The House of Prayer's Fact-Finding Farce

IHOPKC's Clergy Abuse Investigation deemed 'Insufficient and Woefully Misleading'

The International House of Prayer Kansas City (IHOPKC) handling of clergy abuse claims has turned into a glaring example of how apparent attempts to bury facts can inadvertently fertilize them.

Days after IHOPKC released a investigative report limiting founder Mike Bickle's misconduct to a few credible claims involving adult relationships from twenty years ago, two additional women came forward with their own stories.

A Michigan woman, now 57, shared with the Kansas City Star that she was 14 years old when the abuse occurred while Bickle was pastoring a church in St. Louis during the 1980s. This marked the first allegation against Bickle involving a minor, according to a story published on Wednesday in the Kansas City Star.

Another woman, identified by her initials TH, accused Bickle of predatory behavior in a statement circulated on social media around noon on Thursday. She criticized the IHOPKC investigation for misrepresenting her words.

TH's statement was supported with alleged text message exchange with the Lathrop GPM attorney who conducted the investigation.

In her report, the Lathrop lawyer appears to have allowed the woman’s ex-husband to speak on her behalf. The man was banned from IHOPKC’s premises because of his own sexual assault allegations, only days prior to the findings’ publication.

“To seek out and give credence to [her ex-husband’s] claims was extremely negligent and resulted in an audacious misrepresentation of the truth,” TH wrote.

Both women recounted how Bickle used the prediction of his wife’s death as a pretext for romantic relationships.

Former members of Bickle’s inner circle, who made clergy sexual abuse allegations public in October, stressed Bickle’s predictions regarding his wife’s death as a recurring theme that lent credibility to the accounts.

The allegations against Bickle surfaced at the same time as other reports of widespread sexual and psychological abuse within the IHOPKC organization.

IHOPKC has rebuffed calls for an independent inquiry, agreed upon by its leadership and alleged survivors and their advocates, to examine the entire organization, not just Bickle.

The new accusations surfaced as Eric Volz, IHOPKC’s former crisis manager, prematurely declared the crisis resolved and began erasing IHOPKC-related content from his social media accounts.

For 25 years, Bickle and IHOPKC have led a global worship and prayer movement, captivating millions worldwide with the promise of actively participating in ushering in Christ’s second coming.

Lathrop GPM's investigation recognized only a couple of allegations against Bickle as credible and stated that they involved adult relationships from two decades ago.

The report, authored by Lathrop Partner Rosalee M. McNamara, lacks definitions, seemingly key exhibits, and essential explanations of why some information was deemed credible and other information wasn’t.

In one section, the report differentiates between Bickle’s alleged victims and women who objected to being labeled as Bickle’s victims, referencing them as “Jane Does” and “Not ever Jane Does.”

In later sections, the report indiscriminately refers to any interviewed woman as “Jane Doe.”

The presentation of the report seems designed to obscure the entire investigative process and render the findings meaningless.

McNamara has not responded to requests for clarification regarding her report.

This week, outrage over the document erupted in a spectacular fashion within a 24-hour period.

‘THIS IS MY STORY’

Tammy Woods, a Michigan woman, has ended decades of silence with allegations that she was sexually abused by Mike Bickle in the early 1980s while she was babysitting his young children in St. Louis. This occurred before Bickle relocated to Kansas City to establish the globally recognized prayer ministry, IHOPKC, in 1999, as detailed in the Kansas City Star on Wednesday.

The Star's extensively reported story revealed a pattern of abuse occurring in various locations, including Bickle's car, Woods' home, the church, and his office, involving sexual contact but not intercourse.

Woods recounted to the Star how she had cared for Bickle’s two children and that he thought his wife would die early and said that Woods would then become their mother.

For more than forty years, Woods remained silent about her ordeal. However, spurred by the public allegations made by another woman known as Jane Doe last year, Woods felt compelled to come forward. She expressed to the Star her hope that her disclosure would empower others to reclaim their narratives from Bickle’s influence.

In a statement that has since been widely shared on social media, Woods declared, "This is my story. It really happened. I’m not Jane Doe, I’m Tammy, and you did this."

Bickle has not responded to requests for comment on these allegations. IHOPKC's attorney, Audrey Manito, indicated that the organization had only recently become aware of Woods' claims, stressing the gravity of the allegations, particularly as they involve a minor.

Friends and family supported Woods' account, noting a significant change in her behavior and the inappropriate nature of Bickle's relationship with her, according to the Star.

The Star's article also pointed out criticisms of the investigation conducted by Lathrop for lacking independence and underscored the demand for a genuinely impartial third-party investigation into the allegations against Bickle and the broader IHOPKC organization.

‘INSUFFICIENT AND WOEFULLY MISLEADING’

A statement released on Thursday by another woman detailed how Bickle allegedly used a prophecy about his wife's death to entice her into a romantic relationship.

The woman identified herself by the initials TH to avoid any confusion over her story and the stories of other women referred to as “Jane Does.”

"In 1983, Mike explicitly told me of a prophecy regarding the death of his wife, Diane," the statement read. "He believed Diane's death would occur in an earthquake in Saint Louis, implying that her death would pave the way for us to pursue a romantic relationship together."

The statement does not elaborate on whether a relationship with Bickle ensued.

TH said she disclosed her experience to a group of Bickle's former associates, who brought forth allegations against Bickle in October. This group is now known as the "Advocate Group."

TH criticized the Lathrop report for not accurately reflecting the gravity and nature of Bickle's actions, labeling it "insufficient and woefully misleading."

TH took issue with a statement in the report discounting her readiness to participate in an investigation and an assertion about her unwillingness to appear on a list of women who allegedly experienced Bickle’s predatory behavior.

TH was especially disturbed that McNamara attributed statements to her that were made by her ex-husband.

"The words of my ex-husband, who was recently banned from the IHOPKC premises due to his own sexual misconduct allegations, do not represent my experience," she said.

In January, IHOPKC banned a prominent figure in the organization from its grounds following sexual misconduct allegations.

Michelle Seidler, a former IHOPKC leader, shared evidence on Facebook supporting sexual assault claims against the man, including an allegation of rape.

Seidler also apparently obtained a video that the man made of himself showing off his bedroom in attempt to solicit sex from an unknown woman. In the video, the man offered money to "bless" the woman. He denied being a "sex fiend," but acknowledged his strong desire for intimacy.

TH says McNamara referenced her story in the report when McNamara wrote: "My understanding is that this woman does not wish to be on any list. The only evidence suggests this may have occurred over twenty years ago. Her ex-husband revealed how upset his ex-wife was at being listed, insisting she would have spoken up if there had been any relationship or similar situation."

It is the only instance in the report where McNamara appears to rely on interview of a woman’s ex-husband.

TH also shared a text message exchange along with her statement, allegedly between herself and McNamara, to challenge the claim that she refused to share her story.

McNamara did not respond to email requesting that she verify the authenticity of the exchange.

In the text exchange, a message from TH read: "When IHOPKC and the Advocacy Group agree on a neutral [third party] to conduct the investigation, I will be happy to share my story."

A person identified as "Rosie" responded: "Is it possible to speak briefly for me to explain why I truly am a neutral third party?"

TH declined further discussion: "No thanks — I am not the one who needs to determine that."

AN APOLOGY MET WITH DOUBT

The disclosure Woods and TH’s stories after Lathrop's findings suggest a potential catalyst effect that will continue to prompt more survivors to come forward.

Woods' decision to break her years of silence, driven by the unfolding events and her desire to support other victims, illustrates the complex emotional and psychological dynamics at play in the IHOPKC crisis.

Similarly, TH's decision to clarify her identity by using her initials in sharing her story reflects a commitment to truth and the pursuit of justice, not only for herself but also for others.

The concerns raised by both women, and echoed by critics of McNamara's report, raise questions about the integrity of the information McNamara relied on and the ability of internal or semi-internal investigations to deliver justice and transparency.

McNamara noted in her report that she was never allowed to interview Bickle directly.

Instead, she submitted questions that Bickle answered in writing. However, this correspondence was not included as an exhibit in the Lathrop report. Instead, a protest statement from the “Never Jane Does” criticizing the Advocate Group was attached.

McNamara has not responded to inquiries about her reasons for withholding the Bickle Q&A — a critical piece of correspondence with the central subject of the investigation.

McNamara has also not responded to a request for a copy of the exchange with Bickle.

In a late Thursday statement, IHOPKC’s leadership apologized for their communication throughout the ordeal.

“Many in our community have been pained by our communications regarding these allegations,” the statement read. “We are sorry we fell short in this area and left you feeling unseen, unheard, and unappreciated … Words are insufficient to communicate the pain and anguish many have borne in this and prior seasons as a result of Mike Bickle’s wrongdoings.”

Social media commenters expressed cautious appreciation for the apology. However, they emphasized the ongoing demand for IHOPKC to engage an unequivocally neutral third party for a comprehensive investigation, extending beyond Bickle to the entire organization.

Until then, they said, the sincerity of the apology remains in doubt.