Brian Tome and Crossroads Church came under renewed scrutiny in January 2026 after Tome sent a letter to congregants regarding a terminated staff member. The staff member had been caught video recording women at the local gym and was employed with the church as a youth worker. Tome shared that “this grossly violates biblical standards and expectations required of any individual on staff.” Tome further writes that he is grieved over the situation, and states that “bad and sinful choices should not be concealed but brought into the light. Confession brings healing. (James 5:16) Concealment only brings darkness.” James 5:16 says we should confess our sins to one another so that we might receive prayer and forgiveness. I think this is especially true when it involves sexual harassment or sexual assault.
Sexual assault is what happens when someone either touches another person in a sexual manner without consent or makes another person touch them in a sexual manner without consent. It includes unwanted kissing and the touching of someone’s genitals, breasts or bottom. This definition doesn’t specify whether the touching takes place with an offender’s hands or an object, only that the action of touching without consent is considered sexual assault. I believe that most of us would agree that someone who sexually assaults another person in the workplace – especially when witnessed by others and/or captured on video – should be terminated immediately and have the police involved. Most of us, anyway.
The Board’s Response and the Problem of Institutional Protection
The Spiritual Board and pastoral staff at Crossroads Church, however, had other opinions, including an internal investigation that did NOT include ownership or an apology by the offender to the victim. And it wasn’t the offenders’ hands that touched the victim. It was, in fact, a riding crop, and after the event, the alleged perpetrator, Brian Tome himself, asked the victim, “You like that?” The victim was offered a meeting with Brian Tome and a Spiritual Board member and later reported to the board that the meeting “went well.” Because… what else is a victim going to say after being swatted on the crotch by a riding crop by a person in a position of authority over them, with a Spiritual Board member present? Tome was admonished, of course, and warned to be careful with his words around others. He was instructed to be mindful of his actions and remain above reproach. And with that, the Spiritual Board considered the matter resolved. There is no report as to whether the victim considered the matter resolved.
What Scripture Says About Bodily Sin and Betrayed Trust
What does the Bible have to say about Brian Tome’s actions? Sexual assault is a bodily sin, destroying a victim’s sense of personal autonomy and respect. It is a sin against relationship, violating the command to love one another as Christ has loved us. And it is a sin that betrays trust and destroys relationship. (John 13:34-35) Lastly, sexual assault is a sin against God Himself as it violates His most sacred creation – we who are made in His image. Tome continued in his January 2026 email to express that “sin is a real and destructive force which deludes us to its heinous nature.” Amen. Indeed, sin deluded many on the Crossroads Spiritual Board and staff into believing that Tome’s actions were simply “inappropriate physical humor.” One must wonder who found it funny.
When Sexual Misconduct Happens in the Church
In light of the staff termination in January, it seems (from news accounts) that Tome’s victim returned to the staff to intensify their original concerns from previous years. Considering Tome’s direct stand against the heinous nature of sin, and his own words calling for confessions, and to bring sin into light, one could conclude that this brave person desired to see the church act upon its own sermon that was so publicly offered and in print via email to its nearly 40,000 congregants. Does Crossroads only talk the talk, or do they also walk the walk? Why wasn’t the church body made aware of this event when it first came to light in 2024? Where were the emails regarding sin and confession then?
Power, Fear, and the Silence of Victims
If you look at any posts on social media regarding Brian Tome and Crossroads Church of Cincinnati, you will find a multitude of comments disparaging the victim. Many people want to know why they did not say anything when the event occurred (2015). As a survivor of church trauma, I can attest to the fear that comes with confronting men in power, especially those in houses of faith. We are taught not to question the man of God, and even when something clearly wrong happens, we are often told to “forgive” or “just leave it in God’s hands.” Often, our actions are scrutinized and brought into question, including what we may have been wearing, who we were with, and whether our gender aligned with the abusers. All too often, the victim is further victimized because the greater good of the church or the pastor is deemed most important. After all, no one wants to cause the ministry to suffer. Just look at the number of sexual impropriety concerns that the Southern Baptist Church released a few years ago, or consider the number of accusations from the Catholic church.
When the Church Protects Reputation Over People
The truth is that the average congregant in America believes that they have no power within their own house of worship. They often “go along to get along” because rocking the boat or outright disagreement can be the reason for a modern-day shunning. It happens all too often in far too many churches. Most congregants place their pastors next to Jesus, mistakenly believing that they are mediators between men and God. Sadly, many pastors thrive in such environments, becoming power hungry, prideful, and arrogant. Brian Tome seems to have succumbed to just that – the need to be powerful, prideful, and parade his toxic masculinity around the office of a place that is supposed to be a sanctuary for all.
The Dangerous Culture of Pastoral Exceptionalism
The case of Crossroads and Brian Tome isn’t a simple one – but it should be. It should not matter whether victims are children or adults, or whether they report immediately or when they work up the courage. Rather than asking ourselves why it took so long for someone to tell, we should be asking why the abuse/assault/harassment/rape/molestation happened in the first place. We need to worry less about reconciliation and far more about offering support and resources for the wounded. There should be much less concern about a pastor’s restoration and much more about his moral failure and the question of integrity. Church staff should be allowed to ask, “Why do you have a riding crop in your office when none of us ride horses to church?” and then follow up with, “That really makes me uncomfortable and feels like a hostile work environment. Please take it home.” WITHOUT fear of retaliation.
The Church Is at a Crossroads
The Western American church has been consumed with the concept of being persecuted in the past several years, but what they don’t seem to understand is that they have dragged themselves into this crossroads. They are burning down the establishment they seek to build. The sheep are leaving because it is the pastors, not the congregants, who are wolves, prowling around in search of easy prey. Jesus has called the church, His bride, to be like Him; to love one another, care for the sick, feed the hungry, visit the prisoner, take care of the poor, be obedient to Him, and to be sacrificial of self. Never were we asked to be stand-up comedians and use physical humor to demean other human beings. Jesus loved His disciples (His staff), and that kind of love? It was TRANSFORMATIONAL. It changed the world. It didn’t make headlines, and it didn’t need emails of explanation.
It was above reproach.
We as the church are at a crossroads and the question is quite simply, are we adding to heaven by being Jesus with skin on and living the gospel, or are we so caught up with our own gospel of self that we have abandoned the personage of Jesus for laughs and likes in our culture? One is pleasing to God, but only one.
Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash
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