Brian Morris

A letter from St Andrews.

Any season of transition can be difficult. The narratives and communications circulating about us on social media over the past few days have made this season even more difficult for us and our family. We want to express our deep gratitude for the twelve years we spent at Reformation Bible College and Ligonier Ministries. We are thankful for that time and for the people we had the privilege to serve. We also appreciate that both RBC and Ligonier have conducted themselves in an amicable, gracious, and honorable manner during this season of transition, and we have sought to do the same. Since others have shared their version of events, we believe it is appropriate to share ours. In January 2024, we learned from the counselor of our daughter, Grace, that he had submitted a report to the Florida Department of Children and Families of suspicion of sexual abuse of Grace by Stephen Adams. On January 10, 2025, we reported suspicion of sexual abuse of our daughter by Stephen Adams to Saint Andrew’s Chapel. Over subsequent meetings, we realized that we were at an impasse with our church and that we had different perspectives on how to handle this situation. On April 21, 2025, we notified a pastor at Saint Andrew’s that we would begin the process of finding a new church. We notified him again on July 20, 2025, that it would be our last Sunday (and it was). We each received separate indictments two days later, July 22, 2025. We were accused of slander, unresolved anger, collusion to deceive, failure to follow session directives, and breach of membership vows. There was never a trial, and our case was never adjudicated. After Saint Andrew’s Chapel voted to disassociate from the PCA on December 14, 2025, we immediately resigned our memberships. On Sunday evening, December 14, we joined New Hope PCA in Eustis, Florida, by testimony. On January 27, 2026, Saint Andrew’s found us guilty of contumacy, which is the failure to submit to the authority of the church and refusal to appear before the church. Afterwards on February 25, 2026, at their request, we met with a committee of the session to answer any questions and hopefully bring some resolution to our differences. On March 10, 2026, Saint Andrew’s excommunicated us, not on the underlying indictments, but for contumacy. We remain members in good standing at New Hope and are grateful for the love, care, and support of our pastors and our church during this season. We reported suspicion of sexual abuse of our daughter, we ended up indicted, and we ended up excommunicated. We are deeply saddened by all that has taken place and grieved for everyone involved. Our prayer and hope is that the central issue will not be lost. At the heart of this issue is the suspected sexual abuse of our daughter. —Stephen and Heidi Nichols

“Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses.” (1 Tim. 5:19) Many Christians and churches have come to treat this is a mere suggestion. But it’s not. It’s a command. And yes, the bar for admission of charges against elders is high—that’s precisely the point. God sets the bar high to protect His shepherds from slander and talebearing. He knows that His undershepherds are susceptible to false accusations from sheep. Misconstrued words. Whisper campaigns. Uncharitable interpretations of motives. And the law goes further than simply not admitting a charge: if someone makes a false accusation, “then you shall do to him as he had meant to do to his brother” (Deut. 19:19). The punishment falls on the liar’s own head. This is God’s wisdom for the purity and peace of His church. No charge against a pastor or elder is to be entertained unless it is confirmed by two or three credible witnesses. That means two or three others saw the purported sin. Elders must be shielded from baseless charges. To spread or countenance false accusations against a pastor is to stand against God Himself. And His law prescribes a just punishment for such conduct as a deterrent. May the church once more uphold God’s law and protect His ministers from baseless accusations.

“Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses.” (1 Tim. 5:19) Many Christians and churches have come to treat this is a mere suggestion. But it’s not. It’s a command. And yes, the bar for admission of charges against elders is high—that’s precisely the point. God sets the bar high to protect His shepherds from slander and talebearing. He knows that His undershepherds are susceptible to false accusations from sheep. Misconstrued words. Whisper campaigns. Uncharitable interpretations of motives. And the law goes further than simply not admitting a charge: if someone makes a false accusation, “then you shall do to him as he had meant to do to his brother” (Deut. 19:19). The punishment falls on the liar’s own head. This is God’s wisdom for the purity and peace of His church. No charge against a pastor or elder is to be entertained unless it is confirmed by two or three credible witnesses. That means two or three others saw the purported sin. Elders must be shielded from baseless charges. To spread or countenance false accusations against a pastor is to stand against God Himself. And His law prescribes a just punishment for such conduct as a deterrent. May the church once more uphold God’s law and protect His ministers from baseless accusations.

Ok, back to Paul Pressler: “I had been active in the Christian Business Men's Committee since 1956 and had the privilege of going with its leader, the father of Bill Gothard, and others to Winona Lake, Indiana, where I spoke in the Billy Sunday Tabernacle.” 17/

In Paul Pressler’s autobiography, he claims that he resigned from his Bethel Independent Presbyterian Church (Houston) Youth Group (after 16 years!) in Feb 1979. Why does this not match what happened in court filings? Let’s see 🧵/1

“We reported suspicion of sexual abuse of our daughter, we ended up indicted, and we ended up excommunicated.” Horrific.

It’s also crazy that once again the “2 witnesses rule” that is almost literally impossible in SA cases is used to throw their hands up and say, “Oh well”.

Joshua Haymes & Brooks Potteiger (Pete Hegseth's pastor) pray imprecatory psalms against James Talarico: "I pray that God kills him. Ultimately, that means killing his heart and raising him up to new life in Christ ... If it would not be within God's will to do so, stop him by any means necessary."