Chinese Church leader accused of sexual misconduct in Boz Tchividjian report

By Mark Woods
Christian Today
July 13, 2016

http://www.christiantoday.com/article/chinese.church.leader.accused.of.sexual.misconduct.in.boz.tchividjian.report/90486.htm

Yuan Zhiming has been accused of sexual misconduct.

An influential Chinese preacher and theologian has been accused of sexual misconduct in a report by a group specialising in abuse cases.

Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment (GRACE), founded by one of Billy Graham's grandsons, Boz Tchividjian, investigated Yuan Zhiming, founder of China Soul for Christ Foundation.

According to the report, an unnamed woman student had two encounters with Yuan, who has an influential ministry in the worldwide Chinese Christian community.

"He started saying that he was lonely and that he needed to have company," she told investigators.

She stayed with Yuan for part of the first night as they watched a soft-porn feature film. On the following evening she refused his request and left.

The GRACE report says: "Rev Yuan and (China Soul) stand on the threshold of a unique opportunity that could allow them to be a powerful example of authentic Christian repentance to those inside and outside of the Chinese community."

According to RNS, Yuan has been on sabbatical during the past year after being accused of raping a woman acquaintance, Chai Ling, in 1990. He says he was guilty of "sexual iniquity," but not rape.

Chai said: "I found Yuan's pattern disgustingly similar. He identifies an innocent and trusting young woman, isolating her into a one-on-one situation, in the name of discussing the movement, or job, or religion or spiritual matter. He surprises his targets with a premeditated pornographic or sexual explicit video; while they were in shock, he strikes."

Christian Today has asked Yuan to comment on the allegations in the report.