claypeck.com

Sadly, because of misinformation and false allegations I am sharing this letter more publicly than originally intended.  Jesus said:  “The truth will set you free”  (John 8:32).

Dear Grace Place Family,

I’m writing this letter to provide further communication regarding our former Grace Place employee and worship leader, (Michael) Brett Wilson. This situation has been a very difficult one for many of us due to our long term relationships with Brett and the impact of such circumstances on our church family.  Please allow me to first clarify some information and then make a pastoral appeal.

On December 10 and 13, at our four Grace Place worship gatherings, I read the following statement:

“The Trustees of Grace Place Church regret to announce that allegations of inappropriate sexual conduct with a minor have been raised about someone formerly in our ministry, Brett Wilson.  Brett served as the Worship Director at Grace Place up until his resignation in January of 2009. Although the allegations claim the incident occurred over 5 years ago, as soon as the Board of Trustees was informed of this allegation, the appropriate authorities were notified, as required by law.

We are in full and complete cooperation with the investigating authorities.

Grace Place performs background checks and checks references for all who work at the church, as well as for volunteers who work with our youth.    Our church also has clear policies in its employee handbook regarding appropriate conduct with members of the opposite sex.

Our love, concern, and prayers are extended to those involved.”

That statement was prepared on September 18, the same day that a report was filed with the Larimer County Sherriff’s department, after our Board of Trustees first consulted with an attorney regarding our legal obligations in this matter.  The investigator in this case said to the Fort Collins Coloradoan newspaper later that the report was made on September 29.  But the first call was made on September 18, which resulted in a number of calls and in-person interviews with three of our pastors and the alleged victim. Therefore, the investigator must have documented the report on September 29 as officially reported after he done his first round of interviews.

At that point the officials began an investigation that resulted in charges being filed against Brett on December 8.  The charges were brought by the state of Colorado, not by Grace Place, nor the alleged victim.  Grace Place leaders prayerfully decided to wait to make a public statement until such time as charges might be filed.  Therefore, we immediately made the statement that weekend.

Last week, someone identifying himself as “David Smith” called The Colordoan and also Denver Channel 31 TV (asking to be anonymous) making false charges against the leadership of Grace Place.  Unfortunately this individual did not call any church leaders to seek clarification, but instead either maliciously made up allegations or irresponsibly passed on misinformed gossip.  He accused the church of hiding this situation, stating that:

1. Church leaders knew about this situation when Brett resigned in January of 2009.
2. That we continued to allow Brett to help with the music program after we learned of these allegations.
3. That we just “prayed about the issue and decided to let God handle it,” adopting a “wait and see attitude.”

These accusations are blatantly false.  Here is the truth:

1. Church leaders had no knowledge of any allegations regarding Brett Wilson when he resigned in January of 2009.
2. We never invited or allowed Brett to participate in anyway at Grace Place after learning of the allegations.
3. We never “prayed about the issue and decided to let God handle it.”  Instead we reported the allegation to the Larimer County Sherriff’s department in a timely manner and fully cooperated with the investigation.  Waiting to make the public statement until after charges were filed seemed prudent since the allegations were from 2002 and Brett was no longer on staff or involved at the church.  If the allegation had been recent or if Brett had still been on staff, helping out, or even attending, there would have been a different response.

Last Friday, after the church office was closed, I was called to come meet reporters at the Berthoud office.  Their van said Channel 2, but their report aired on Channel 31 that evening.  I want to clarify one statement they made in the report which was inaccurate. They stated: “Peck says on that day, the victim -who is a church member- told a pastor that Michael Brett Wilson had sex with her outside the church.”  I did NOT say that.  The reporter asked me how it felt to know something like this happened under the “roof of your church.”  I replied that I understood the alleged incident was reported to have happened elsewhere, but it was still a tragedy.  I did not say anything about “sex.”  That is not part of the allegations, as I understand, and that is why we used the terminology: “inappropriate sexual conduct with a minor” in our official statement.  Neither did I say that the victim told me anything.

Some will agree with the way this was handled by church leaders, some will not. There have been a few who have questioned the fact that we reported this issue to authorities, though we would have been in violation of the law if we had not.  There are a few who have questioned us for making any public statement, feeling that this should be kept a private matter.  There are a few who have questioned why we waited to make a public statement until charges were filed, or why we haven’t said more since.   Please know that your pastors, staff leaders, and trustees have prayed long and hard over this, listened to counsel, arrived at consensus, and acted with integrity.  We have sought the best plan of action taking into consideration the congregation, as well as the alleged victim, and the Wilson family.  We have offered and paid for counseling for both the alleged victim and the members of Brett’s family (those who have chosen to receive it)—not out of a sense of obligation, but out of a desire to minister to all who hurt.  If there is anyone else in our congregation who is in need of counseling as a result of this incident, please let us know.

Now for an earnest pastoral appeal:

We understand that different people in our church family are responding to this situation in different ways.  We do not want to minimize the pain that any in our midst may be feeling.  The pastors are available to talk and pray with you, as we have been doing one-on-one since this announcement was made.  While many of us grieve over this situation, some reactions may also be driven by personal pain from past issues that is now being triggered.  It is the perfect time right now, as our church is humbly and prayerfully in a season of earnestly seeking revival and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and while we have begun an eight week spiritual journey called “Life’s Healing Choices,” to acknowledge whatever hurts there are in your past or present that need to be healed.  Now is the time!  God is working in our congregation. Remember, some things only get healed in the light.

Please realize that God is in control. He is a God of both grace and truth; he is both just and merciful.  He will work in this situation to bring truth, justice, healing, and recovery.  Don’t be the judge.  This week in our congregational Bible reading we read Matthew 7:1-2 where Jesus tells us: “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” That is pretty heavy.  You will be judged by God in the same way, with the same measure, that you are judging others.  So be careful how you judge the church leaders, the alleged victim, or Brett.  Do not take sides. You do not have all the facts, no matter what you think you know or what you have heard.  Trust God to work in this situation and cooperate with him, rather than working against him.  GOSSIP IS SIN.  Gossip is listed with the most blatant of sins in Romans 1:29.  Please do not be found among those the Scriptures condemn who are “gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought not to” (1 Timothy 5:13).

Finally, I want to tell you how proud I am of the way the vast majority of this congregation is handling this situation—with concern, thoughtful prayer, support of leadership, trusting God for appropriate justice, and desiring love and grace to be extended to all.  Let us continue to pray and “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3).

In Christ’s love,

Clay Peck

Lead Pastor, Grace Place

1.  KEEPING THE MAIN THING THE MAIN THING

The gospel of grace through the finished work of Jesus is the central message of Scripture. 

I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” Romans 1:16-17

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ^–not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

2. GIVING OUR LIFE AWAY

Our response to the gospel of grace is to give our time, talent, and treasure; our lives if need be, for Christ and His kingdom purposes.

In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:33

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. Matthew 16:24-25

3. BRINGING SCRIPTURE TO LIFE

Biblical study and teaching result in the understanding and life-application of Scripture.

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

4. CHURCH IS COMMUNITY

The local church is a community of people who connect relationally and serve compassionately.

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common… Acts 2:42-47

From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. Ephesians 4:16

5. CHRIST DEPENDENT IN ALL THINGS

We are totally dependent upon Jesus through prayer and the power of the Holy Spirit for every aspect of life and ministry.

I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5

I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13

6. FREEDOM IN CHRIST

We are committed to helping each other find freedom from and victory over all that keeps us from the abundant life promised by Jesus.

I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.  He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:9-10

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. John 8:36

7. LEADING MATTERS

We are responsible for equipping and encouraging men and women in the work of ministry.

We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. Romans 12:6-8;

It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up. Ephesians 4:11-12

8. GOD DESERVES OUR BEST

We honor God and inspire others when we seek to do the best we can.

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.  Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Colossians 3:17, 23-24

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31