August 1, 2022 - We have an update to provide you regarding the civil lawsuit brought against The Village Church in 2019, following our latest statement made in August of 2020.

On August 27, 2020, the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office dismissed the criminal charges against Matt Tonne, stating “the fact remains that the complainant cannot and has not positively identified [Matt Tonne] as the person who committed [the] offense.” The charges were fully expunged from Matt Tonne’s record in the latter part of 2021.

On August 1, 2022, The Village Church and the individual known as Jane Doe One came to a resolution, and the civil litigation case was dismissed from the Dallas County Court.

With the dismissal of both the criminal and civil case, litigation has now come to an end.

The safety of our children and the vulnerable among us has been, and remains, our highest priority. After a thorough and lengthy legal investigation, we maintain and firmly believe that we committed no wrong. It has been our practice to exceed the standard of care as it relates to child safety, and we will continue to take accusations of or suspicion of abuse seriously. We provide ongoing training to all of our staff, elders, deacons, and key lay leaders to increase awareness and delineate instructions for filing reports.

We pray that the individual and their family continues to heal and receive care following this resolution.

If you are someone who needs support or care, contact crisis lines for 24-hour help (text, chat, or call) or reach out to Summer Vinson Berger or Megan Gray within the Care Department for assistance or next steps.


August 31, 2020 – In 2018 we informed you of a criminal investigation involving one of our former employees, Matt Tonne. Last week, the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office moved to dismiss the criminal charges, and that motion was granted by the court. The Motion and Order are attached here.

We continue to pray for all involved.

For additional Care resources:


June 16, 2019 - Pastor Matt Chandler provided an update at services about the 2012 camp case and the care process.


2012 Kids Camp Update

January 17, 2019 - We have an update regarding the 2012 Kids Camp situation that we communicated publicly last September. The Dallas County District Attorney filed charges in this case against a former employee of The Village Church, Matt Tonne, who was indicted by the Dallas County Grand Jury and is being prosecuted by the District Attorney's office. Matt turned himself in and is now out on bond. The outcome is pending trial. More information about the charges, which are a matter of public record, may be obtained by contacting Detective Michael Hernandez of the Cedar Hill Police Department or by visiting dallascounty.org.

This indictment is not a declaration of guilt or innocence; it is only the next step in the process. When a person is indicted, they are formally charged with a crime, but like any citizen in our country, they are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

We anticipate and understand questions about why Matt Tonne left staff and whether this case had anything to do with his transition. We removed Matt from The Village Church staff in June of 2018 for other reasons, and we communicated those specific issues to our staff, as well as to members and volunteers in his ministry department at that time.

We have been and will continue to be in close contact with those directly involved in this situation and will continue to do all we can to assist with any request that authorities have for us. We don't have additional details to add right now but will keep you updated.

There are no adequate words that can express the pain, sorrow and grief that are wrapped up in this whole situation. We are committed to pursuing healing and justice and will continue to follow the lead of the authorities and experts involved in the case. As we all wait for updates, we ask for you to pray for everyone involved, as we look to Christ for hope in such a dark situation.

FAQS

How should I talk to my children about this specific update?

If your child has spent time under the ministry of the accused, then we believe it would be wise to have a discussion about this situation. If you learn of anything that might be helpful for the authorities, please contact Cedar Hill Police Detective Michael Hernandez.

How should I talk to my children about sexual abuse?

Children need to know they are free to talk with their parents about sexual abuse and come to them if they ever feel unsafe or unsure. The best advice we can give to parents about this conversation is to have it. You won’t get it perfect. You’ll forget something you wanted to say or say something maybe you didn’t think you should, but this is not a one-and-done talk. It’s many conversations, over time. As you have these conversations, it’s helpful to keep in mind the specific personality and developmental level of your child.

Below is a list of resources and places that can help.

Books for Children

Articles

Help Centers/Classes/Counseling

What if I am having trouble processing this information?

We know that this situation will be difficult to receive for anyone, regardless of your own story and background. We also know that it might trigger certain thoughts and feelings for those who have experienced or know someone who has experienced something similar. Whatever the case, we encourage you to acknowledge that and seek help or additional care if needed. Professional counseling, joining a support group or confiding in a safe, trusted friend or family member can be a great place to start sharing your thoughts and feelings. If you don’t know where to start, please reach out to one of our pastors or the Care Department for direction. If you feel like you are going to hurt yourself or someone else, dial 911 immediately. For immediate care and support, please reach out to the hotlines below:

Is The Village Church a safe place for children and victims?

We are committed to the safety of our children and strive to be a trauma-informed church where it is safe for the voiceless and vulnerable to be heard and to find healing in community and in the Lord. We have worked with outside consultants to train us in these areas. We continue to work with MinistrySafe to train us in child safety and protection, and we require all staff and any volunteers who work with children to go through the training that MinistrySafe provides. We also recently hired a Director of Care, Summer Vinson Berger, who is a Licensed Professional Counselor with specific professional experience in trauma care. She is helping us evaluate all of our current practices and will help us further strengthen our ministry here. We view physical and emotional safety as a top priority and will continue to pour resources into that area.

How do I get more information about this situation?

Below is our original statement from September, along with FAQs about the ongoing process and child safety at The Village Church. We will provide more updates when they become available.


2012 Kids Camp Investigation

September 16, 2018 - We are communicating to address a difficult situation that we believe you should be aware of, based on a formal investigation that is in process.

The investigation is regarding information that has come to light about the 2012 Mount Lebanon Kids Camp that The Village Church attended. The Cedar Hill Police department, under the direction of Detective Michael Hernandez, is investigating a report of sexual assault by an adult against a minor at the camp. Earlier this year, the minor came to a place where it was possible to verbalize the memory of what happened for the first time through ongoing therapy. Detective Hernandez has been investigating the case since that time.

It took courage and strength for the child and the family to share this information, and we want to support them in any way possible. We have been working with the family and Detective Hernandez to do all that we can to bring healing and the light of justice to this situation, including the decision to make this investigation public now. We only have one reported incident at this particular camp and year, so no other camp or event is under investigation at this time.

We want to clearly state that there are no persons of interest in this investigation that have access to children at The Village Church. We would not allow anyone who is under investigation for a crime like this be near children at TVC. We have strong child safety and security practices in place through ongoing training provided by an outside consultant called MinistrySafe. We require all staff and any volunteers who work with children to complete this training. We are committed to doing all that we can to protect our children. On Monday night, when Detective Hernandez met with parents from the 2012 camp, he noted that our child safety practices and training were strong in 2012 and have only improved over time through our ongoing work with MinistrySafe.

This is heartbreaking news to deliver. The weight of it leads us all to a pleading with Christ to bring healing, justice and help to everyone involved.

FAQS

Can parents be confident in the safety of their children at TVC events in light of this news?

Yes. We are very serious, intentional and committed to the safety of our children. We have strong safety and security procedures and practices in place and have only increased those over the past few years. We continue to work with MinistrySafe to train us in child safety and protection, and we require all staff and any volunteers who work with children to go through the training that MinistrySafe provides.

What prompted sharing this information now?

Detective Hernandez asked us not to share the news of this investigation any earlier as it could have hindered his work. We have been working closely with the family and Detective Hernandez on the best time to make this news public, and everyone agreed that this was the proper time. We will continue to stay in close contact with the family and Detective Hernandez and provide timely updates as we have them.

Do I need to keep an extra eye on my children at church because the alleged perpetrator is at our church?

No. The clear and emphatic answer to this question is no. We would not allow anyone who is under investigation for a crime like this be near children at TVC.

How should we talk about this situation with our children?

Every family and child will be different, so we encourage you to share what you feel is best and wise for your situation. Our main encouragement would be to center their hearts and minds on the power, justice and goodness of God. He is ruling and reigning over the universe in the midst of this, as hard as it can be for us to believe and trust in that at times.

How should I talk to my children about sexual abuse?

Children need to know they are free to talk with their parents about sexual abuse and come to them if they ever feel unsafe or unsure. The best advice we can give to parents about this conversation is to have it. You won’t get it perfect. You’ll forget something you wanted to say or say something maybe you didn’t think you should, but this is not a one-and-done talk. It’s many conversations, over time.

Below is a list of resources and places that can help.

Books for children

Articles

Help centers/classes/counseling

Will we have overnight events for elementary, middle school and high school students in the future?

We have decided to not do overnight events for elementary children based on counsel from MinistrySafe, reflection and prayer. We will continue to do overnight camps for middle school and high school students based on their ages and the safety and security guidelines and procedures we have in place through our ongoing work with MinistrySafe.

How are the child and family doing and how are we supporting them?

Here is a statement from the family:

We believe the Lord is giving a voice to the voiceless in this situation. He cares deeply for those who carry the false shame that a victim often bears and calls us to cast this false shame at the foot of the cross where the healing love of Christ awaits. The Lord exposes what has been done in the darkness, and He has faithfully brought it to light. As parents, our hearts have at times been angered and grieved beyond measure, but we know we have never been left without hope. Our child and our family have seen the Lord’s abounding love in this through the listening ears and tangible hands of loved ones, our church leadership and staff.

We ask for continued prayer for our church leaders who desire to serve us all so well. We clearly see they are just as heartbroken and angered over this as we are. They deeply care about our church body and desire justice and truth. 

Finally, we ask for your continued prayers for healing for our family. Please pray for the justice process that is ahead. That we would continue to exercise patience and trust in the Lord. That we all steady our hearts on Christ alone.