The following is a summary of a situation that occurred at the Immanuel Reformed Presbyterian Church in West Lafayette, IN. It has been said that more than thirty elders from the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America (RPCNA) have contributed more than ten thousand hours on this matter. Comprehensive details of the situation are likely not available to the public but included below is what can be drawn out of the public records available under the documentation page.
According to public records available through Tippecanoe Superior Court, a minor in the IRPC congregation abused at least 15 victims beginning as early as 2015 and possibly lasting until January of 2021. The offender was adjudicated on seven counts of level 3 and level 4 felonies. According to an investigative report in the Indianapolis Star, the offender was related to the pastor of the congregation, Jared Olivetti.
In the fall of 2019, Pastor Olivetti learned the offender had inappropriately behaved toward a member of the congregation propositioning and touching the chest. Previous instances with another child at the church were already known by Pastor Olivetti. The fall incident was not reported to the Department of Child Services or the other leadership of the congregation, and Pastor Olivetti failed to make sure there were adequate rules to protect other children. The offender’s abusive behavior continued and increased after this time.
In March of 2020 the leadership of the IRPC adopted a Child Protection Policy for the church. Within weeks that policy had to be acted on. In April of 2020 it was reported to the leadership that there was sexual abuse within the congregation different from what Pastor Olivetti knew about in the fall of 2019. The other leaders at that time were Zachary Blackwood, David Carr, Ben Larson, Keith Magill, and Nate Pfeiffer.
The family of the offender made a safety plan for inside and outside of the church. The leaders were responsible for helping implement the whole plan, and to ensure accountability. It was publicly claimed that this safety plan was approved by DCS. But the safety plan was not carried out as it was written, and the leadership of IRPC did not enforce it. The offender continued to abuse minors.
The session appointed N. Pfeiffer and Z. Blackwood to serve as investigators according to the Child Protection Policy. In their investigation they learned that the offender had acted inappropriately toward other minors in the congregation, and they withheld knowledge of sexual interaction from the parents of minor(s) involved.
In July of 2020 concerns were raised with the IRPC elders by the leaders at Faith Baptist Counseling in Lafayette. These concerns were made known after Pastor Josh Greiner had a discussion with Pastor Olivetti that gave good reason to think there was concealment and coverup. These concerns were mostly ignored and the elders blamed the concerns on a misunderstanding of Presbyterianism.
At this time Pastor Olivetti had Professor Keith Evans interact with the leaders of Faith to try and give them assurances of the way the situation was being handled and of cooperation with DCS. Professor Evans sought to defend Pastor Olivetti only to learn later that Pastor Olivetti had let him enter that discussion with incomplete information which served to advantage the pastor. The pastor was not as cooperative with DCS as Professors Evans was led to believe.
The IRPC session decided to get the Great Lakes Gulf Presbytery (GLG) involved. As Presbytery was not meeting an Ad Interim Commission (AIC) was appointed to deal with Presbytery-related business. The IRPC session (with one elder from another congregation) were serving as the AIC. On July 26th the AIC authorized the formation of a three-man committee to advise the session. Pastor Olivetti served as the moderator of this meeting despite his conflict of interest. The makeup and job description of that committee were to be determined by the IRPC session in a meeting that Pastor Olivetti also moderated. This committee became known as the Advisory Committee. The minutes from this meeting of the AIC, and the existence of the Advisory Committee, were not made known to the GLG until September 7, 2021 which was a day after the IRPC session disclosed knowledge of sexual abuse to the congregation.
On July 30th, IRPC had a joint-youth group pool party with the Lafayette Reformed Presbyterian Church (RPCL). The offender was allowed to attend the party even though there was less-than-sufficient adult supervision. The only adult present who had knowledge of the situation was Z. Blackwood, and the offender was not under his constant observation during the duration of the party.
In August the session’s investigators, N. Pfeiffer and Z. Blackwood, reported to the rest of the leadership their findings from the investigation. At this time the whole session was informed of known instances of sexual abuse and/or sexual behavior, even that which was withheld from parents of those involved. Not a single elder communicated with those parents, leaving them ignorant of what had happened to their child. Near the end of August more sexual abuse was discovered. The session decided not to investigate the abuse as required by the Child Protection Policy.
At this time the whole session was informed of known instances of sexual abuse and/or sexual behavior, even that which was withheld from parents of those involved.
In early-September the Advisory Committee met with elders Z. Blackwood, D. Carr, B. Larson, K. Magill, and N. Pfeiffer. Together they worked on recommendations to help ensure an adequate response to the sexual abuse. The elders presented these recommendations to Pastor Olivetti who rejected the recommendations and ultimately determined a different path forward. He threatened that if his alternative path forward wasn’t followed he may need to find a strategy to exit the congregation. From that point on the relationship between the IRPC leadership and their appointed Advisory Committee changed. In their report to the Presbytery, the Advisory Committee said, “Regretfully, not all of our recommendations were followed by the IRPC session, including some of what we believe to be our most important words of counsel.”
It wasn’t until September 6th that the leadership of IRPC disclosed to the congregation that there was known sexual abuse within the congregation. This was nearly five months after they had learned of the presence of serious sexual sin. The letter that made this announcement misinformed the congregation about what had been reported, safety plans, and the full cooperation of all parties. The abuse discovered in August had not even been reported to DCS at the time the letter was delivered to the congregation despite the letter’s claim that “that civil authorities have been notified.”
At this same time the elders decided to permit the offender access to the youth group. In making this decision they decided not to inform youth group parents that a known sexual abuser, who had committed sexual sin at youth group, was participating with other children. Pastor Olivetti did inform the youth group leaders but parents were denied knowledge of this information. A youth group safety plan was written by the leadership, and any concerns about the safety were to be addressed only with the leadership of IRPC.
Similar to communications from FBC in July, concerns continued to be raised with IRPC leadership about Pastor Olivetti’s qualifications in light of his knowledge and response to the sexual abuse, his need for a leave of absence, the neglect and care for victims and their families, and the session’s decision to not inform youth group parents of a present threat. Most of these concerns were either ignored or denied. However, in September a sub-committee consisting of member(s) from among the session, the Advisory Committee, and a biblical counselor was formed to consider more in-depth the adequacy of Pastor Olivetti’s response.
In October the session sent a second letter to the congregation. Like the first letter in September, this letter further misled the congregation especially regarding active measures and safety plans being implemented and supported.
In November the Advisory Committee of the GLG expressed concerns to the leadership about how they were responding, namely due to a lack of safety plans and allowing bias to negatively impact their judgment. Also in November the sub-committee determined that Pastor Olivetti had hindered a full confession of sin on the part of the offender.
Several families who had more knowledge of the situation and a biblical counselor who had been involved since April, were increasingly concerned about Pastor Olivetti’s involvement, the session’s response, the presence of danger in the youth group, withholding and concealing information, and the neglect of victims and their families. These concerns continued to be denied or ignored by the leadership. Some of the concerned sent a petition to GLG asking that a commission be established who could authoritatively deal with the situation. This request was in keeping with the rights that any member of the church has. The GLG established a 5-man judicial commission to investigate and interact with the leadership of the congregation and present recommendations to the full-Presbytery in March 2021. This commission became known as the Immanuel Judicial Commission (IJC).
On December 19th the session (after eight months) officially approved a safety plan for the offender in the church despite previous assurances that there was a safety plan already in place. On that same day, a church-wide email was sent out by concerned persons regarding the insufficiency of the leadership’s actions and the active threat of sexual abuse within the congregation and youth group. In the following days it also became known to some that the leadership had intentionally withheld knowledge of sexual interactions between the offender and a child from the child’s parents.
On January 2, 2021 the leadership of IRPC held a “family meeting.” The identity of the offender was disclosed to the congregation. The leadership also presented an overview of the timeline of events. They made acknowledgement of their shortcomings and/or sin as leadership in the way they responded to the situation. In this meeting, however, they further misled the congregation on a number of points including minimizing the incident from the fall of 2019, claiming involved-parties were recused from discussions and decisions, inaccurately reported on reasons why a deacon had resigned, communicated that the offender was under direct oversight at church and church events beginning in April, stated that there were only 5 victims in the congregation, said that they ensured DCS reporting occurred immediately, that the offender’s family safety plan was put into place, and inaccurate statements about the counsel of the Advisory Committee.
In mid-January 2021, more abuse committed by the offender was disclosed to the leadership of the congregation. Beginning on January 18th, Pastor Olivetti was given a three-month sabbatical because, according to the leadership, he had particular ministry burdens including receiving 63 new members, overseeing the acquisition of a new building, and navigating the COVID pandemic. At this time RPCL indefinitely paused their joint youth group with IRPC.
From January until March the IJC did extensive work in meeting with and interviewing concerned parties. The IJC included a former police officer and investigator, an experienced biblical counselor, an attorney for DCS, and two pastors. The IJC reported to GLG in March. In their report they informed the Presbytery that they had observed a pattern of violations against the law of God including: undue influence, conflict of interest, lack of care and urgency, and a lack of proactive child protection. Of all the harm done in the whole of the situation they concluded, “An unexpected source of harm has come through the various mishandling of the Session.”
The GLG took up several recommendations from the IJC. By margins of at least 2-to-1 special prosecution was appointed by the Presbytery to prepare charges against N. Pfeiffer, K. Magill, D. Carr, and B. Larson. By a vote of 28-11 it was adopted to appoint special prosecutors against Pastor Olivetti.
The GLG minutes indicate that at this meeting “Ben Larson read a public confession of sin before the court, to which the moderator expressed his thanks.” It is reported elsewhere that in this statement he acknowledged undue and improper influence and conflicts of interest, and he said deference was shown to the interests of the offender while disadvantaging certain victims. He also said there was a lack of urgency by the leadership, and all of this contributed to disunity in the church and distrust of the session, and some victims’ families felt abandoned and betrayed and were actually injured by the session’s response. After B. Larson read his statement the GLG still voted to move forward with special prosecution as he refused to resign his charge. As later reported, Z. Blackwood resigned his charge as an expression of repentance given the serious nature of his sin.
A further action was taken by the GLG authorizing the AIC, in consultation with victims, to appoint a three-man shepherding committee to help the elders of IRPC follow through with steps of repentance as outlined in the report. The steps adopted by the GLG included the resignation of each elder from their charge acknowledging the gravity of their sins. This committee became known as the Shepherding Committee. The committee did not guide the elders through the adopted process of repentance. The Shepherding Committee was also made up of provisional elders at IRPC.
The special prosecutors were hindered from bringing charges. On April 1, 2021 the GLG AIC was informed that the IRPC congregation had decided to petition the GLG at a congregational meeting on March 26th. The petition read, “The congregation of IRPC is concerned that, while a trial may or may not be necessary for the good of the RPCNA, it may hinder rather help repentance, reconciliation and growth in our leaders, our congregation and our presbytery. Therefore, we humbly petition presbytery to delay the filing of charges or starting of any activity related to a trial and instead give time for repentance and its fruits to appear by the work of the Spirit in our hearts.” This petition was sent with the help of member(s) of the Shepherding Committee prior to the committee’s interactions with the elders about the adopted plan of repentance. The AIC decided not to decline the petition but requested the petitioners specify a time period for the delay. On May 6, 2021 due to a complaint filed by Pastor James Faris, the GLG AIC decided to put a stay on the work of the special prosecution.
In all, three complaints were filed with GLG for June’s meeting of Synod. The first was filed by Pastors James Faris, Rich Holdeman, Joel Hart, and David Hanson. Their complaint alleged that the recommendations brought by the IJC were out of order, and they criticized the IJC’s “victim centered” approach to their investigation. They also noted that one of the elders was a family member of a victim. A second complaint was filed by Adam and Kimiko Soldati. They too took issue with the “victim centered” approach of the IJC, claimed incongruities in the IJC’s report, and alleged harm by the commission toward the congregation. The third complaint was filed by more than 50-members of IRPC alleging that members of the IJC had a conflict of interest because they volunteered to serve, the GLG was unduly harsh with a focus on punishment, and that the GLG had a “lack of care for the entirety of the congregation.”
In response to these complaints, the Synod of the RPCNA meeting in June appointed a 5-man judicial committee to bring recommendation(s) to the same meeting of Synod on how to deal with the complaints. The committee commended the hard work of the IJC and their “excellent investigative work.” The committee reported that they did “believe the judicial process should proceed,” but due to the distrust of the congregation the GLG special prosecutors be replaced. The final recommendation that was adopted was to the end that Synod assume jurisdiction, and the moderator of Synod appoint a 7-man judicial commission to “address this matter.”
In July of 2021 the Moderator of Synod appointed this commission known as the Synod Judicial Commission (SJC). The SJC determined that they would appoint 4 pastors to serve as investigators who would investigate the response of the leadership of IRPC to the sexual abuse situation. They were then to report to the SJC and, if necessary, present charges of sin that could be dealt with by the SJC according to the Book of Discipline.
In October the leadership of IRPC and the GLG received legal notice claiming that IRPC was financially liable for damages done. The letter, from well-known attorney and abuse advocate Boz Tchividjian, requested that the leadership of IRPC resolve the matter short of formal litigation through pre-suit negotiations. No lawsuit was ever filed and pre-suit negotiations (with an NDA) were accomplished in March of 2022.
In November of 2021, after three months of investigation, the SJC’s investigative committee concluded that charges of sin needed to be brought against the leadership of IRPC. Pastor Olivetti was charged with violating the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th commandments of God, and the other leadership were charged as well. There is not a public record of the charges against the other elders given the final disposition of the case. The charges brought alleged that the sins of the leadership had compromised qualifications for the eldership including not being above reproach and not having a good reputation.
By late-November the IRPC leadership had selected ecclesiastical counsel to represent them in the judicial process. This counsel included Pastor James Faris, together with RPCNA members and/or elders who are also attorneys, Andrew Falk, Justin Olson, and John Westercamp. On November 27th the defendant’s counselors wrote a letter to the IRPC congregation assuring them of their desire to see “redemption over retribution,” and stating that the defendants would defend themselves and the honor of God. They also filed a motion to dismiss with the SJC. The motion was not granted.
In early-December the sexual abuse situation became the subject of an investigative report by the Indianapolis Star. The report concluded that the leadership had failed to act with urgency in responding to inappropriate behavior and sexual offenses. They also concluded that Pastor Olivetti had a conflict of interest even though he remained active as a pastor in the situation, and that the timeline of abuse though slightly unclear may have continued into January 2021.
In December the SJC dropped charges against Z. Blackwood and N. Pfeiffer. This was because neither was serving any longer as an elder. Z. Blackwood had resigned his charge in March due to the seriousness of his acknowledged sin, and N. Pfeiffer had resigned his ordination as an elder, though he did not do this as an act of repentance. The SJC also directed the ecclesiastical prosecutors and defendants to meet for a process of mediation. While the ecclesiastical prosecutors were more than willing to do this, the request of the SJC and their proposed framework continued to be ignored by the defendants. By early January all of the defense counselors had withdrawn their participation in the proceedings.
In January of 2022 the SJC, in keeping with the Book of Discipline, required Pastor Olivetti to refrain from the exercise of office until the charges brought were adjudicated. J. Faris and J. Olson informed the SJC on January 14th that they had withdrawn as counsel and gave no rationale. On January 15th, Pastor Olivetti and the remaining elders, D. Carr, B. Larson, and K. Magill, resigned their charges from IRPC. The SJC continued with the judicial process, and planned trials (one for Pastor Olivetti and another for the ruling elders) were scheduled for March.
The GLG met for the spring meeting in early-March. At that meeting the GLG established a committee to “investigate concerns of possible slander or libel against Immanuel RPC and its elders, including through the participation of RPCNA members, in recent media reports and make recommendations to presbytery.” That committee delivered a report to the GLG in May of 2022. The committee suggested that while media reports may have been inaccurate and motives for going to the media may not have been pure, nevertheless “the sins of IRPC and this court in failing to exercise discipline of our own members was the occasion for these reports.” They, therefore, recommended, in part, that “the presbytery [advise] those who believe they are slandered to consider the possibility that God intends them to receive these damages to their good name as his loving correction.”
At this same meeting Pastor Faris brought a recommendation to the GLG to realign the Presbytery and divide into two presbyteries. His rationale was because of “recent events.” He wrote, “it seems wise to divide ourselves in such a way as to allow brothers to labor together who are like-minded in philosophies of administration.” In his proposal, there would be an Illinois-Indiana Presbytery which would align his own congregation with others including IRPC, Southside RPC, Bloomington RPC, and Columbus RPC. The GLG did not decide to divide the presbytery as recommended by Pastor Faris.
Also at the GLG meeting in March, the Bloomington RPC session asked the GLG to appeal to Synod to critically review the work of the SJC. It was their belief that the SJC had done things to question their integrity, even though the SJC (to this point) hadn’t even acted on the charges of sin. They also asked that the GLG “join together in repentance for the spirit with which we have conducted the work of the church,” alleging that the Presbytery’s approach to IRPC had not displayed the gospel of grace or the heart of a pastor. Ultimately, the GLG did not act on the session’s requests. Within a few weeks the Bloomington session had to publicly issue corrections to this communication as they falsely represented a number of facts, threatening hurt to the reputation of those they wrote against.
On March 7, 2022 the trial of Jared Olivetti commenced. The SJC permitted some portions of the trial for live-streamed viewing by RPCL and IRPC members. A significant part of the trial was conducted in executive session, the content of which was only heard by those present, and of which there is no public record to the testimony given. Presumably this was testimony containing sensitive information. Every effort was made to protect the innocent, and minors names were not permitted to be used. Attenders who were permitted to view the live-streamed portions had to sign terms and responsibilities they would commit to for the duration of the trial and until Synod had finally rendered any decisions on possible appeals.
Pastor Olivetti decided to not be present according to the requirement of his summons. The SJC issued another summons for the morning of March 8th, and informed Pastor Olivetti that the trial would proceed with or without him. Pastor Olivetti did not respond to the second summons, and the trial was conducted in his absence. While a number of witnesses testified in executive session, at least 11 people testified publicly in the trial, and the ecclesiastical prosecutors concluded their case. The SJC deliberated and on March 10, 2022, Mr. Olivetti was deposed as a pastor in the RPCNA, was suspended from the privileges of church membership, and was rebuked for failing to appear at the trial.
Following the trial of J. Olivetti, the other former elders forewent an ecclesiastical trial and pleaded guilty to the substance of the charges brought against them. They signed a mediated agreement to work through a process of reconciliation with the ecclesiastical prosecutors serving as advocates of reconciliation. As a result of their guilty plea, the SJC suspended them from the exercise of office for a minimum of one year.
In response to J. Olivetti’s trial five complaints came to the 2022 Synod of the RPCNA in June of that year. Those complaints were filed by Mr. Olivetti, Pastor James Faris, Christina Riepe, Dan Dillon, and the Bloomington RPC Session from Bloomington RPC. The SJC reported to the Synod and responded to J. Olivetti’s complaint, and also responded to the other complaints. By very wide margins none of the five complaints were sustained, and the trial of J. Olivetti with its censures were upheld by the Synod. A number of Synod delegates registered their dissents. The SJC also delivered an oral report to the Synod noting the deceptions perpetuated by the leadership as an “attempt to mislead or conceal the real ugly facts of this case.” They also highlighted J. Olivetti’s divisive spirit, “Sadly, Mr. Olivetti has pursued a course of division rather than unity.” The oral report finished saying, “It is the confirmed conclusions of this Commission that this case has been carefully investigated, adjudicated and decided.” The SJC, having “addressed this matter,” was dismissed.
Sadly, Mr. Olivetti has pursued a course of division rather than unity.
SJC to Synod
A 5-man judicial commission was established to oversee J. Olivetti and his repentance, and a 3-man judicial commission was established to oversee the ongoing process of reconciliation agreed to by the former elders and the advocates of reconciliation. A 3-man committee was also established to help facilitate a meeting between the IRPC congregation and members of the 2021 SJC, “in pursuit of the peace, purity, and unity of the church.” That meeting happened in September without discernible progress or fruit.
In July the IRPC congregation voted to explore a denominational home. According to the SJC report to Synod, as many as 50 people left in connection to the situation. Of those who remained, a narrative was built that that they, as a congregation, had been mistreated and abused. In September they voted to sever their relationship with the RPCNA. In early-October the GLG ruled that this decision was not in keeping with the law and order of the church, and the decision was annulled. In response to a complaint the GLG appointed a 5-man committee to go and meet with the leadership of IRPC to help them understand an orderly way the congregation could leave the RPCNA. This became known as the IRPC Resolution Committee. Without pursuing one of the available options, IRPC would remain a congregation in the RPCNA.
In August, Pastor James Faris (a consistent complainant and former counsel to the IRPC leadership) announced to his congregation that he was taking time off. This was because he could no longer submit to the discipline and authority of the RPCNA in part due to the decisions regarding J. Olivetti. Pastor Faris officially resigned as pastor in November, and in December requested the GLG transfer his ministerial credentials to a non-denominational congregation, Zionsville Fellowship.
In November of 2022 a case was filed in federal court regarding the liability of insurance company holding the homeowner’s policy covering the offender. The insurance company denied legal responsibility, and noted that the policy doesn’t cover intentional crimes. Multiple filings have been entered and this is an ongoing case.
IRPC chose to have an interim pastor, Mr. Daniel Perrin of the Central Indiana Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). In November, Pastor Perrin preached multiple sermons (November 27 and December 4) in which he noted the congregation’s rejection of the authority of the RPCNA. Contrary to the decision of GLG in October, Pastor Perrin advocated that IRPC was no longer in relationship with the RPCNA.
“We as a church chose to reject the authority of the Reformed Presbyterian Church that had authority over us.”
Daniel Perrin, Interim Pastor IRPC, November 27, 2022
That independent spirit was evidenced by the decision of Elders Sam Carr, Josh Karshen, and Matt Wilburn to allow J. Olivetti to participate in the Lord’s Supper. On November 18th, J. Olivetti and the IRPC session sent a letter asking the Olivetti Repentance Commission to lift J. Olivetti’s suspension from the Lord’s Table. The elders said that J. Olivetti was showing steps of repentance over the previous 18 months, and that he had been trying to “fix mistakes, and pursue righteousness.” The also indicated that the congregation had not celebrated the Lord’s Supper in over 6 months because of the “issue of withholding a repentant sinner from the table has devastated congregants,” and reasoned that restoring J. Olivetti (who was suspended) would restore the congregation (who were never suspended). The Olivetti Repentance Commission met on November 21st and took no action informing the session “We regret, however, that as a Commission we are not yet of one mind to re-admit Mr. Olivetti to the Lord’s Table.”
The session responded on November 30th accusing the RPCNA of placing them in a position where they had to sin. They wrote, “Due to the decisions of the higher courts and commissions we are now being asked to sin. We, the local elders, either defy the authority over us or we bar a repentant and Christ-pursuing man from the Table.” They asked the commission to reconsider.
The elders met with the Olivetti Repentance Commission on December 2nd, but had already decided the day before that they would serve J. Olivetti the Lord’s Supper. He participated on December 4th and told the commission, “I’m very grateful to have celebrated communion today with our congregation, under the oversight and by the invitation of my elders. I know this is not what you wanted, but I genuinely believe it is what the Lord wanted of me.”
Pastor Faris was present at the service and stood to “celebrate God’s grace in this way,” and gave greetings from others who wanted to be present for the Lord’s Supper. Then on January 11th, Pastor Faris sent an email out to those who had signed his complaint for the Synod (including ruling and teaching elders in the RPNCA), encouraging them to be present at IRPC on February 5th to celebrate the Lord’s Supper with the congregation and J. Olivetti.
On December 11th, Pastor Perrin preached to defend the leadership’s rejection of the ongoing commissions, J. Olivetti’s participation in the Lord’s Supper, and to complain about the hurtful responses they had received. Pastor Perrin said, “There are a couple of commissions from the denomination that are here to walk us through their restrictions on us, and although we have rejected them, nevertheless, they’re there and they are difficult. There’s a particular commission that is helping Jared walk through his restrictions and one of the things that they did not want was for him to be celebrating the Lord’s Table, but the session, the four of us, having talked with Jared extensively believe that he should be there, believed that it was necessary for him to be there, and so we invited him to come to the Table.” He also admitted that this decision was made in consultation with the former ruling elders (who were suspended from office) and supportive pastors in the RPCNA. With the celebration of the Lord’s Supper, the leadership also called IRPC to a day of prayer and fasting on January 21, 2023 part of which included praying for protection for their property and from “the attacks” of the RPCNA.
In response to the session’s decision to allow J. Olivetti to participate in the Lord’s Supper, Pastor Kyle Borg of Winchester Reformed Presbyterian Church filed a complaint with the GLG in December. Following this, Pastor Borg filed a charge of sin against the elders. Pastor Borg withdrew his complaint and charge of sin before the presbytery could take action on them. The Olivetti Judicial Commission also sent a communication to GLG in response to J. Olivetti’s participating saying he “aggravated the underlying offenses that initially warranted his Deposition and Suspension.”
On December 9, 2022, J. Olivetti and his wife Lisa, IRPC, and the Trustees of Synod for the RPCNA were named in a complaint for damages with Tippecanoe Superior Court 1, and summons were filed with a demand for a jury trial. Those filing the lawsuit maintained anonymity and are only known in the court documents as John and Jane Doe. As reported in the Indianapolis Star, “The complaint alleges negligence by the Olivettis, the church and the Synod for not doing more to protect the victim, a minor child who was sexually abused by a young member of the congregation.” The legal complaint also alleges the abuse of this child occurred as early as 2015 and continued “through 2020.” Pastor Perrin and J. Olivetti’s attorney had no comment, but Greg Laker, the attorney for the filers, said “What this family allowed to happen to so many young victims is horrific and appalling and they need to be held accountable.” On February 6, 2023 the Olivetti’s responded to the five counts in the complaint for damages and they too requested a trial by jury. This is an ongoing case.
What this family allowed to happen to so many young victims is horrific and appalling and they need to be held accountable.
Attorney greg Laker
On February 10, 2023 the Central Indiana Presbytery of the PCA dealt with a communication about Pastor Perrin administering the Lord’s Supper to J. Olivetti. The PCA’s Book of Church Order, states, “It is the duty of all church Sessions and Presbyteries to exercise care over those subject to their authority. They shall with due diligence and great discretion demand from such persons satisfactory explanations concerning reports affecting their Christian character. This duty is more imperative when those who deem themselves aggrieved by injurious reports shall ask an investigation” (31-2). On February 12th, Pastor Perrin preached that he would have to spend a couple of months interacting with the committee, and said, “I’m quite confident where it goes and how it comes out.”
The IRPC Resolution Committee submitted their report to the GLG. The committee was unable to find resolution with the congregation since they began their work in October. They reported that the dissolution of IRPC is “where we currently are in our discussions.” They also claimed their work was complicated because of the charge of sin and the complaints that were filed against the session’s decision to allow J. Olivetti to take the Lord’s Supper. They asked GLG to extend the work of their committee.
On March 2-4 the Great Lakes Gulf Presbytery met for their spring meeting. Their business included hearing the report from the IRPC Resolution Committee. This report was heard in executive session. GLG approved a recommendation from the committee “that presbytery counsel the Trustees of Synod to make no claim against the property of IRPC.”
A complaint was heard from Pastor Shawn Anderson against the IRPC session for allowing J. Olivetti to take the Lord’s Supper. GLG sustained Pastor Anderson’s complaint declaring the session to have violated Synod’s upholding of J. Olivetti’s censure. GLG then annulled the decision of the session and instructed the session to no longer allow J. Olivetti to come to the Lord’s Table. They also rebuked elders Sam Carr and Josh Karshen for voting to admit J. Olivetti to the Lord’s Table, but GLG refused to take further action ensuring accountability for the disciplined elders or any follow-up with them from the Presbytery (including communicating with the disciplined elders their discipline). Pastor Kuehner filed a complaint to the Synod of the RPCNA on this matter.
The Reconciliation Commission submitted their report for the 2023 Synod. They indicated their “frustration and sorrow” and said the former ruling elders “have failed to cooperate with either the Reconciliation Committee or the Commission Synod established.” They recommended Synod reaffirm the process established in 2022 and continue the work another year. Pastor Borg was said to have resigned his position on the committee, and Mr. Tom Fisher sought to be replaced on the commission.
The Olivetti Repentance Commission also submitted their report for the 2023 Synod. It is reported that J. Olivetti attempted to justify his participation in the Lord’s Supper, and communicated to the commission that his censure was sinful. He informed the commission on January 7th that he would continue working with them but only if they assumed his “integrity and honesty.” The commission responded that there was not justification for his participation in the Lord’s Supper and placed on him the requirement of repentance. On February 3rd, J. Olivetti told the commission, “I reject and renounce the RPCNA’s authority and discipline.” He informed them that he would not endanger himself any more by further interactions. The commission reported, “The Commission also finds Mr. Olivetti’s rejection and renunciation of the church to be the kind of willful and obstinate ‘refusal to listen’ that warrants final censure, and recommending that the Synod institute proceedings for Mr. Olivetti’s excommunication.”
In June, J. Faris (no longer a pastor in the RPCNA) sent a letter to a list of people denouncing the RPCNA for having “set aside the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ,” and begged those he wrote to, to stand up in courage. On June 18th, the elders of IRPC, S. Carr, J. Karshen, and M. Wilburn, sent a letter to the Great Lakes Gulf Presbytery notifying them of their disaffiliation with the RPCNA. At the same time D. Carr, B. Larson, and K. Magill wrote a letter to the Reconciliation Commission. They claimed seven points that led them to “no longer recognize the RPCNA as having any jurisdiction over us.”
Synod met on June 20-23rd. The complaint submitted by Pastor Kuehner was sustained. A motion was made to admonish the Great Lakes Gulf Presbytery on the basis of the sustained complaint but this motion failed.
On June 22nd, D. Carr, B. Larson, and K. Magill were deposed from ordained office (this included K. Magill’s ordination as a teaching elder/pastor), and J. Olivetti was excommunicated from the Church of Jesus Christ. The Olivetti Judicial Commission and Reconciliation Commission were dismissed. After two years of Synod involvement, this brought to a close this ecclesiastical matter as far as the RPCNA is involved and concerned, and did not conclude with the repentance and reconciliation of these men.
On June 23rd, upon the adjournment of Synod, Immanuel Reformed Presbyterian Church was disorganized by the Great Lakes Gulf Presbytery. The disaffiliated congregation established an independent entity known as Redeeming Grace Church.
In the self-written history of the church, their website says the leaders “were wrongly accused” and RCG “disregards the extreme and unbiblical disciplinary actions taken against these men in the past. We are thankful that our former elders continue to be part of the life of Redeeming Grace Church.” Pastor Danny Strong is listed as a teaching elder, together with James Faris, and S. Carr, J. Karshen, and M. Wilburn as elders.
The contributor(s) understand this website to only be a place that provides and presents information that is public in nature, and draws attention to what that public information says.
For Peace, For Purity, and For Progress 