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Case File · Oct 30, 2026 · 14:42

DARVO in the Church: Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim and Offender

Deny. Attack. Reverse Victim and Offender. The pattern, the case files, and what Scripture says

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▶ Jennifer Freyd, DARVO▶ Harsey & Freyd (2020), "Deny, Attack, and Reverse Victim and Offender (DARVO)"▶ Royal Commission, Case Study 18 findings (23 Nov 2015)▶ Guardian on the findings (2015)▶ ABC News, acquittal (17 Aug 2023)▶ BBC, acquittal (2023)▶ Letter to the bishops of Chile (8 Apr 2018)▶ Resignation and Mars Hill board findings (Oct 2014)▶ Sutton Turner disputes the "adultery plot" claim (The Roys Report)▶ Turner interview, "The 'Trap' & The Truth" (The Roys Report)▶ 2018 statement ("digital attackers," "obvious goal of ending our ministry"), quoted by the Christian Post▶ Elders declare him biblically disqualified (2019)▶ 2018 statements▶ IAG report (Feb 2019)▶ Guidepost report (2022), p.169▶ 2017 denial and lawsuit▶ Miller & Martin investigation report (Feb 2021)▶ RZIM board open letter (Feb 2021)▶ Panel statement (Jan 2020)▶ His statement after the 2012 arrest▶ Charge dropped (AJC)▶ Brian Houston, Royal Commission testimony (Hillsong ACCountability)▶ Brian Houston after the verdict (The Project)▶ Brian Houston interviewed by Andrew Bolt (News24)▶ Pope Francis on Bishop Barros (Rome Reports)▶ Mark Driscoll, "pile of dead bodies" (310revelation)▶ Mark Driscoll, "How Dare You!?" (Pastor Mark Driscoll)▶ Sutton Turner, "Mark Driscoll: The 'Trap' & The Truth" (The Roys Report)▶ James MacDonald sermon, "Who Needs A Resurrection" (James MacDonald)▶ Todd Bentley (Ron Cantor)▶ Benny Hinn, "Touch Not the Anointed" (Crossing the Tasman)▶ Kenneth Copeland interview (Inside Edition)

Exhibit AKey Evidence

  1. It stands for Deny, Attack, and Reverse Victim and Offender.
  2. Freyd's later research found that people exposed to DARVO saw the victim as less believable, and more responsible for the abuse.
  3. It shifts attention from the issue to the critic.
  4. It makes the critic look dangerous and the leader look persecuted.
  5. David refused to kill Saul. He did not refuse to tell the truth about him.
  6. The first story is not the whole story. Examination isn't rebellion.
  7. Real accountability doesn't fear examination.
  8. Some accusations are false. That's exactly why we examine, instead of deny.

Exhibit BFrom the Word

“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.”
Ephesians 5:11 NKJV
“Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses. Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear.”
1 Timothy 5:19-20 NKJV
“The first one to plead his cause seems right, Until his neighbor comes and examines him.”
Proverbs 18:17 NKJV
“Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.”
Matthew 18:15 NKJV
“Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed;”
Galatians 2:11 NKJV
“I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us. Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church.”
3 John 9-10 NKJV
ClassifiedFull Briefing

DARVO in the Church: Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim and Offender

When abuse is exposed in a church, the response often follows a predictable script: Deny. Attack. Reverse Victim and Offender. Psychologist Jennifer Freyd named it DARVO, and research shows it works: people exposed to it find the victim less believable and more responsible. In this case file we walk through the pattern, look at real public examples from church leaders and institutions, test it against Scripture, and lay out what believers should do when they see it.

Chapters

  • 0:00 Intro
  • 0:47 What Is DARVO?
  • 1:36 The DARVO Pattern: Deny, Attack, Reverse
  • 2:37 Case Files: Brian Houston and Hillsong
  • 4:34 Pope Francis and Bishop Barros
  • 5:31 Mark Driscoll and Mars Hill
  • 7:04 James MacDonald and Harvest Bible Chapel
  • 7:49 Bill Hybels and Willow Creek
  • 8:05 The SBC Executive Committee
  • 8:28 Ravi Zacharias
  • 8:47 Todd Bentley
  • 9:26 Creflo Dollar
  • 9:45 Preached as Doctrine: Benny Hinn and Kenneth Copeland
  • 10:33 What Scripture Says: "Touch Not the Lord's Anointed"
  • 11:42 Matthew 18, Diotrephes and Ephesians 5:11
  • 13:08 What To Do
  • 14:07 Closing

Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version (NKJV). Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Clips are used under fair use for commentary, criticism and education.

Sources

DARVO research

Brian Houston / Hillsong

Pope Francis

Mark Driscoll

James MacDonald

Bill Hybels

SBC Executive Committee

Ravi Zacharias

Todd Bentley

Creflo Dollar

Video clips

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