FAQs

Isn’t reconciliation and healing the biblical outcome here?

Absolutely. The concerned member repeatedly expressed a desire for reconciliation and healing. Passion DC Pastor Ben Stuart repeatedly and unequivocally declined. When the concerned member asked Pastor Ben on February 6 if he understood correctly that Pastor Ben did not want to seek reconciliation, Pastor Ben responded simply: “Yes.” When a doorholder more recently asked Pastor Ben about the concerned member’s February 13 offer to attempt reconciliation with a neutral third person, Pastor Ben reiterated his refusal. We too seek unity and healing, and Pastor Ben’s refusal to partner in that effort speaks volumes.

Why are you publicly disclosing Passion DC leadership’s wrongdoing?

Because the Bible compels it. Leadership’s wrongdoing is clear, serious, and unrepentant, and years-long attempts at private resolution have failed. The Bible unambiguously requires public action in circumstances like these.

The New Testament teaches that church members must hold their leaders accountable—ultimately in public if necessary—when there is unrepentant wrongdoing. Matthew 18:17 instructs us to “tell it to the church” when private resolution doesn’t eradicate unrepentant sin. And 1 Timothy 5:20 unequivocally instructs us to publicly disclose unrepentant leadership wrongdoing: when church leaders are sinning, we are to reprove them “before everyone.” If a church leader sins unrepentantly, Christians should “call attention to what he is doing.” (3 John 1:10.) Entire books of the Old Testament consist primarily of public statements confronting political and religious leaders who failed to properly care for the people. (Jeremiah, for example.) “Open your mouth,” Proverbs 31:9 commands, when those who hold power mistreat those who don’t. That command applies even when—especially when—the powerful disapprove.

Jesus confronted the religious leaders of his day in public. (E.g., Matthew 23.) Jesus emphasized that he would not “bring peace” but rather would “divide people against each other”—“two against three, father against son.” (Luke 12:51.) Division wasn’t his aim, and indeed the New Testament condemns words spoken with the intention of causing division. But Jesus knew that because people differ in their willingness to hear uncomfortable truths, his words would divide. The Gospels repeatedly recount that Jesus’s words did in fact divide people of God. (E.g., John 10:19.) And when Jesus’s religious leaders brought him to Pontius Pilate, their charge was divisiveness and insubordination: “We have found this man subverting our nation.” (Luke 23:2.) “He stirs up the people.” (Luke 23:5.)

Passion staff’s criticisms of the concerned member echo the religious leaders’ criticisms of Christ’s truth-speaking, sometimes verbatim. (The concerned member’s letters “stir up” people, Passion staff told one member.) Those criticisms are, in Counselor 5’s words, “power-play table-turning words that allow them to oppress.”

Christians are called to emulate Christ’s truth-speaking, the establishment’s accusations notwithstanding. (1 John 2:6.) If we consider discussion of wrongdoing unbiblically divisive, then we must blame Watergate on the reporters and we must condemn Martin Luther for posting his Ninety-five Theses. That’s not the way of a God who opposes sin and holds church leaders to particularly high account. (James 3:1, 1 Timothy 3:2.)

The allegations here are serious. Many people believe that Passion City DC leadership has mistreated dozens or even hundreds of people, and spiritually abused someone who spoke up. Numerous Passion-recommended counselors share that view. Whether you personally agree with them or not, the mere fact that many people hold these concerns means that open and honest dialogue is essential.

Are the facts disputed?

No. While Passion DC leaders disagree with some of our opinions, no one has ever contested any of the factual assertions on this site. The facts we’ve shared are undisputedly true.

Why are you relying on the stories and comments of anonymous members?

Many members fear they will be retaliated against if they put their name to their concerns. After what happened when the concerned member did use his name, we think that fear is entirely reasonable. The authenticity of the anonymous members’ messages has never been challenged.

Despite deep disagreement and pain within the church, Passion DC leadership refuses to share the microphone—even for a moment. Under no circumstance does leadership allow anyone at Passion to speak publicly without leadership either preapproving the message or knowing that the speaker will offer only positive comments. There is no open Q&A at doorholder meetings; all questions are screened, and leadership selectively answers only the questions it wishes to address. There are no spaces for uncontrolled public discussion. Leadership seeks to fully control the narrative.

We hope to give voice to people who feel silenced.

Is nonresponsiveness inevitable in a large church?

Not at all. Many large churches do not ghost members and visitors. And the rudeness from Passion DC staff extends far beyond a simple missed text. In the cases documented, staff members specifically designated to respond to a particular member failed to respond over weeks or months despite repeated follow-ups. Passion DC’s main email account was entirely unmonitored for months. Passion staff even no-showed members for confirmed appointments—leaving them sitting alone at the coffee shop—with no apology. This is not normal.

Don’t all churches have problems?

Not like this. Many church leaders respond with humility and openness when members raise concerns. Many church leaders consult the congregation—or at minimum inform them—before taking drastic actions like banning someone from services or telling a longtime member to find another church. Many church leaders transparently disclose how tithes are spent. Many church leaders care deeply if longtime members, or even visitors, feel hurt by leadership. Many church leaders teach that Matthew 18:17 means what it says, and embrace healthy accountability. We have collectively spent many decades in the church, and we’ve never encountered anything close to the culture of secrecy and authoritarian control at Passion DC. This is not normal.

Pastor Ben’s suggestion that staff’s mistakes are unsurprising “growing pains” is insulting to those staff has harmed. Jeremiah 6:14 speaks directly to this attitude: “They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. ‘Peace, peace,’ they say, when there is no peace.”

What would a healthy leadership response look like?

The first Passion DC staff member to hear of the issue, in September 2023, modeled a healthy leadership response. “I hate this,” he told the concerned member. “Thank you for caring enough to raise it.” He noted that “I’m most troubled by the lack of apologies.” While he ultimately failed to execute, he recognized the problem and responded to the concerned member with gratitude rather than hostility. We think Pastor Ben Stuart should have responded similarly—this is terrible, thank you for raising it, we will get it fixed.

Instead, Pastor Ben attacked and punished the concerned member. The prophets condemned this kind of authoritarian leadership: “With force and harshness you have ruled them.” (Ezekiel 34:4.) Maybe leaders can operate that way in the world, but they can’t do it here—not in the church. Jesus taught that while worldly rulers “lord it over” the people, “it shall not be so among you.” (Matthew 20:25–26.) Corporate CEOs might push out dissenting voices, but Christian leaders are barred from exercising “domineering” control. (1 Peter 5:3.) When “sharp dispute” arises in the church, the answer is “much discussion” and consensus building—not punishing speech a leader objects to. (Acts 15:1–7.)

Why are you called Stop Scaling Church Hurt?

We believe that Passion DC is so focused on growth that it has lost sight of what it is growing. Sometimes people “forget that cancer grows, too.”

One member said it best: “It’s critical we don’t mistake numerical growth for spiritual development, or import metrics more associated with business than the costly love of Jesus to evaluate our success. We’re called to make disciples—not simply numbers.” As Ian Simkins has put it: “Influence in the Kingdom of God doesn’t come from worldly success—it comes from faithful presence.” If people flood through Passion’s doors only to experience something far removed from God’s deep embrace, it would’ve been better if they hadn’t come at all.

But Passion DC leaders seem unconcerned if dozens or hundreds leave with church hurt—they’re easily replaced so long as Sunday services and the Instagram page excite. Maybe secular leaders can operate that way, but church leaders cannot. If we gain ninety-nine Instagram followers yet leave even one soul wounded, we’ve broken God’s heart. (Luke 15:4.)

“Do not make my Father’s house a place of business.” (John 2:16.) Jesus cared enough about that to say it with a whip in hand. We should share his righteous anger when leaders treat the church more like a CEO-led corporation than a missional family.

Do you seek to tear down Passion City DC?

Absolutely not. To the contrary, we’ve taken action because we are deeply invested in Passion City DC’s health and integrity. Passion DC does not belong to Ben Stuart or Louie Giglio or other staff members; churches do not have CEOs. The church belongs to God, and every church member is responsible for its health.

We recognize that discussing wrongdoing is unpleasant, but as the concerned member put it, “drilling to repair a cavity may hurt more than the cavity itself, but that doesn’t mean we should avoid the dentist.” In Wendy Alsup’s words, “loving the church means we want to see it sanctified so it reflects Christ’s beauty.” Our aim is healing, redemption, and unity.

What about forgiveness?

As Dietrich Bonhoeffer put it, preaching forgiveness without repentance is “cheap grace.” Repentance precedes absolution. (E.g., 1 John 1:9, Acts 3:19, 2 Chronicles 7:14, Luke 17:3, Acts 2:38, Matthew 4:17.) Proverbs 28: “Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.”

Passion DC’s leaders have not repented—they haven’t acknowledged serious wrongdoing, expressed real remorse, or committed to fixing the problems. Instead, they’ve attacked those who have pressed for accountability and healing, and they’ve tried to conceal the facts. Diane Langberg: “When we hear justifications, excuses, blaming, or a focus on the sins of another, we can be sure we do not have true repentance.”

When church leaders hurt people unrepentantly, forgiveness does not involve overlooking or hiding their wrongdoing. The Bible instructs church members to openly confront unrepentant sin, especially by leadership. (E.g., 1 Timothy 5:20, Matthew 18:17.) God isn’t soft on sin. Absent repentance, God doesn’t simply move on. (E.g., Proverbs 11:21; Hebrews 10:31, Nahum 1:3.)

Mary DeMuth has asked rhetorically: “What if the leaders are disposing of inconvenient saints who raise legitimate questions? What if church polity is more about the ends of numbers justifying the means of harming people? What if the actions of leaders are causing people to run away from the faith because of the abuse they experienced? What if the collateral damage is great? What if the system of church is set up to punish anyone who speaks out?”

When those things are true, the Bible does not allow Christians to accept the status quo in the name of forgiveness—it instructs Christians to demand change. (E.g. 1 Timothy 5:20, Proverbs 31:9.)

What should I do if all this disturbs me?

Humans are naturally inclined toward passivity, particularly in uncomfortable or contentious situations. Stories across the country about responses to church abuse demonstrate the immense gravitational pull toward kumbaya. But Jesus took action when he encountered injustice; he firmly and loudly opposed toxic leadership. (E.g., John 2:13–17, Matthew 23.) He did not leave it to others. He did not extend cheap grace.

To inform your decisionmaking, you could read up on patterns of church abuse—Michael Kruger’s book Bully Pulpit, Scot McKnight & Laura Barringer’s book A Church Called Tov, and Mary DeMuth’s Substack are good places to start.

Regardless how much you’ve read, we encourage you to insist on transparency. Press Ben Stuart to answer the questions we’ve listed on this site. Insist on open-mic public dialogue. Insist on change. Insist on healing. Don’t allow leadership to conceal truth or sweep its wrongdoing under the rug as though it never happened. Don’t continue on as if all is well. “Open your mouth.” (Proverbs 31:9.)