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Former church members seek accountablity for alleged misdeeds

Daily Oklahoman - 6/17/2020

Jun. 17--Former members of a metro area church said the house of worship should close immediately and its founders should be held accountable for a litany of alleged misdeeds.

More than 2,000 people have signed an online petition alleging misconduct by leaders at Church of the Harvest, 6800 N Bryant, and 16000 N Western in Edmond. The church was founded by the Rev. Kirk Pankratz, a former Ward 7 Oklahoma City Council candidate, and his wife Nancy. Their son Grant Pankratz served as senior pastor for awhile.

And Tuesday, a metro woman filed police reports in Edmond and in Oklahoma City accusing a minister at the church of sexual abuse in 2001 when she was 15.

Former church member Havilah Capshaw Bagnaro said she decided to contact local authorities about two separate incidents after seeing online posts "from youths, young adults and current and former church members that's gone on for two decades unchecked and no law enforcement has been informed."

Bagnaro said one instance of sexual abuse occurred at a local theater and another at an Edmond park.

Accompanied by an open letter, the online petition gained significant traction on social media over the weekend and, on Monday, the group behind the petition shared a list of what they want to happen in light of the large number of people who have spoken out against the church online.

"Recently, multiple individuals have come forward revealing a history of sexual abuse, harassment, discrimination, and unsafe working conditions by Church of the Harvest and Youth America in Oklahoma City. Actions of the Founders and key staff dating as far back as 1994 to present day have brought to light serious accusations of mismanagement of funds, sexual misconduct and exploitation of minors," stated an open letter linked to the Shut The Doors Now petition on Change.org.

The Oklahoman reached out to the church's leaders but a church spokesman said they would not be conducting media interviews. However, the church did release a statement saying that no church or organization is perfect and they will not be intimidated by people who "spread false rumors, direct lies" and who have threatened church members and staff.

In their online posts, many former church members said church leaders made young people with the church's Next Generation Internship Program work for hours in bleak working conditions. They said those interns who complained or questioned the work environment were ridiculed and church leaders refused to help them or change the program.

Bagnaro said the church has no real governing body to keep leaders from getting away with wrongdoing. She said the church is "cult like."

Another former member Jordan Hodgden said she grew up at the church. When she went to a church leader a few years ago to discuss some troubling issues she had heard about, she said she was told that she had no right to question leadership. She said she is troubled by the church leaders' lack of remorse.

"There are lots of stories of instances of abuse, physically and sexually -- certainly abuse of power," Hodgden said. "There's no accountability."

The online petition demands that the Pankratzes, church staff and board of directors be held accountable for alleged misconduct and close the church immediately.

The group also wants to see any member of the Pankratz family fired and removed from the church's payroll, even if the house of worship remains open under new leadership or a new name. They also want the Pankratzes to publicly apologize to their alleged victims.

The former members also seek financial restitution for tuition and costs associated with Church of the Harvest's college program and other programming. They also want church leaders to release the church's financial records.

Some who have signed the petition said they may file with law authorities, but have not done so yet.

Meanwhile, the church's statement is as follows:

"As you have been made aware, there are some individuals who have decided to become verbally aggressive and voice various complaints about the church and its leadership. So much of what is posted on those forums is simply false, misleading and hateful. No church or organization is perfect and we are in numerous meetings and having dialogue with various parties to carefully listen to Valid concerns, to review every aspects of our ministry & staff and to insure policies and procedures that are in place are being followed. However, we will not be intimidated by, nor enter into dialogue with, or debate people who choose to spread false rumors, direct lies and both verbally and physically threaten members on our staff and people at our church. We will continue to be a church who cares for this community, cares for our church family and provides spiritual guidance and hope to people during this national & global time of fear, uncertainty and unrest."

In 2018, Kirk Pankratz, who had retired as Church of Harvest senior pastor, ran unsuccessfully for the Ward 7 Oklahoma City Council seat, losing to Nikki Nice.

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