A group of "Jane Does" claim they have been "wrongfully identified" as victims in the International House of Prayer Kansas City (IHOPKC) misconduct investigation.
An Appeal and Protest statement published last week alleges a number of women who were listed as "victims" in the allegations brought to IHOPKC “were involuntarily labelled that” and had “narratives constructed by others forced upon our lives” by an advocate group.
Worship leader Misty Edwards, who has previously stated she is not a victim of IHOPKC founder Mike Bickle, posted the following on X on Thursday: "This 'Appeal and Protest Statement' is a collaboration with 'Jane Does' who have been wrongfully identified by the 'advocates' and some of those associated with them."
This "Appeal and Protest Statement" is a collaboration with "Jane Does" who have been wrongfully identified by the "advocates" and some of those associated with them. Having read this, I am glad that our voices can finally be heard. #ihopkc https://t.co/BTF2YF78SG
— misty edwards (@mistydedwards) January 18, 2024
The group of at least five “Jane Does” claim their names were added to the list of victims without their permission, causing “pain, humiliation and trauma".
“We have been harassed, secretly recorded, had family members contacted, had our phone numbers given out, and been bullied and pressured to 'admit' to being victims, and when we have refused such untruths, we have been gaslit, told that these people know the true stories of our lives better than we do, and had the narratives they have formed about our lives suggestively put in media articles and social media posts, or threatened to be put in public articles.”
The group argue that the “advocates” have refused to be formally investigated while “bullying and abusing” them, forcing them to engage “against their will” in the accusations surrounding IHOPKC and founder Mike Bickle who was accused of sexual misconduct by a group of former IHOP leaders last year. Bickle has since admitted to some unspecified "moral failures" but has strongly denied what he called the "more intense" sexual allegations.
In December 2023, IHOPKC announced it had "formally and permanently" cut ties with Bickle, saying it had confirmed “a level of inappropriate behavior” in its founding pastor which required such a move. An independent investigation into allegations at IHOPKC remains ongoing.
Following three previous rounds of investigations the 'Jane Does' are appealing for the advocates to stop the "harassing, bullying, and shaming" and to not pursue a further round to prevent further "smearing" of their names.
In response to the statement, IHOPKC said it will refrain from commenting on the claims but noted the importance of this group of women being "afforded the same right to respect and privacy protections as the Jane Does represented by the Advocate Group and associated reps."
The church posted the following on social media: "Any denigration or harassment of ANY survivor, alleged victim, wrongfully labelled victim, or Jane Doe is wrong and counter to the trauma-informed approach that fosters a safe environment for victims of abuse to be heard and not further harmed. No honest trauma-informed advocate or practitioner would disagree."
IHOPKC added: "Yesterday's statement does not change IHOPKC's commitment to finding out the truth of any and all allegations of abuse or misconduct. Thank you for the continued prayers."
