The Coward’s Pulpit: Why Mike Pilavachi must face the truth like Justin Welby
The recent BBC interview with former Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has reignited discussions about accountability and transparency within the Church, particularly in light of the abuse scandals that have marred its reputation. Welby’s candid admissions during the interview shed light on systemic failures that allowed abusers like John Smyth to operate unchecked. These revelations compel us to scrutinise similar patterns in other church-related organisations, notably the case of Mike Pilavachi and the Soul Survivor movement.
Welby confessed to being “overwhelmed” by the magnitude of abuse cases within the Church, stating, “I failed to adequately address sexual abuse allegations… I was overwhelmed by the scale of the problem.” This acknowledgment of paralysis in the face of rampant abuse is alarming. Leadership is not about succumbing to overwhelm but about confronting challenges head-on, especially when the safety and well-being of individuals are at stake. Welby’s inaction allowed predators like Smyth, who abused over 100 boys, to continue their heinous acts unchecked.
Drawing a parallel, Mike Pilavachi, the founder of Soul Survivor, leveraged his “spiritual celebrity” status to manipulate and abuse young men over decades. An independent review revealed that Pilavachi engaged in inappropriate behaviours, including massaging and wrestling with young male interns under the guise of mentorship. Despite the gravity of these findings, Pilavachi has remained conspicuously silent, retreating from public view and failing to address the harm inflicted upon his victims.
Welby’s admission, “I should have reported it to authorities,” highlights a critical failure in leadership - choosing institutional preservation over individual protection. Similarly, Pilavachi’s silence and Soul Survivor’s attempts to distance themselves from him, as if he never existed, reflect a disingenuous and harmful approach. The organisation must acknowledge its role in enabling his behaviour and take concrete steps to support survivors and implement robust safeguarding measures. Ignoring the past only perpetuates the cycle of abuse and erodes the credibility of Christian institutions.
The Church’s handling of these situations is akin to a shepherd abandoning his flock at the sight of a wolf, leaving the vulnerable to fend for themselves. Leadership demands courage:
The courage to confront uncomfortable truths.
The courage to stand before the world and admit failures.
The courage to actively seek justice for those harmed.
Pilavachi’s retreat into silence is not just cowardly; it is a further abuse of the trust and faith placed in him by his followers.
Moreover, Soul Survivor’s apparent attempt to erase Pilavachi from its narrative is both disingenuous and harmful. The organisation benefited from his leadership and the acclaim it brought; now, in the face of scandal, it seeks to distance itself, leaving victims feeling abandoned and unheard.
True repentance and healing require acknowledgment, not avoidance.
The Church must learn from these failures and commit to a culture of transparency, accountability, and unwavering support for survivors. Only then can it begin to rebuild trust and truly embody the principles it professes to uphold.
Leaders like Pilavachi must step forward, not shrink away, demonstrating the integrity and humility that their positions demand. Anything less is a betrayal of their calling and a disservice to all who have suffered under their watch.