Church Updates Archive

Hello,

Last week, I wrote to you regarding our next chapter in responding to sexual and spiritual abuse (click here to read my February 14th message). Our church is publicly disclosing how Vineyard USA responded to the abuse in Duluth and calling for change on a national level.

Today, our Church Council sent the attached letter to the board of trustees of Vineyard USA. In this letter, the Council begs Vineyard USA to fully recognize their part in past and ongoing harms from abuse, and to seek the way of Jesus by empowering the powerless rather than the powerful. The letter lists some of the ways Vineyard USA has revictimized survivors and states that, without change, the favoritism and “old boys’ network” within Vineyard USA will continue to damage local churches and our witness for Christ. Therefore, the Council feels compelled to peacefully, prayerfully, and lovingly call for renewal and change in the leadership of Vineyard USA.

Specifically, the Church Council voted to voice its support for the letter sent by Rev. Donnell Wyche to Vineyard USA.  Additionally, the Council voted to suspend our 3% contribution from Duluth Vineyard to Vineyard USA until Vineyard USA acts to reform the broken system.  The Council took these important steps to seek change and accountability on a national level.  I urge you to read the entire letter from our Council. 

Although our obligation to seek justice for survivors and defend the oppressed (Isaiah 1:17) is enough to compel us to act, we are also doing this for the health and survival of the Vineyard movement. As Pastor Brian Metzger recently said about calling for this change, “We’re not trying to burn down the house; we’re trying to put out the fire.” We love the Vineyard movement and have no plans to leave. In fact, the Church Council recently amended our church Bylaws to require congregational members to vote before the Duluth Vineyard could disassociate from the Vineyard movement and no longer be a Vineyard church.

Please join me and the Church Council in praying for hope and healing for the survivors, change for Vineyard USA, and repentance for the perpetrators.  Pray that our church can be humble, own our mistakes and walk in the way of Jesus. God have mercy on us all.

With the love of Christ,
John
Interim Lead Pastor

P.S. It’s crucial to listen to survivors of abuse and amplify their voices. I encourage you to hear directly from them. Click here to read one survivor’s firsthand testimony concerning Vineyard USA.

P.P.S. Just a reminder—we have a potluck and family meeting scheduled for this Sunday, February 23rd.  This will be an opportunity to discuss and ask questions about our relationship with Vineyard USA.

Hello,

The past two years have been both incredibly painful and amazingly beautiful.  As we’ve pressed into transparency, lament and healing, the Holy Spirit has blessed us and made us more like Jesus.  And, we remain heartbroken by the sexual and spiritual abuse that happened in our community.  We are so much more than just a church that’s gone through an abuse scandal.  And, the abuse will always be part of our story and our response to the abuse has been an enormous opportunity to follow the narrow road, the self-sacrificial way of Jesus.

Over the last two years, this story has had many chapters: from initial discovery to the GRACE investigation, from apologies, to lament, to victim care, from firings and resignations to church discipline, from criminal charges to plea agreement and conviction, and more recently civil lawsuits.  More information is available on the updates page on our website.  And, in January 2025, we began a new chapter: publicly disclosing how Vineyard USA responded to the abuse in Duluth and calling for change on a national level.

Before going public, we had many private communications with Vineyard USA to express our concerns about how they were prioritizing the perpetrators over the victims.  I met with them in November 2023 and told them that actions taken by Vineyard USA were harming the Duluth Vineyard.  I met with them in June 2024 and told them that Vineyard USA had made the situation worse for the Duluth Vineyard.  And throughout, I continued to hear from victims who felt revictimized by Vineyard USA.  At a certain point, we had an obligation to “tell it to the church.”

So on January 10, 2025, I updated our response timeline online with more information about how Vineyard USA responded to the abuse in Duluth.  For example, the timeline includes details about how Vineyard USA ignored a report of abuse sent to them and disparaged the reporting victim, supported the perpetrators’ leadership, advocated for the perpetrators to have input in who conducted the independent investigation of them, posted a 27-minute video that focuses on the perpetrators rights and kept that video up after being told of the negative impact it had on victims, paid the perpetrators severance after they resigned and pushed for the Duluth Vineyard to also pay them severance, and did not support the Duluth Vineyard when we exercised church discipline and we told the perpetrators not to attend a Vineyard church (the National Director let them go to his church).  It’s a lot.  One Vineyard pastor (Brian Metzger) published a summary on this Substack.  Another Vineyard pastor (Donnell Wyche) wrote a letter calling for the resignation of the National Director.

On January 28, 2025, Vineyard USA responded by updating their website and posting their own timeline.  On the positive side, they did include a list of some leadership failures and mistakes.  Although, it is human nature to acknowledge lesser failures and mistakes in order to avoid addressing larger failures and mistakes.  And on the negative side, Vineyard USA has essentially attacked the Duluth Vineyard and accused us of posting misrepresentations about them.  Ironically, their website and timeline contain numerous false statements and narratives, as I recently shared with them in an email.

On January 29, 2025, I sent this message to the Vineyard pastors in our region:

Fellow Vineyard Pastors,

The stakes are high with abuse.  Both people’s lives and their faith have been severely damaged, even lost.  We need to get this right.  I am thankful for much of what Vineyard USA has done.  The increased transparency is good.  Although it is fair to ask why now, why wait so long?  Starting to acknowledge failures and mistakes is super good.  Again, why now, why not last October after the Guidepost report?  National ordination, a reporting hotline, improved processes and procedures to respond to abuse and the like, all helpful and good.  Yet, do they go to the heart of the problem the Vineyard movement (we) have with abuse?

You’re busy.  It’s complicated.  What’s the deal with dueling timelines, this disagreement?  (BTW, neither timeline is perfect, comprehensive (not selective) or can break free from the perspective of their creator.)

From my experience and in my opinion, what’s at the heart of the disagreement between the Duluth Vineyard and Vineyard USA is this problem that I shared with GRACE in July 2023 and they reference on page 85 of their report:

“In my recent personal experience, VUSA worked to preserve the power of Michael and Brenda.  For example, at the start (December 2022/January 2023) we were told by Vineyard USA that (a) we would need Michael and Brenda’s leadership to get through this and (b), although maybe Michael and Brenda shouldn’t have the ultimate say, they should be given input into who conducts the third-party investigation.  We tried to accommodate (a), but ignored their advice on (b) — especially after Brenda’s attack regarding hiring GRACE.  … So, although our Bylaws, Nepotism Policy, etc. do create some check on the power of our Senior Pastor, those attempts at accountability we’re (sic) lived out in a wider culture that prioritized Senior Pastor power, rather Senior Pastor accountability.”

We need to face our cultural problem.  Put another way, my disagreement with Vineyard USA is about the relative importance of victims and perpetrators (pastors) in our response to abuse.  

From my experience and in my opinion, Vineyard USA has prioritized the Gatlins in their response to the abuse in Duluth.  Please judge for yourself.  But, when you look over the items in contention, ask yourself who benefited – victims or the Gatlins?

1) VUSA did not provide the “helpful authority matrix” as part of an abstract discussion, it was provided as a way to let the Gatlins have input into who investigated them and their son.

2) VUSA did not simply call for the sharing of all correspondence, the particular concern was sharing the Gatlin’s correspondence, especially their resignation letters.  

3) The dispute over Jay’s 27-minute video and its focus on the Gatlins’ rights.

4) All the issues and discussions about paying the Gatlins’ severance.

5) The dispute over church discipline and the Gatlins’ continued participation in MHV.

6) The attitudes and cultural factors behind VUSA ignoring the complaint sent to them in 2014.

Vineyard pastors, we’re all a part of a culture that prioritized Senior Pastor power, rather than Senior Pastor accountability.  I don’t blame Vineyard USA any more than I blame myself.  The question now is: what are we going to do about it?  We could start by being honest and acknowledging the truth.  And, in the attached list, I do have specific actions I believe our leaders at Vineyard USA should take.  If you agree, you could ask them to do these things.  I haven’t had much luck and I clearly don’t have the relational equity at this point.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1E7RCoInA0oBUKnmxWZea3hUL0dmsrxJvAxN1iIsdgXQ/edit?usp=sharing

Looking forward, our Church Council (board of directors) has scheduled a March meeting with Vineyard USA in Duluth.  The Church Council is considering what other steps Duluth Vineyard can take to seek change and accountability on a national level.  

So, why am I in this dispute with Vineyard USA?  Why am I publicly disclosing how Vineyard USA responded to the abuse in Duluth and calling for change?  Three big reasons.

First, THE VICTIMS.  Vineyard USA’s ongoing actions have resulted in victims losing trust in religious leaders, churches and even God.  The psychological consequences (isolation, feeling voiceless, loss of hope, depression, PTSD, etc.) can be devastating.  Isaiah 1:17 says “Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed.”  When my phone stops ringing and the emails stop coming in from victims, maybe then I can let it go.  (For a first hand account of one victim’s experience, Click Here for their message to Vineyard USA and Click Here for their message to the public.)

Second, I love the Vineyard movement.  There are so many good things about Vineyard churches.  We need to improve and get this right.  And, the recommendations in our GRACE report included this, “Duluth Vineyard can be a positive influence on organizations with which it is affiliated, such as Vineyard USA.”  

Third, publicly disclosing how Vineyard USA responded to the abuse in Duluth and calling for change on a national level is consistent with the three key principles that have guided our response from the very start of this story:

• We will continually seek Jesus’ mind and will, through His Spirit and the Word of God, in all actions and decisions related to the allegations of misconduct.
• As Jesus said the truth will set us free, we will diligently seek the truth related to the allegations of misconduct.
• As Jesus was always on the side of the vulnerable and the wounded, in our response to the allegations of misconduct the safety and care of the alleged victims must always come first.

This is who we are as a church now.  We are radically transparent (thus this long message to you).  We are about healing and doing better at responding to abuse.  We are letting the Holy Spirit use the hard and messy parts of life to make us more like Jesus.

Much love,
John
Interim Lead Pastor

Today, Jackson Gatlin pled guilty to numerous counts of criminal sexual conduct. Jackson’s crimes occurred when he was a volunteer youth leader at the Duluth Vineyard and Jackson was later employed by the church as a pastoral assistant. Jackson’s parents, Michael and Brenda Gatlin, were our senior pastors. The statute of limitations prevents criminal charges from being brought against Michael and Brenda for failure to report suspected child abuse. Further, an independent investigation by Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment (GRACE) also found instances of spiritual abuse.  You can find more information on this serious and heartbreaking situation on our website: click here.

Jackson was taken into custody today and is now in jail. Our understanding is that, pursuant to a plea agreement, he is expected to be sentenced to 160 months in prison at an upcoming sentencing hearing. In court today, it was stated that all the victims in this case agreed to the plea agreement and that they will have the opportunity to make victim impact statements at the sentencing hearing on November 25 and 26, 2024.

To all the victims, we hope and pray that Jackson’s guilty plea is a positive step in your process of healing. We are humbled by your bravery and thankful that you can support each other. We again say that we are so sorry. Our hearts are truly broken by your pain. On behalf of the Duluth Vineyard, we apologize for the abuse you suffered. The way you were treated was evil and we are sorry that the Duluth Vineyard was the kind of place where this kind of behavior could happen. We reiterate the lament and repentance we shared at our service on December 7, 2023.

Also, we want to say to all survivors of abuse that we hear you and believe you. It is never your fault. And, you are not alone. Not only are we here for you, there are links to other resources on our website. As Jesus was always on the side of the vulnerable and the wounded, in our response to abuse the safety and care of survivors must always come first.

As we previously shared, we have also recently learned that some of Jackson’s victims are seeking justice in civil court. In addition to naming Jackson, Michael and Brenda Gatlin, the defendants also include the Duluth Vineyard and Vineyard USA. No one ever wants to be sued in civil court. Yet, we welcome this case and pray that it can bring healing and justice for the victims. Further, a case like this can help determine the relative responsibility of various parties. Although what we can do financially is limited by the size of our resources, insurance coverage and outstanding debt, as a church we want to follow the way of Jesus and take responsibility for the harm we are judged to have caused. Civil litigation is a slow and imperfect process and it may be a long time before any final judgment is reached. Let’s all pray for the victims, for patience and for God to use this litigation to advance his will here on earth like it is in heaven.

This continues to be a very painful situation, yet that is where we so often find Jesus. Our hope and prayer is that the Holy Spirit will give us the gift of unity and strength to do God’s will. And, as we together respond like Jesus to this difficult situation, our response will bring both healing to victims and glory to God. 

With the love of Christ,
The Church Council

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This message is sent on behalf of the Church Council. Please contact John Kliewer with any questions or concerns.

Hello,
In October 2023, our former pastoral assistant, Jackson Gatlin, was charged with criminal sexual conduct and his case remains before the criminal court. The statute of limitations prevents criminal charges from being brought against our former senior pastors and Jackson’s parents, Michael and Brenda Gatlin, for failure to report suspected child abuse. Further, an independent investigation by Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment (GRACE) also found instances of spiritual abuse. You can find more information on this serious and heartbreaking situation on our website: click here.

To all the victims, we are so sorry. Our hearts are broken by your pain. On behalf of the Duluth Vineyard, we apologize for the abuse you suffered. The way you were treated was evil and we are sorry that the Duluth Vineyard was the kind of place where this kind of behavior could happen.

Also, we want to again say to all survivors of abuse that we hear you and believe you. It is never your fault. And, you are not alone. Not only are we here for you, there are links to other resources on our website. As Jesus was always on the side of the vulnerable and the wounded, in our response to abuse the safety and care of survivors must always come first.

We have recently learned that some of Jackson’s victims are seeking justice in civil court. In addition to naming Jackson, Michael and Brenda Gatlin, the defendants also include the Duluth Vineyard and Vineyard USA. No one ever wants to be sued in civil court. Yet, we welcome this case and pray that it can bring healing and justice for the victims. Further, a case like this can help determine the relative responsibility of various parties. Although what we can do financially is limited by the size of our resources, insurance coverage and outstanding debt, as a church we want to follow the way of Jesus and take responsibility for the harm we are judged to have caused. Civil litigation is a slow and imperfect process and it may be a long time before any final judgment is reached. Let’s all pray for patience and for God to use this litigation to advance his will here on earth like it is in heaven.

Separately, we note that Vineyard USA engaged Guidepost Solutions LLC to investigate Michael and Brenda’s leadership and recently released the Independent Investigation Report to the public: click here. Any questions or concerns regarding this report should be directed to Guidepost and Vineyard USA. We would, however, recommend viewing Guidepost’s report within the broader context of this tragic situation that you can find described on our website, including in the GRACE report, lament and repentance service, church discipline documents and a detailed timeline.

With the love of Christ,

The Church Council

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This message is sent on behalf of the Church Council. Please contact John Kliewer with any questions or concerns.

Hello,
We contracted with a company called Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment (GRACE) to independently investigate allegations of sexual and spiritual abuse. Today, we received the final investigation report from GRACE. To read the full report, click here. We fully accept and believe GRACE’s findings of fact.

Victims First
To the victims, we are so sorry. Our hearts are broken by your pain. We acknowledge that the abuse and harm found in the GRACE report is merely a representative sample of what could be corroborated and we grieve all the pain that has been suffered in our community. The full scope of this tragedy is broad and deep and brings us to tears. On behalf of the Duluth Vineyard, we apologize for the abuse you suffered. The way you were treated was evil and we are sorry that the Duluth Vineyard was the kind of place where this kind of behavior could happen. We want to help and we can imagine and respect that you may be hesitant to accept assistance from us. You can engage with us as much or as little as you choose. If it would help you to talk or pray with us, please let us know. If you would benefit from working with a professional counselor in the community, we would like to help with that. For more information, please contact Becca Eastvold at (218) 389-7684 or [email protected]. 

Also, we want to once again say to all survivors of abuse that we hear you and believe you. It is never your fault. And, you are not alone. Not only are we here for you, there are links to other resources on our website. As Jesus was always on the side of the vulnerable and the wounded, in our response to abuse the safety and care of survivors must always come first.

Wider Context and GRACE
For those less familiar with this situation, the GRACE investigation and report is in addition to the police investigation that resulted in charges of criminal sexual conduct against Jackson Gatlin. The statute of limitations prevents criminal charges from being brought against Michael and Brenda Gatlin for failure to report suspected child abuse. GRACE is a nationally recognized organization that works to address and prevent sexual abuse within Christian communities. GRACE was retained by us to conduct an independent investigation and analysis. It was very important to us to retain a firm that, because they are not the agent of nor owe a duty to zealously represent the Duluth Vineyard (such as a law firm), could conduct a victim-centric investigation. It is difficult to give up control and expensive to have an investigation done right. And, GRACE has been a huge blessing to us. The GRACE report is also in addition to the dozens of personal testimonies we have heard in the past year from people who bravely came forward with their experience of spiritual or emotional abuse by Michael, Brenda and Jackson Gatlin. 

The Abuse in Relation to Michael, Brenda and Jackson Gatlin
To be clear, the abusive behavior described in the GRACE report is shocking, wrong and has done great damage to the victims and the Duluth Vineyard community. To quote Gregory the Great, “No one does more harm in the Church than he who has the title or rank of holiness and acts perversely.” This harm cuts deep and can last for decades, for eternity. There are multiple victims that are no longer following Jesus and/or cannot step foot in a church as a result of the abuse they suffered. In the Bible, our God repeatedly warns against abusive leadership and calls us to the way of Jesus. For example:

“Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of my pasture!” declares the LORD. Therefore this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says to the shepherds who tend my people: “Because you have scattered my flock and driven them away and have not bestowed care on them, I will bestow punishment on you for the evil you have done,” declares the LORD. – Jeremiah 23:1-2

Eli’s sons were scoundrels; they had no regard for the LORD…Now Eli, who was very old, heard about everything his sons were doing to all Israel and how they slept with the women who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting. – 1 Samuel 2:12, 22 

For I told him that I would judge his family forever because of the sin he knew about; his sons blasphemed God, and he failed to restrain them. Therefore I swore to the house of Eli, ‘The guilt of Eli’s house will never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering.’ ” – 1 Samuel 3:13-14

Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” – Mark 10:42-45 (See also Matthew 23)

Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; 3not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. – 1 Peter 5:2-3

The abusive behavior described in the GRACE report is disqualifying from church leadership. See 1 Timothy 3:1-13, Titus 1:5-9, 2 Timothy 2:24, and Ephesians 4:32. Although Jackson Gatlin’s Duluth Vineyard employment was terminated for insubordination and Michael Gatlin resigned before we could terminate his employment for insubordination, (given the chance) we would have now terminated Jackson, Michael and Brenda’s employment for the abusive behavior described in the GRACE report.

The abusive behavior described in the GRACE report is sin and a substantial departure from Biblical norms of behavior. Based on what we knew last May, we placed Michael and Brenda Gatlin (click here for letter) and Jackson Gatlin (click here for letter) under church discipline. Church discipline is divine authority delegated to the church by Jesus to maintain order through the correction of sinning church members for the good of those caught in sin, for the purity and unity of the church, and for the glory of God. Our prayer is that through this process truth, mercy, justice and peace will meet as described in Psalm 85:10. To date, none of the Gatlins have participated in the process of reconciliation and restoration we provided six months ago. It has been nearly a year since allegations of abuse arose and, to our knowledge, none of the Gatlins have demonstrated meaningful repentance.

With the clarity of the GRACE report, we see that more is necessary to help Michael, Brenda and Jackson overcome the sin that has hindered their place in the Body of Christ. Building on the church discipline outlined in our May letters, we believe it is now time to obey the words of Jesus:

If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector. – Matthew 18:17

And, the instructions of the Apostle Paul:

But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people.

What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you.” – 1 Corinthians 5:11-13

Pursuant to Scripture and Article II, Section 5.D. of our church Bylaws, we instruct all members of the Duluth Vineyard to cease table fellowship (the sharing of holy communion) with Michael, Brenda and Jackson Gatlin until he or she is reinstated. Beyond the Duluth Vineyard, we also ask followers of Jesus throughout the Vineyard movement to do the same. This discipline is for their good. We hope this will motivate them to participate in the process of reconciliation and restoration. Please pray that the lack of table fellowship helps them “come to their senses” (Luke 15:17, 2 Timothy 2:25-26) and brings them quickly to repentance.

The Abuse in Relation to the Duluth Vineyard Community

Next, this is a difficult time for our church and a painful part is facing our collective complicity in the abusive behavior described in the GRACE report. The Duluth Vineyard was the kind of place where this kind of behavior could happen. The toxicity in our culture and the dysfunction in our family system allowed this to happen. We need to take responsibility and we call our community to a time of lament and repentance. 

As representatives and leaders of the Duluth Vineyard, we confess, lament and repent to the following sins:

• We confess to being the kind of community in which criminal sexual conduct and spiritual abuse could occur. We acknowledge our systemic failure to protect vulnerable individuals from the types of harm identified throughout the GRACE report. We again apologize to the reporting victims and the Twin Ports community. Sexual and spiritual abuse are evil. We are working to develop a culture that is vigorously opposed to abuse.
• We confess to being a place where victims did not know how to report their abuse and felt like it would not make a difference if they did. We are sorry. All reports to our new reporting hotline will be taken seriously (877-817-9145).
• We confess to being a community that minimized spiritual and emotional abuse. We acknowledge that when victims were told that it was “not so bad” or “it used to be worse” that we caused them even more pain. This was wrong and we are sorry. We are committed to learning about and taking abuse seriously. We will not allow the minimization of abuse.
• We confess to tolerating the kind of nepotism that would allow a relative to be treated with favoritism and their abuse to be covered up. We regret this. We will never again allow exceptions to our Nepotism Policy.
• We confess to putting our former senior pastors on a pedestal, of failing to ask hard questions of them and making excuses for them, and of not always valuing Christlike character over ministry skills and giftedness. We apologize. We have and will continue to make governance changes that increase accountability for our leaders.
• We confess to having a church culture that was not resistant enough to toxicities such as ambition, narcissism, fear, secretism, celebrity, success measured by numbers, and consumerism. We apologize. We are working and praying for culture change.
• We confess to not being a trauma-informed church. Our lack of education, training and understanding hurt victims. We apologize. We will work to promote a trauma-informed culture at the Duluth Vineyard.
• We confess to being part of a movement of churches that ignores the risks of nepotism, tends towards idolizing and preserving the power of senior pastors and valuing performance over character, and often emphasizes multiplication over Christlikeness. This culture can make accountability difficult and even help to facilitate abuse. We apologize. We pray for culture change and moral leadership and will work to be a positive influence on the movement.
• We confess to missing Jesus in the darkness. As we focus on and lament this tragedy, we can miss the light of Jesus, the great works of the Holy Spirit among us, and the many blessings the Father has given our church and our movement of churches over the years. We are sorry. We thank you and praise you, Jesus, for your goodness and provision.

Our church takes responsibility for our guilt. We lament and repent of our collective sin. And, we commit to change. Importantly, we know that God meets us in repentance. We have great hope for what he will do as we come into the light and move towards Jesus. He is a beautiful God and we are his people.

GRACE’s Recommendations for Change
We are very thankful for the expert recommendations within the GRACE report. We intend to implement them. These changes will help make our community a safer place. They will also help us establish a culture that is more resistant to abuse and toxicity. Within 100 days, we will provide an update on our progress.

In this Together with Jesus
Again, this is a difficult time for our church. And, we are going through it together. Please reach out to your friends, small group leaders, and pastors for support. Further, let’s not forget that we are going through this with Jesus. God’s loving presence is always available to us. Come, Holy Spirit! We need Jesus and we need each other to point us to Jesus. And, for those who have abuse in their stories, we encourage you to also consider accessing professional mental health counseling. God works in many ways. 

This is a painful mess, yet that’s where we so often find Jesus. Let’s look for the good that Jesus is doing in us and around us. In the hurt, God is making the Duluth Vineyard a stronger, better, more loving community. As we press into lament and repentance, we get closer to Jesus. As we help those in pain find healing, we become Jesus’ hands and feet. Even in this difficult season, we are coming to life. The Duluth Vineyard’s mission to make disciples remains the same. We’re not the best church nor the only church. And, there is something special about the Duluth Vineyard that makes it our home. Most importantly, God has chosen to work in us and through us. And, for that we give him praise!

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all,

The Special Committee of the Church Council (Ben Mork, Ann LaCosse, Jerry Lieffring and Gerry Nierengarten)

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This message is sent on behalf of the Special Committee. Please contact John Kliewer with any questions or concerns.

Hello,

Today, our former pastoral assistant, Jackson Gatlin, was charged with criminal sexual conduct and taken into custody.  Five criminal complaints were filed against him. (click here: contains graphic depictions of alleged sexual abuse)

To the victims reporting crimes against Jackson, our hearts are broken by your pain. We pray that you experience comfort, healing and peace. We thank you for the courage it took to tell your story and we hope that the law enforcement process helps bring healing for you. We also pray that God gives you even more courage, strength and hope. We are in this tragedy with you. And, to the extent you are comfortable, we want to love and care for you.

We also recognize that the law enforcement process may cause reporting victims to be triggered, including involuntarily recalling past trauma. We want to help and we can imagine and respect that you may be hesitant to accept assistance from us. You can engage with us as much or as little as you choose. For example, we’d love to pray with you and/or help provide professional counseling for you. For more information, please contact Becca Eastvold at (218) 389-7684 or [email protected].

We are sorry that the Duluth Vineyard was the kind of place where this kind of behavior could happen. We apologize to the reporting victims and the Twin Ports community. We are working to develop a culture that is more resistant to abuse and toxicity. Sexual abuse can happen anywhere. This is not an excuse for it happening in the context of the Duluth Vineyard community. Rather, this is a call for change in our broader society as well.

Also, we want to once again say to all survivors of abuse that we hear you and believe you. It is never your fault. And, you are not alone. We are praying for you and calling our community to a time of prayer and lament. As Jesus was always on the side of the vulnerable and the wounded, in our response to abuse the safety and care of survivors must always come first.

For those less familiar with this situation, the charges against Jackson come in the context of numerous allegations of misconduct that have surfaced in the last year. There are also allegations that Michael and Brenda Gatlin (Jackson’s parents and also former church employees) knew about certain misconduct by Jackson at the time and failed to act. This matter is not only being investigated by the police, we have contracted with a company called Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment (GRACE) to conduct an independent investigation. 

As we have previously stated, the key principles guiding the Special Committee as we respond to this situation are:

• We will continually seek Jesus’ mind and will, through His Spirit and the Word of God, in all actions and decisions related to the allegations of misconduct.
• As Jesus said the truth will set us free, we will diligently seek the truth related to the allegations of misconduct.
• As Jesus was always on the side of the vulnerable and the wounded, in our response to the allegations of misconduct the safety and care of the alleged victims must always come first.

These guiding principles and the charges against Jackson have pointed us to the powerful words of the prophet Micah.

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. – Micah 6:8

God is requiring that we act justly in this situation. That is part of our commitment to seek the truth. It is why we require that all Duluth Vineyard employees cooperate with this criminal investigation. If anyone has information that may help the police, please contact them. Maybe you know something and in the past you felt like it wasn’t your place to say anything or you were afraid to talk to the police. Whatever your reasons for not reporting, please let God give you what you need to come forward now. We also invite our entire community to join us in praying for the law enforcement officials involved in this case, for the process of human justice, and that justice can be done.

God also requires us to love mercy. At the same time that our hearts break for reporting victims, we recognize the difficult position and pain the Gatlins are in. We are not pre–judging Jackson regarding any criminal allegations and we will wait patiently for the judicial process to be completed. And, Jesus himself cares about those accused and even convicted of crimes. Jesus points to visiting prisoners and was kind to the thief on the cross next to him. If you are friends with Jackson, friendship may look different now and yet we encourage you to continue to be his friend. Like Jesus, we want to have compassion for all and pursue justice for all. 

Further, God is requiring us to walk humbly through this together. As a Special Committee, we’re going to listen to Jesus, seek the truth and prioritize victims, yet we’re not going to do everything perfectly. More broadly, we all are far from perfect and need to welcome the grace and truth of our loving Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. At the same time the criminal justice system is examining Jackson’s actions, let’s open ourselves up and let the Holy Spirit speak to us about our own actions. Great freedom and power can come in our community as we repent.

Along those lines, we want to point everyone to these hopeful and challenging words in the Bible:

19This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God. – John 3:19-21

In Christ, there is no fear of coming into the light, no fear of the truth, and no fear of punishment. As Jesus pours his love, courage and humility into us, we have more than enough strength to allow our deeds to be exposed and experience the healing of Jesus. It is not always easy, but it is always good.

To all pastors and church leaders accused of sexual, spiritual or any other kind of abuse, please grab hold of Jesus’ hand, come into the light and experience healing. If the allegations are true, take responsibility, get present to the impact of your actions, offer a sincere apology and ask forgiveness, and commit to live differently going forward. If criminal charges are brought against you and you are guilty, tell the truth and plead guilty. Jesus always gives us the strength to do what is right.

Lastly, this is a difficult time for our church.  And, we are going through it together. We encourage everyone to reach out to your friends, small group leaders, and pastors for support.  We can all let others help connect us with Jesus.  And, for those who have abuse in their stories, we encourage you to also consider accessing professional mental health counseling. God works in many ways. 

Let’s not forget that Jesus is still in charge and with us. He is moving in the middle of this heartbreaking and serious situation and we want to join in with the good things that he is doing.

With the love of Christ,

The Special Committee of the Church Council (Ben Mork,  Ann LaCosse, Jerry Lieffring and Gerry Nierengarten)

====================

This message is sent on behalf of the Special Committee. Please contact John Kliewer with any questions or concerns.

Hello,
Church discipline is divine authority delegated to the church by Jesus to maintain order through the correction of sinning church members for the good of those caught in sin, for the purity and unity of the church, and for the glory of God.  For more on church discipline, please see Matthew 18:15-20, Romans 16:17-18, 1 Corinthians 5, Galatians 1:8-9 and 6:1-2, 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15, and Titus 3:10-11. It is our responsibility to enter into a process of discipline, reconciliation and restoration with Michael, Brenda and Jackson Gatlin. This process has begun and we ask you to pray for God’s will to be done.

For more details, click here to see the church discipline letter sent to Michael and Brenda Gatlin. At this point, they have not expressed or demonstrated a willingness to participate in the process of reconciliation and restoration we described. A preliminary church discipline letter was also sent to Jackson Gatlin. Although we will be working within the same framework, the discipline and path forward for Jackson will be different because his situation is different.

Like the Psalmist (Psalm 85:10), please join us in praying for truth, mercy, justice and peace to meet.

With the love of Christ,

The Special Committee of the Church Council (Ben Mork, Ann LaCosse, Jerry Lieffring and Gerry Nierengarten)

This message is sent on behalf of the Special Committee. Please contact John Kliewer with any questions or concerns.

Hello,

We remain heartbroken by the very serious situation we are facing as a Duluth Vineyard community. We want to continue to communicate what we can, as we can. Today, we want to talk about Michael Gatlin’s resignation letter as our Senior Pastors that we received in late February. As we have previously stated, the key principles guiding the Special Committee as we proceed are:

• We will continually seek Jesus’ mind and will, through His Spirit and the Word of God, in all actions and decisions related to the allegations of misconduct.
• As Jesus said the truth will set us free, we will diligently seek the truth related to the allegations of misconduct.
• As Jesus was always on the side of the vulnerable and the wounded, in our response to the allegations of misconduct the safety and care of the alleged victims must always come first.

Why We Have Not Shared Michael’s Resignation Letter

Although Michael requested that we do so, we have not shared Michael’s resignation letter as our Senior Pastor with our church community because GRACE requested that we not do so due to the risk that the things Michael says could harm GRACE’s investigation. Although we value transparency, we are honoring GRACE’s request due to our commitment to find the truth.

Further, many of us want to know exactly why Michael resigned and why he failed to cooperate with our investigation. What we do know is that Michael committed to fully participating in the process of finding the truth even if it was difficult personally. That seemed to change once the scope widened to include a possible cover up. Subsequently, in his resignation letter, Michael gave some reasons for his resignation and his failure to cooperate. Although we don’t agree or understand Michael’s reasons, they are his stated reasons.

Michael’s Viewpoint on His Resignation

We recognize that Michael is free to share his resignation letter with whomever he wants. Perhaps he has shared it with you or discussed its contents with you. Perhaps folks in your small group or group of friends are familiar with the arguments Michael made. This is going to happen and it’s okay. God is with us and he gives the spiritual gift of unity to his people. Also, even with our desire not to have the content of Michael’s resignation letter hinder the investigation, please don’t hear us saying that you shouldn’t listen to Michael or be his friend.

Our Response to Michael’s Resignation Letter

We are simply providing our perspective on Michael’s statements. We’re not telling you what to think or feel.

Beyond the guiding principles stated above, our response to the Gatlins was also guided by the fact that we were the Gatlins’ employer. As such, we require all employees, including high ranking employees, to follow our lawful directive (as their employer) to provide information regarding their employment activities. We did not pre-judge their activities, we terminated their employment and accepted Michael’s resignation because they refused a lawful directive to provide information. Some have questioned our victim-centric approach. It is more than that; it is an approach required of every employer whose employees refuse a lawful directive.

In addition, apart from our role as an employer, we truly believe our victim-centric approach is also the way of Jesus. This approach comes at a high cost to us personally and as an institution. At the same time that Jesus gave us great empathy, compassion and love for the reporting victims, we continue to love the Gatlins and have empathy and compassion for them. We saw the pain that they were in for having to make a choice between (a) following our employment directive to provide information (when the purpose of that directive was to provide information regarding their employment activities) and (b) following the advice of (apparently) their attorneys to not provide any information to anyone, including us as their employer, that may be used against them in unrelated legal proceedings. It would have been easy for us to have a failure of nerve or a failure of heart in the face of either our love for the Gatlins or any criticism that we treated them harshly. We are paying a high relational and emotional cost for our victim-centric approach. And, we bear it willingly as a price of seeking the truth as an employer and of truth for all who ultimately seek the Kingdom of God.

Below we offer our response to some of the key points in Michael Gatlin’s resignation letter. We would like to offer some context. First, reasonable people can disagree. We are giving our well-informed and thoroughly considered perspective. And, we are open to learning from others’ perspectives. Second, Michael’s reasons for his resignation are his reasons. We may disagree with his perspective. And, he has stated his perspective (at least in part), refused to cooperate with his employer, and then we were left to respond to his insubordination. Third, before getting to specific key points in Michael’s letter, we would like to give our big-picture response in the following paragraph.

In our world today, it is not uncommon for employment investigations and police investigations to be conducted concurrently. In this wider context, it is standard practice for employers to require employees to answer questions without their private attorney being present. And, in the broader world today, there is no surprise, no confusion, no great mystery when employees choose not to cooperate with their employer in order to maximize the chances of avoiding personal legal jeopardy in other criminal and/or civil contexts. It is the employer’s legal right to give lawful directives. If an employee refuses to comply with the directive, they do so understanding that the legal consequence is the termination of their employment. This is widely accepted outside of the context of following Jesus. Yet, following Jesus often requires us to act counter-culturally. On January 29, 2023, as Michael told our community he would participate in the fact-finding process, he pointed to the way of Jesus:

“There is great freedom to be experienced as we bring hidden things into the light. We don’t need to fear the truth. It’s only as we walk in the light that we can experience the healing Christ offers.”

Like us all, Michael had the freedom to choose whether to lay down his rights and pay the potential cost (and that potential cost could be very high) to help us bring hidden things into the light. But, he can’t both (a) keep his commitment to participate in the fact-finding process, he can’t credibly continue to claim that he wants all the truth to come out, and (b) refuse a lawful directive to cooperate with our investigation, and instead maximize the chances that he and his family will avoid other civil and/or criminal liability. Michael may have made a wise personal legal decision, certainly in the eyes of the world, but many in our Duluth Vineyard community feel both betrayed and that he is no longer pointing us to the way of Jesus.

With regard to some of the key points in Michael’s resignation letter:

• Michael states that he was informed of a new policy “that any employee of the Duluth Vineyard church not cooperating fully with the investigative process established by GRACE will be immediately terminated.” No such policy exists. Further, no one has been terminated immediately. The Special Committee reached out to everyone who we believed was not cooperating and gave them time to respond and state their intentions, advising them that if they do not, their employment may be terminated as a consequence.
• Michael claims that “Brenda and I find ourselves unable to cooperate with the process established by GRACE and by yourselves.” He was not unable, he was unwilling. Similarly, he was not actually being forced to do anything. He made his choice about whether to maintain his employment or not. That was his choice to make knowing the consequence would be termination of his employment. We have great empathy for the difficult choice Michael faced, but he still retained his agency.
• Michael made denials in his resignation letter.  We had not pre–judged Michael regarding any allegations and we are still waiting patiently for the fact finding to be completed.
• Michael stated that he would not participate in our investigation because it is completely lacking in due process. Michael, and/or his attorneys, do not understand that the rights he speaks of are man-given rights primarily found in the United States Constitution regarding actions taken by public governmental bodies, not private employers, before any citizen may lose life, liberty, or property. Hypothetically, we could have told Michael he can’t curse or use filthy language during his messages and, if Michael said he won’t preach anymore at the Duluth Vineyard because it is completely lacking in free speech, it would be an equally mistaken notion of his rights. The protections in the Bill of Rights within the Constitution only apply to government actions and do not apply to the actions of private employers like the Duluth Vineyard. This is why we generally have no right to bring our private lawyer to work with us.
  • Further, Michael stated that “[a]t a minimum, due process involves the accused being notified of all charges they are facing, having the opportunity to know who is making the charges, having the opportunity to challenge the accuser’s credibility, having rules of evidence, having a right to be represented by legal counsel, and having a completely neutral arbiter.” We agree that those due process protections apply to governmental actions in a criminal trial, when the state is attempting to deprive an individual of life or liberty. However, we can’t put Michael in jail. Our society recognizes that these protections apply only to governmental actions, not to private employers who can only terminate employment for a refusal to obey a lawful directive.
  • Although the standard practice is to extend employment law protections (rather than Constitutional due process protections) to an employee in an investigation, it could be asked why didn’t the Duluth Vineyard go beyond standard practice for the Gatlins. Here are examples of two reasons why:
    • First, we have a legal obligation to protect the reporting victims, to the extent legally permissible, from potentially being revictimized by the Gatlins, if they were victimized in the first place. We don’t know if they were, but we have a legal duty to protect the reporters, within the bounds of civil law. That is generally true and there are specific allegations of individuals bringing forward allegations to the Gatlins and being attacked by them.
    • Second, we decided to not allow our employees to have legal counsel during their interviews with GRACE. Although it is something GRACE allows, it is our right to direct our employees to answer questions in order to get to the truth. Because GRACE provides everyone interviewed with a transcript of their interview and an opportunity to correct the transcript, the main reason a private attorney would be present at the interview is to tell our employees not to answer questions. That potentially prevents the truth from coming out and defeats the purpose of our investigation.
• Michael asked that we include his resignation letter with any statements we make about his resignation. Again, because Michael’s resignation letter has the potential to hinder our investigation, we believe it should not be made public until after the investigation is complete if Minnesota employment law then allows it to be released. That decision will be made on a case-by-case basis depending on who is requesting the information and for what purpose, in light of the applicable laws relating to the request.

At the same time that our hearts break for those who may be victims, we do recognize the difficult position and pain the Gatlins are in. We did not prejudge the Gatlins or the reporting victims. Rather than permitting insubordination, we made the only choice an employer can make when an employee refuses a lawful directive to provide information regarding a matter that arose out of and in the course of their employment. Furthermore, the Gatlins are not permitted onto any Duluth Vineyard property in order to protect the integrity of the investigation (e.g., to remove the possibility of interference and influence) and to protect the reporting victims (e.g., allow reporting victims to participate in church activities without having to face their possible abusers).

Like Jesus, we want to have compassion for all and pursue justice for all. We too are far from perfect and welcome the grace and truth of our loving Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Please join us in prayer. Like the Psalmist, call out for truth, mercy, justice and peace to meet (Psalm 85:10).

With the love of Christ,

The Special Committee of the Church Council (Ben Mork, Ann LaCosse, Jerry Lieffring and Gerry Nierengarten)

This message is sent on behalf of the Special Committee. Please contact John Kliewer with any questions or concerns.

Hello,

Today, the Duluth Police Department executed a search warrant at the Duluth Vineyard’s Arrowhead location. This appears to be related to their ongoing investigation of allegations against Jackson Gatlin. The warrant was issued upon a judge’s finding of probable cause.

We strongly encourage anyone with information related to criminal activity by Jackson to report it to law enforcement. Please do so by calling 911. 

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you,

The Special Committee of the Church Council (Ben Mork, Ann LaCosse, Jerry Lieffring and Gerry Nierengarten)

This message is sent on behalf of the Special Committee. Please contact John Kliewer with any questions or concerns.

Hello,

On Monday, February 22, 2023, Vineyard USA announced on their website Brenda Gatlin’s resignation as a Super Regional Leader for Vineyard USA and Michael Gatlin’s resignation as a Trustee on the Vineyard USA Board and on the Board of Vineyard Worship.

As a reminder, we encourage all reports of criminal activities to be reported to law enforcement. Please do so by calling 911. We have also contracted with a company called Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment (GRACE) to conduct an independent investigation into allegations related to the Gatlins. If you have information that may be relevant to their investigation, please contact GRACE by emailing Emily Petrie at [email protected]

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you,

The Special Committee of the Church Council (Ben Mork,  Ann LaCosse, Jerry Lieffring and Gerry Nierengarten)

This message is sent on behalf of the Special Committee. Please contact John Kliewer with any questions or concerns.

Hello,

This week, Michael Gatlin submitted his resignation as Duluth Vineyard’s Senior Pastor.

His resignation comes in the context of allegations of misconduct against one of our former pastoral assistants and Michael’s son, Jackson Gatlin. There are also allegations that Michael and Brenda Gatlin knew about this misconduct at the time and failed to act. This matter is being investigated by the police. And, we have contracted with a company called Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment (GRACE) to conduct an independent investigation. More background information is available on the updates page on our website. 

As part of his employment, Michael had been repeatedly directed to cooperate fully with both any law enforcement investigation and our independent investigation. Immediately prior to Michael’s resignation, we directed him to provide a statement to the Special Committee detailing his response and the actions he took, if any, to certain allegations of misconduct regarding Jackson Gatlin. We are Michael’s supervisor, yet he missed our deadline and never provided a statement. We had also advised him that his failure or refusal to provide information we had requested or to be interviewed by GRACE may result in the termination of his employment. In his resignation letter, Michael told us that he found himself unable to cooperate with the process established by GRACE and the Special Committee.

We view the GRACE investigation as crucial for finding the truth and helping our community heal and move forward. If you have information that may be relevant to their investigation, please contact GRACE by emailing Emily Petrie at [email protected]. We also encourage anyone with information related to criminal activity to report it to law enforcement. Please do so by calling 911. As the investigation continues, we want to reaffirm our commitment to Jesus, to the truth, and to putting victims first.

Also, we want to again say to all survivors of abuse that we hear you and believe you. It is

never your fault. And, you are not alone. We are praying for you and we call our community to a time of prayer and lament. As Jesus was always on the side of the vulnerable and the wounded, in our response to abuse the safety and care of survivors must always come first.

For all of us who love Michael and have benefited from his ministry as the Senior Pastor of the Duluth Vineyard, we remind you that more than one thing can be true at the same time. Michael is a gifted leader and God has used him in powerful ways. Michael has helped many of us experience the love and new life that Jesus brings. And, at the same time, Michael is human just like us. We all fall short. We need to be patient and wait for the fact finding to be complete, yet the allegations against Michael are serious.

We are going through a difficult time. And, we are going through it together. Please reach out to your friends, small group leader, and pastors for support. If you don’t attend a small group, there is no better time to start. And, let’s also offer support to each other. Further, let’s never forget that we are going through this with Jesus as our comforter, friend, savior and king. God’s loving presence through the Holy Spirit is always available to us. Holy Spirit, Come!

As a community, we are going to be dealing with this for a while. During that process, we don’t want to be overly optimistic or pretend that this isn’t heartbreaking and very serious. And, we always want to look for the good that Jesus is doing in this troubled world, because he has overcome this world. Often in the midst of our suffering, that good is in us. 

We also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.  – Romans 5:3–5

This is going to hurt. And, God could make the Duluth Vineyard a stronger, better, more loving community because of the work he does in our hearts as we walk through this together.  Let’s not miss what the Holy Spirit is doing in us and in our community.

As we start to look forward, the Duluth Vineyard’s mission to make disciples remains the same. Our vision to develop a community of disciples of Jesus who love and experience God, who love one another, and who partner with Christ to bring healing to our world has not changed. We’re not the best church or the only church. We pray for other churches to remind ourselves that the Kingdom of God is bigger than the Duluth Vineyard. And, there is also something special about the Duluth Vineyard. God has chosen to work in us and through us and we expect that to continue in powerful ways as we go forward.

No one is ever completely prepared for a senior pastor to leave under these circumstances, yet the Duluth Vineyard has a number of advantages. First, although Michael recently resumed working full time for the Duluth Vineyard, for over a decade he worked part time for the Duluth Vineyard and part time for Vineyard USA overseeing church planting. During that time, the church supplemented Michael’s part time leadership with a skilled and mature Senior Leadership Team, preaching team and pastoral care team. Second, the Church Council has a Succession Planning Committee and an Emergency Succession Plan that we are putting into place. Over time, we’ll see that play out as that Committee, led by Michele DeNoble, organize a pastoral search committee, finalize a job description, evaluate candidates and eventually ask the Congregational Members to vote on a new Senior Pastor. During this transition, the Senior Leadership Team (Brian Brinkert, Casey LaCore and John Kliewer) will continue to provide leadership and perform the duties of our senior pastor, as they have done so well since Michael was placed on leave at the beginning of February.

What can you do to help? Keep praying. Please. We need God and his will to be done. Remain open-minded. Resist the desire to speculate and gossip. Wait until the investigation is completed before making any judgment about allegations against anyone. The investigation will only be complete when all available information is obtained. Try to remain patient. Both a thorough investigation and a successful search for a new senior pastor can be lengthy processes. Also, let yourself feel whatever emotions arise. Allegations of wrongdoing can stir up all kinds of feelings within us, including past hurts. Let yourself feel whatever emotions arise. As discussed above, stay connected with the community and reach out for support.

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all,

The Special Committee of the Church Council (Ben Mork,  Ann LaCosse, Jerry Lieffring and Gerry Nierengarten)

This message is sent on behalf of the Special Committee. Please contact John Kliewer with any questions or concerns.

Hello,

As Jesus said the truth will set us free, we are committed to diligently seeking the truth related to the allegations of misconduct by Jackson Gatlin and the allegations that Duluth Vineyard management was aware of this misconduct at the time and failed to act.

All Duluth Vineyard employees have been told that they must cooperate fully with the independent investigation being conducted by a company called Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment (GRACE).

Jackson Gatlin’s employment with the Duluth Vineyard has been terminated because of his failure and refusal, as requested and directed, to meet with the GRACE investigator.

If you have information that may be relevant to their investigation, please contact GRACE by emailing Emily Petrie at [email protected]. We also encourage anyone with information related to criminal activity to report it to law enforcement. Please do so by calling 911. 

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you,

The Special Committee of the Church Council (Ben Mork,  Ann LaCosse, Jerry Lieffring and Gerry Nierengarten)

This message is sent on behalf of the Special Committee. Please contact John Kliewer with any questions or concerns.

Hello,

We hope that you were able to read our message from January 29th concerning allegations of misconduct against one of our pastoral assistants (Jackson Gatlin) and how the resulting investigation and employment decisions related to Jackson Gatlin are being overseen by an independent Special Committee of our Church Council. Since then, we have also placed our Senior Pastor (Michael Gatlin) on a leave of absence.

This is a fast evolving situation, particularly with regard to law enforcement involvement. The first reports that the Special Committee received were anonymous and, when we took those reports to the police, we were told by the police that they could not start an investigation without victims’ names. That changed this week when victims began identifying themselves on social media. So, we reported this matter to the police again this week and there is now an ongoing criminal investigation.

We encourage all reports of criminal activities to be reported to law enforcement. Please do so by calling 911. We have also contracted with a company called Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment (GRACE) to conduct an independent investigation. If you have information that may be relevant to their investigation, please contact GRACE by emailing Emily Petrie at [email protected]

We want to say to all survivors of abuse that we hear you and believe you. It is never your fault. And, you are not alone. We are praying for you and we call our community to a time of prayer and lament. As Jesus was always on the side of the vulnerable and the wounded, in our response to abuse the safety and care of survivors must always come first.

With the love of Christ,

The Special Committee of the Church Council (Ben Mork,  Ann LaCosse, Jerry Lieffring and Gerry Nierengarten)

This message is sent on behalf of the Special Committee. Please contact John Kliewer with any questions or concerns.

Hello,

No one likes to receive difficult news and we are saddened that we are the bearers of that news. We share this information with a heavy heart.

Yet, let’s not forget that our God has an amazing way of using difficult situations for his glory. Our hope, our prayer is that the Holy Spirit will give us the gift of unity and strength to do God’s will. And, as we together respond like Jesus to this difficult situation, our response will bring glory to God – both strengthening his people and helping others to see his goodness.  So, we ask for your patience as we seek truth and justice. Let’s start by remembering that we are loved by God and called to be his holy people. His truth, grace and peace are what we need as we enter a difficult time as a Duluth Vineyard community. 

Our community is responding to allegations of misconduct against one of our pastoral assistants, Jackson Gatlin. At present, the allegations against him involve conduct from several years ago. We have contracted with a company called Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment (GRACE) to conduct an independent investigation. One of our values is transparency, yet we are not going to say anything more about the allegations at this time because we need to protect the ongoing investigation and any victims. Accountability and integrity are also key values. When the investigation is complete, we expect to have more to say and we will say it. In the meantime, let us assure you that the safety and security of our church community is critically important to us and we have policies and procedures in place to protect them. The Duluth Vineyard has suspended Jackson Gatlin during this investigation.

During the investigation, we might experience feeling quite uncomfortable, very similar to what the Israelites experienced in the wilderness. Our community will be in a liminal space, an in-between time of transition. During this uncertain time of testing, we will have a great opportunity to grow our trust in God, to surrender to his wisdom, and to demonstrate our commitment to being his people. We encourage you to listen to Michael Gatlin’s recent sermon on liminal space and learning to trust. As a community, let’s work together to let the Holy Spirit use this time to make us more like Jesus.

Next, let us share how we are addressing the fact that Jackson Gatlin is the son of our Senior Pastor, Michael Gatlin. In keeping with our Nepotism Policy and best practices, the investigation and employment decisions related to Jackson Gatlin are overseen independently from Michael and Brenda Gatlin. Our Church Council (the legal board of directors) has created a Special Committee made up of independent members (none of them work for the Duluth Vineyard or are related to any employees). The Special Committee members are Ben Mork (chair),  Ann LaCosse, Jerry Lieffring, and Gerry Nierengarten. These are the folks who will know all that we know and will control our response to the investigation. John Kliewer is serving as staff support for the Special Committee and liaison between the senior pastor and the Special Committee. 

Here are a few of the key principles guiding the Special Committee as we proceed:

• We will continually seek Jesus’ mind and will, through His Spirit and the Word of God, in all actions and decisions related to the allegations of misconduct.
• As Jesus said the truth will set us free, we will diligently seek the truth related to the allegations of misconduct.
• As Jesus was always on the side of the vulnerable and the wounded, in our response to the allegations of misconduct the safety and care of the alleged victims must always come first.

What can you do to help? Pray. Remain open-minded. Resist the desire to speculate and gossip. Don’t try to guess or figure out who is making the allegations. They deserve anonymity. And, stay connected with the community. Let yourself feel whatever emotions arise. Allegations of wrongdoing can stir up all kinds of feelings within us, including past hurts. Reach out to our pastoral staff or others and get the support you need. And, try to remain patient. A thorough investigation can be a lengthy process. Also, if you have information that may be relevant to this investigation, please contact GRACE by emailing Emily Petrie at [email protected]

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all,

The Special Committee of the Church Council (Ben Mork,  Ann LaCosse, Jerry Lieffring and Gerry Nierengarten)

Dear Duluth Vineyard Church,

As this situation unfolds, I want to assure you that I’m not leading in this process, and at the same time, I am still serving as the senior pastor of the Duluth Vineyard Church. I am incredibly thankful that I do not bear this responsibility alone. The staff, leadership, and ministry teams who serve alongside us are sensitive and capable leaders we can trust.

I have complete confidence in the team involved: the members of the special committee, who are tasked with overseeing this process; our church council, our senior leadership team, our staff and our leaders. I also have complete confidence in the Lord to lead us in this difficult time.

I will participate in the fact-finding process and I encourage you to participate in this process as well. I hope to see a full and thorough investigation of these allegations. There is great freedom to be experienced as we bring hidden things into the light. We don’t need to fear the truth. It’s only as we walk in the light that we can experience the healing Christ offers.

Standing firm in God’s unending love, 
Michael Gatlin

This message is sent on behalf of the Special Committee. Please contact John Kliewer with any questions or concerns.