The Wall of Silence Podcast

A note from Chris:

I approached ACNAtoo about a year ago with the idea of doing a podcast series for my former podcast, Tent Talks, as a way to help them tell their story. I soon realized, as Tent Talks was coming to an end, that only a handful of episodes would not do the story justice, and creating a new, stand-alone podcast was necessary.

My reasons for doing this project are twofold: First, I believe their requests for reform and accountability within the ACNA regarding church abuse and mishandling are reasonable and absolutely necessary. Their accounts of abuse are extensively researched and fact-checked and whatever they release they do it with extreme care. And therefore secondly, I wanted to help them find a way to tell their story in another medium, one where people can hear it in their own voices. In the larger Anglican culture, I have continually seen their accounts ignored, derided, and demonized. As a priest in the ACNA, this podcast is my humble and considered attempt to get both leaders and lay people to invite ACNAtoo to the table. Listen to them, work with them, learn from them.

To be clear: This podcast was my idea. I’m not in ACNAtoo, but I did approach them about it and they have been working with me on it for over a year. Finally, I’m doing this because, as a priest, I believe it’s time for leaders in the ACNA to take responsibility for how our churches operate and how we treat the victims of abuse. I’m hoping and praying we can be humble enough and broken enough to work toward seeing actual changes made. And if that’s not possible, then this podcast will still exist as a testament to why that process broke down. May we weep and wail and tremble for “how we have broken faith with our God,” but even now there is hope for us “in spite of this.” (Nehemiah 10:2)