IHOPKC Leader Mike Bickle ‘Permanently Disqualified’ From Church Office
Mike Bickle, former leader of International House of Prayer in Kansas City (IHOPKC), has “disqualified himself permanently from holding any such high and honorable office anywhere in the Body of Christ in his lifetime,” according to a Pastoral Recommendation Team report, convened by Tikkun Ministries.
Bickle “failed to live in a manner commensurate with the Gospel message, the expectation of godly character, and the authority he received at the time of his ordination, which was to be used to protect and serve the flock of God,” the report states.
In 2023, Bickle was initially accused of clergy sexual abuse by former IHOPKC leaders based on allegations from several women that spanned multiple decades. In December 2023, he confessed to “inappropriate behavior” but not the “more intense sexual activities” he had been accused of. IHOPKC leaders then cut ties with Bickle.
In February, an independent investigative report by Firefly found that Bickle committed sexual abuse or misconduct involving at least 17 survivors. Tikkun Ministries, which previously had ties to Bickle and IHOPKC, oversaw the Firefly investigation as well as constituting its own Pastoral Recommendation Team.
The members of the PRT were Jerry Dirmann, Mark and Nicki Pfeifer, Steve Prokopchak, and Rich Nichol. It also included subject matter experts in the abuse arena and an advisory panel, including Diane Langberg and Tim LeCroy.
The goal of the PRT was to review the Firefly report and make its recommendations to IHOPKC regarding “discipline and restoration for the violators and care for those who were violated.”
According to the report, Bickle’s “sexually inappropriate behaviors and cover-ups appear to have opened the door to the creation and sustainability of a ‘long-standing culture of systemic sexual misconduct and cover-ups that have thrived since IHOPKC’s inception in 1999.’”
In addition to Bickle being permanently disqualified from leadership, the PRT recommended he be removed from the local fellowship of a church until he submits to a process of repentance. That process should be long enough to demonstrate “the fruit of humility, holiness, fidelity, and sexual purity through the process of receiving professional counseling” by individuals who have expertise in “walking alongside abusers and assessing genuine repentance.”
Even then, the PRT recommends that any church where he is involved adopt careful sex offender policies, such as appropriate and proactive boundaries and full and regular communication regarding the offender and parameters he must follow.
Should Bickle be restored to a local church, he could possibly serve nonpublic, non-leadership roles, “such as organizing donations for the director of a community outreach ministry, building maintenance, and similar private, nonauthoritative acts of service.”
The PRT noted that any such roles must be voluntary, nonpublic, and somewhere other than IHOPKC and its affiliates. It further clarified that Bickle should be barred from attending or participating in any IHOPKC gatherings or participating in its ministry.
Other recommendations for Bickle include his issuing a public apology, taking responsibility for his years of sexual abuse, misconduct, and manipulation and his submission to professional counseling for himself and his marriage.
The PRT also recommended immediate removal of IHOPKC leaders who were “directly involved in mishandling reports” of Bickle’s sexual abuse until they engage in a process of “repentance, counseling, and healing.”
It also recommended that IHOPKC leaders who failed to confront Bickle be removed from public ministry for at least two years and permanently disqualified from holding office at IHOPKC.
This includes Dave Sliker, then-president of IHOP University; Stuart Greaves, then vice president of the Global Prayer Room; and Lenny Laguardia, then vice president of ministries, and any other leaders known by the IHOPKC Board of Directors.
Sliker, Greaves, and Laguardia should “publicly and in writing take responsibility for their mishandling of sexual misconduct and the abuse of their leadership authority.”
The PRT suggested the IHOPKC board of directors create an Independent Council of Presbyters (ICP) composed of between five and nine credible ministry leaders with expertise in understanding abuse, clinical therapists, and/or individuals with expertise in interfacing with abusers.
For the current leadership of IHOPKC, PRT recommended adopting a comprehensive sexual abuse policy; conducting thorough background checks for all employees and volunteers who have contact with children and vulnerable populations; mandating training for all staff and volunteers about recognizing the signs of abuse; establishing a confidential system for reporting abuse; creating and following a policy suspending individual leaders against whom an allegation of sexual abuse is brought and being fully transparent about past abuse; and developing a care plan for those who disclose abuse.
To the survivors and their families, the PRT urged IHOPKC to “establish a fund by which trauma therapy may be obtained for victims and spouses.”
This article was first published at MinistryWatch.
Kim Roberts is a freelance writer who holds a Juris Doctorate with honors from Baylor University and an undergraduate degree in government from Angelo State University. She has three young adult children who were home schooled and is happily married to her husband of 28 years.