Copied from Keith Kepley’s timeline on Facebook. (In case it disappears.)

 

Recently, at least two Saint Louis Christian College alumni (I was not among them) were censored from posting on the closed SLCC Alumni group, because they were discussing in an appropriate and closed setting why they would not feel comfortable sending their children to SLCC given the school’s handling of its compromised relationship with First Christian Church of Florissant, and it’s beyond questionable decision to force the resignation of whistleblower Doug Lay as he raised awareness of the child sexual abuse cover-up / mishandling at FCCF.

Recently, the SLCC Trustees closed off private communication with me after a year-and-a-half of private dialogue. During that year-and-a-half of open doors to private dialogue, I have publicly and privately offered unaccepted forgiveness, and have almost entirely refrained from communicating publicly about SLCC. I would still prefer to communicate privately about SLCC directly with SLCC officials. When new President Stine arrives, I hope that door re-opens. That door is not currently available.

As an attempt at accountability for closing the door to healthy private dialogue with both myself and other alumni, I offer a single public post regarding SLCC. My hope is that this post and any public light it sheds will serve as motivation for SLCC to re-open private avenues for resolution and communication. If SLCC continues to censor and squelch genuine conversation brought by concerned parties in appropriately private settings, the conversation will necessarily continue publicly. If private opportunities re-open, those channels will be taken rather than public communication like this post.

On March 2nd, 2017, SLCC Chairman of the Trustees Rick Mosher stated:

“(FCCF lead minister Steve) Wingfield did not act responsibly in the matter of the convicted felon (Brandon Milburn). I’ve been told by an elder that they were going to investigate more but then felt they were getting boxed into a corner … I think what the elder told me was along the lines that maybe Doug, in their opinion was trying to move too fast on this.”

Chairman Mosher admits that Steve Wingfield mishandled matters related to convicted child molester Brandon Milburn. Chairman Mosher admits that an FCCF elder confided in him personally that the church did not conduct a full investigation into the cover-up/mishandling of child sexual abuse. Chairman Mosher admits that he had conversations with FCCF elders about former SLCC Professor Doug Lay (who SLCC forced to resign or cease his FCCF-related whistleblowing).

Given his openness about FCCF’s significant and grievous moral failures, Chairman Mosher was privately asked by me on March 9th, 2017 about SLCC’s continued public instruction for incoming students to make FCCF their top-of-the-list choice for a home church and consequently Steve Wingfield their top-of-the-list choice for their pastor while they attend SLCC: “Privately you speak candidly with me about how wrong FCCF was and how Wingfield should have been fired … Publicly, SLCC encourages students to attend FCCF. Please explain.”

Chairman Mosher’s response: “That’s the most ridiculous thing you’ve asked … don’t bother me anymore about this.”

More than two months later, SLCC’s website continues to encourage prospective and incoming students to make FCCF their top-of-the-list choice for a home church as they train for ministry (link below).

 
 
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19 Comments
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Keith Kepley
 
Keith Kepley https://stlchristian.edu/student-life/area-churches

Students at St. Louis Christian College are blessed by an abundance of healthy, vibrant churches in St. Louis…
STLCHRISTIAN.EDU
 
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2

· May 15 at 7:17pm

Javier Morris
 
Javier Morris This is a sad reality, Keith Kepley! I join prayers that will bring repentance and restoration to a place I once held dear in hopes that people are reconciled and restoration can take place! Praying for you to continue to be renewed each day as you, guided by the Holy Spirit, continue to speak out
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5

· May 15 at 7:47pm

Georgia Favor Merrick
 
Georgia Favor Merrick So you post this on Facebook instead of talking to the person wow that’s not a very Christ like response at all! More over you try and black mail someone to get what you want. I’m sorry but it shows your character rather than anyone else’s.
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· Reply · May 15 at 9:00pm

Jon-Michael David Brown replied · 13 Replies · 9 hrs
Dennis Evans
 
Dennis Evans There are those that lift others up and there are those that tear others down. The old expression resounds in my mind – WWJD. I do not see in anyway how this post furthers or advances the Kingdom.
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1

· May 15 at 9:43pm

Rich Raynes replied · 1 Reply
Bradley Smith
 
Bradley Smith This is the outcome of a false gospel that is often preached and taught in our American churches. Division and conflict.
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· May 15 at 9:48pm

Derek Brink
 
Derek Brink Sorry to learn all this. It had sounded potentially hopeful a couple months back.
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3

· May 15 at 9:56pm

Mone Martinez
 
Mone Martinez All this is doing is causing more division. Reconciliation or repentance cannot be forced. Even our Lord doesn’t force things upon us, not even His forgiveness. Either we accept His forgiveness or we don’t. Either we change and grow or we don’t. EitherSee More
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4

· May 15 at 10:12pm

Mike Singleton replied · 3 Replies · 7 hrs
Katie 'Ryder' Culpepper
 
Katie ‘Ryder’ Culpepper There was a second thread not long after the first deleted one in the alumni group explaining why it had been deleted. Someone commented that they felt it was sad that the alumni were being censored. I replied, being especially careful not to mention aSee More
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5

· May 15 at 10:32pm

Wes Bell replied · 1 Reply
Georgia Favor Merrick
 
Georgia Favor Merrick I just keep thinking it looks like a lot of stone throwing to me…
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· Reply · May 15 at 10:32pm

Doug Lay
 
Doug Lay This all started with the revelation that besides the two victims of BM who did come forward, there are now eight other boys who allegedly experienced inappropriate sexual misconduct by BM…One of those boys was baptized at FCCF and a member there..See More

Is It Enough?
ISITENOUGH.ORG
 
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14

· Yesterday at 12:06am

Natalie Grace replied · 1 Reply
Georgia Favor Merrick
 
Georgia Favor Merrick Yet you are both so picking on one person who was not even back in the board when this was happening origionally. You claim you are doing it for the victims but demanding an apology for yourself. You chose like a big boy to leave the college and now ySee More
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· Reply · 23 hrs · Edited

Natalie Grace replied · 11 Replies · 5 hrs
Natalie Grace
 
Natalie Grace It is important to note, saying “I’m sorry” without some sort of restorative action is…silly.

I have a three year old son and a one year old daughter. If my son gets a little too enthusiastic about protecting his hot wheels from investigative fingeSee More

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10

· 22 hrs

Jake McDonnell
 
Jake McDonnell I think it’s odd how people can argue that this post is not for the unity of the body and that it causes division. Are having corrupt leaders and institutions creating unity? Are ruining people’s lives (people in the body) to falsely make your institutSee More
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· 19 hrs · Edited

Derek Brink
 
Derek Brink “Apologies are hard.” That’s what I keep saying to myself. And not just as people, but I understand that as an institution, any business Christian or otherwise has to be careful about what they say in order not to open themselves to further liability. See More
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15

· 16 hrs

Natalie Grace
 
Natalie Grace Thank you for sharing, Derek
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· 16 hrs

Titus Benton
 
Titus Benton Yes you do. This post is ministry. Good stuff, man.
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8

· 12 hrs

Jake McDonnell
 
Jake McDonnell Cool thing about messing up is learning that you can grow <3
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· 12 hrs

Bradley Smith
 
Bradley Smith Come buy me lunch.
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· Reply · 11 hrs

Derek Brink
 
Derek Brink Thanks, folks. Especially Titus. That was really nice to read.
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1

· 11 hrs

Aimee Knoop Crowe
 
Aimee Knoop Crowe I appreciate the perspective of this Derek. At the end of the day it’s not the college or this church that stands before God, it’s individuals who made individual choices to either stand with/for the 8 victims of BM or not. And any individual can make a choice, new or continued, to do what’s right going forward. What an awesome testimony to the glory of God’s grace and restorative nature that would be!
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· 9 hrs · Edited

 
Wes Bell
 
Wes Bell BTW, who created this website? http://restorefccf.org/

Home
RESTOREFCCF.ORG
 
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1

· 12 hrs

Cassidy Cooley
 
Cassidy Cooley SLCC is too brick-headed to acknowledge that there is a repetitive pattern of sexual misconduct on campus, and has been, for decades. DECADES. The culture of shame has kept so many from speaking out for themselves and for their friends–where is such See More
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5

· 10 hrs

Mike Singleton
 
Mike Singleton The point of the Facebook group is to give news, updates, prayer request and as alums show support for SLCC. The threads were deleted because the original thread had nothing to do with where the conversation went. God is still working at SLCC ad the Holy Spirit is there! God is not done using SLCC grads and future grads. At some point we need to heal and part of that is moving forward. I pray for Brandon’s victims and for Brandon daily, as well as the school. If you forgive that should be the end…forgiveness doesn’t come with stipulations.
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1

· 7 hrs

Natalie Grace
 
Natalie Grace Forgiveness is not the removal of consequences.

If by some bizarre chance Millburn walked out of prison a free man tomorrow, I sincerely hope nobody would say, “well, I’ve forgiven him and we need more youth sponsors for our next trip…”

Because forgiveness doesn’t absolve consequences.

… …. …

Because we are quick to point out a hierarchy of sins – often deeming the sin we’d never personally commit as the “worst” – we want to excuse this and say, “hey, I think the real bad guy here is the convicted pedophile”

The problem is that the pedophile didn’t have one victim. The problem is that leadership thought it would be better to error on the side of “if I don’t acknowledge the cluster**ck, is it really a cluster**ck?

… …. …

Finally…why is this relevant?

Because reconciliation could still be achieved;

Because the way we are talking about whether or not silence is justified could actually be the reason someone isn’t coming forward with their stories;

And because the victims deserve to hear religious leaders say, “we f*cked it up. We didn’t think it was this bad, but that’s mostly because in our arrogance we didn’t think we could be douped this badly. We were. We were not only tricked, but when others pointed out massive red flags, we rolled out the welcome mat. We were charged with protecting you, and we failed. We are sorry.”

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Pam Wheatley
 
Pam Wheatley I support you, Pastor Keith Kepley in your’ honesty & desire to see & speak truth. Even when, especially when it is right and a bit difficult to do. This is the man that I know
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· Reply · 5 hrs