Pablo Perez

STATEMENT FROM RON CANTOR REGARDING DR. MICHAEL BROWN Note: This is a personal statement, not an official statement from Tikkun Global. Six weeks ago, I received a staggering email from a former Brownsville Revival School of Ministry (BRSM) student, alerting me of very serious allegations against Dr. Michael Brown regarding two incidents with females dating back to the early 2000s. They would be detailed in an upcoming article in The Roy’s Report. Dr. Brown and I have had our differences over the years, the most significant being when he was released from BRSM and started FIRE School. But mostly, we have enjoyed a deep friendship, and I never dreamed he would be accused of such things. I emailed Dr. Brown from Israel regarding the allegations and asked if we could discuss them—I wanted to hear his side. He told me that these attacks were exaggerated, coming from people who held grudges. He was confident that once he explained things to the reporter from The Roys Report, they would agree there was no story. I was not so confident. Over the next several days, Dr. Brown and I had a back-and-forth email exchange, during which I gently and compassionately asked difficult questions. At the end of this multi-day conversation, which included many pages of emails, I found his answers lacking and inconsistent with the idea of an innocent father/daughter relationship. I was also troubled by the lack of candor regarding the second incident with a married mother. I urged him to take a break from ministry (or at least inform pastors about the allegations where he was speaking), repent to his former elders (for not disclosing it to them), and allow for a full investigation. He told me he would pray about it but never got back to me. He continued with his ministry trip, and I took that as my answer. During the next week, I spoke to members of his board, and I asked one of them if they had been in touch with Erin, one of the alleged victims. They had not. Through a third party, I contacted her the next day, and we spoke for 80 minutes. I found her narrative disturbing and heartbreaking. I wrote it down and sent it to Dr. Brown’s board. They responded that they were “deeply grieved for Erin and for all that she has gone.” They arranged to confront Dr. Brown with this new information. I was asked to attend but declined. It was after this meeting that they called for a third-party independent investigation. Dr. Brown himself called for an investigation and agreed to recuse himself. Throughout this situation, I have stayed in contact with the Line of Fire board. In discussions this week (I’m sure they also talked to others), they agreed to release the law firm they hired, seeing that they were not ideal for this type of case. They decided instead to hire a “trauma-informed” investigator with experience in clergy sexual abuse cases. I was also told they plan to apologize for a fundraising email that went out the day after The Roys Report article dropped. In it, Dr. Brown compared the witnesses and victims coming forward to “an effort of Satan” to stop him. Such words are reckless and could discourage other witnesses and victims from coming forward—not only in this situation but also in others. I would also request his associates not to contact Erin or other witnesses, as one did, in an obvious effort to silence her. Let the investigation take place unimpeded. I want to be clear—Dr. Brown confessed to me in writing much more than that which was written in his official statement. He confessed to holding Erin’s hand in public, kissing Erin on her head, giving Erin “a backhanded swipe” on her rear end “when she walked away, a few times,” and meeting her late at night at Walmart where “I put my arm around her like I would a daughter – idiotically, but intentionally, in public.” I hoped he would’ve been as transparent in his official statement. It is only because he wasn’t that I feel compelled to share this here. Erin’s testimony is far more severe, but I am not the investigator. Like others, I will sit down with this new investigator (I would not have worked with the original law firm) and share my emails. I encourage anyone with information to speak to the investigator—assuming it will be a trauma-informed, non-lawyer investigator. Your other brothers and sisters who have come forth (and many others) will receive you warmly. You do not need to be afraid. Lastly, I want to say to those who have come forth with pure consciences to share their stories that I applaud you! Before one chooses to become a whistleblower, one must count the cost. It takes great courage and personal sacrifice. Some of them may be wondering if they did the right thing. In my opinion, they did. Most of the time, these are people who don’t want to be in the public eye. But this investigation would not have happened without their testimony. That is a fact. Most tried Matthew 18 and went to Dr. Brown privately but were rebuffed. I want to specifically honor Erin for having the courage to tell her story. Ron Cantor