Tavner Smith is pastor of Venu Church, one of the fastest growing mega church movements in the US. After alleged infidelity with a staffer was discovered, others on staff urged him to step down for a year until they could sort out details. Smith refused, saying that he would be back in the pulpit by February. After only six weeks of him stepping away from the pulpit, he placed himself back into his preaching position.

In the meantime, eight staff members resigned and several other people left the church, siting a toxic environment with zero accountability. In this episode, we talk about the toxic church culture that enables pastors (and other leaders) to have the power to restore themselves while, ironically, having the power to kick other members out of the church. This broken system is what allows leaders to control the narrative and keep abusing.

The Roys Report article: TN Megachurch Pastor Returns After Six-Week Absence for Alleged Adultery
https://julieroys.com/tn-pastor-returns-pulpit-absence-alleged-adultery/

The Roys Report article: Pastor’s Alleged Infidelity Causes Staff Exodus from Venue Church
https://julieroys.com/pastors-alleged-infidelity-staff-exodus-venue-church/

Dr. Robert Caildini's book, The Psychology of Persuasion:
https://amzn.to/3gvmPcG

Jimmy’s book, The Devil Inside: How My Minister Father Molested Kids In Our Home and Church for Decades and How I Finally Stopped Him
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1950948617/ref=cm_sw_su_dp

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Intro--
Film Glitch by Snowflake (c) copyright 2017 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/snowflake/56350 Ft: reusenoise

Outro--
I Have Often Told You Stories (guitar instrumental) by Ivan Chew (c) copyright 2013 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/ramblinglibrarian/41284