EPISODE · Dec 10, 2025 · 1H 7M
Why Good People in the Church Look Away: Abuse, Power and Protecting the Mission
from The Sacred · host Theos Think Tank
Elizabeth Oldfield speaks with Andrew Graystone about his role in uncovering the serial abuser John Smyth and the institutional cover-ups within the Church that kept the truth hidden.Andrew is a Writer, Broadcaster and Activist. He shares the story behind his new book Bleeding for Jesus and the hidden patterns that shape the lives of Christian leaders. He reflects on why institutions so often cover up wrongdoing, what it really costs to tell the truth, and how ordinary people can resist cultures of fear.He speaks about his own experiences of humiliation and redemption, how shame shapes our public life, and why hospitality - opening your door, your life, your table - can be a radical spiritual act. This is a tender and hopeful conversation about what it means to live with courage and integrity when systems around us bend towards self-protection.Please could you fill out our listener survey? We’d be so grateful. https://biblesociety.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3WMJCr2xnXcxIq2🎙️ Follow The Sacred: linktr.ee/sacredpodcast 📖 Follow Elizabeth Oldfield: www.elizabetholdfield.com/ 💡 Produced by the @thinktanktheos www.theosthinktank.co.uk/ 👉 Follow and Buy Andrew’s book ‘Bleeding for Jesus’: https://x.com/AndrewGraystoneSupport links:- Minister and Clergy Sexual Abuse Survivors (MACSAS)www.macsas.org.uk- National Association for People Abused in Childhoodwww.napac.org.uk- Samaritanswww.samaritans.org or by phone on 116 123- The Survivors Trustwww.thesurvivorstrust.org- Safe Spaceswww.safespacesenglandandwales.org.uk or by phone 0300 303 1566- British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapywww.bacp.co.uk/about-therapy/information-about-counsellingChapters:00:00 Could you fill out our listener survey?01:15 Trailer and intro02:24 What is Sacred to you? Andrew Graystone answers10:00 Navigating Privilege and Inequality13:17 Principles of Living and Values18:00 Challenges of Hospitality and Community20:23 The Titus Trust and John Smyth Abuse Revelation31:49 Understanding Abuse and Its Impacts38:40 The Role of Institutions in Abuse43:09 Bystander Effect and Institutional Failures51:36 Anger, Gentleness, and Advocacy56:43 Closing Reflections on Power and PresenceKeywords:Andrew Graystone, Elizabeth Oldfield, The Sacred podcast, John Smyth abuse, Church abuse cover-up, Christian leaders accountability, False Profit book, exposing institutional abuse, faith and courage, standing up to power, moral courage, church scandals, abuse in Christian institutions, protecting the vulnerable, institutional failure, covering up wrongdoing, speaking truth to power, courage in faith, navigating shame, humiliation and redemption, pastoral accountability, moral imagination, ethical leadership, Christian ethics, religious institutions and abuse, confronting toxic power, survivors of abuse, advocating for victims, truth-telling in institutions, faith and justice, everyday courage, confronting secrecy, resisting culture of fear, hospitality as spiritual act, radical hospitality, opening your home to others, integrity and faith, walking with survivors, spiritual formation, institutional reform, uncovering abuse, moral responsibility, restorative justice, rebuilding trust, abuse survivors stories, church accountability, ethical decision making, courage under pressure, exposing wrongdoing, Christian leadership lessons, protecting the marginalized, personal integrity, confronting moral failure, courage in difficult times, learning from shame, Cathay Newman, Channel 4
What this episode covers
Elizabeth Oldfield speaks with Andrew Graystone about his role in uncovering the serial abuser John Smyth and the institutional cover-ups within the Church that kept the truth hidden.Andrew is a Writer, Broadcaster and Activist. He shares the story behind his new book Bleeding for Jesus and the hidden patterns that shape the lives of Christian leaders. He reflects on why institutions so often cover up wrongdoing, what it really costs to tell the truth, and how ordinary people can resist cultures of fear.He speaks about his own experiences of humiliation and redemption, how shame shapes our public life, and why hospitality - opening your door, your life, your table - can be a radical spiritual act. This is a tender and hopeful conversation about what it means to live with courage and integrity when systems around us bend towards self-protection.Please could you fill out our listener survey? We’d be so grateful. https://biblesociety.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3WMJCr2xnXcxIq2🎙️ Follow The Sacred: linktr.ee/sacredpodcast 📖 Follow Elizabeth Oldfield: www.elizabetholdfield.com/ 💡 Produced by the @thinktanktheos www.theosthinktank.co.uk/ 👉 Follow and Buy Andrew’s book ‘Bleeding for Jesus’: https://x.com/AndrewGraystoneSupport links:- Minister and Clergy Sexual Abuse Survivors (MACSAS)www.macsas.org.uk- National Association for People Abused in Childhoodwww.napac.org.uk- Samaritanswww.samaritans.org or by phone on 116 123- The Survivors Trustwww.thesurvivorstrust.org- Safe Spaceswww.safespacesenglandandwales.org.uk or by phone 0300 303 1566- British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapywww.bacp.co.uk/about-therapy/information-about-counsellingChapters:00:00 Could you fill out our listener survey?01:15 Trailer and intro02:24 What is Sacred to you? Andrew Graystone answers10:00 Navigating Privilege and Inequality13:17 Principles of Living and Values18:00 Challenges of Hospitality and Community20:23 The Titus Trust and John Smyth Abuse Revelation31:49 Understanding Abuse and Its Impacts38:40 The Role of Institutions in Abuse43:09 Bystander Effect and Institutional Failures51:36 Anger, Gentleness, and Advocacy56:43 Closing Reflections on Power and PresenceKeywords:Andrew Graystone, Elizabeth Oldfield, The Sacred podcast, John Smyth abuse, Church abuse cover-up, Christian leaders accountability, False Profit book, exposing institutional abuse, faith and courage, standing up to power, moral courage, church scandals, abuse in Christian institutions, protecting the vulnerable, institutional failure, covering up wrongdoing, speaking truth to power, courage in faith, navigating shame, humiliation and redemption, pastoral accountability, moral imagination, ethical leadership, Christian ethics, religious institutions and abuse, confronting toxic power, survivors of abuse, advocating for victims, truth-telling in institutions, faith and justice, everyday courage, confronting secrecy, resisting culture of fear, hospitality as spiritual act, radical hospitality, opening your home to others, integrity and faith, walking with survivors, spiritual formation, institutional reform, uncovering abuse, moral responsibility, restorative justice, rebuilding trust, abuse survivors stories, church accountability, ethical decision making, courage under pressure, exposing wrongdoing, Christian leadership lessons, protecting the marginalized, personal integrity, confronting moral failure, courage in difficult times, learning from shame, Cathay Newman, Channel 4
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Why Good People in the Church Look Away: Abuse, Power and Protecting the Mission
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