IHOPKC, IHOP University Closing After Clergy Sexual Abuse Allegations

International House of Prayer Kansas City, a charismatic church, and its unaccredited International House of Prayer University, are closing after numerous allegations of sexual abuse over decades against IHOPKC founder and until recently pastor Mike Bickle. They intend to start a new organization…

BREAKING: Embattled IHOPKC to Close, Start New Organization to Limit Liability (Rebecca Hopkins, The Roys Report, April 16, 2024)

 

That's funny, Steve. No doubt of that. But this other IHOP -- just isn't. I hope the plaintiffs get the full awards they are asking for and all help towards recovery they need. I'd like to see the place burned to the ground, but that's not likely.

It practically sends me into orbit to think of these "Churchmen" scuttling around to conceal their assets and "hide in plain sight" like the late Osama bin Ladin. I trust Mr. Tchividjian and his team will forestall that. Some may think I'm rushing to judgement on this - but to me, their attempts at asset protection telegraph their guilt-driven fear.

Yeah -- I guess they should be scared.

 

I've been following this story for a long time, and it is a slow-motion trainwreck. For the uninitiated, there is a significant and sometimes heated divide within evangelicalism as it relates to charismatism and its associated phenomena. Bickle and IHOP represent some of the most extreme proponents of charismatism, and it's a movement that has become rather well-known for its scandals (e.g., the Vineyard saga). A sub-genre of this movement is prosperity theology, and the two are often indiscernible.

 

"Whenever I’ve eaten at IHOP, I never really feel like hopping. ICanBarelyMove feels more appropriate." -- Jim Gaffigan

 

Yep. It was the first thing I thought of.

 

The church conducts prayer and worship 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so the association was probably intentional.

 

Good man.