UPDATE: Someone just alerted me to a video uploaded in 2011 by the Global Leadership Network (formerly the Willow Creek Association) of Dr. Bilezikian giving advice to church leaders, and a 2016 video highlighting Bilezikian’s role in Willow Creek’s founding. Both are at the end of this post.
The leadership of Willow Creek Community Church says it has believed for the past 10 years that its co-founder, Dr. Gilbert Bilezikian, engaged in “sinful” behavior, including kissing and “inappropriate touching” of a congregant. For this, Willow Creek said it banned Bilezikian in 2010 from serving at the church.
Yet just five years ago, the church honored Bilezikian, or “Dr. B,” at its 40th Anniversary celebration at the United Center as “the living legend of Willow Creek Community Church.” The church’s café at Willow Creek’s South Barrington campus also continued to be named “Dr. B’s” until August of 2018.
And, according to Bilezikian’s alleged victim, Ann Lindberg, the church didn’t just fail to communicate its ban on Bilezikian serving. Church leaders dismissed Lindberg’s report that Willow’s marriage ministry was promoting Bilezikian and allowing him to mentor church volunteers.
Plus, the group tasked with examining the toxic culture at Willow Creek to which Lindberg was referred, was led by people who had close ties to Bilezikian, raising questions of potential conflict of interest.
Your tax-deductible gift helps our journalists report the truth and hold Christian leaders and organizations accountable. Give a gift of $30 or more to The Roys Report this month, and you will receive a copy of “Hurt and Healed by the Church” by Ryan George. To donate, click here.
The shocking news about Bilezikian was first revealed over the weekend when Lindberg published her account of alleged abuse on Facebook. Willow Creek responded with a statement Tuesday night, saying that church officials heard about the alleged abuse approximately 10 years ago, believed the victim, and immediately restricted Bilezikian from serving.
They added, however, that “the restriction was not adequately communicated, resulting in Dr. Bilezikian serving and teaching in various capacities over the years.”
What was communicated, however, was that Dr. Bilezikian, or “Dr. B,” was Willow Creek royalty.
In August 2015, The Willow Creek Association, now the Global Leadership Network, honored Bilezekian at its Global Leadership Summit, according to an Instagram post by a photographer at the event.
Then, during Willow Creek’s 40th Anniversary celebration on October 18, 2015, at the United Center, former senior pastor, Bill Hybels, inducted Bilezikian into the equivalent of a Willow Creek hall of fame.
Hybels instructed everyone in the arena to “stand respectfully.” Then, with spotlights waving, a voice announced Bilezikian as he would a star player for the Chicago Bulls “to be remembered forever.” The announcer named Bilezikian’s height and weight, but also mentioned his professional accomplishments, referring to him as a living legend.
Then a huge banner with a picture of “Dr. B” unfurled from the ceiling and the audience gave Bilezikian, who was standing beneath the banner on an upper deck, a standing ovation.
Honoring Dr. B at 40th Anniversary celebration video:
I reached out to Willow Creek Acting Senior Pastor Steve Gillen and the elders for comment about why the church, knowing what it did, chose to honor Bilezikian at its 40th Anniversary, and why the café remained “Dr. B’s” until 2018. Neither Gillen nor the elders responded.
However, longtime member Amy Love said she called the church in late August 2018 and asked why the café had been renamed. Love said a receptionist told her that the only reason the church had removed Bilezikian’s name was because Willow didn’t want to honor any person other than Jesus.
Just weeks earlier, though, the blog E.S. Martin had published an anonymous account of abuse by “a founding elder at Willow Creek—not Bill Hybels.” The post described an incident in which the elder pulled the victim “firmly against him” and “was bouncing my breasts up against his chest as if he was dribbling a basketball.”
Three days later, the blog published a second account from the same woman, describing a time when the same elder forced her to look at poster of a man wearing only a “Speedo with his legs wide open.” The elder then laughed when the woman protested and sported a “gloating grin.” In this second account, the elder abusing the woman was identified as Dr. Gilbert Bilezikian.
Lindberg informs church about Bilezikian serving, but leaders do nothing
Though Willow Creek says that the reason Bilezikian continued serving at the church was simply due to the church’s failure to communicate its own ban, emails Lindberg sent me suggest otherwise.
For example, on August 17, 2017, Lindberg received an email from Pat Cimo, former director of the marriage ministry at Willow Creek—a ministry in which Lindberg and her husband, Mark, were serving. In the email, Cimo said that Bilezikian “has been mentoring my Marriage Ministry volunteers” and encouraged these volunteers to attend an upcoming ADVANCE conference that Bilezikian was leading.[pullquote]Cimo said that Bilezikian “has been mentoring my Marriage Ministry volunteers” and encouraged these volunteers to attend an upcoming ADVANCE conference that Bilezikian was leading.[/pullquote]
On August 23, 2017, Lindberg forwarded the email to former Willow Creek Director Scott Vaudrey & Pastor Chris Hurta—the leaders to whom she had first told her story about Bilezikian in 2010. “We received this email and found it very concerning,” Lindberg wrote. “In the event you did not know, I wanted you to be aware of the situation.”
Vaudrey replied the same day on an email copied to Hurta and said, “Thank you for sharing this Ann. Blessings, Scott.” But nothing changed.
In fact, the following day, Lindberg received another email from Cimo, encouraging people to bring their Bibles to the Advance conference led by Bilezikian, and reminding them of the location and time of the conference.
I asked Vaudrey, who’s now an author of a book on relationships and an executive coach, about why he didn’t do anything in response to Lindberg’s alert. Vaudrey said that he misread the email from Lindberg when he first received it in 2017.
However, Vaudrey said that in 2018, around the time he resigned, he was scanning his email from his church account and discovered the 2017 email from Lindberg. Vaudrey said when he read the email, he “felt sick” about his response to Lindberg and called it “the biggest regret of my ministry life.”[pullquote]Vaudrey said when he read the email, he “felt sick” about his response to Lindberg and called it “the biggest regret of my ministry life.”[/pullquote]
Vaudrey added, “I did not know of any other time Dr. Bilezikian spoke or I would have spoken out to the elders and senior pastor.” He added that Dr. Bilezikian “was aware of the explicit prohibition from any speaking or mentoring.”
I reached out to Bilezikian to confirm what Vaudrey told me, but he did not respond. I also reached out to Chris Hurta, but he did not respond either.
I asked Lindberg if Vaudrey has ever reached out to her to apologize or to express regret and she said he has not.
Cimo told me that neither Vaudrey nor Hurta told her Lindberg’s story of abuse. Instead, Cimo said that about a year after the ADVANCE conference—in August 2018—Lindberg told Cimo a portion of her story and Cimo was shocked. Cimo said she then talked to Hurta, who told her that Lindberg should tell her story to an outside investigation group that was being formed to investigate issues at the Willow Creek.
IAG includes members with ties to Bilezikian
In October 2018, Lindberg contacted the hotline for Willow Creek’s Independent Advisory Group (IAG) via email. On January 1, 2019, IAG co-chair, Jo Anne Lyon, responded, and the two arranged a meeting between Lindberg and the IAG.
However, the next day, Lindberg wrote Lyon, concerned about the scope of the investigation. “When Chris Hurta of Willow had first said he would ‘open a case,’ which in fact, we have been discussing since 2010, we thought the committee would be addressing perpetrators beyond Bill,” Lindberg wrote. “In re-reading the committee’s goals, it doesn’t sound as if Dr. Bilezikian would be included. I believe Dr. B to have had more victims than Bill, but if the committee’s goals don’t ultimately include anyone else, it would be pointless to have the meeting.”
Lyon responded, “You read rightly the scope of our committee. As you saw we are also looking at the overall culture of the church. You are the only person regarding Dr. B that we have chosen with whom to speak.”[pullquote]“You read rightly the scope of our committee. . . . You are the only person regarding Dr. B that we have chosen with whom to speak.”[/pullquote]
Lindberg then reached out to a victim advocate she knew, who informed her that Lyon worked with Bilezikian to found CBE International (Christians for Biblical Equality). The advocate also told Lindberg that another member of IAG’s four-member committee was Margaret Diddams, provost of Wheaton College. Bilezikian is professor of New Testament emeritus at Wheaton College and taught at the school for 20 years.
Lindberg told me that she had a negative experience with Wheaton when she reported her story of abuse to the school in November 2018. (I am investigating what happened with Wheaton and plan to report on that soon.) Given Lindberg’s experience with Wheaton, and the connections Lyon and Diddams had to Bilezikian, Lindberg told me that she did not trust the IAG to be impartial and cancelled her appointment.
Vaudrey Responds to Allegations in Lindberg’s Published Account
According to Lindberg, her decision to publish her story this weekend capped years of attacks and frustration at Willow Creek that began with her meeting in 2010 with Vaudrey and Hurta.
According to Lindberg, when she first met with Vaudrey and Hurta in 2010, they said that since Bilezikian’s behavior didn’t lead to physically having sex, the issue “didn’t need to go further than that meeting.” Lindberg also said she expressed concern that Bilezikian may have other victims, but Vaudrey said he was confident there were none.
Vaudrey recently sent me a statement in which he said he’s “deeply sorry” for failing to create a “safe-enough environment” for Lindberg and said he’s “heartbroken” that she thinks leaders didn’t take her seriously. Vaudrey said that as soon as “they” (presumably Vaurdrey and Hurta) heard Lindberg’s story, they immediately reported the full details to Hybels and the elders, who decided to restrict Bilezikian.
Vaudrey also responded to Lindberg’s allegation that the church destroyed postcards that she had given Vaudrey and Hurta in 2010.
In 2018, when Lindberg asked for the postcards to be returned, Hurta sent a digital copy of just the backs of the postcards.
Vaudrey said that the church had a practice of shredding documents only after hard copies were scanned and stored electronically, and that no documents were lost. Vaudrey also denied Lindberg’s allegations that the church sought retribution against her.
Vaurdrey said, “I cannot speak to her being silenced or watched by security, as no one on the ERT (Elder Response Team) (including myself) was involved—nor would we ever (emphasis his) condone such actions since Ann has done nothing wrong.”
Below is Vaudrey’s full statement:
Scott Vaudrey Statement_Redacted
Video of Bilezikian posted by GLN:
UPDATE: Initially, when I posted this video, it was on the Global Leadership Network’s YouTube channel. Within hours, the video was removed, but I had already captured it and posted it to my YouTube channel.
Video featuring Bilezikian’s role in founding of Willow Creek:
English 
Spanish
30 Responses
I was heartbroken to read Ann’s post. While Dr. Bilezikian has the right to share his side of the story, and I hope he does, I believe Ann’s account of her interactions with him. He was Ann’s leader, and what happened to her was wrong. I hope and pray that Ann is able to find healing and closure. She is brave to share her story.
My concerns with Ann’s original post have to do with her account of actions taken by Scott Vaudrey and Chris Hurta. As a former Willow staff member, it’s difficult for me to square Ann’s account of their actions in this case with what I experienced in working with them over several years. As a sexual assault survivor, I can honestly say that Scott Vaudrey’s wisdom, character, kindness and leadership made me feel safer than literally any other person at the church. He advocated for women (and people in general) consistently, and sometimes that advocacy included setting some needed boundaries to keep people (who were often minors) safe. I know he is not perfect (none of us are), but he is a good, good person. He’s the guy you want on your team.
I affirm Ann’s pursuit of justice and truth, but I feel that her account of Scott may particularly reflect a selective and misleading representation of some of the facts, even if unintentionally.
Sherri, he’s not a good person. He’s a maniacal power hungry maniac who threatens and intimidates people and managed to get away with it behind closed doors because he was operating under the protection of Bill Hybels. There were no checks & balances to keep either of them accountable for their actions. Scott Vaudreys callous handling of my situation, his intimidation, his legal threats, led me and my family fearing the church for over 8 years, led to my children not growing up in church. That is NOT someone anyone would want on their side. If you have some sort of Biblical facts to back up Scott Vaudreys use of intimidation & threats and Willow Creeks use of legal letter, by all means…I’m listening.
By the way, your statement “ I affirm Ann’s pursuit of justice and truth, but I feel that her account of Scott may particularly reflect a selective and misleading representation of some of the facts, even if unintentionally.” shows you have no idea and you do not care to know the ways in which Scott Vaudrey has mishandled and abused his power in many situations.
PS, you’re blind and I’m praying for you, that your eyes be opened to the TRUTH.
Wow, I feel some excessive harshness here. Is anyone wholly good or evil. Can people make mistakes, or be inconsistent? Can you have a great experience with someone and then have someone else have a different experience with them?
If the truth matters then we should be listening for all of it. And if we are listening for the whole picture, doesn’t Sherris account count? If we say it’s all hearsay, then does Ann’s account count?
My take is that it all matters and all I’m saying here is you could be kinder, the world needs more of that and name calling never solved any problems.
I actually think your account counts too. Best of luck to you, to us, to the church.
S to the T whoever you are that can sit up on your high horse but not post your real name….
Do you think sending a legal letter and threatening people and their families out of church is not harsh?
Sherri Meyer I’m familiar with your former role on WC staff. You are commenting as if you were present during all meetings where people confronted Chris Hurta and Scott Vaudrey with instances of abuse within Willow Creek. You had no involvement with anything of the sort. It’s quite obvious in your comments in much of social media that you tout yourself as being an insider with WC leadership involvement, decisions and actions. Please stop misrepresenting yourself as an authority on all things Willow Creek. Your comments are your opinions only, and they hold no factual evidence.
“Debbb” I don’t understand why you only respect the personal experiences of those who share your narrative. I am speaking from my personal experience. I thought it was important to believe women. Doesn’t that include all women?
Hi “Debbb,” I don’t see Sherri representing herself as an authority on all things Willow – she is talking about her personal experience, which is very valid. Plus she was a staff member or contractor at Willow for over 20 years while also volunteering in several ministries, so she actually does have a lot of knowledge about what happened there. I don’t quite understand why you’re attacking her. Sherri is highly respected at Willow, and your words are unwarranted. So, “Debbb,” if you know her and have something personal against her, please contact her directly to work it out. The least you could do is post with your real name on here.
Debb B is my real name. To quote Sherri Meyer:
“I affirm Anne’s pursuit of justice and the truth, but I feel that her account of Scott [Vaudrey] may particularly reflect a selective and misleading representation of some of the facts, even if unintentionally.”
I’m stating that Sherri was not present in any of the meetings between Chris Hurta or Scott Vaudrey regarding ERT issues. She experienced SV in a completely different setting than a person addressing the ERT for help. Her opinion and experience of SV in a work or friendship relationship can not be compare to Anne’s experience. I found Sherri’s comments of trying to show support to Anne, in actuality to be very condescending. Also I recall in past Social Media formats Sherri, that you supported Bill Hybels and did not believe the women. Please at least own that fact.
I won’t be responding to any more of your comments except to say that this statement is absolutely not true: “Also I recall in past Social Media formats Sherri, that you supported Bill Hybels and did not believe the women.”
Having been a member many years ago of a church where all the staff protected each other when sexual sin raised its ugly head (three of the staff/leadership were involved in sexual sin of one kind or another, and the entire staff tried to bury it and carry on as usual), this kind of coverup can totally sink a ministry. The tentacles reach into the deepest part of the church. In my former church, although not everyone knew what was going on, when the secrets came out, the place blew up. Most of the staff left or resigned, many of the members left, and it’s still “that church” after 35 years. It has never recovered its former glory days. I see the same future for Willow Creek, unless there is true repentance and a thorough housecleaning of staff and policies. How many more similar situations are still waiting to be posted on Facebook or another survivor blog?
Hi Sherri. Can you speak to or do you have knowledge of how Scott handed other cases of abuse that may have been reported to him? You suggested that you witnessed him handle situations that involved minors. Were any of those inclusive of abuse of minors by staff/leaders?
People can be wise, kind, have good character etc., and still do the wrong thing or make the wrong choices — especially when there are accusations against a venerated leader in the church. We now know that suppressing the truth and protecting the reputation of leaders pervaded the Willow culture. Is it possible Scott was a part of that culture?
You said you think Ann’s account of Scott may reflect an unintentionally selective and misleading representation of the facts. Do you have firsthand knowledge of how Scott handled Ann’s case at the time? Do you remember it?
One thing the principals (Hybels, Dr. B, and Ann) have in common: no one takes responsibility for their actions — ever. Deny, explain, obfuscate. No one, once exposed, says: “I was wrong. I repent.” There is always a “reason,” always an “extenuating circumstance.” Taking the blame — straight up? Not Politically Correct, which is the only modern religion that is practiced today. Still. “Not everyone who says to me Lord, Lord…..but those who do the will of the Father…..” “By their fruit you shall know them.” “Do you think your faith will save you?”
Hi, Jessica – I’m not the person to discuss the facts about the specifics of Ann’s situation. I do want to clear up, though, that I am not aware of any cases with minors involving staff members. Every case involving an attender that I do know about was handled as soon as the concern came to the attention of any leader and was done to prevent the harm of a child. As someone who volunteered in the high school group and with our ministry for kids and adults with special needs, the protection of minors is very important to me, as I’m sure it is to all.
Thanks for the clarification. And you did not know of or observe Scott handle any case involving an adult alleging abuse by a leader/staff in the church, correct?
The actions by this “living legend” are disgusting. Can he or will he defend his actions? I have NO respect for him and would not want to be mentored by him or Hybels. Disgusted and disappointed by the turn of events. Willow Creek Church and its leadership should all be asked to step down and clean house ONCE AND FOR ALL. I have thrown Hybels and Bilezikian’s books in the garbage.
Thank you for documenting this, Ms. Roys. It is a deeply painful but absolutely necessary service to the body of Christ.
Three days ago when I first saw the clip of Hybels leading the exaltation of Bilezikian at the 40th anniversary celebration I was dumbstruck. It is so far removed from the spirit of Christ as to be unrecognizable as Christianity. Many thanks to Jen, who provided a link to it in the comment thread on the article, “Longtime Willow Creek Member Accuses Bill Hybels’ Mentor Dr. Gilbert Bilezikian of Clergy Sexual Abuse.” Jen wrote, “[A]mong many other red flags this made such a negative impression we chose to leave the church.” I find that to be the single most significant statement made in recent days concerning the mess at Willow Creek. Discerning people left. Now, when you try to investigate anything at Willow Creek, please understand you are dealing with people who absorbed without revulsion and outrage this despicable elevation of a man. I hate to say it, but I predict the lies will continue. How can you expect integrity and spiritual discernment from people who witnessed the abomination of Willow Creek’s 40th anniversary, and did not flee?
Looks like the Global Leadership Network made that video private REAL QUICK. I’m sure they’re crisis management team is working overtime again this week.
I was horrified to see a man who is being recognized for serving Christ in the church (even though we know his deceit ) accept such praise. And how wrong to honor a man like that for Christian works. It made me sick to see such misplaced honor.
When I retired from ministry after 51 years (21.5 years at my current church), I asked for no reception and no gift, but leaders prevailed on me to preach one last time. That was it, and that was good enough. I considered, and consider, that all those years, I was simply doing as I ought. I find it hard to believe that a godly leader would allow himself to be elevated to rock star status, especially when he knew that he had been restricted from ministry because of his sinful actions. Even worse, in some sense, was Hybels lifting him up when HE KNEW what Dr. B had done. I sense an enormous amount of pride in the past culture of WC, and I hope against hope that that pride is gone. They surely have no right to be proud of their recent record. Having said that, WC at it’s best helped me a great deal in my leadership responsibilities. I truly grieved when I first heard the scandal, and I’m sorry that there’s more to the story that has never been addressed.
I’ll mention this only to set a particular part of the record straight. I spoke to Dr. B fairly recently about the ‘acknowledgment’ at the 40th anniversary celebration. He didn’t take that ‘honor’ very well. Instead, he felt that he was being mocked – made fun of as an old man who was no longer relevant. Not sure if it was meant to be an honor, but it wasn’t received as one.
That United Center video reminded me of those Scientology celebrations —
Sherri Meyer, you worked at WC for several years and say Scott Vaudrey is literally the person that made you feel the very safest at the church – I don’t discount your experience as I don’t know you or him, but that you can say that about him over the senior pastor that was there for decades speaks volumes to me. I would hope an employee and a congregant would be able to say that statement about the senior leader of the church. :(
That is a great point! So many covered up these horrible sins because they had something to gain. Sadly money is the god they serve and worship. That is why the Real God is not in their behavior.
I think that’s a valid point. If it helps any, I would say that the current senior leader, Steve Gillen, is that person now.
If only the church wasn’t filled with sinners…I forgot what that verse said about casting stones, something about being without sin…well it probably won’t be heard anyway.
The moral corruption never stops leaking out. Has Bill Hybels repented yet?
As leaders in Scott’s ministries. we often heard perplexing “messaging” from his platform. He boasted and justified his “bait and switch” strategy and I personally fell victim of it with his department. He also called himself a” hyper-vigilant self protector” and “control freak.” All true of him, his influence at Willow, and his minions still “ministering” there.
In Scott’s defense, his childhood and father’s relationship with him was sad to hear. No wonder he is so wounded and wounding.
I’m grateful someone has addressed Scott’s part of these last years at Willow. I heard leadership, in the day, refer to him as Bill’s hitman. Bill had his sin, and now Dr. B is confirmed, but without Scott in place, this all could have been handled kindly and appropriately. No need for media.
Men protecting men is a unique problem in churches, but Scott did it well for Willow pastors. His Pastor Protection Team (old ERT) is still in place and all Willow is still operating out of Scott’s philosophy of ministry (bait…, hyper…, control…). I am proof. It is a tragedy. I may tell my story another day.
We all are sinners, but the congregation’s blind eye of support for this systemic injustice over all these years is a testimony to Satan’s work when he gets a foothold. We are all vulnerable to it.
I have 3 apologies to make. To all ladies injured at Willow, I am so sorry I was duped into not speaking up when the spirit inside me was suspicious and firing. God tried to tell me to do something. I was baffled instead of speaking. It could have protected you. I was afraid. Please forgive me.
To Bill, Dr. B, and Scott, what was I thinking to put you in a position of being above anyone questioning your actions? I am a misguided sinner looking for a human to take Jesus’ place. I am blind, so sorry, and ask your forgiveness. I could have protected you from you.
To the past and present Elders of WC, I am sorry I have not pushed you harder into providing a means of communicating “above the law” attitudes from leadership at Willow. We must have a siren to ring when we see arrogance from the pulpit, the leadership, the staff, and the minions, before it breaks into full bloom. If we do not value humble servanthood instead of rock-star handshaking and minimizing human value (Willow’s Elder Policies), we will always be disciplined.
Thank you, Julie, for the opportunity to say I’m sorry. I am healed by it. Before God and man, I will test my teachers and speak (by His Kind Hand of Grace toward me).
This is powerful. God bless you for saying this.
Ann, I am so very sorry that you had to endure such abuse. It must have been paralyzing to have a revered and beloved senior leader treat you as a sexual plaything with no warning. The very least we all can do to honor your pain and suffering, is to learn from it. In the future:
1. Every mother should enroll their daughters in a basic Krav Maga class, then condition them that no man, regardless of title or position, may ever sexually assault them without consequence. Dirty old men like Dr. Bilezikian assaulted this woman inappropriately just as Harvey Weinstein did to his prey, because they assumed their fame, notoriety and position in society would allow and excuse it. Had the first victims of either pervert caught them off guard with a hard knee strike to the groin followed by a swift knife hand strike to the throat, chances are dirty old men would stop this kind of behavior. It’s not enough to tell our daughters to do this. They must be trained to respond automatically for the day it happens.
2. Believe head pastors when they talk about the “DNA of a church”. It turns out they were right. Their churches do have DNA and just like ALL DNA, it cannot be changed simply by bringing in crisis management experts, issuing some press releases, writing up new policies or making changes here and there. Willow Creek was founded by two sexual predators. They hand selected the staff beneath them who would support this then had them train/condition the other staff to accept, enable and defend this behavior. Those who resisted were expelled, like a stomach bug attacking the core being. Because the DNA of Willow Creek was birthed in ego, greed, filth and lust, then built on this same foundation for 45 years, the core DNA will never really change. The values are too ingrained and too protected and defended by those with everything to lose. Those not wanting to be subject to such values need to exit the host now.
3. Any church that spends that kind of money to rent a major arena and put on that kind of self-glorifying show for no other reason than to honor THEMSELVES, is not a church. I know many will disagree, but watch that video again. That is repellent. I don’t know how the attendees couldn’t feel the collective weight of all the face-palming going on in heaven during that “show”. As Tim Campbell pointed out, that’s exactly the kind of celebration that Scientology throws to honor themselves. Do members really want to emulate that and pay for it with their tithes? Does it seem consistent with God’s nature that he would tolerate such over-the-top self-glorifying behavior? If your answer is yes, or some other form of defense, see #2.
” …the church honored Bilezikian, or “Dr. B,” at its 40th Anniversary celebration at the United Center as “the living legend of Willow Creek Community Church.””
++++++++++++++
well, that was massive PR, was it not. Massive propaganda. Massive narrative-writing, narrative-controlling. The sole purpose being to control Willow Creek’s image and public perception.
it occurs to me it’s purpose was also to control Dr B. To assert dominance over him. Not unlike Donald Trump calling James Comey away from the wall to a contrived show of loyalty in front of cameras for the world stage.