As a 20-year member of Houston’s Grace Presbyterian Church, I was saddened to receive the e-mail below:

Dear Grace Member,

This week Grace Presbyterian was served with a lawsuit alleging that in 1990 a 15 year old female was allegedly subject to improper sexual conduct while returning from a mission trip in West Virginia. The suit incorrectly asserts among other things that the alleged offender was a Grace Associate Pastor. Shortly after the trip, we understand that then Grace Senior Pastor, David McKechnie, met with the young woman and her father regarding the alleged incident.

Given that this situation occurred 21 years ago we currently have very few facts. We have retained legal counsel to investigate and respond appropriately to the suit.

We are stunned and saddened by this event. Our hearts and prayers go out to anyone who faces such circumstances. Grace Presbyterian Church takes the safety and security of our children and youth very seriously and we have robust practices and policies in place to protect our young people. Anyone who knows Grace, knows that the accusations alleged in the suit are completely counter to our beliefs and mission.

Scripture tells us that we are to be reflective in and to pray through all circumstances. We ask for your prayers for the alleged victim, her family, others involved in this case, and Grace.

Despite the grave nature of this communication, I’m glad I received it. As anyone with crisis communications and reputation management experience knows, it’s VITAL for companies, organizations and institutions to communicate as quickly as possible in the case of an incident. Why?

1. Control: By communicating immediately after an incident, you can improve the chance of protecting your company’s reputation through effective messaging–before internal and external audiences learn of it and damaging rumors take on a life of their own.
2. Peace of mind: Had I heard of an alleged sexual assault through the wrong parties, I may have been worried about my own children. Reading that this alleged incident is dated back to the year we joined the church, however, I am put at ease. While I am still disturbed by the subject matter and concerned for all parties involved, I do not intend to leave the church. In the case of a corporate incident, the sooner employees, communities and shareholders understand the facts, the sooner they can make educated decisions on their own behalf or step up to offer aid if appropriate.
3. Respect: We respect friends or colleagues who communicate directly and honestly. And, while I know it was hard for our church leaders to send that e-mail, I admire them for being straightforward with the congregation. On the other hand, when companies hold off on offering facts or politicians take weeks to confirm allegations that end up being true, I ask myself why they didn’t come clean in the first place. In the end, I lose respect for any person or organization that tries to cover the truth.

I hope my church’s situation will be resolved in a manner that is fair and appropriate for all involved. In the meantime, I’m appreciative of the honest communication. By “owning” this crisis, Grace Presbyterian will continue to have my respect and dedication.