https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/causeway-coast-vineyard-in-further-crisis-as-two-pastors-resign-over-apology/a1173281416.html
Two pastors at a scandal-hit north coast church have resigned amid a row over a statement of apology issued in relation to the conduct of a “narcissistic” former pastor.
Concerns had been raised in relation to the leadership of the Causeway Coast Vineyard (CCV) Church in Coleraine after it was revealed former pastor Alan Scott and wife Kathryn Scott were embroiled in a $62 million fraud lawsuit in California.
Concerns had been raised in relation to the leadership of the Causeway Coast Vineyard (CCV) Church in Coleraine after it was revealed former pastor Alan Scott and wife Kathryn Scott were embroiled in a $62 million fraud lawsuit in California. The couple moved to the USA five years ago after leaving CCV, where they took on roles as pastors for Vineyard Anaheim, another of the movement’s churches.
A report in the Religious News Service (RNS) last year said the Scotts had claimed that God told them to lead their church out of Vineyard and break from the group.
The move led to nine former members filing a lawsuit alleging that the Scotts took control of the Anaheim church and its assets, valued at $62m, under false pretences.
In July 2023, it was further revealed concerns had been raised about the behaviour of Mr Scott while he was leader of the church in Coleraine.
CCV issued an apology, saying it “failed to spot some of the warning signs” about its former pastor, with the findings of a subsequent independent review due to be published next week.
On Sunday, the church announced two further pastors would be leaving in a dispute over the apology issued in July.
“As the review has progressed, it has become clear that there are very different and deeply held views,” said a statement published on the church’s website.
Kathryn and Alan Scott “There is full support for the independent review, a view taken by the leadership of Vineyard Churches UK & Ireland, the Causeway Coast Vineyard trustees and its Senior Leadership Team.
“With this in mind we issued a joint public statement and apology in July. Within this apology and statement, we acknowledged that wrong and hurtful conduct has occurred at CCV, and apologised to all those who were hurt, harmed, mistreated or in any way negatively impacted by their time at Causeway Coast Vineyard. “Sadly, Neil and Janet have indicated that they no longer fully support the statement released on July 2nd or the ongoing independent review process.
“They have also indicated that they can no longer submit to the spiritual and structural authority of Vineyard Churches UK & Ireland and the governance of the CCV Trustee Board.
“In light of this, their future as Senior Pastors of Causeway Coast Vineyard is untenable, and Neil and Janet have come to the sad conclusion that they need to resign.”
In the statement, the church confirmed they had accepted the pair’s resignation after “lengthy conversations between Neil, Janet, the SLT, Trustees and the national Vineyard leadership to try and find a way forward”.
CCV also announced they would be holding a church meeting on November 2 to address any questions their congregation may have about the findings of the review. “Our wonderful SLT and staff team wi ll work collaboratively with the trustees and the Vineyard movement to lead our church community through the conclusion of the review and into a new season and all that God has for us,” the statement continued.
“The trustees will be working with SLT and Vineyard Churches UK and Ireland to begin the search for new senior pastors. “There is much sadness in this moment as so much good has been done and so many lives have been changed. We have treasured the leadership of Neil & Janet.
“They will be deeply missed, and we are thankful for their leadership of our church community for the last six and half years. “It has not been easy leading through transition, all the challenges of Covid and lockdown, and the cost-of-living crisis. They set out a bold 100-year vision and it has been great to see that take shape. “Today we thank them for their commitment and pray God’s blessing for what comes next.” It comes after financial statements filed by the evangelical church last week revealed they had allocated £30,000 to cover the cost of the review and counselling for alleged victims. The annual report and financial statements for 2022 showed fund balances of £2.1m at the church.
It then describes how CCV and Vineyard Churches UK and Ireland (VCUKI) commissioned a review from Trusted HR Ltd on the allegations against Mr Scott: “That process is ongoing and primarily relates to Alan Scott’s time as senior pastor.
“The trustees have allocated £15,000 to cover the cost of the review process and the offer to counselling to those impacted. VCUKI has set aside a similar amount.
“While the trustees expect some impact in terms of reputation and giving for the church in the short term, we remain confident that this will settle as the review process concludes in the autumn.” It added that the church’s “risk management assurance framework” included safeguarding processes for children and vulnerable adults.
by Bridgeboy95
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Two pastors at a scandal-hit north coast church have resigned amid a row over a statement of apology issued in relation to the conduct of a “narcissistic” former pastor.
Concerns had been raised in relation to the leadership of the Causeway Coast Vineyard (CCV) Church in Coleraine after it was revealed former pastor Alan Scott and wife Kathryn Scott were embroiled in a $62 million fraud lawsuit in California.
Concerns had been raised in relation to the leadership of the Causeway Coast Vineyard (CCV) Church in Coleraine after it was revealed former pastor Alan Scott and wife Kathryn Scott were embroiled in a $62 million fraud lawsuit in California.
The couple moved to the USA five years ago after leaving CCV, where they took on roles as pastors for Vineyard Anaheim, another of the movement’s churches.
A report in the Religious News Service (RNS) last year said the Scotts had claimed that God told them to lead their church out of Vineyard and break from the group.
The move led to nine former members filing a lawsuit alleging that the Scotts took control of the Anaheim church and its assets, valued at $62m, under false pretences.
In July 2023, it was further revealed concerns had been raised about the behaviour of Mr Scott while he was leader of the church in Coleraine.
CCV issued an apology, saying it “failed to spot some of the warning signs” about its former pastor, with the findings of a subsequent independent review due to be published next week.
On Sunday, the church announced two further pastors would be leaving in a dispute over the apology issued in July.
“As the review has progressed, it has become clear that there are very different and deeply held views,” said a statement published on the church’s website.
Kathryn and Alan Scott
“There is full support for the independent review, a view taken by the leadership of Vineyard Churches UK & Ireland, the Causeway Coast Vineyard trustees and its Senior Leadership Team.
“With this in mind we issued a joint public statement and apology in July. Within this apology and statement, we acknowledged that wrong and hurtful conduct has occurred at CCV, and apologised to all those who were hurt, harmed, mistreated or in any way negatively impacted by their time at Causeway Coast Vineyard.
“Sadly, Neil and Janet have indicated that they no longer fully support the statement released on July 2nd or the ongoing independent review process.
“They have also indicated that they can no longer submit to the spiritual and structural authority of Vineyard Churches UK & Ireland and the governance of the CCV Trustee Board.
“In light of this, their future as Senior Pastors of Causeway Coast Vineyard is untenable, and Neil and Janet have come to the sad conclusion that they need to resign.”
In the statement, the church confirmed they had accepted the pair’s resignation after “lengthy conversations between Neil, Janet, the SLT, Trustees and the national Vineyard leadership to try and find a way forward”.
CCV also announced they would be holding a church meeting on November 2 to address any questions their congregation may have about the findings of the review.
“Our wonderful SLT and staff team wi
ll work collaboratively with the trustees and the Vineyard movement to lead our church community through the conclusion of the review and into a new season and all that God has for us,” the statement continued.
“The trustees will be working with SLT and Vineyard Churches UK and Ireland to begin the search for new senior pastors.
“There is much sadness in this moment as so much good has been done and so many lives have been changed. We have treasured the leadership of Neil & Janet.
“They will be deeply missed, and we are thankful for their leadership of our church community for the last six and half years.
“It has not been easy leading through transition, all the challenges of Covid and lockdown, and the cost-of-living crisis. They set out a bold 100-year vision and it has been great to see that take shape.
“Today we thank them for their commitment and pray God’s blessing for what comes next.”
It comes after financial statements filed by the evangelical church last week revealed they had allocated £30,000 to cover the cost of the review and counselling for alleged victims.
The annual report and financial statements for 2022 showed fund balances of £2.1m at the church.
It then describes how CCV and Vineyard Churches UK and Ireland (VCUKI) commissioned a review from Trusted HR Ltd on the allegations against Mr Scott: “That process is ongoing and primarily relates to Alan Scott’s time as senior pastor.
“The trustees have allocated £15,000 to cover the cost of the review process and the offer to counselling to those impacted. VCUKI has set aside a similar amount.
“While the trustees expect some impact in terms of reputation and giving for the church in the short term, we remain confident that this will settle as the review process concludes in the autumn.”
It added that the church’s “risk management assurance framework” included safeguarding processes for children and vulnerable adults.
This church has had a few controveries these past few months
No one does corruption quite like the apparently devout.
Rule 3
Blimey, that building wouldn’t exactly make you exult in the presence of the Lord.
I reckon whenever it’s a crowd led by some *pastor* of this kind, it’s ten to one he’ll be found, just as described in all the best pulp fiction, blind drunk and coked up under a pile of hookers and bank notes in some flyblown motel.
Written with the same breathless gossipy style as their endless articles on loyalist paramilitary drama.
Is normalising life’s extremists an editorial aim of the Belfast Telegraph?