If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. - I Cor 13:1-3

We, the undersigned, petition the Orthodox Presbyterian Church (OPC) to prioritize safety of vulnerable women and children within their churches. We all affirm the following:

• We are all current or former members of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church who loved our churches very much.

• We are all either victims of abuse or direct witnesses to abuse within the Orthodox Presbyterian Church.

• We believe that these abuses were PREVENTABLE and CORRECTABLE. And yet, to date, none of us have seen appropriate measures taken to deal with these abuses.

• We believe the current policies and procedures of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church are woefully inadequate to deal with abuse situations, and thus have the effect of harboring wolves and providing them with a virtually limitless supply of victims. Many of us have appealed to OPC leadership for justice, and none of us have been able to navigate the endless obstacles currently clogging the complaint system.

We appeal to the leaders of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church to show Christian love to us as their sisters, sons, and daughters. We ask that these abuse cases be investigated and action taken to stop abuse and prevent it from recurring in the future. Oppression—whether as domestic violence, sexual assault, or child sexual abuse—is a violation of the commandments of God. Pastors and elders have a responsibility to protect the weak and vulnerable and to seek justice for the oppressed.

We petition the leaders of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church to remember their solemn duty before God to strengthen the weak and heal the injured (Ezekiel 34:4).

(We sign below with our names and years during which we were OPC members experiencing or witnessing abuse.)

Caroline McKuen - signed 7/31/2024
2006-2020

Alison Gerardi - signed 7/31/2024
1986-2011

Sydney McKuen - signed 7/31/2024
2006-2020

Kevin McKuen - signed 7/31/2024
2006-2021

Carlotta Allen - signed 8/1/2024
2006-2023

VS and three children - signed 8/1/2024
2015 - present

Kaylee McKuen - signed 8/1/2024
2006 - 2020

Nia Bailey - signed 8/1/2024
1999-2004
(Click here to read Nia’s story!)

Eileen Scipione - signed 8/1/2024
Forty-seven years a member
A witness to various types of abuses for 37 years

Alaine Hofland - signed 8/1/2024
2016-2019

Fred Hofland - signed 8/1/2024
2015-2018

Audrey Richards - signed 8/1/2024
2015-2019

Noelle Wells - signed 8/1/2024
2019-2024

Stephanie Chernyavskiy Long - signed 8/1/2024
2000-2016

Chelsea Ashlock-Gondrez - signed 8/1/2024
2016-2019

Brittany Tissiere - signed 8/2/2024
2000-2006

Alison LeReaux - signed 8/3/2024
2001-2021

Anne Hickernell - signed 8/4/2024
I was a member of an OPC since when I was around the age of 6 (I am currently 29) and witnessed abuse throughout my time until I left when I was 24.

Denise Townsel - signed 8/4/2024
2001-2012

Zach LeReaux - signed 8/4/2024
2016-2021

Jennifer Greenberg - signed 8/9/2024
1992-2024