Mike Hixenbaugh
@mikehixenbaugh.com
NBC News senior reporter | Author of THEY CAME FOR THE SCHOOLS | Co-creator of SOUTHLAKE & GRAPEVINE podcasts | Retired t-ball coach
www.mikehixenbaugh.com
www.mikehixenbaugh.com
4/ Barrett shared voluntary child safety guidelines that churches could adopt.
Then the denomination's longtime chief legal counsel, Richard Hammar, rose to explain his thinking. The legal risks of mandating child-protection policies, he said from the stage, “outweighed the benefit.”
Watch:
Then the denomination's longtime chief legal counsel, Richard Hammar, rose to explain his thinking. The legal risks of mandating child-protection policies, he said from the stage, “outweighed the benefit.”
Watch:
November 2, 2025 at 11:50 PM
4/ Barrett shared voluntary child safety guidelines that churches could adopt.
Then the denomination's longtime chief legal counsel, Richard Hammar, rose to explain his thinking. The legal risks of mandating child-protection policies, he said from the stage, “outweighed the benefit.”
Watch:
Then the denomination's longtime chief legal counsel, Richard Hammar, rose to explain his thinking. The legal risks of mandating child-protection policies, he said from the stage, “outweighed the benefit.”
Watch:
3/ The Assemblies of God's General Council voted to study the resolution.
When it reconvened two years later, top leaders advised rejecting it.
General Secretary Donna Barrett said mandating child safety policies would have played “right into the hands of plaintiffs’ attorneys.”
Watch:
When it reconvened two years later, top leaders advised rejecting it.
General Secretary Donna Barrett said mandating child safety policies would have played “right into the hands of plaintiffs’ attorneys.”
Watch:
November 2, 2025 at 11:50 PM
3/ The Assemblies of God's General Council voted to study the resolution.
When it reconvened two years later, top leaders advised rejecting it.
General Secretary Donna Barrett said mandating child safety policies would have played “right into the hands of plaintiffs’ attorneys.”
Watch:
When it reconvened two years later, top leaders advised rejecting it.
General Secretary Donna Barrett said mandating child safety policies would have played “right into the hands of plaintiffs’ attorneys.”
Watch:
2/ But before the resolution could be voted on, the Assemblies of God's former general superintendent, George Wood, stood to share "grave legal concerns."
If the denomination adopted rules, he said, it could be held liable in lawsuits for failing to enforce them.
Listen to how Wood framed it:
If the denomination adopted rules, he said, it could be held liable in lawsuits for failing to enforce them.
Listen to how Wood framed it:
November 2, 2025 at 11:50 PM
2/ But before the resolution could be voted on, the Assemblies of God's former general superintendent, George Wood, stood to share "grave legal concerns."
If the denomination adopted rules, he said, it could be held liable in lawsuits for failing to enforce them.
Listen to how Wood framed it:
If the denomination adopted rules, he said, it could be held liable in lawsuits for failing to enforce them.
Listen to how Wood framed it:
🧵 1/ In 2019, the Assemblies of God considered a resolution to make it a punishable offense if any minister or affiliated church failed to adopt policies to prevent child sex abuse.
It was potentially a watershed moment.
Here's a video of a church leader making an impassioned case for the policy:
It was potentially a watershed moment.
Here's a video of a church leader making an impassioned case for the policy:
November 2, 2025 at 11:50 PM
🧵 1/ In 2019, the Assemblies of God considered a resolution to make it a punishable offense if any minister or affiliated church failed to adopt policies to prevent child sex abuse.
It was potentially a watershed moment.
Here's a video of a church leader making an impassioned case for the policy:
It was potentially a watershed moment.
Here's a video of a church leader making an impassioned case for the policy:
This family fled to Russia because they felt white, straight, conservative Christians were being persecuted in their hometown of … Humble, Texas
November 2, 2025 at 4:27 PM
This family fled to Russia because they felt white, straight, conservative Christians were being persecuted in their hometown of … Humble, Texas
The decision left survivors reeling. In interviews, they described being molested in a church van. Stalked in a church nursery. Raped with a statue of Jesus plucked from a mantle. Told to repent.
Now they are demanding change.
Now they are demanding change.
October 30, 2025 at 5:29 PM
The decision left survivors reeling. In interviews, they described being molested in a church van. Stalked in a church nursery. Raped with a statue of Jesus plucked from a mantle. Told to repent.
Now they are demanding change.
Now they are demanding change.
The Assemblies of God has long known of this danger.
A few years ago, it considered making child safety policies mandatory at all its churches—but then backed away after lawyers warned it could expose the denomination to lawsuits.
The legal risks, their top lawyer said, “outweighed the benefit.”
A few years ago, it considered making child safety policies mandatory at all its churches—but then backed away after lawyers warned it could expose the denomination to lawsuits.
The legal risks, their top lawyer said, “outweighed the benefit.”
October 30, 2025 at 5:29 PM
The Assemblies of God has long known of this danger.
A few years ago, it considered making child safety policies mandatory at all its churches—but then backed away after lawyers warned it could expose the denomination to lawsuits.
The legal risks, their top lawyer said, “outweighed the benefit.”
A few years ago, it considered making child safety policies mandatory at all its churches—but then backed away after lawyers warned it could expose the denomination to lawsuits.
The legal risks, their top lawyer said, “outweighed the benefit.”
In some cases, denomination officials oversaw the restoration and reinstatement of accused child abusers. In others, churches put convicted sex offenders in charge of youth groups.
In total, these men were accused of abusing more than 475 people, mostly children.
In total, these men were accused of abusing more than 475 people, mostly children.
October 30, 2025 at 5:29 PM
In some cases, denomination officials oversaw the restoration and reinstatement of accused child abusers. In others, churches put convicted sex offenders in charge of youth groups.
In total, these men were accused of abusing more than 475 people, mostly children.
In total, these men were accused of abusing more than 475 people, mostly children.
Last year we got a tip about a children's pastor who'd managed to stay in ministry for decades even as allegations of sex abuse trailed him across four states.
I kept pulling thread and found something far bigger: a 50-year pattern of abuse and cover-up in the largest Pentecostal denomination 🧵 1/
I kept pulling thread and found something far bigger: a 50-year pattern of abuse and cover-up in the largest Pentecostal denomination 🧵 1/
October 30, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Last year we got a tip about a children's pastor who'd managed to stay in ministry for decades even as allegations of sex abuse trailed him across four states.
I kept pulling thread and found something far bigger: a 50-year pattern of abuse and cover-up in the largest Pentecostal denomination 🧵 1/
I kept pulling thread and found something far bigger: a 50-year pattern of abuse and cover-up in the largest Pentecostal denomination 🧵 1/
Seems like a big missed opportunity, given the eclectic collection of newsroom characters I’ve known over the years, that “The Paper” cast includes three accountants but just one newspaper reporter
September 1, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Seems like a big missed opportunity, given the eclectic collection of newsroom characters I’ve known over the years, that “The Paper” cast includes three accountants but just one newspaper reporter
No suckers this year. Jamie Raskin is giving kids copies of the Constitution at the Kensington Labor Day Parade.
“It’s got the Impeachment Clause in there!”
“It’s got the Impeachment Clause in there!”
September 1, 2025 at 3:26 PM
No suckers this year. Jamie Raskin is giving kids copies of the Constitution at the Kensington Labor Day Parade.
“It’s got the Impeachment Clause in there!”
“It’s got the Impeachment Clause in there!”
Captain Maryland and his crab mallet.
Happy Labor Day
Happy Labor Day
September 1, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Captain Maryland and his crab mallet.
Happy Labor Day
Happy Labor Day
ChatGPT offered to help him draft a suicide note
August 26, 2025 at 5:43 PM
ChatGPT offered to help him draft a suicide note
ChatGPT to a suicidal teen: “It's okay – and honestly wise – to avoid opening up to your mom about this kind of pain … Let's make this space the first place where someone actually sees you.”
August 26, 2025 at 5:39 PM
ChatGPT to a suicidal teen: “It's okay – and honestly wise – to avoid opening up to your mom about this kind of pain … Let's make this space the first place where someone actually sees you.”
West of Rock Creek park: “high white segregation”
August 14, 2025 at 12:30 PM
West of Rock Creek park: “high white segregation”
Always read these kinds of comments in historical context
August 14, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Always read these kinds of comments in historical context
This is the history Hegseth is brining back to Arlington: a racist myth romanticizing human trafficking, rape and bondage
August 6, 2025 at 12:45 PM
This is the history Hegseth is brining back to Arlington: a racist myth romanticizing human trafficking, rape and bondage
The Republican governor of Texas has directed state police to arrest his Democratic opponents
August 4, 2025 at 8:44 PM
The Republican governor of Texas has directed state police to arrest his Democratic opponents
Yes, but this raises big questions about what it means to be a patriot
Who can say which is right?
Who can say which is right?
August 3, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Yes, but this raises big questions about what it means to be a patriot
Who can say which is right?
Who can say which is right?
Is it harassing to tell a coworker they are going to burn in hell for all eternity?
July 29, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Is it harassing to tell a coworker they are going to burn in hell for all eternity?
Bring back the Furniture Makers
![The franchise originated in 1896 as the Columbus Buckeyes (also known as the Columbus Senators), a minor league team based in Columbus, Ohio that played in the Western League. The team relocated to Grand Rapids, Michigan midseason in 1899, where they were known as the Grand Rapids Furniture Makers.[9] In 1900, the franchise moved to Cleveland and was called the Cleveland Lakeshores.[10] The Western League itself was renamed the American League prior to the 1900 season while continuing its minor league status. When the American League declared itself a major league in 1901, Cleveland was one of its eight charter franchises. Originally called the Cleveland Bluebirds or Blues, the team was also unofficially called the Cleveland Broncos in 1902. Beginning in 1903, the team was named the Cleveland Napoleons or Naps, after team captain and manager Nap Lajoie.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:sbua2wxukvrbmpusje7zpp7s/bafkreigq7w5w6gzkat56264qxyw5m4ucxwvoyosnufmyapwfbpqf4ovhdm@jpeg)
July 20, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Bring back the Furniture Makers
Charlie Kirk had to look to a city three hours east of the flooding to find a Black man to blame for the catastrophe in Kerr County.
You can read the rest of his racist screed here: www.chron.com/politics/art...
You can read the rest of his racist screed here: www.chron.com/politics/art...
July 10, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Charlie Kirk had to look to a city three hours east of the flooding to find a Black man to blame for the catastrophe in Kerr County.
You can read the rest of his racist screed here: www.chron.com/politics/art...
You can read the rest of his racist screed here: www.chron.com/politics/art...
NY Times obit writer took a swing on this one
July 1, 2025 at 3:36 PM
NY Times obit writer took a swing on this one
This attribution made me lol
June 19, 2025 at 8:17 PM
This attribution made me lol