Parisian Evangelical cleric ousted amidst numerous accusations of misconduct, coinciding with heightened vigilance within religious institutions
In response to the growing concern over sexual abuse in evangelical churches, various action plans have been initiated across Europe, with France and Spain leading the way.
In France, the National Council of Evangelicals of France (CNEF) has taken a firm stand against sexual abuse. The CNEF, which represents 2,500 evangelical churches in the country, has expressed its support for potential victims and committed to fighting sexual abuse in evangelical Protestant churches. Following allegations against pastor Matthieu Koumarianos of My Gospel Church in Paris, the church terminated its relationship with him on 6 December.
The CNEF launched an initiative called 'Stop Abus' in 2022, which has since become a national project for all its members. Speaking to Réforme magazine, Myriam Letzel, the 'Stop Abus' coordinator, explained that once a disclosure is received by the service, the person who wishes to be contacted is contacted by email or telephone, according to their choice, and then offered a face-to-face meeting, in their region, with two people from the helpline. 'Stop Abus' also offers the possibility of anonymous reporting and psychological and legal support.
The CNEF encourages anyone who may have been affected by Matthieu Koumarianos' actions to report to 'Stop Abus', the police, or Miviludes. The CNEF has also committed to fighting sexual abuse in evangelical churches and has asked other churches to cut off any ministerial connections with the accused.
In Spain, evangelical leaders have issued a manifesto titled "For a Church with Justice, Integrity and Restoration" in response to abuse and misuse of pastoral power within their community. This interdenominational document, supported by the Spanish Evangelical Alliance and other evangelical entities, aims to break the culture of silence, put victims first, and restore trust through justice and integrity.
Beyond these national measures, a guide published in 2025 by the Southern Baptist Convention (U.S.) provides a practical resource for churches on abuse prevention, including policies, volunteer screening, staff training, and leadership preparation for handling disclosures of abuse. Although this guide is American, it represents current best practices in evangelical abuse prevention efforts internationally and may influence evangelical churches in Europe seeking to implement robust protective measures.
While specific European-wide coordinated actions by evangelical bodies are less documented, the Spanish manifesto serves as a model of leadership initiative within the evangelical framework. Public and institutional accountability, victim prioritization, and legal reform are the main pillars of these action plans. However, coordinated Europe-wide evangelical action plans beyond Spain are not explicitly referenced in the current sources, suggesting ongoing development rather than fully unified continental initiatives.
It is important to note that national representative bodies in other European countries, such as Evangelical Alliances or Protestant Federations, have also promoted action plans against abuse in church settings. In 2023, 'Stop Abus' handled 38 requests from victims or witnesses. All the members of My Gospel Church resigned and the church has since dissolved, with its website and social media profiles no longer active.
References:
- For a Church with Justice, Integrity and Restoration
- Le Gouvernement présente son rapport sur la lutte contre les violences sexuelles
- Caring Well Challenge
- The European health-and-wellness movement, inspired by the actions taken in France, could benefit from adopting 'Stop Abus' as a model for dealing with sexual abuse within their own communities.
- The ongoing development of a unified mental-health approach across Europe could involve integrating the principles emphasized in the Spanish manifesto, such as public and institutional accountability, victim prioritization, and legal reform.
- The European education-and-self-development sector, keen on fostering an environment free from sexual abuse, might find value in studying the Southern Baptist Convention's guide on abuse prevention, which represents current best practices in evangelical abuse prevention efforts internationally.
- With the increasing emphasis on general-news coverage about sexual abuse in various religious institutions, it is crucial for politics to strive for robust crime-and-justice reforms to protect victims, as shown by the action plans implemented by evangelical bodies in response to these concerning issues.
