23 September 2024

We the undersigned publicly and emphatically stand in solidarity and support for the victims of sexual abuse at MorningStar. Each of us had some level of experience with the many facets of MorningStar ministries, whether their K-12 school, the ministry school MSU, or the Sunday morning congregation. We were students, church attendees, MorningStar staff, CSCL teachers, and volunteers. 

Many of us live in different places now, and we approach this statement with a spectrum of beliefs about God, religion, and our time at MorningStar. One thing we share is a firm belief that corruption, negligence, and abuse of power has gone on at MorningStar and its affiliated organizations for decades. We believe it is this corrupt and toxic leadership culture that enabled various forms of abuse to take place, including a child predator being able to abuse children for years.

We strongly condemn the MorningStar Board, its leader Rick Joyner, and other executive church leaders for their inadequate response to grave allegations. Their attempts to ignore, downplay, and discredit victims and the severity of their claims are not only morally reprehensible but also betray the trust placed in them.

We call for the following:

1. Leadership accountability. Rick Joyner should immediately resign from the church and hold no further positions of authority in the future. His comments on the allegations demonstrate a lack of empathy, conviction, and commitment to protect the most vulnerable among us.

2. Independent audit of the board. An independent, third-party review of MorningStar's Board should be conducted and the findings disclosed publicly. The audit should include review of all board members' credentials, background checks, the Board's decision-making policies and procedures, and the minutes of all board meetings and financial statements.

3. Independent audit of child protection practices. An independent, third-party audit should be conducted of the policies and procedures governing all positions of authority over children and the findings and recommendations published publicly.

4. Immediate consultation with organizations skilled in victim protection, safe environment policies, and preventing clergy/church sexual abuse of minors, followed by mandatory training. Based on these consultations, every individual (staff & volunteers alike) with a role that involves interacting with children should be given mandatory training on sexual abuse against minors and annual training should become standing policy.

These investigations must be conducted by an external, impartial body with no ties to the church or its leadership.

Finally, we encourage current members, supporters, students, staff, and volunteers to review all available information regarding the allegations made against MorningStar’s leadership and to carefully reconsider your continued support (financial or otherwise) to MorningStar. Absent significant MorningStar actions toward ensuring transparency, accountability, and prevention of abuse in the future, continuing to support this organization may contribute to continued abuse.

#TimesUp #BetterAMillstone

Signed,