Susie Leafe
2.6K posts
Susie Leafe
@sleafe97
So grateful for God's mercy, love being married to Dan, , novice sea-swimmer, ex-Geography teacher, trying to help faithful Anglicans via @AnglicanFutures
Cornwall Katılım Aralık 2014
350 Takip Edilen585 Takipçiler
Leaving this here for obvious reasons
GRACE@netgrace_org
Far too often, we see faith leaders that are afraid to speak transparently, go through an independent investigation, or lament failure on an institutional level because they think it will harm the witness of their church. And, the truth is, the way they respond WILL impact directly impact their witness... but justice, transparency, accountability, and lament are never the problem—self-protection is. If your faith community is struggling with how to handle an allegation of abuse/misconduct by a staff or volunteer, GRACE has expert consultations to help you walk through the situation in a way that witnesses to the truth of Jesus rather than belying it. Learn more at Netgrace.org/consultations #GRACE #AbuseResponse #AbuseAwareness #ChurchHarm #SpiritualAbuse
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Susie Leafe retweetledi
@DanLeafe1 Thank you Dan. You had shown us what clear teaching was like. It wasn’t flashy, you didn’t name drop, and you cared. Thanks for still doing that as we feel pretty lonely in all this.
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Susie Leafe retweetledi
"... the absolute destruction we felt at JF’s betrayal." That's heartbreaking. It makes me so cross at those who repeatedly minimised Jonathan Fletcher’s abuse because 'it wasn't as bad as' wasn't 'criminal', '...needed to be seen in context' etc when it was so 'destructive'.
Anna Byfield@hoyleanna
Seems right to repost this as it was the first time I heard a married couple articulate the absolute destruction we felt at JF’s betrayal. Thank you again @matt_redman and Beth Redman for your bravery, truth and light.
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Susie Leafe retweetledi
Seems right to repost this as it was the first time I heard a married couple articulate the absolute destruction we felt at JF’s betrayal.
Thank you again @matt_redman and Beth Redman for your bravery, truth and light.
Matt Redman@matt_redman
Today sees the release of ‘Let There Be Light’ - a documentary exploring the pattern of harmful behaviours experienced under the leadership of Mike Pilavachi, a prominent figure in the UK Church. Our hope is for this film to be something of a care-package for the hurting, at the same time asking how we might become a healthier Church in the future. We know it won’t serve everyone, but we pray it will help some. We tell our story to shine light and help validate other’s experiences. It would have been much easier to say nothing - but a culture of silence up until now has been a significant force. Other voices speaking into this documentary are Dr Diane Langberg (recognised for her 50 years of clinical work with trauma victims), Dr Chi-Chi Obuaya (a respected London Harley Street consultant psychiatrist) and Dr Amy Orr-Ewing (a regarded UK theologian with a passion to advocate for survivors of abuse.) The film also points to some key organisations who provide support in this area and also safeguarding resources for churches. While speaking on a painful subject it’s also important to acknowledge all of the pastors out there faithfully loving those that God has entrusted to them. This is a story Beth and I chose to tell. Our prayer is for the healing of yesterday’s wounds and a brighter, safer Church tomorrow. Let there be Light. youtube.com/watch?v=YVZkgd…
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Susie Leafe retweetledi
So true. A brand new picture assembled from multiple parts taken from multiple sources for all of which 'wrongdoer' is then said to be entirely responsible. The same then used over and again to destroy a reputation and credibility.
Kate Andreyev@KateAndreyev
So often an organization that has behaved wrongly will engage in bullying you & paint you as the wrongdoer in an attempt to cover up or at least muddy the waters.
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Susie Leafe retweetledi
@AndyByfield_22 To speak is difficult- once it's admitted that sacred cows are actually golden calves all control is lost & all things are up for grabs. To speak means admitting what's been hidden, bad judgements etc. That should be possible but too many 'leaders' don't have the emotional range
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Susie Leafe retweetledi
@hoyleanna @AndyByfield_22 How common it is in these circles to use a portentous-sounding word or phrase like 'misconstrued' to obfuscate the truth. 'Inappropriate', 'principled irregularity', etc
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@AndyByfield_22 @DanLeafe1 Do they think they dealt with itvall in 2019/21?
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@DanLeafe1 And yet….the silence Dan. The utter silence.
‘Protect the work’ is the mantra. I can think of nothing that will prevent the work from flourishing more than this behaviour by its leaders.
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Now nudging 4,000.
Dan Leafe@DanLeafe1
I'm delighted to see that these two posts have been read over 3,000 times on the @AnglicanFutures site alone. The subject is stomach turning but of vital importance. To prevent future harm #fletcherculture must be eradicated. anglicanfutures.org/post/fletcher-… anglicanfutures.org/post/have-any-…
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Susie Leafe retweetledi
A passage from Bristol CU mission days (1996?). We may have taught it badly but we got the sentiment - we help the brokenhearted. We don’t ignore them.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,
Diane Murray@DianeMurray23
@AndyByfield_22 Yes indeed! What a refreshing thing that would be. Genuine sorrys, repentance and remorse followed by doing whatever it takes to take proper and healing care of victims. Not the usual trite, rubbish, hurtful & re-abusing statements! 🙏
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Perhaps one of the 5,500 can let those leaders know of your courage and your example.
Andy Byfield@AndyByfield_22
This post has now been viewed five and a half thousand times. In three days. That’s a lot of interested people. Some of them will be the very ones who need to say sorry with me. Leaders/organisations who were in JF’s orbit. There’ll never be a better time to speak than now.
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@pearl_of_york @thirtyoneeight Yet according to many, including the complainant in this recent case, spiritual control can be one of the most devastating aspects of the abuse. I wonder if it is its 'rife-ness' that means so few see there is a problem or speak up.
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@sleafe97 @thirtyoneeight It really was small beans compared to the events which make the headlines. Spiritual control/abuse/thought policing is rife enough to be normal.
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2020's a long time ago, but I stand by almost every word of this off the cuff speech (tx to @thirtyoneeight for the pledge a friend sent that AM). 1 correction swap "in judgement" "we'll all be judged".
Still relevant. Still grateful 4 God's mercy. share.google/Kif6UBfTLOJdTy…
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Susie Leafe retweetledi
@JulianM39314109 @Graham1munro @DanLeafe1 @KateAndreyev @cathynewman @GavinDrake @GabriellaSwerl @AleemMaqbool @churchofengland Anyone wonder how such a powerful and historic private London club exists within the C of E in 2026 and in light of Luke 14:12-24 and expect it not to be questioned as counter-Christian?
Did the money I gave to my parish church as a teenager go towards the claret?
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@hoyleanna What a fabulous image. Praying hard hearts, who have ignored the plight of many victims, are cracked open in the coming days.
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7 years ago a ‘more charismatic’ friend (as we labelled them back then) said she felt so strongly God was roaring in fury and that the ice was cracking in Narnia.
At times it has felt as cold and disappointing as ever in the silence and cover up, but I have the smallest hope.
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Susie Leafe retweetledi
…I refuse to include the statement from Emmanuel Wimbledon)
For people who claim to follow a Christ who came for the weak and vulnerable that’s a massive indictment
‘Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up’
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@hoyleanna @thirtyoneeight Not at all. I still remember that conversation, walking round Church House, looking fir somewhere private!
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Susie Leafe retweetledi
@sleafe97 @thirtyoneeight This brought me to tears then and still does now. You had spent time on the phone counselling me that week too when you probably should have been preparing. Truly kind. ❤️
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@pearl_of_york @thirtyoneeight Margaret, that sounds unbelievably painful. Giving thanks for your courage and praying for all those who remain scattered.
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@sleafe97 @thirtyoneeight To their credit, when minister left, a process of sorrow and open listening facilitated by a local skilled in that area person. But things are not as they were before that devastating tenure.many of us remain out of church. Many, scattered. But we would be welcome to return…🙄
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Praying for a similar call to come together for this purpose in the UK.
Diane Langberg, PhD@DianeLangberg
Our call is to come together to strengthen trauma-informed, Christ-centered ministries that protect the vulnerable and reflect the heart of Christ. As we continue to undertake this sacred work, may we seek to meet the challenge in shaping the Church’s response to trauma & abuse.
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From another "member of the congregation" (though a different one for many decades) to another ...thank you for expressing this so clearly.
Peter@peterthewomble
@AndyByfield_22 @JohnsonBos29095 @AnglicanFutures @DanLeafe1 @carlmchambers And that's why, as just a member of the congregation I feel a sense of responsibility. Church culture may be directed by a few at the top, but it's supported and enabled by many at the bottom. If you're scared of your pastor, they shouldn't be your pastor.
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