An Open Letter Regarding Claims About Our Community

In recent months our community has been confronting the misconduct of a former leader. This has been a deeply difficult and disorienting season for many people connected to this community.

When allegations were brought forward, our leadership confronted these issues which led to his resignation. We then engaged an independent investigative organization to examine both the allegations and the practices of our ministries. At the same time, our community has been doing the biblical work of repentance—honest self-examination, reflection, and soul-searching about our life and practices.

Unfortunately, accusations from the godisacult website and socials have often made that healing harder. Individuals who had no role in any alleged wrongdoing—including students, employees, families, and neighbors—have been publicly criticized or misrepresented simply because of their association, however slight.

Victims deserve dignity and privacy. Students deserve the ability to pursue their education without being treated as villains. Families and employees deserve to live and work without being targeted for public hostility.

Those attempting to define the public narrative about this community through social media have had absolutely no relationship in recent years and had only brief and limited contact with the ministry many years ago. They did not participate in membership, attended our schools only briefly, and were not part of the leadership or accountability structures of this community. While anyone may share personal experiences, presenting such limited involvement as insider knowledge is misleading.

Journalists covering these events play an important role in examining institutions and asking difficult questions, and we remain willing to engage with responsible reporting. Professional standards of journalism call for treating information from unofficial websites and social media with skepticism and independently corroborating claims before repeating them. That standard applies to claims originating from disreputable and misguided websites and social media sites. 

Truth matters. Accountability matters. Basic human dignity matters as well. The pursuit of truth should not come at the cost of dehumanizing the very people whose lives have already been terribly affected, including damaging individuals’ ability to make a living or choose their place of worship.

Our community will continue the difficult work of truth, accountability, and rebuilding. We ask that you give us the space and dignity to do so.

GRACE Investigation Update - March 13, 2026

As many of you know, our school engaged GRACE (Godly Response to Abuse in Christian Environments), an independent investigative organization, to conduct a comprehensive review related to the allegations of misconduct of our former leader and to examine the practices and structures of our ministry.

Since that time, a lawsuit has been filed naming our church, school, and GOD International. Because this matter is now part of active litigation, legal counsel instructed us to pause the GRACE investigation while the legal process moves forward. 

This pause does not reflect any change in our commitment to truth, accountability, or care for those affected by these events. Rather, it is a procedural step intended to ensure that all investigations and legal processes proceed appropriately and responsibly.

We remain committed to cooperating fully with the legal process and to continuing the work of strengthening our practices and structures. We ask for your continued prayers for everyone affected by these circumstances. 

Thank you for your patience and care for our school community.

Academy Update - March 4, 2026

We recently became aware that our school has been referenced in a lawsuit that includes allegations involving our former head of school. We take such matters seriously and, above all, remain committed to the safety, well-being, and care of all those connected to our school.

In response to the allegations brought to us this fall, the Board of Directors engaged an independent third party to conduct a thorough investigation, which is still ongoing. 

We are cooperating with the legal process and will provide additional information as appropriate.

Independent Third-Party Investigation Underway with GRACE

The Academy’s Board of Directors have authorized an independent, third-party investigation through GRACE (Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment).

This decision follows the resignation of our founder and former head of school, Gregg Garner, after credible allegations of sexual misconduct involving adult women were reported to leadership. 

The choice to engage GRACE was made in consultation with legal counsel and trusted ministry advisors across the nation.

About GRACE

GRACE is highly regarded among Christian ministries for conducting independent investigations and providing recommendations related to abuse prevention, accountability, and organizational health. Their multidisciplinary team includes experts in law, mental health, theology, and ministry leadership. GRACE will provide an independent assessment of the allegations and provide the Institute with recommendations to ensure best practices for responding.   

Our Commitment

We believe that truth and accountability are essential to integrity in Christian education. Our leadership is committed to cooperating fully with GRACE throughout this process and to fostering a safe, transparent, and trustworthy environment for learning.

The investigation will take several months and will include opportunities for individuals connected to our ministry/school to share their experiences confidentially. We have provided parent contact information to GRACE for each of our currently enrolled students in order for you to receive an initial survey for participation. 

We ask for your prayers—for those who were hurt, for our school community, and for all involved—as we seek healing, clarity, and faithfulness to the mission entrusted to us.

With sincerity,
Stephen Carver,
Chairman of the Board

FAQs

What is GRACE?
GRACE (Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment) is an independent organization that assists Christian institutions in understanding, addressing, and preventing abuse. Their team includes professionals in law, mental health, theology, and ministry. You can learn more about them at netgrace.org 

Who oversees the investigation?
The investigation is being conducted solely by GRACE. The boards and leadership of GOD International and The Institute for GOD will not facilitate the investigation itself but will cooperate fully with GRACE’s process and recommendations.

How can someone participate or share information?
Individuals who wish to participate will receive information directly from GRACE regarding how to share experiences confidentially. The process is managed entirely by GRACE to ensure independence and safety for all participants.

What do I do if I have more questions?
Because we are in an investigation period, it would be inappropriate to take questions beyond what we’ve already stated. If you would like to send inquiries or comments regarding participation, please contact our Principal Alex Castro @alex.castro@academyforgod.org. 

Academy Update - November 7, 2025

We want to share an important update regarding the leadership transition that took place last month. The resignation of our former founder and head of school followed the unanimous decision of the Church’s Board of Directors on Sunday, October 5, 2025, to suspend Mr. Garner after they received credible allegations of sexual misconduct with adult women and an abuse of power. The allegations we’ve received were not connected to students at The Academy for GOD or The Institute for GOD.

After consultation with legal counsel and ministry advisors, the boards of our church, college, and organization have decided to move forward with an independent third-party investigation. This action will help us clearly understand the extent of what occurred in our ministry and ensure transparency and accountability moving forward.

This investigation will begin this coming week, and last for several months. This investigation will be conducted by GRACE (Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment), who is widely recognized as the “gold standard” for helping Christian ministries of all types address misconduct and strengthen systems of care. This process is wholly external; it is not led by our staff or board members.

The GRACE process begins with an educational component related to abuse and unhealthy power dynamics in Christian communities. The educational seminar offered will take place this Sunday from 1-5pm in The Church Community for GOD Sanctuary. This seminar lays a foundation for addressing spiritual abuse (including adult clergy sexual abuse, healthy/unhealthy power dynamics) in the Christian context, and will not be a place to share specifics about our situation. As a parent at The Academy, you are welcome to attend this seminar. If you do plan to attend, please RSVP to board@c4god.org. To learn more about GRACE please visit netgrace.org.

As you know, The Academy exists within a broader Christian community including a church, nonprofit organization, and college. Each of these entities are united in pursuing this investigation, believing that the process will strengthen our approach to fulfilling our mission. While there will be an investigation underway, we do not anticipate any changes or interruptions to The Academy's day-to-day operations.