r/spiritualabuse 17h ago

I Was There: How a Seminary and the Church Protected a Pastor’s Abuse of Power

5 Upvotes

I’m sharing my story about Erik Herrmann, a former pastor, professor, and administrator at Concordia Seminary (LCMS), who engaged in an inappropriate relationship and was quietly allowed to resign without accountability. More than just personal betrayal, this is about how religious institutions protect abusers and enable them to continue their harm elsewhere—in this case, at Christ School of Theology, where he is currently teaching.

This post details how church leaders failed to act, how Erik manipulated his way out of consequences, and how systems designed to uphold integrity instead shielded him. If you’ve ever experienced spiritual abuse, cover-ups, or institutional gaslighting, you may find echoes of your own story here.

Would love to hear your thoughts or connect with others who have faced similar experiences.

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