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Please consider signing the petition by Echo Survivors (https://www.change.org/echochurchNDA) to release former staff at Echo.church from NDAs so they can share their stories and heal. As of this uploading, 1,290 people have signed in support of this NDA free plea. Go to: https://www.change.org/echochurchNDA
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Trigger warning: If you have experienced spiritual abuse, emotional abuse, psychological abuse or any type of abuse, especially in a faith-based environment, this episode deals with content that may be triggering. Please feel free to listen in small chunks or if this is too traumatizing, please feel free to not listen until you are ready. We do recommend speaking with a therapist who is trauma-informed. Please take good care of yourself.
Lori and Jason Adams-Brown share their story of spiritual abuse, emotional abuse and psychological abuse at Echo.church in San Jose, CA at the hands of Andy Wood and Filipe Santos. Their story is by no means the worst story of abuse behind the curtain of Echo.church, but it is one that is not covered by the many NDA's that Andy and Filipe had many staff sign over the years in order to control the narrative and image manage the abuse of particular staff over the years. Many former staff have shared their stories, but due to fear of going public and also the many NDA's, there is much fear. This is part six of their story. Please listen to parts one to four on EPS 100-104 for context.
Articles about the abusive environment at Echo.church:
Religion News article (https://religionnews.com/2022/08/01/church-conflict-or-spiritual-abuse-saddleback-echo-wood-driscoll-reyes/?fbclid=IwAR3ugPJIWduKP7iP0yDHvkR7H-eKOPPTXgkdw6WCcFYc084s_URmky4V5l8)
Julie Roys's 6th article (https://julieroys.com/opinion-rick-warren-sermon-mars-hill-reveals-ignorance-abuse/) (9/8/22 about the Rick Warren- Mark Driscoll- Andy Wood connection based on Rick's sermon)
Julie Roys's 5th article (https://julieroys.com/echo-church-defends-ndas-petition-gains-700-signatures/) (about Echo.church's email on 9/2/22 after the petition to release NDAs at Echo.church garnered nearly 700 signatures)
Julie Roys's 4th article (https://julieroys.com/incoming-saddleback-pastor-retaliate-baptist-group-broker-deals/)
Jule Roys's 3rd article (https://julieroys.com/saddleback-pastor-predatory-patternacquire-churches-baptist/)
Julie Roys's 2nd article (https://julieroys.com/former-staffers-expose-bullying-rick-warren-successor-andy-wood/)
Julie Roys's 1st article (https://julieroys.com/alleged-victims-challenge-report-clearing-rick-warren-successor-abuse/)
Articles where a couple of the many other Echo Survivors have spoken to journalists:
Religion News Service (https://religionnews.com/2022/06/12/saddleback-backs-rick-warren-successor-despite-allegations-andy-wood-echo-church/) (Bob Smietana speaks to Lance Hough)
Church Leaders article (https://churchleaders.com/news/426653-saddleback-church-clears-rick-warrens-successor-of-allegations-of-abusive-leadership-style-former-echo-church-staffers-speak-out.html) (Dale Chamberlain speaks to Amy Street)
Christian Post (https://www.christianpost.com/news/rick-warrens-saddleback-successor-triggers-shock-and-fear.html) (Lance Hough interviewed)
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Lori's appearance as a guest on Talkin' Politics and Religion Without Killin' Each Other podcast (https://www.politicsandreligion.us/e/loriadamsbrown/) with Corey Nathan.
Find books and articles on Lori's linktree (https://linktr.ee/loriadamsbrown)
The movie Spotlight (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1895587/) features journalists reporting on the years of cover-up of abuse in the Catholic church.
The TV show The Dropout (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10166622/) that reminds us so much of Echo's toxic culture of NDA's, silo-ed workers, culture of silence, a grandiose mission of saving lives where the ends are supposed to justify the means, ingratiation with big parties to distract from whistleblowers, and a systematic plan to discredit whistleblowers instead of deal with the dark secrets behind the curtain. It features Silicon Valley CEO Elizabeth Holmes, a toxic rockstar who is facing trial for her crimes.
Books to read as resources:A Church Called TOV: Forming a Goodness Culture That Resists Abuses of Power and Promotes Healing (https://amzn.to/3QybWqS) by Dr. Scot McKnight and Laura Barringer
When Narcissm Comes to Church (https://amzn.to/3Pyi6pI) : Healing Your Community From Emotional and Spiritual Abuse (https://www.amazon.com/When-Narcissism-Comes-Church-Community/dp/0830841598/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1OHHBM3HJVQSM&keywords=when+narcissism+comes+to+church&qid=1660797100&s=books&sprefix=When+narci%2Cstripbooks%2C147&sr=1-1) by Dr. Chuck DeGroatRedeeming Power: Underst...
