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Wife of Former Prominent TN Pastor Charged with Child Abuse, 2nd Degree Strangulation

By Julie Roys
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Elizabeth Bryson, wife of former pastor John Bryson, was arrested on April 11, 2023, on multiple assault-related charges. (Photos: social media/ Harlan Police Department)

The wife of a former, prominent Memphis, Tenn., pastor and former Acts 29 board member has been arrested and booked on charges of 4th degree assault (child abuse) and 2nd degree strangulation.

Elizabeth Bryson, 52, was arrested on April 11 by police in Harlan, Ky., according to a police report obtained by The Roys Report (TRR). The Bryson family had moved to Harlan from Memphis several months ago. The child abuse charge is a Class A misdemeanor, carrying a sentence of up to one year in prison. The strangulation charge is a Class D felony, carrying a potential penalty of one to five years in prison.

Elizabeth Bryson mugshot (Photo: Harlan Police Department)

Bryson is the wife of John Bryson, who founded and for more than 20 years, pastored Fellowship Memphis, a prominent, ethnically diverse church in Memphis. Pastor Bryson resigned from the church last August, stating that he wanted to return to Harlan, where his extended family lives, for the sake of his kids.

Bryson also served on the board of the church planting organization Acts 29 but rolled off the board in 2016. Until last year, he also chaired the board of City Leadership, a nonprofit that seeks to recruit and develop talented leaders in Memphis.

According to the Harlan police report concerning Elizabeth Bryson, an officer received a call of a possible “domestic where the accused was intoxicated” at 1:30 a.m. last Tuesday. When police arrived at the Bryson home, they were met by two children, aged 14 and 15.

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The children reportedly stated that their mother was drunk and had “attacked the 15 year (old), throwing and busting at TV, throwed an iPAD, and blueberries that the child was or had been eating.”

The children said the mother grabbed the 15-year-old “and began choking him in a headlock, pulling his hair and hitting him in multiple places including arms and back,” the report stated. It added that the 14-year-old helped get his mother off the 15-year-old.

The report added that when officers arrived, the mother was “upstairs in her bedroom with the door locked.” Officers knocked on the door multiple times with no answer “even after we announced police,” the report said.

One of the children gave police a door key, which officers used to enter the bedroom, the statement continued. At that point, Elizabeth Bryson responded to police, the statement said.

“She was ex-streamly (sic) intoxicated, had slurred speech, and staggering with a strong odor of alcoholic beverage,” the statement said. Bryson “denied hitting the child and kept saying they stole my car keys,” the statement added. It also noted that the latest incident “makes several times officers has been called to the residence over disturbances or domestics.”

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John and Beth Bryson and family, 2022 (Photo via social media)

According to court documents, Elizabeth Bryson was released from custody after posting a $25,000 cash bond. Harlan Police Chief Winston Yeary told TRR that there is an active investigation into the charges against Elizabeth Bryson.

TRR reached out to the Brysons for comment but did not hear back.

Ministry marred by scandal

Though John and Elizabeth (Beth) Bryson were prominent faith leaders in Memphis, their two decades of ministry were marred by a scandal involving Rick Trotter, a former Memphis celebrity who served as a worship leader at Fellowship Memphis.

In 2016, allegations surfaced that John Bryson and Bryan Loritts, a former Fellowship Memphis pastor who’s now a vice president with the North American Mission Board (NAMB), had covered up sex abuse by Trotter.

Six years earlier, Fellowship Memphis had fired Trotter after a staff member discovered Trotter’s hidden phone videotaping her in the church bathroom. The staff member reportedly gave Trotter’s phone to Loritts, who at the time was Trotter’s brother-in-law.

Loritts fired Trotter, but admitted he never reported the incident to police. Trotter’s phone, which reportedly had dozens of bathroom recordings on it, subsequently disappeared, and Trotter avoided prosecution.

In 2015, Beth Bryson posted a picture of her and her husband with Rick Trotter, which stated, “Proud of you @ricktrotter.”

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Rick Trotter (center) with John and Beth Bryson (Screengrab)

A year later, Trotter was caught recording secret videos at another church and his previous crimes at Fellowship Memphis became public. The scandal made headlines, but Fellowship Memphis denied any wrongdoing, and Bryson and Loritts continued in ministry without notable consequences.

However, in 2020, TRR published accounts by eye-witnesses alleging that Loritts, Bryson, and some elders at Fellowship Memphis had conspired to cover up Trotter’s crimes 10 years earlier.

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Bryan Loritts (Photo via Facebook)

Loritts denied the allegations. And an independent investigation commissioned by J.D. Greear’s Summit Church, where Loritts is employed, found “no convincing evidence” that Loritts had participated in a cover-up of Trotter’s crimes. Likely, Bryson was one of the three unnamed pastors that investigators interviewed who supported Lorritts’ explanation of events. Lorritts claimed that in 2010, he gave Trotter’s phone to another pastor at the church and instructed a staff member to report Trotter to police.

The investigation failed to explain why Memphis Police never received a report of Trotter’s crimes from Fellowship Memphis. It also offered no explanation for how Trotter’s phone disappeared.

Bryson’s position remains unfilled

When Bryson resigned from Fellowship Memphis eight months ago, he said he didn’t have any job prospects. The church apparently didn’t have a replacement for Bryson either. A page dedicated to the church’s lead pastor search remains posted at Fellowship Memphis’ website.

TRR reached out to Fellowship Memphis, seeking comment about the recent developments but did not receive any response.

Bryson continues to help lead a ministry called Authentic Manhood, according to the ministry’s website. The website continues to sell 33 the Series, a six-volume, 36-lesson curriculum largely written by Bryson, which has reportedly been used by over a million men.

Elizabeth Bryson still has two blogs posted online, though she hasn’t posted to either of them for years.

Julie Roys is a veteran investigative reporter and founder of The Roys Report. She also previously hosted a national talk show on the Moody Radio Network, called Up for Debate, and has worked as a TV reporter for a CBS affiliate. Her articles have appeared in numerous periodicals. 

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9 Responses

  1. A sad story, and I hope that family gets help.

    As soon as I read “Fellowship Memphis,” I thought “Bryan Loritts and whats-his-name,” who was of course Rick Trotter.

    I believe there is much under the surface here, but you do an excellent job reporting the facts. Thank you, Julie.

  2. It’s amazing how there is this secret club where all the questionable pastors are held up or supported by other pastors, and they ALL seem to all eventually fall from grace. What is going on in our churches is despicable and this is why people reject Christianity.

    1. And, that IS why people reject Christianity…true and sad. As someone who has family members who reject the faith because of leadership like this, I can also add that it is so painful to watch. What is wrong with these people? How do church hiring committees and boards fall for this time and time again?

      1. I think part of it is “they can’t see what they can’t see.” In other words, if they actually took the time to critically analyze their viewpoints (which is spiritualized by labeling it “theology”) their entire house of cards would collapse. Once that happens, their income/livelihood, life purpose, etc. all comes into question. They aren’t willing to create an existential crisis for themselves, so instead those in power circle the wagons to protect a system that harms the average person (those without the power) that exists within it.

  3. As a domestic violence advocate, I think we need to ask some questions before we judge Elizabeth Bryson.

    When trying to discern who the bad guy is in a DV situation, I look at patterns. Jim Wilder, in his book, THE PANDORA PROBLEM cites two studies showing a large percentage of church leaders are narcissists. From a quick read of this article, I’m noticing a pattern with John Bryson – he’s a church leader, his involvement with Acts 27 (a misogynistic organization) combined with his history of protecting abusers in churches. I wonder if Elizabeth has been drowning her marital sorrows in alcohol, because she felt trapped?

    I’m not excusing her behavior. But when you’re in an abusive situation and divorce is not an option, and the only way out is the death of a spouse, and suicide or murder sends you straight to hell, you buffer with alcohol or drugs – epecially if the abuse has been long term and you’ve been required to present a front to the world that all is well. Cognitive dissonance rings loud in your ears.

    Yes, I know from personal experience that women can be the predators. But in this case, with the little information presented in this article, I’m suspicious of John.

    If you’re serious about becoming trauma informed, research reactive anger / abuse and “sin-leveling” and the narcissistic abuse cycle. Some great advocates from whom you could learn more are Sarah McDugal, Patrick Doyle, Patrick Weaver Ministries, Natalie Hoffman of Flying Free, Dr. Les Cárter, Dr Ramani . My website also has some good information.

    1. You’ve nailed it. Narcissistic personality disorder is very prevalent in theology rooted in male supremacy….some of these male pastors should have gone to jail….covering up predators is a crime. The wife needs help, probably severe depression and PTSD from being manipulated and gaslighted. Oh Lord, expose this, bring it to light!

  4. “Bryson continues to help lead a ministry called Authentic Manhood, according to the ministry’s website.”

    Not any more. Per the link: “Unfortunately, we could not find the staff that you were looking for. (Error 3)”

    It looks like Authentic Manhood has unpersoned Mr. Bryson.

  5. It is so easy to judge and make assumptions. Please pray for this family as we really don’t know the entire story. I hope that they can find help and get their lives and their family’s life on solid ground.

  6. Judge not that you be not judged. You don’t know, nor do I, the situation in its entirety.

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