Wall of Silence

This podcast brings much needed light to the problems of abuse of power and clergy members’ abdication of responsibility to protect the vulnerable in ACNA. Thank you Chris for your work, and for even modeling what it looks like to walk away from a broken system IN ORDER to maintain integrity and continue to serve the vulnerable. Come for the information about things that are going on in the denomination, stay for the insightful and thoughtful reflections by advocates and survivors.

Fr Chris Marchand has created a stellar recounting of the heartbreaking events that have torn so many lives apart. More heartbreaking still is that this courageous work must be completed, to prevent this all from being swept under the rug. Heartbreaking to see beloved church leaders serve up half-truths, misrepresentations, and lies, in service to themselves and their worldly power. God bless Fr Marchand, and God bless this godly work.

This podcast provides a much-needed service to those of us who carry responsibility for ensuring safety in a church congregation and for influencing our denominations toward a more godly handling of abuse when it happens. These detailed case studies center the accounts of survivors rather than of institutional leaders who already have public platforms. We get rare and precious glimpses into the experience of seeking right actions from a church hierarchy that may sometimes reinjure more than it heals. Neither sensational nor entertaining, this is hard but necessary listening for anyone in church leadership. I’ve just heard a rumor (6/19/24) that the podcast’s been “paused” by the bishop in charge of the priest who produces it. I can’t imagine why and I pray it’s not true.

The truth about the abuse rot in ACNA desperately needs to be told. Thank you so much, #ACNAToo survivors & advocates, and Chris Marchand, for telling it. The fact that this podcast itself is being silenced, is proof of how much ACNA wants to remain hidden.