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February 23, 2024
Dear siblings in Christ:
Over the last few months, the Bishop’s Office has been amid an investigation into the conduct of now-deceased Pastor Vance Daniel. We have come to learn that, seemingly over the entirety of his career and even in his retirement, Pastor Daniel was responsible for the sexual assault of many women and at least one minor. We have also come to know that his misdeeds were reported by a number of his victims to two previous bishops of the Southwestern Texas Synod, bishops who did nothing in response to these reports.
These reports may have been disregarded in the past, yet it does not excuse the objective wrong and sin that is present in ignoring the stories of victims of sexual violence. James 5:16 reads, “Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed.” In that spirit of confession, and in the hopes that the survivors and we – as a Bishop’s Office, as a synod, and as a society – may be healed, we confess our sin to you. This office, at the time that victims came forward with stories of sexual misconduct by a pastor, failed to listen to the victims, failed to act on their behalf, and failed to protect others from the same fate. We have been complicit in the harm caused by this man. These are precisely the sins of things left undone that we speak about in our order of Confession & Forgiveness.
We are deeply grieved by this failure of representatives of this office and on their behalf, and our own, we are extraordinarily sorry. That is not the conduct for which we wish to be known, nor is it the way that God calls us to be in relationship with one another.
We recognize the significance of these words of apology are in proportion to our work to repair the harm caused and to do better in the future. We have and continue to take measures of repentance as we are able. In the case of living pastors, there are methods of seeking justice, disciplinary hearings and discipline that includes removal from the roster of ministers. When a perpetrator has died, this work takes on a different dimension. As should have been the case all along, our recent investigation takes seriously the stories of the survivors – both in hearing them and in acting on them. Though a great amount of time has passed, care has been offered to the survivors, including the offering of trauma-informed mental healthcare to those who need it. We have born witness to the Holy Spirit’s healing work, in the airing of these painful truths, as survivors of these traumas have been able to come to know one another and find community together. And there are yet other victims, who claimed their baptismal promises in death before having the opportunity to have their story held. And we know there are likely others still unknown to us with stories to share.
We commit to repenting of our past failures by taking action, including action already taken to require background and strengthen training requirements for active and retired rostered leaders who intend to serve in a congregation in any way To all those who Vance Daniel assaulted and abused, known and unknown to us, we offer this confession and apology, as well as to others who have been courageous enough to tell their stories but have been disbelieved or denied justice. To any who have not yet had their story heard, we will receive it when you’re ready. We believe you.
Sincerely,
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