Sons of Patriarchy

Caroline Garcia Osborne, a former member of Covenant OPC, shares her harrowing journey of grooming and spiritual abuse by her pastor, Boyd Miller. She details the gradual manipulation she faced, from special attention to emotional pressure and secretive meetings. An anonymous survivor recounts her own experiences of inappropriate contact and the community's silence. Both women emphasize the need for accountability and reform within the church, urging others to recognize grooming and support survivors in their healing journey.

Sheila Wray Gregoire, an author and commentator on Christian marriage and sex, joins Marissa Burt, a researcher on evangelical parenting. They boldly critique the damaging narratives of patriarchal marriage and parenting, highlighting how purity culture objectifies women and normalizes corporal punishment. Sheila emphasizes the need for mutuality in relationships, while Marissa explores the historical roots of strict parenting. They advocate for compassionate discipline over control, encouraging a shift towards connection and understanding in family dynamics.

Media inquiries: https://www.sonsofpatriarchy.com/contact Patreon: patreon.com/sonsofpatriarchy Website: sonsofpatriarchy.com Donate: https://donorbox.org/sons-of-patriarchy Are you in the PCA, and need help navigating your situation? Contact: https://tinyurl.com/56sb2c3b Free live workshops of the PCA Book of Church Order (BCO): https://tinyurl.com/bdcs7xrt Read and discuss the PCA report on Domestic Abuse and Sexual Assault: https://tinyurl.com/4cx9n538 Donate to Advocacy from the Presbyterian Pew: https://tinyurl.com/ms6ba2ky Here's Joyce's interview on Bare Marriage: https://tinyurl.com/36zcp3ya Find Donna Westcott's blogg here: https://tinyurl.com/862jbvyb Meet Joyce Rohe, former member of Rio Vista Community Church (PCA) in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Lynna Sutherland, the founder of Advocacy from the Presbyterian Pew (and a PCA member herself), and Donna Westcott, a licensed professional counselor (and critic of "Biblical" counseling). What happens when you go against your church elders' wishes by divorcing your abusive and absent husband? They skirt the "process" and discipline you without trial. What happens when you try to navigate that very system? They use it against you. What happens when you try to seek "biblical" counseling for all the pain this causes you? They convince you it's your fault, that there's sin residing in you. In short, you're excommunicated. Sons of Patriarchy is brought to you by: Producer, Writer, Editor, and Host: Peter Bell Original Music, Sound Design, and Mixing: https://aaronfeeneymusic.com/ Social Media: Sarah Bader Graphic Design: Anonymous Survivors SURVIVORS - THANK YOU, AND MAY YOU BE HEARD.

Media inquiries: https://www.sonsofpatriarchy.com/contact Patreon: patreon.com/sonsofpatriarchy Website: sonsofpatriarchy.com Donate: https://donorbox.org/sons-of-patriarchy The counterpart to Episode 13, It's Only a Matter of Rank. This time we have Beth Allison Barr (James Vardaman Professor of History at Baylor University, and author of numerous books), Sheila Wray Gregoire (founder of Bare Marriage, and author of numerous books), Cait West (yes, again!), and Hannah Oliver. The men are trained as leaders, and the women, as followers. The virtuous woman *only* stays at home, homeschools her children, satisfies her husband, and makes sure there's no ugliness in her. They are to stay silent, unless, of course, they've been approved to teacher other women to... stay silent. You can speak, as long as you tell other women not to. At the same time women are more liable to deceit than their male counterparts they also hold the power to cause their brothers to stumble. It's a whiplash, a system wherein you're told to be feminine, but not too feminine, smart, but not too smart, put together, but not independent. In summary, it's impossible. A standard you can never live up to. But there's another way, the way of Jesus. He who gladly took a rank below his, to give you a rank above yours. Buy Beth's book Becoming the Pastor's Wife here: https://tinyurl.com/53bepjff Buy Beth's book The Making of Biblical Womanhood here: https://tinyurl.com/yc7336tk Buy Sheila's book The Marriage You Want here: https://tinyurl.com/5y6rjdxh Buy Sheila's book She Deserves Better here: https://tinyurl.com/5n8afrsw Buy Sheila's book The Great Sex Rescue here: https://tinyurl.com/4t4yna7b Buy Cait's book Rift here: https://tinyurl.com/y7j85csy Sons of Patriarchy is brought to you by: Producer, Writer, Editor, and Host: Peter Bell Original Music, Sound Design, and Mixing: https://aaronfeeneymusic.com/ Social Media: Sarah Bader Graphic Design: Anonymous Survivors SURVIVORS - THANK YOU, AND MAY YOU BE HEARD.

Media inquiries: https://www.sonsofpatriarchy.com/contact Patreon: patreon.com/sonsofpatriarchy Website: sonsofpatriarchy.com Donate: https://donorbox.org/sons-of-patriarchy Are you in the OPC and need help? Contact the Presbyterian Advocacy Coalition: https://www.presbyterianadvocacycoalition.org Meet Theresa Garcia Robertson, Zach LeReaux, and Caroline McKuen. Theresa is a former member of Covenant OPC in La Grange, Georgia, pastored by Boyd Miller. Zach is Ali's husband (from Let's Get Spiritual), and will shed light on how men should engage with and respond to those who've been abused. Caroline McKuen is the director and founder of the Presbyterian Advocacy Coalition. For too long these cases and stories have been covered up, whether that be for "lack of evidence," or "sinful, but not criminal," or "undue gossip." Women have been silenced (as have some men), men have been coerced (as have some women), presbyteries have turned a blind eye, and the "good" men in authority, and the churches they pastor do nothing while people suffer. We've got something to say about that. Sons of Patriarchy is brought to you by: Producer, Writer, Editor, and Host: Peter Bell Original Music, Sound Design, and Mixing: https://aaronfeeneymusic.com/ Social Media: Sarah Bader Graphic Design: Anonymous Survivors SURVIVORS - THANK YOU, AND MAY YOU BE HEARD.

In this engaging discussion, Zach Wagner, Director of programs at the Center for Pastor Theologians and author of Non-Toxic Masculinity, critiques the damaging effects of patriarchy on both men and women. He explores how traditional views of masculinity are rooted in toxic performance rather than gospel values. Wagner challenges narratives that equate masculinity with dominance, highlighting the need for a more sacrificial and gentle definition of manhood. The conversation sheds light on the legalistic pressures within churches that perpetuate these harmful dynamics.

In a gripping conversation, Rachel Curtis, a former member of Cities Church, shares her painful journey of excommunication after leaving an abusive marriage. She reveals the depths of spiritual abuse and how church leaders, like Joe Rigney, failed her during her husband's struggles with pornography. Kate West, author of 'Rift', reflects on growing up in a patriarchal community influenced by Doug Wilson, highlighting the shame and control she faced as a stay-at-home daughter. Together, they discuss empowerment, healing, and the importance of seeking support outside patriarchal structures.

Media inquiries: https://www.sonsofpatriarchy.com/contact Patreon: patreon.com/sonsofpatriarchy Website: sonsofpatriarchy.com Donate: https://donorbox.org/sons-of-patriarchy Join us as we talk with repeat guest Jeff Moss, a former CREC Minister, who has over a decade of experience "in the system." The Trinity is the bedrock of the Christian faith: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God. But what happens when you've entered into a culture war? The perceived "feminization" of the Evangelical church presents to you a problem: how do we fight this? Enter the old heresy of the Father as "authority" and the Son as "submission." The man in the marriage mirrors God the Father's role, while the wife is subjugated to that of the Son. What better to keep women under control than to tell them to "suffer like Jesus." The Trinity then becomes the foundation for gender roles. Let's fix this. Sons of Patriarchy is brought to you by: Producer, Writer, Editor, and Host: Peter Bell Original Music, Sound Design, and Mixing: https://aaronfeeneymusic.com/ Social Media: Sarah Bader Graphic Design: Anonymous Survivors SURVIVORS - THANK YOU, AND MAY YOU BE HEARD.

Helen Shores-Peters narrates the harrowing experiences of an anonymous couple who suffered spiritual abuse in a CREC church, detailing the authoritarian dynamics and conflicts they faced while attempting to leave. A former Harvest OPC member shares her traumatic account of family abuse and the church's dismissive counsel that only deepened her suffering. Both guests highlight the devastating effects of patriarchal teachings in their lives, emphasizing the need for change and voicing the importance of healing and justice for survivors.

Media inquiries: https://www.sonsofpatriarchy.com/contact Patreon: patreon.com/sonsofpatriarchy Website: sonsofpatriarchy.com Donate: https://donorbox.org/sons-of-patriarchy Join Dr. R. Scott Clark and I as we discuss Federal Vision, it's various off-shoots and internecine debates, amber ale and oatmeal stout "versions," engage with clips from Douglas Wilson, Richard Lusk (among other CREC ministers who have blocked us), and look at the original statements and lectures from Auburn Avenue in 2002. This is our most theologically dense episode of the series. It's a beatdown of "Federal Vision," a works-based Christianity. We end by describing how this system of doctrine necessarily leads to abuse and obedience that is "cloaked" in submission. Let's make the gospel scandalous, not scandalized. That which leads to human flourishing, not fear. R. Scott Clark's faculty page: https://tinyurl.com/yc3pjz5c R. Scott Clark's podcast: https://tinyurl.com/ycxaruw2 R. Scott Clark's blog: https://tinyurl.com/4sb35au7 Sons of Patriarchy is brought to you by: Producer, Writer, Editor, and Host: Peter Bell Original Music, Sound Design, and Mixing: https://aaronfeeneymusic.com/ Social Media: Sarah Bader Graphic Design: Anonymous Survivors SURVIVORS - THANK YOU, AND MAY YOU BE HEARD.