Disproportionate Fear of False Accusations and the Faith Crisis Behind It
Unveiling a disturbing pattern and hoping for a better way..
Among many Christian male pastors today, there is a pervasive and often disproportionate fear of being falsely accused of sexual misconduct. While false accusations do occur, the data consistently show they are exceedingly rare - especially in comparison to the overwhelming number of real incidents of abuse, many of which go unreported.
Research consistently estimates that only 2–8% of sexual assault reports are false. Even those numbers may be high due to poor definitions and flawed methodologies. In fact, according to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC):
"No one can know exactly how many reports are false, but the best estimates narrow to 2–8% when using rigorous criteria and validated methods."
And in church-based abuse cases, false reports are even rarer—largely because survivors risk so much to come forward.
“Exact numbers in church sexual abuse cases are nearly impossible due to underreporting, often caused by shame, fear, and institutional minimization.”
So the highest possible percentage of false accusations are 8%. But even this is a highly inflated possibility. “It’s estimated that 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 7 boys are sexually abused by the time they are 18, but it’s estimated that only 12% of child sexual abuse is ever reported to the authorities. In the context of clergy abuse, the reporting rates are even more concerning. For instance, a comprehensive study by the John Jay College found that police were contacted in only 5.7% of incidents involving clergy abuse.
Even with this data reflecting the reality of abuse disclosures many male pastors I know are terrified of a false accusation, insisting that false accusations are the real problem.
Recently, I stood with a victim of clergy sexual abuse who named her abuser (Reggie Joiner) and shared her own heartbreaking story of abuse.
In that telling she also named another leader (a very influential one - Andy Stanley) who she believed knew enough to do something to stop the abuse but chose not to. He got really upset. I mean, really, really upset. He made a video (three days after the statement) explaining how he didn’t know, did everything he could, and how I was the real problem anyway. His anger was directed at me for ‘not giving him a heads up’ and for not correcting the narrative that he insisted was ‘wrong’ in spite of the victim standing firm about her experience and the details of her account.
The only way I can describe his posture was panic. The thing that was most troubling to me was the placement of his fear. It didn’t seem to be a genuine fear of having ‘missed something’ that seems so obvious in hindsight. It wasn’t at all remorseful, it didn’t even have a hint of regret that he could have stopped not just this instance of abuse but the many more abuses that were to follow. He wasn’t even kicking himself for not taking the lead on the discovery process of uncovering the abuse since the disclosures about Reggie Joiner (his friend and founding pastor of his church) had been out for an entire year! His fear was firmly rooted in the ‘false accusation’. He needed everyone (and I mean everyone - his church released the video he made in his own defence to YouTube via Julie Roys) to know he was completely innocent, noble even, in his attempt to deal with the situation at the time. At one point I asked him if he could go back, knowing what he knows now, would he do anything different? He said he couldn't think of one thing. “I did everything right”.
I’m not going to unpack all the details here (at least yet… I’m still working some things out) but even on a general overview of the facts it’s pretty obvious there were many things that could have been done differently - especially in hindsight! Who of us wouldn’t want to do something different if we could have stopped abuse?! But it’s possible his fear-fuelled outrage that people might get the impression that he had done something (or in this case had not done something) about the abuse, triggered a panicked position. It was both a fascinating and troubling response to the victim’s disclosure. And this surprised me. But I don’t know why.
This reflects the reality that I’ve seen in many leadership circles, that the fear of a false accusation looms larger than the commitment to truth-telling, justice, and protection of the vulnerable. This reveals more than just a cautionary instinct - it exposes a deeper spiritual crisis.
At its core, this fear reflects a faith deficiency; a mistrust not only of people, and of women specifically, but ultimately of God. When pastors orient their leadership around self-preservation, suspicion, and defensive postures, they betray the very gospel they proclaim. The Jesus of the Gospels did not guard his reputation; he emptied himself (Philippians 2:7), entrusted himself to the One who judges justly (1 Peter 2:23), and chose proximity to the powerless over alignment with institutional safety. Fear that overwhelms compassion, and concern for image that outweighs concern for victims, is not faith - it is idolatry.
This fear also exposes a misunderstanding of power. Many male pastors have been discipled into leadership models shaped more by cultural masculinity and institutional dominance than by the servant-leadership of Christ. When power becomes a possession to defend, rather than a gift to steward for others’ flourishing, fear of losing it breeds paranoia. In this framework, even the smallest challenge, like an accusation or accountability process, feels like an existential threat, rather than a holy opportunity for humility, healing, or truth.
This patriarchal norm has insisted that male leaders view women through the lens of fear: they are either a threat or a temptation. This deep fear has malformed leadership practise in Christian structures and are perpetuated through misguided theologies of inequity as God’s design.
In the worst cases, the disproportionate fear of false accusation often functions as a theological smokescreen. It distracts from the far more pressing reality: the deep, systemic patterns of abuse and silence in the church. Instead of confronting these sins and listening to survivors, the narrative shifts to protect the shepherd rather than the sheep. This inversion is anti-gospel. Jesus’ parable of the good shepherd says the true leader lays down his life for the sheep—not that he builds fences of suspicion to shield himself from risk (John 10:11–13).
Ultimately, when pastors live in fear of false accusation more than in fear of God, we see the erosion of courage, compassion, and trust. The fear becomes not a reflection of actual threat, but a window into a leadership culture built on control rather than cross-bearing, on image rather than integrity, and on institutional loyalty rather than kingdom truth. Faith that is rooted in the character of Christ does not flinch at the possibility of suffering for doing good (1 Peter 3:14). It trusts that even if reputation is lost, God is still faithful.
The story is ongoing. Since that victim disclosed her own story and statement publicly, many more victims have come forward. Many instances of abuse that were ignored, side-lined, covered-up, and seemingly buried are surfacing. This is no doubt what some leaders are afraid of - but, as disrupting as it is, I’m convinced this is for our healing - all of us. This is Holy work that will cleanse and heal and equip the church to be a reflection of Jesus in our time. At least that’s what I’m praying for!
SPECIAL NOTE:
If you haven’t had a chance to listen to All The Buried Women podcast by
and it will be a very helpful way to catch up on some of the systemic issues that perpetuate abuse in the church.Also… If you or someone you know has experienced clergy sexual abuse or you want to find more information here are some links to places that might be helpful as you navigate your way to healing and hope.
Survivor Community and Recovery:
https://www.restoredvoicescollective.com
https://www.brokentobeloved.org
What is Clergy Sexual Abuse?
https://clergysexualmisconduct.com
https://abuseresponseandprevention.ca/clergy-sexual-misconduct/what-is-clergy-sexual-misconduct/
What to do about it?
PRAY WITH US
UNTIL EVERY WOMAN IS HEARD: Also, if you are disturbed about the prevalence of abuse in the church and the failure of leaders to do what’s necessary to stop it join me every Thursday as we PRAY for women around the world who are silenced.
Stay tuned for part two of this article series: DARVO - the horrible game plan that leaders use to avoid accountability. DARVO is the strategy most commonly used by churches, non-profits and leaders to deflect, distract and deny the so called ‘false accusations’ of clergy sexual abuse in order to silence victims and protect perpetrators. It’s an old but tragically still effective strategy that I pray we will start to recognize, reject and refuse.