By Leonard BlairChief Reporter Tuesday, December 03, 2024

Michael Brown, host of the nationally syndicated Line of Fire radio program, who is also president, founder and professor of practical theology at FIRE School of Ministryadmitted to a “definite lapse in judgment” but denied allegations he engaged in sexual misconduct with a former female co-worker he said he treated as a “family member” 23 years ago.

“Both Nancy and I were shocked and horrified by the mix of accusations, accusations, false statements and mischaracterizations. That's why we wholeheartedly supported our board's immediate decision to launch a thorough third-party investigation,” Brown said in a statement to The Christian Post that was also shared with The Roys Report, which published the allegations monday evening

“Nancy and I did have a relationship with the woman in question and considered her a family member, and she behaved as one who viewed our relationship the same way. But she was not a family member, and aspects of my interaction with her, while completely non-sexual in every way, reflected definite lack of judgment on my part,” Brown added.

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The former female co-worker, who was identified only by her pseudonym, Erin, by TRR, said she quit working at the FIRE School of Ministry in 2002 when she was just 21 years old because she was uncomfortable with the frequent slapping of her peers. buttocks, kisses from Brown. lips, and hand holding episodes.

“He was supposed to be a spiritual father,” Erin told TRR. “He had to take care of me.”

Erin said that when she was 18, she attended the Brownsville Revival School of Ministry in 1999 where Brown served as president until he was fired in 2000. Brown then started the FIRE School of Ministry in Pensacola, Florida, where the school operated until 2003 when it was transferred to North Carolina.

Erin explained that she followed Brown to his elementary school, and he asked her to call him “Dad” and she obliged.

She recalled that because she endured a difficult home life, she initially enjoyed the attention Brown paid her. She said they would write cute notes to each other.

“I looked at it as a blessing because of the respect we all have for him,” Erin's sister told TRR.

According to Erin, in less than a year of her work at the new school, Brown — who was involved with leading the Kansas City International House of Prayer as they navigated founder Mike Bickle's sexual misconduct scandal — started holding her hands.

“He brought it up in the truck … and he's like, 'You all know I think of (Erin) like my daughter,' and said, 'That's why we're holding hands because she's like a daughter to me,' Erin said.

The holding later progressed to other contact including kissing. Erin said she was alone in Brown's office one day when he asked her to kiss him on the lips. She said she didn't want to kiss him, so she gave him a peck that day. Kisses on the lips, however, would become part of their goodbyes when they spent time alone.

“No more (Bruna) asking for a kiss,” she recalled. “It was (Brown) leaning in to get a kiss. … I knew I couldn't stop it, or I felt like I couldn't stop it.”

Brown later began slapping Erin's buttocks habitually, Erin said.

The publication cited multiple former employees of the ministry who say they witnessed what appeared to be inappropriate behavior between Brown and Erin, including Erin sitting on his lap.

Erin also told TRR that she found a letter while sitting for Brown and his wife Nancy, in which he admitted to having an inappropriate relationship with a married woman.

“The letter basically stated that they have an oral relationship and how they would dream about having sex with each other and what they want to do with each other, how she wants to wrap her legs around him, how he played in it,” Erin said.

In his response to CP on Monday, however, Brown denied ever committing adultery but said he had previously confessed to the emotional affair and believed the matter was resolved.

“I can categorically state that in my 53 years in the Lord and more than 50 years with Nancy, I have never committed adultery or been sexually intimate with another woman, nor do the accusations claim that. However, I must ask, in all humility and in the fear of the Lord, whether an article on the Roys Report is the best way to deal with these accusations and allegations,” Brown said. “Does this glorify the Lord, edify the Body, bring healing and restoration, or advance the cause of truth?”

Despite Brown's denial, two weeks ago the Line of Fire Board reportedly hired the law firm Mitchell, Stein, Carey, and Chapman to conduct a third-party investigation, the results of which they will publish once complete.

Erin said the experience she had with Brown made it difficult for her to trust ministry leaders. Brown insists he was not aware that his behavior affected her as reported and wants to work to make amends so healing can occur.

“The fact is that my actions towards her were certainly foolish and irresponsible – but neither sexual nor amorous in any way — and my highest priority, as well as Nancy's, is to have the opportunity to meet together in an environment that is acceptable to her and bring healing, where I can take full responsibility for the things that seem to have hurt her so deeply, things that I thought . we dealt with 23 years ago,” Brown said.

“Unfortunately, when Nancy and I found out through the Roys Report that there was an offense against me in this woman's heart, we were not allowed to follow Jesus' command in Matthew 5:23-26, but only gave the opportunity to offer a response to article that would be published online. What happened to biblical process?” he asked.

“That being said, if it is true that for 23 years she has carried this pain and I am responsible for it, I am beyond mortal and would ask for forgiveness and the opportunity to bring healing and restoration. Her well-being remains our priority.”