Leadership at Eastview Christian Church in Normal said during an all-church meeting that they plan to release more information later about how they will address allegations detailed in an investigative report.
Lead investigator Kellye Fabian Story, an attorney with Wagenmaker & Oberly of Chicago, discussed an investigate report on misconduct and abusive workplace dynamics with about 100 Eastview members on Wednesday night, filling only a small portion of the large worship center.
Eastview is one of the largest churches in Bloomington-Normal. It has claimed on its website to have an average weekly attendance of about 5,550 people.
Story’s presentation to church members focused on restorative justice, advocating care and reconciliation for victims whose needs were previously not met. Story emphasized that the healing process would involve addressing the harm done, as opposed to simply “moving on.”
“Someone who has been harmed, they need three things. They need an acknowledgement of harm, they need to hear I harmed you, I see in your eyes that I’ve caused you pain and I’ve caused you hurt,” Story explained in her summary of the report. She said victims also need to be empowered and heard. “That person that’s done the harm needs to accept the responsibility.”
Senior pastor Mike Baker resigned in Februaryas details of his and his son Caleb’s conduct became increasingly public. Church leaders became aware of misconduct allegations involving Caleb in 2016.
“While he worked for Eastview, leadership seemed largely unaware that Caleb used his position, role, or influence as a pastor to persuade women to engage in sexual activity," the report said.
Mike Baker had been Eastview’s senior pastor since 2007. In addition to a flawed executive structure, the report said that under Baker’s leadership, workplace culture at Eastview significantly degraded, with decisions being made foremost to protect the church’s image, avoid reprisal from leaders, and with disregard for those harmed by church leadership and for proper reporting procedure.
The report closes with a list of recommendations to improve the situation at Eastview. Among these are improving leadership structure and HR, developing and training in reporting protocols, and an effort to “address treatment of women at Eastview, particularly to determine what structures, processes, or values (whether explicit or implicit) might be leading to a sense that women are not valued.”
Before the meeting, church elder Adam Ghrist said church leadership intends to “absorb the report, and take those recommendations,” but declined to comment further on future plans.
Church leaders also announced that small group discussions will be held on Thursday and Friday to address concerns with members in more depth.
Church leaders said they are still seeing a new senior pastor but said details have still not been ironed out.
