A Community Shaken: The Fallout of Abuse Allegations at Vineyard Church
The Vineyard Church in Duluth, Minnesota, and its parent organization, Vineyard USA, are grappling with the aftermath of former pastor Jackson Gatlin’s criminal conviction for sexual assault, as nine civil lawsuits bring new scrutiny to the church’s leadership and practices. Gatlin, 36, who served as a young adult and online community pastor, pleaded guilty in November 2024 to one count of criminal sexual conduct with a minor. He also entered an Alford plea for four additional charges, acknowledging sufficient evidence for a conviction while maintaining his innocence. Sentenced to 13 years in prison, Gatlin will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release. The civil lawsuits claim that church leadership, including Gatlin’s parents, Michael and Brenda Gatlin, failed to take appropriate action despite allegedly being aware—or should have been aware—of the abuse. Both Michael, the former senior pastor, and Brenda, a senior leader in both the local and national organizations, resigned without cooperating in the investigation, raising questions about systemic accountability.
The lawsuits detail harrowing allegations of grooming, manipulation, and abuse by Gatlin, who reportedly used flirtation, explicit messages, and physical isolation to target his victims. The legal complaints also describe heinous acts of physical and emotional abuse, including rape and mockery of victims during their pleas for him to stop. In response, The Vineyard Church issued a statement expressing deep sorrow and acknowledging the inevitability of the lawsuits. “We welcome this case and pray that it can bring healing and justice for the victims,” the church said, pledging to take responsibility where necessary despite financial challenges from insurance and debt constraints. This legal and moral reckoning not only exposes the vulnerabilities of institutional oversight but also ignites a broader conversation about safeguarding communities from abuse within trusted spaces of worship.
