Thank you for taking the time to hear our stories. Here are a few answers to questions you may have. For the most up-to-date information, please follow us on social media.
For any additional questions or press inquiries, please get in touch with us at healingafteralanscott@gmail.com.
What happened?
As a quick overview, tracing back to Alan Scott’s first church in 1996, stories and official third-party reports of unaccountable “duplicitous” and “manipulative” leadership tactics, narcissistic tendencies, and harsh disciplinary procedures follow him across three countries and multiple decades. As a short overview, here are two main themes:
Spiritual abuse and manipulation
Rejection of accountability
See our post on social media titled “What Happened and Why We’re Hurt” for more details.
Have there been any third-party investigations?
Not at Dwelling Place Anaheim, but through Causeway Coast Vineyard and Vineyard Churches UK & Ireland (Alan’s church in the UK). Review the findings here.
Who are you?
We are a group of Alan’s previous congregants, volunteers, staff, and peers who believe a focused effort to gather and amplify the victims’ voices is necessary to hold Alan accountable, support full healing, and educate congregants on spiritual abuse.
Is this a Vineyard USA project?
While some members of this project attend Vineyard churches or are Vineyard leaders, this is not a Vineyard USA project.
Can I share my story?
We’d love to provide a space for you. Please fill out the form here.
Is what you’re doing biblically right?
Here we describe the biblical steps we’ve taken to hold spiritual leaders accountable.
What are your goals?
To bring Alan’s history of abusive leadership into the light
Provide space for the victims
Warn current congregations about the damage that Alan’s leadership produce
Who is all of this for?
While we acknowledge our stories are relevant to the broader Church, our primary audience is those connected to Alan’s general sphere of influence.
This includes:
Current attendees
The leadership of DPA, including Jeremy and Katie Riddle and Banning Liebshcher, but also the broader network of pastors and leaders who collaborate with Alan in some shape or form
As articulated by VUSA in their July 3, 2023 statement, “It is essential that current and former board of DPA and others who have lent their credibility to Alan Scott make every effort to call him to account, as well as clarify for the wider church where they stand on these matters”
Who are the victims?
The victims are predominantly:
Former staff members of churches led by Alan Scott
Lay leaders who held significant positions of leadership
Why are you sharing this so publicly?
See our social media post titled “Why We’re Sharing” for more information.
In summary:
We Were Told To Remain Silent
We Can No Longer Blame Ourselves
To Continue Healing
To Hold Alan Accountable
Who is responsible for Alan’s actions?
The Dwelling Place Anaheim board. Although DPA has not publicly disclosed the members of their board, sources have suggested the following individuals are current and former board members:
Current Board Members
Alan Scott
Greg Scherer (HR Volunteer at DPA)
Banning Liebscher (Jesus Culture)
Jeremy Riddle (DPA Staff)
Former Board Members
Pete Grieg (24-7 Prayer)
Julian Adams (The Table Boston Church, Prophet)
Katie Riddle (DPA Staff)
Kathryn Scott (DPA Staff, Alan’s Wife)
What is spiritual abuse?
“Spiritual abuse is a form of emotional and psychological abuse. It is characterized by a systematic pattern of coercive and controlling behavior in a religious context. Spiritual abuse can have a deeply damaging impact on those who experience it. This abuse may include: manipulation and exploitation, enforced accountability, censorship of decision-making, requirements for secrecy and silence, coercion to conform, [inability to ask questions] control through the use of sacred texts or teaching, requirement of obedience to the abuser, the suggestion that the abuser has a ‘divine’ position, isolation as a means of punishment, and superiority and elitism.”
“From Escaping the Maze of Spiritual Abuse: Creating Healthy Christian Cultures” by Dr. Lisa Oakley and Justin Humphreys