The Old Apostolic Lutheran Church (OALC), a Scandinavian-rooted revivalist denomination, is grappling with a disturbing pattern of child sex abuse allegations across its congregations in the U.S. and Canada. The church’s doctrine of forgiveness and its insular culture have come under fire for enabling abuse and silencing victims.
As elders from the church’s mother congregation in Sweden prepare to visit U.S. congregations this summer, victims and advocates hope to bring attention to the issue and push for reform. The upcoming visit comes amidst a growing number of criminal cases against church members and increasing legal scrutiny of leaders for failing to report allegations of sexual abuse to police.
Generational Trauma and Institutional Failure
In some OALC families, the trauma of sexual abuse spans generations, ensnaring mothers, daughters, and granddaughters. The church’s teachings on forgiveness have created a culture where allegations of abuse are often resolved internally, shifting the burden of sin from the perpetrator to the victim. This has left many victims to bear their pain alone or risk being ostracized.
DaNece Day, the prosecuting attorney for Crook County in Wyoming, has charged two OALC members in the past two years. She and other prosecutors have highlighted the challenge of breaking the cycle of abuse, as church members often move among congregations spread across the U.S. and Canada, bound by large, multigenerational family networks.
The Role of Church Leadership
Church leaders have faced criticism for their handling of abuse allegations. In Minnesota, preachers knew for years about allegations against a member named Clint Massie but did not report them to police. Instead, they urged some victims to participate in forgiveness sessions with Massie. This approach has been condemned by survivors and advocates as traumatic and ineffective.
Representatives from the Swedish church have acknowledged that some matters may have been handled improperly but maintain that they do not observe a general pattern of behavior among the tens of thousands of members in 34 OALC congregations in the U.S. and Canada. They have stated that church guidelines are being reviewed to ensure compliance with legal requirements.
Seeking Justice and Reform
Survivors and their families are speaking out, despite the fear of retribution from the church or their own families. Many have been pressured to keep quiet, with some being told that their abuse was not a big deal or that they needed to get over it. Others have been discouraged from contacting authorities for spiritual reasons.
As the Swedish elders prepare to visit U.S. congregations, there is hope that their influence will lead to meaningful reform. Survivors and advocates are calling on the elders to address the issue of sexual abuse and ensure that the church’s teachings are not misused to conceal wrongdoing or shield offenders from legal consequences.
The Old Apostolic Lutheran Church’s response to these allegations will be crucial in determining its future and the safety of its members. As the world watches, the church faces a pivotal moment in its history, with the potential to either uphold its doctrine of forgiveness or prioritize the protection of its most vulnerable members.
