From Support to Scrutiny: Jack Deere Reevaluates #IHOPKC Founder and Kansas City Prophets' Legacy

'I believe it inappropriate for anyone closely associated with Mike or his ministry to participate in a panel discussing his actions ... '

Editors note: For the past several months, my father has grappled with the decision of how to address the IHOPKC scandal publicly. He lacks a significant social media presence and felt a need to clarify his stance in light of a recent statement bearing his name, he sought a platform to express his views transparently. I offered him this space on my Substack page to share his perspective. — Stephen Deere

After receiving feedback on the statement published on Dr. Michael Brown's website last Thursday, I realize the need to underscore and clarify my stance on the Mike Bickle and IHOPKC issue.

As a former Dallas Theological Seminary professor known for my cessationist position, my perspective shifted in the 1980s. I became convinced that the Holy Spirit's gifts, like healing and prophecy, remain active and relevant for today's church. I've written several books on these topics, acknowledging Bickle and the Kansas City Prophets for influencing my acceptance of the prophetic gifts.

With the emergence of the Bickle and IHOPKC scandal, I've contemplated how or whether to express my views, given our past ministry collaboration. The opportunity to share my concerns came with the joint statement last Thursday, which I endorsed. While I generally support the statement's content, including Bickle's permanent disqualification from ministry, it inadvertently created confusion regarding a potential "elders" panel within the Charismatic movement to review findings or judge the situation.

I have not been asked, nor would I consent, to serve on such a panel. In fact, I believe it inappropriate for anyone closely associated with Mike or his ministry to participate in a panel discussing his actions or the culture at IHOPKC.

My own previous attempts to investigate situations involving Mike have failed.

My journey with Mike began in the late 1980s, around the time I started at the Association of Vineyard Churches under John Wimber. Tasked with investigating allegations against Mike's church by Ernie Gruen, my friendship with Mike led me to overlook significant concerns. I still believe Gruen's report contained numerous inaccuracies, misleading information and was motivated by jealously. But my bias towards Mike skewed my focus. I was more concerned about debunking the allegations in a deeply flawed report, than considering important questions about Mike’s character, which I had erroneously deemed impeccable.

During the 2000s, my interactions with Mike became less frequent, yet the bond of friendship persisted. The last notable moment of our collaboration was in October 2004, when we, along with Rick Joyner, addressed Paul Cain's misconduct publicly. For those unfamiliar with the Kansas City Prophets, Paul Cain was the most revered among them.

The episode shows the complexity of our relationship and the challenge of maintaining objectivity. Our long-standing promotion of Paul's ministry meant we had a deep-seated interest in the outcome of any investigation into his actions. In retrospect, I question whether our proximity to Paul compromised our ability to impartially assess the situation and communicate the full extent of the danger Paul posed.

When we confronted Paul, he refused to repent and fled all accountability.

Herein lies a critical point of contention between Mike and me: I advocated for a statement that unequivocally condemned Paul's behavior, highlighting the decades-long pattern of what is now commonly referred to as sexual clergy abuse.

Mike, however, favored a more lenient approach, one that left the door open for Paul's possible restoration to ministry.

Our eventual compromise resulted in a statement that downplayed the reality of Paul's actions, portraying them as temporary moral failings rather than acknowledging the truth of his lifelong predatory behavior.

This decision, I now believe, was a disservice to the victims, allowed for Paul's continued influence and for further abuse. I have always regretted not issuing a more definitive account of Paul’s actions.

The recent joint statement on Dr. Michael Brown's website affirms IHOPKC's "broad outline" as historically credible. However, given that we now know that three of its prominent contributors: Mike Bickle, Paul Cain and Bob Jones, were involved in clergy sexual abuse, IHOPKC’s entire prophetic history is questionable, in my opinion.

Although it has been years since Mike and I ministered together, my last significant correspondence with him also concerned Paul. It was in an email in June 2022, concerning a chapter to a revision of my book, “Why I am Still Surprised by the Voice of God.”

Mike's request to remove content about Paul, whom he defended posthumously, highlighted a manipulative pattern now seen in other communications recently made public.

Mike's assertion in his email that "a dead man is not a predator" overlooks the importance of addressing false prophets and the damage they cause. His accusations of bitterness against me and admonitions that the chapter would mar my entire ministry were greatly exaggerated and illustrate his continued desire to avoid further exposure of Paul.

Moreover, Mike threatened to stop recommending the book if I didn’t remove the chapter. For the record, I still included the chapter in the book, although I toned down some of the language. Sharing these reflections, I aim to caution the younger generations against my errors.

The disclosure of how passages like Matthew 18:15-17 have been twisted to silence abuse victims within the church underscores the need for transparency and justice. Mathew 18 applies to personal disputes and sin within the context of personal offenses, not potential crimes, most notably allegations of clergy sexual abuse, sexual assault, or harassment within the church. Jesus does not require abuse victims to confront their abusers before reporting them either publicly or privately.

I believe that anyone who experienced abuse should report it to authorities or independent parties rather than IHOPKC. I also want to emphasize that the survivors’ welfare dwarfs any concerns about the image of the prayer movement. IHOPKC's commitment to full disclosure and independent investigation is crucial for genuine repentance. Without transparency, claims of remorse are empty, underscoring the biblical mandate for justice and righteousness.

Furthermore, I am intent on not repeating past mistakes.

"Let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!" (Amos 5:24)

The serious nature of the allegations and my own past failures to adequately discern potentially criminal patterns of misconduct of those close to me highlight the need for a transparent and independent investigation. Upon further review of the situation, I've come to believe that it would be irresponsible and potentially harmful for anyone to continue funding IHOPKC, participating in, or attending meetings at IHOPKC, unless the organization commits to the following:

A. Full Public Disclosure:

Full public disclosure of the IHOPKC governing structure, including the names of all those serving on the board of trustees, and/or other governing boards, and the minutes of all board meetings and financial statements.

B. Independent Selection of the Investigator:

I urge IHOPKC leadership to swiftly prioritize selecting a mutually agreed upon third party to represent the interests of all victims, as underscored by the response to their previous investigation which has been rightfully met with suspicion. Investigators should be appointed based on consultation with survivors and the recommendations of non-profits familiar with clergy abuse, such as SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests), GRACE (Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment), BishopAccountability.org, The Hope of Survivors, Child-Friendly Faith Project, Safe Horizon, and RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network).

C. Providing an Independent Investigator Unfettered Access:

Granting an independent investigator comprehensive access to all financial records is crucial for a thorough examination of the organization's integrity and accountability. This includes not only basic financial documents like bank statements and payroll records but also extends to more complex transactions involving real estate, investments, and any business ventures tied to the organization. Such transparency ensures that all financial activities are scrutinized for any irregularities or misconduct.

The investigation must also encompass a detailed review of employment and personnel files, communication records, and organizational policies and procedures. Access to hiring documents, background checks, performance evaluations, and disciplinary records is essential to understand the workplace culture and any potential misconduct within the staff. Similarly, examining all forms of communication and the organization's policies on financial management, employee conduct, and complaint handling will provide insight into how allegations have been addressed historically and the overall governance of the organization.

Furthermore, the investigator should have unrestricted access to physical and digital assets, including computers, servers, and security footage, as well as the ability to conduct interviews with current and former employees, volunteers, and any other individuals connected to the organization. This level of access, coupled with the ability to consult the organization's legal and financial advisors without the constraints of attorney-client privilege, is paramount for an investigation that aims to uncover the truth, ensure justice, and restore trust within the organization and its community. The investigator should have full autonomy to access any records required or to expand the scope of the investigation based on the findings.

In my view, it is imperative that IHOPKC and its related nonprofits immediately halt any actions that could lead to the disappearance of documents, including all forms of programmed deletion or alteration of Electronically Stored Information (ESI), such as automatic removal, clearing, or obliteration processes. Similarly, if there's any indication that documents might be found on devices belonging to current or former vendors, subcontractors, and employees, IHOPKC should take swift action to secure and preserve this evidence.

Also, I’ve been informed that IHOPKC should be cautious of any actions that have led to or could lead to the deletion of documents or other information, as such actions may lead to negative assumptions by a judge or jury in the case of litigation.

The call for withholding support is not made lightly but arises from a deep concern for justice, the protection of the vulnerable, and the integrity of spiritual communities.

Without significant steps towards transparency, accountability, and a genuine effort to address and rectify past abuses, supporting IHOPKC may inadvertently contribute to the perpetuation of abusive practices.