a former member of the RPCNA denomination I can speak to the accuracy of Mark’s comments here. It is the unbiblical “high view” of the church which is out of whack. Their is a heavy Protestant Sacerdotalism which very much exists within the RPCNA and in most every NAPARC (North American Presbyterian and Reformed Council- a group of 12 ish conservative Reformed denominations) church out there. To the point where it is exalted as a great Christian virtue, even as an absolute key to a Christian’s Salvation (the gateway to heaven being the session and membership to an institutional church) to adhere to this kind of system and theology is seen as the path of righteousness. The Protestant principles of the priesthood of all believers for all practical purposes is non- existent there (though it’s leaders will deny it) and while it is a good thing that the denomination removed this pastor’s credentials the fact is this is a band- aid on a systemic cancer unless they address the bigger core problem.
A recent interview of Aimee Byrd (who left a NAPARC church herself due to spiritual abuse) hit the nail on the head. Presbyterianism is sold as a protection against abuse of authority, but what we see in practice is that the system protects the abusers.
Although my circumstances were not exactly the same, what was spot on the same when my family and I were members was the power tripping circle the wagon cover up mentality from the elders, pastors/ leaders at the RPCNA denomination. Our voiced concerns fell on deaf ears in an atmosphere where tribe and denomination was elevated above Christ the Lord.
A dangerous place to have one’s family. Glad to not be there anymore.