July 21, 2024
Statement from THE Board of Elders
In April 2024, several allegations concerning the culture at The Garden Greenville, under the leadership of Chad & Wendy Norris came to the attention of the board of elders at the church. It became clear that, while the gifting on much of the ministry of Chad and Wendy was identified, there was weight to the allegations brought and a clear lack of health in the culture and leadership of the church, so action was needed to be taken by the board of elders.
On April 9, 2024, the board of elders unanimously voted to ask for Chad Norris’ resignation due to evidence of careless words and improper use of the prophetic. Following this decision, the board of elders and senior leadership began a process of meetings, receiving e-mails and letters from people who have been negatively affected by the leadership of Chad and Wendy Norris. During this time the elders and staff felt deep conviction from the Lord, recognizing areas where we were complicit and repented publicly before the Lord and the church. This time of investigation brought forward overwhelming evidence of the pain experienced by many under the leadership of Chad & Wendy, confirming the concerns that had been raised which included reports of manipulation, lack of accountability, misuse of spiritual authority, systematic patterns of coercive and controlling behavior in a spiritual context, and a distortion or exploitation of God’s power and authority.
Chad and Wendy resigned from their positions without acknowledging the great deal of pain and hurt that they had caused many individuals under their care over the years.
We as the board of elders, love Chad and Wendy Norris and we are contending for their healing and restoration, holding them and their family in our hearts and prayers. We also want to recognize that though unhealthy practices were identified, there were also times full of healthy fruit and great times of ministry over the last ten years for which we are grateful.
We are so grateful to those who came forward sharing their concerns and their experiences as it has enabled truth to come out and for healing to begin. We acknowledge the courage, sacrifice, and potential pain that it caused you to do so. We are deeply sorry to all those who have been negatively affected under the prior leadership. We pray that with God’s help, we are starting to and will continue to see The Garden Greenville become a healthy church body, that we will learn from the experiences of the past, and with robust accountability, and yielding to God, we will see God restore what was broken.
We acknowledge that for our church family, this has been an incredibly painful and confusing time and we are grateful for your support and patience as we have taken the concerns brought forward seriously.
We understand that there may be more individuals out there who have not yet come forward. We want to encourage you that, if it would be helpful to your journey, then we will take the time to listen to your story and your truth. Any concerns shared will be treated with the sensitivity and respect it deserves. You can email the elders directly at elders@thegardengreenville.com.
We commit to change, growth, and building a strong accountability culture around our leadership. We want, desire, and pray that The Garden Greenville will become the church it was destined to be. A place where people will find healing, safety, and restoration. A place where God is in charge and all are welcome. A place of transformation and deep encounters with the presence of God. We commit to keeping God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, at the head of the church and ourselves in a position of service to Him and the congregants that join us.
Sincerely,
The Elders of The Garden Greenville -
Michael Thornton, Eric Tuggle, Tim Harris, Gabriel Moreno, & Daniel Greene