One Abuser: Countless Wounded.

How much damage can one man do?

One serial abuser can do a lot of damage.  By the time a local church is aware of the abuse and moved the person out many persons have been wounded.

Most organizations cannot expose the abuser (Ephesians 5:11) and must settle for deactivating their influence in the setting they can control.  A local church sometimes can remove a minister from their position of authority but often cannot, or choose not to, expose the abuse and the abuser.

Not exposing the abuser has several benefits to a congregation.  You avoid damaging publicity.  You avoid alienating many church members and possibly losing membership.  You protect the victims who may not want any exposure.  You keep the peace.

Ralph Rutledge was blocked from the Pentecostal Assemblies (PAOC) of Canada.  At the time of his discipline his involvement appeared to be in one homosexual relationship.

In Chapter 20 of Demons in the Sanctuary an insider gives the fuller story.  “He was fired by his last church for his involvement with a young man in his congregation.  Our organization offered to pay all expenses if he would enter serious counseling but instead he chose to try and split the church with a telephone campaign.”

The insider was the speaker at a woman’s ministry meeting at Good Shepherd Church.  She prayed with Mira (Marion Bellamy) and then it turns out this woman know a lot about Rutherford: “I know that he was asked if that was the only incident that had occurred and he assured them it was, but later, it was learned that many such incidents had occurred.  He has left countless broken, wounded people in his wake from one end of the country to the other.”  (Demons in the Sanctuary, page 253).

Unless an abuser is exposed other congregations and other Christians are vulnerable.  There are many reasons why full disclosure and full exposure of an abuser is not practiced.  However, until that exposure happens the abuser is free to continue to abuse and to add to the many wounded people whose future in ministry, in intimate relationships, in relationship with God and the church will be deeply hindered.

It is on behalf of the wounded and their families, on behalf of the Bride of Christ and to protect other ‘victims’ that this blog is written.  My wish is that healing of the wounded may begin.  But first the lion must be caged.

I intend no ill toward Ralph Rutledge.  Both he and I will answer to God and give an account one day.  As a shepherd of God’s flock I have sounded a warning to protect the sheep.  My hope, is that in God’s eyes that will be good.  I care enough about Ralph Rutledge refuse to treat him as a 'Golden Boy' who can do no wrong and I respect him enough as a man to hold him accountable and to invite him to make peace with God. 

I believe he is big enough to hear what I am saying, take a look at himself and then turn to God.  I believe God loves Rutledge enough to provide the grace of godly repentance needed  if and when Ralph is ready.  

It is all part of being a man of God.  It is all about acting under the anointing of the Spirit and with courage, wisdom and love - 2 Timothy 1:7.

(By the way, Demons in the Sanctuary, is based very precisely on a particular time that Ralph Rutledge was facing down the church board at the Good Shepherd Church.  The story is told by the secretary of the board.  It is a story of their gradual learning about his character, attitude and behaviour and then dealing with him.  To fulfill my duty to verify the story, I met with many of the board that are in the story.  In these meetings each one confirmed the accuracy of the accounts in the book.  They affirmed that the book accurately captures the interactions of the board with Ralph Rutledge.)

What do we know about Ralph Rutledge?

The topic of public interest is the person of Rev. Ralph Rutledge.  The public is interested because he has close connections to 100 Huntley Street; because not a lot is known about his ministry at Queensway Cathedral in Toronto or why the PAOC removed him from all ministry within this Pentecostal denomination.  The scandal - the rumours - suggest the abuse of the position of pastor to engage and confuse young men in sexual sin.  The full story was never revealed.  There was no public confession by Ralph Rutledge and no apology to a shocked and confused congregation.

In private confessions Ralph Rutledge pleads his case as a victim of abuse by the PAOC.  He minimizes his sin and his part in it.  He claims it was in the past.  He claims he was the victim.  He claims it was a minor one-time incident.  He claims he was hard done by by the PAOC.

The PAOC, for their part, feel bound for a variety of reasons not to expose the basis for their decision. This may be for legal reasons and may be the result of the settlement negotiated with Ralph Rutledge. My insider connections suggest that there were very real concerns and more than one report of sexual abuse of his position as pastor.

The Pentecostal Assemblies of God administrators that came to this tough decision were men of God who care and are careful with these kind of decisions.  The evidence suggests that they were not unfair; did not 'pick on' Rutledge or make a rash decision.

There may be good reason that the Bible says to "tell the church' when someone is removed from the church.  The community is informed and knows better than treat a sinner as a saint.

Rutledge's contends that there was a one time encounter initiated by another man and the whole thing is in the past. I believe it is much more likely that he is minimizing the evidence put before the elders of the PAOC. Biblical process requires two or more witnesses. To avoid legal liability the PAOC needs to have evidence that could go to court to show that this was not a decision biased against Rutledge.

On the contrary, my investigation adds new categories to the ways in which his behaviour as a professional minister of God has been irresponsible and out of control.  Ti now appears that he has manipulated congregations, followers, victims and church boards for his own selfish goals both sexual and financial.

The reports suggest that Rutledge uses and used every possible means to avoid confrontation. He would manipulate congregations, to control boards, and to harass victims who wanted to speak up.  I believe there is sufficient hard evidence to establish that in a court of law if necessary.  His phone call to me is just one example.

A Board member of Good Samaritan Church - an independent charismatic church associated before Rutledge with the name of Rev. Gordon Williams - wrote a book that is an accurate account in fictional guise describing one time period of his ministry.   I interviewed the author and members of the church board to verify that this book is an accurate and well documented account of Ralph Rutledge's ministry at the Good Samaritan Church.

The text is written by the Board Treasurer and supported by  the notes taken and minutes of the board meetings.

Information is verified by one or more independent witnesses to an event.  The Bible says that a fact should be established in the mouth of 2 or 3 witnesses.  I spoke to 4 or 5 board members who gave me their word that the book is quite accurate in it's account of the events in the church.

The book is 'Demons in the Sanctuary" by Miriam Bellamy.