Best-selling author and longtime pastor Rick Warren says he is “angry and disgusted” by “Robert Morris’ sexual abuse of a child,” calling it an “evil punishable by law.” Alleged victims of spiritual abuse by Warren’s successor at Saddleback Church, Andy Wood, agree. But they expressed anger that Warren has referred to their abuse as “conflict,” and never addressed years of what they say was Wood’s abuse and bullying of staff. 

“(We) have been through enough of being exploited and having our abuse covered up and minimized as ‘just conflict,’” said Lori Adams-Brown, an alleged victim of Wood’s abuse at his former Echo Church in San Jose. “Rick is no hero for abuse survivors. I urge him to deal with his own abuse coverup before pointing fingers.” 

Warren posted his comments on X last week, referring to the recently alleged child sexual abuse by now-resigned Gateway Church pastor Robert Morris. “To sexually use a 12 yr old child, then continue it for yrs, is not merely an ‘inappropriate relationship.’ It’s a crime,” wrote Warren. “Sexual child abuse is an evil punishable by law.” 

Though sexual abuse is a severe violation, Maureen Griffo of the International Cultic Studies Association writes that spiritual abuse is “rape of the soul.” Victims are “manipulated in ways that cause detrimental changes to core elements of the self, including one’s relationship to God, religious/philosophical beliefs, self-determination, and the capacity to think independently.”

As reported by The Roys Report (TRR), both Lori Adams-Brown and her husband, Jason Adams-Brown, claim Wood bullied and spiritually abused them during their time at Echo Church. Similarly, Lance Hough, a former creative arts pastor at Echo’s Fremont campus, told TRR that Echo was “toxic and unhealthy,” and that Wood demanded unquestioned obedience from staff.

An investigation commissioned by Saddleback Church, after hiring Wood, reportedly cleared Wood of the allegations.

But Saddleback has never released the full report of the investigation. And some former Echo staff allege Vanderbloemen, the executive hiring agency that conducted the investigation, minimized victims’ voices to protect Wood.

Also, several former Echo staff told TRR that Wood required staff at Echo Church, which he founded, to sign non-disclosure agreements (NDAs). Some of these former staff told TRR that they didn’t participate in the investigation because of their NDAs.

TRR reached out to Warren and Saddleback Church repeatedly through a spokesperson with several questions but did not receive a response. 

Lori Adams-Brown told TRR she refused to sign an NDA. In an interview with TRR, she said Warren’s recent statement has “retraumatized the Echo survivors,” including herself. 

In his post condemning sexual abuse, Warren referenced past abuse that his wife experienced. He wrote, “Until the Church realizes the soul-destroying trauma of sexual abuse, the pattern will continue. Kay still remembers the horror of being molested in church as a little girl.” 

Jason Adams-Brown said it is “baffling” to hear Warren speaking out on issues of abuse after what has transpired. 

“A pastor has a very high calling to care for those in his church,” he said. “Spiritual abuse is incredibly damaging and should be taken very seriously. “

Stop the ‘bro club’ abuse cover-up, say survivors

In his recent post about Morris, Warren also criticized how elders of Gateway Church in north Texas apparently allowed Morris to resign rather than be fired as senior pastor. 

“One can’t just confess when caught and move on with no consequences,” wrote Warren. “For the integrity of Christ’s Body, God insists ‘Expel the wicked person out of your church!’ 1 Cor. 5:13. Perpetrators are to be publicly fired, not allowed to resign.” 

I’m angry & disgusted to hear of Robert Morris’ sexual abuse of a child & heartbroken for Cindy Clemishire. To sexually use a 12 yr old child, then continue it for yrs, is not merely an “inappropriate relationship.” It’s a crime. Sexual child abuse is an evil punishable by law.… pic.twitter.com/1WetIdYyRy

— Rick Warren (@RickWarren) June 21, 2024

Jason Adams-Brown agreed with the substance, noting Morris’ victim who came forward has “endured so much.” Adams-Brown added, referring to leaders of Gateway Church, “If they are truly bothered and mourning this, they should at the very least offer to pay for her many years of therapy.”

Yet Lori Adams-Brown noted the hypocrisy of Warren’s statement, naming Wood and former Echo Church Executive Pastor Filipe Santos, who has since become that church’s lead pastor. 

“Rick has given zero accountability to Andy Wood,” she said. “By promoting Wood as his Saddleback successor, Rick put the staff and entire church at risk of abuse. And Echo survivors warned him about the bullying, belittling, coercion, name-calling, intimidation, retaliation, and mobbing we experienced by Andy Wood and Filipe Santos.”

Currently, more than 1,600 people have signed a public petition for the current leadership of Echo Church to release all former employees from any NDAs. . 

Adams-Brown noted how Warren cited Proverbs 31:8 in his post, which states in part: “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves.” 

She called it “blatant spin,” saying, “Rick portrays himself as speaking for the voiceless, even as he did nothing to get Andy’s victims’ NDAs released at Echo Church.” 

TRR reached out to Echo Church for comment but did not receive a response. 

Beyond staff who worked with Wood, others have spoken out. The leader of a California Baptist association, Mike Stewart, has stated that Wood has a predatory pattern of trying to acquire multi-million-dollar properties from small, aging congregations.

Recent years have seen some churches become “trauma-informed and survivor centered,” said Adams-Brown. She cited the work of Dr. Diane Langberg and churches that engaged independent groups like GRACE (Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment). 

“Rick didn’t listen to the survivors, and I urge him to reckon with that,” said Adams-Brown. “We need transparency, truth, and pastors who come clean. Stop the ‘bro club’ cover up of all types of abuse.”

Freelance journalist Josh Shepherd writes on faith, culture, and public policy for several media outlets. He and his family live in the Washington, D.C. area.