Ralph Rutledge was pastor of Queensway Cathedral Pentecostal Church until the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada (PAOC) defrocked him. Yes
pastor Ralph Rutledge was removed from being head
pastor of Queensway Cathedral and his credentials to preach within his denomination were removed as well. This was severe discipline from those in charge of overseeing the pastors in the POAC.
As I understand it, the PAOC leadership considered the details of this discipline hearing to be confidential. They published very little about whatever was confessed or witnessed. So the
Ralph Rutledge scandal remains in obscurity.
They remained silent when Ralph Rutledge began to manipulate the story to his advantage and make them look bad. He (The abuser) pleads 'victim' and there was nothing said. He makes the church look bad: 'Those bad guys are picking on poor Ralph.'
Most of us around Queensway Cathedral heard rumours that the scandal involved homosexuality. But there was no clear statement to that effect, just rumours. The details as to what this meant did not get out.
As I remember it, and I may be wrong, Ralph admitted to some homosexuality but not a lot of homosexuality. He was the victim not the aggressor. He may have suggested that an adult male molested him but I am not sure.
I had contact with students and clients that sometimes provide unexpected information. One of my students brought information that Ralph's behaviour involved a much larger breach of professional ethics, religious standards and the moral guidelines followed by his church ans denomination. Then recently a client reported that her boyfriend had been seriously messed up by what Rev. Rutledge said and did to him when as a young man he was sent to Rutledge for counselling. His father sent him and obviously put trust in his beloved pastor that, if this report is true, was seriously betrayed.
If these reports are confirmed by other credible sources that we have a very serious scandal - a pastor abusing pastoral authority and position by actively soliciting young men. Ralph Rutledge was a significant Canadian public figure based on the height of Ralph Rutledge's popularity, the size of Queensway Cathedral and the far reach of his television ministry. He still has a following and a ministry: "Grace Restoration Ministries" of Toronto, Canada "a faith based outreach ministry to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the poor and needy of the world, and to bring healing the bruised and broken."
I fear that the harm done to these young men in their gender identity, their relationship with God, in their faith and in their trust of men will be found to be considerable. I believe these wounded individuals needs support to go public about their abuse. That is part of their healing process. I am publishing this blog entry to initiate a process of bringing the truth to light and let healing begin. I fear that much harm has been done may continue to be done if we allow these allegations to go unattended.
I fear that the PAOC may have left a 'wolf in sheep's clothing' loose to harass everyone else. It is as if they were to say "We don't want any homosexuals in the PAOC but you can go a prey on others in the Body of Christ." This compromise would leave the rest of the church open to possible abuse of the same type that they decided was not appropriate for a pastor in the PAOC.
Matthew 18 describes a process of confronting sin. There are several steps in increasing public exposure from a private encounter, to bringing witnesses to a public decision by the church. Well we got to the final level. They had listened to the witnesses. A decision was made public. But no details were revealed. The sin of Ralph Rutledge was not exposed. There was no full exposure and no apology to the Queensway Cathedral in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. To this day I have not heard Ralph Rutledge reflect a broken and contrite heart about this issue. There has been no humility. No confession.
The wolf that remains hidden can still attack the sheep. A pastor is a shepherd. Shepherds protect their flock. That is why the PAOC overseers removed Ralph Rutledge. Shepherds expose wolfs and 'blow the whistle.' We got that kind of shepherding for the PAOC now we need it for the rest of the Bride of Christ.
Update (Dec. 21, 2009) Since publishing on the
Ralph Rutledge scandal two persons have contacted me with confirming evidence and a concern that this matter be brought to the light.
Update (Dec. 23, 2009) Two sources indicate that the book "
Demons in the Sanctuary" by a Miriam Bellamy has relevance to Ralph Rutledge and his 'leadership' in a local church since being kicked out of the POAC. This fictional account describes a "
pastor's arrogant pride and unethical conduct."
Update (Dec 27, 2009) A man who is to this day dealing with the fallout of his relationship with Ralph Rutledge. This man needs prayer to deal with an extremely painful matter arising out of his relationship with Ralph Rutledge. Please pray for him and all those who are still suffering from their relationship with this man. This particular man said: "I am sorry that I ever met Ralph Rutledge."
Update (Dec. 28, 2009) Ralph Rutledge phoned me today to say that none of the allegations about him are true. He said that the events referred to are from 20 years ago. He questioned my motives in reporting these things implying it was some kind of personal vendetta. Also, in his opinion dragging these things up would hurt the Body of Christ. He was angry at me. There was no humility, no self reflection on his own sin.
That is the gist of it. I was not able to take notes. I could report him more accurately if he wrote something out and e-mailed it to me. I did invite people to contact me with information to add to this story. If you do so you need to identify yourself: full name, address and phone number so that I can verify my facts. It is best to write or e-mail and, then, if and when it is appropriate I will phone you with specific questions.
My response to Ralph is: One - that the good shepherd who is protecting the flock does so out of obedience and love. Two - my information sources suggest to me that the Rutledge's misuse of the responsibility and authority of the role of pastor (shepherd) goes back at least 20 years and that the behavior is also quite recent and likely ongoing. Third: When the wolf is caught eating lambs, the shepherd goes by the evidence in front of him not the wolf's denial. When Jesus said: "By their fruit you will know them" he meant the attitude and character of the person and actual reports of his ministry. Jesus is clearly saying to identify the 'wolf in sheep clothing' by actual track record not words.
Update Dec. 29, 2009. An elder from the Good Samaritan Church reports much hurt from Ralph Rutledges time as senior pastor there. He confirms many concerns with Ralph's behaviour (sexual and financial) that were never resolved. One financial accusation was "to do with net4jesus internet deal that Ralph put together apparently without approval of the board." It becomes clear to me that Rutledge was not held in check by or accountable to the Board of Good Samaritan Church. He controlled and intimidated them! This rebellion against appointed authority is one example of bad fruit in reports of Rutledge's ministry.
Update Dec. 30, 2009 I now have information from a reliable source that supports the contention that Ralph Rutledge has not fully committed himself to transforming his life and is not prepared to make a whole-hearted commitment to saying no to his sin patterns. He will not submit to an accountability process to hold his feet to the fire. He can play games with the counselling process but he resists the deep commitment that changing such strongholds requires. This is another report of behaviour and attitude and, therefore, fruit.
Hebrews 12:1 adjures us to "lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race set before us." My information indicates that Ralph is not doing willing to do that. He will not allow God to heal his life he will not be accountable for his sexual behavior.
Update January 4, 2010 I did not know this but it appears that Ralph Rutledge made several attempts to be reinstated by the PAOC - to get his papers to preach as a PAOC pastor. In spite of his considerable influence and top level contacts this never happened. This would be evidence that in the judgement of the PAOC Rutledge was not ready for restoration at the time this happened.
Update January 6, 2010 I need to report that Ralph Rutledge not only intimidated and controlled the board of the Good Samaritan Church but he intimidates those who have been wounded by him or who might expose him. He has many tricks to use to cover his tracks and avoid accountability. Just like he phoned me to express displeasure at this blog he also phones those he has wounded if he hears they are talking about him. If this is to be exposed we need the backbone and courage to not be intimidated.
Update May 9, 2010 I have had several discussions with the author of Demons in the Sanctuary and have met with the members of the board of the Good Samaritan Church to hear first hand reports of their experience when on the board when Ralph Rutledge was the head pastor. No one provided evidence that suggests that the public should not be concerned about Rutledge. The evidence people present to me not only confirms my original concerns but add other concerns of possible spiritual abuse (misuse of the power and position of being the head pastor in a way that hurt others) possible financial abuse (misuse of the power and position of head pastor and the trust engendered by that to build his own financial position at the expense of others). So the account of Rutledge's time at Good Samaritan Church adds to what was already suspected from Queensway Cathedral of possible sexual abuse (misuse of the trust position of being a respected pastor to engage in homosexual relations) and then possible misuse of his power and position to cover up and avoid accountability for these actions.
Update: July 12, 2011. The news is not good for those who love Ralph Rutledge. Over the last year there has been no documented facts that would support the thesis that he has faced his sexual addiction, sought treatment, turned away from it and established an accountability group to hold him to it. Nor is there any evidence that he does not have a sexual addiction which has lead to crossing boundaries in his professional role as a pastor.
The perspective presented in Mariam Bellamy's book Demons in the Sanctuary, based on his final years at the Good Samaritan Church in Breslau, has been confirmed repeatedly by everyone I have contacted or who has contacted me as credible witnesses. Many insiders affirm that the facts are not fiction although the names have been changed.
That book, based on supportive church minutes and documents, points to boundary issues in personal relationships, habitual lying, putting glory focus on himself rather than God, unprofessional 'sexual' gestures, speech and behavior, sexual harassment, money schemes (dual relationships) and manipulating the personal and positional power that he had as a minister.
The evidence to dis confirm these affirmations just has not surfaced.
Labels: internet financial deal, queensway cathedral, Ralph Rutledge sex scandal, Rev. Ralph Rutledge, Rutledge scandal, wolf in sheep clothing
