Welcome to Sons of Patriarchy. Before we dive into today's episode, we want to take a moment to provide a content warning.

In this episode, we'll be discussing sensitive topics including emotional, spiritual, and sexual abuse.

We understand that these subjects can be triggering for many listeners. If you find yourself feeling uncomfortable or need to take a break,

please feel free to pause or skip to a later segment. Your well-being is our top priority.

We encourage you to reach off for support if you need it. There are resources available to help you

through difficult times, and those can be found in our show notes and

intake forums to private support communities, which are screened. Thank you for being here with us

today. In today's episode, we'd like to extend a special shout-out to advocacy from the Presbyterian

Pew, dedicated to helping lay people in the PCA to understand PCA church government

and process and to follow PCA business, especially related to caring for victims of abuse.

A link to their group is in our show notes. Welcome to Excommunicated Abuse in the PCA, Part 1.

In this episode, we'll speak with Joyce Rowe, a former member of Real Vista Community Church, a PCA in Fort Lauderdale, Florida,

Lena Sutherland, the founder of advocacy from the Presbyterian Pew, and Linna's mother, Donna Westcott, a licensed professional counselor who writes at Donna Westcott.com, which will also be in our show notes.

Joyce tells the story of marital abuse and neglect, and her desire to bring it to her pastors for help, for counsel,

and for guidance. Instead, she was put under the microscope, while her husband was good to go.

She was disciplined, barred from the Lord's Supper, which is the step right before S communication,

without a trial, without investigation,

and without due process. She wanted repentance from her husband, help, and a listening ear.

Her church wanted to keep things quiet. Presbyterianism works until it doesn't. It is rightly lauded

for its systems of accountability and structure of church government, ministers to be held accountable

to their presbyteries with any deviation from Christian orthodoxy to be examined.

But sometimes, and it can feel like it happens a lot more often than not, the very system set in place

...