LOS ANGELES (CA)
The Roys Report [Chicago IL]
November 29, 2025
By Mark A. Kellner
A recent lawsuit claims leaders of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, ignored repeated warnings about child sexual abuse and domestic violence and pressured a mother to keep her children in harm’s way. The suit’s allegations fit a pattern formerly reported by The Roys Report (TRR) that the church led by the late John MacArthur allegedly protected child abusers, while gaslighting and punishing their victims.
The 25-page complaint, filed in California’s Superior Court on Sept. 29, alleges the church went out of its way to protect a father who then abused his daughter during supervised visits.
It lists incident after incident where church leaders allegedly excused and explained away ongoing sexual molestation of the couple’s oldest daughter by the father, while gaslighting the mother’s efforts to stop it.
The new lawsuit is filed by one “Jane Doe” and her three children. It alleges her husband, Clinton Jung, sexually abused the couple’s toddler daughter and physically harmed all three children. Church leaders allegedly knew key details.
The complaint states church leaders failed to report child abuse, despite being mandated reporters. It says the leaders “purposefully concealed” the conduct and rebuked the mother for contacting police.
The filing resembles earlier cases involving Grace Community Church, including the well-known situation with David and Eileen Gray. In that case, The Roys Report (TRR) found that then-senior pastor John MacArthur publicly excommunicated and shamed Eileen Gray, after she refused to return to her abusive husband.
Another TRR investigation found Grace Community Church supported David Gray even after he was convicted of sexual and physical child abuse. A former elder later said the harm to victims followed “awful patterns” inside the church.
MacArthur died on July 14, after leading the congregation for 56 years.
TRR has emailed Philip Johnson, a spokesman for the church and MacArthur’s Grace to You broadcast ministry, seeking comment. The church previously told The Christian Post it had no comment on the case.
Another recent lawsuit also claimed the church wrongly disciplined a woman who fled abuse. Separately, Christianity Today has reported many victims at the church faced systemic harm, reflecting a broader pattern of institutional protection for abusive men.
The new complaint states that Jane Doe discovered photos of her toddler posed between her father’s legs with his zipper down. It states the photos appeared “sexually suggestive.” But when she showed them to Grace’s Bible study leader Dave Bierhorst and his wife, they “brushed them off.” The church leaders allegedly added, “don’t worry about the pictures. Every guy is obsessed with his parts down there.”
The filing also says Jung later admitted to “tongue-kissing” his daughter. Church leaders allegedly learned of this disclosure but did not alert authorities.
In one short quotation from the complaint, an elder allegedly told the mother: “If you’re that concerned for your children’s safety, (Doe), just never leave him alone with the kids.”
Another elder allegedly said Doe lacked biblical grounds for separation because her husband’s affairs were “digital only.”
Church leaders allegedly advised her to “submit” to her husband, even after she reported physical violence.
According to the complaint, Jung “was emboldened to engage in such blatant abuse after multiple law enforcement investigations and court proceedings precisely because Church leadership had enabled his conduct to go unpunished.”
The lawsuit says Doe called 911 during a dangerous car incident when she believed her husband was trying to get her killed. Police officers told her not to return home. After the husband called a church elder, the complaint alleges that same elder called Doe that night and rebuked her for calling police.
“He accused Plaintiff of ‘overreacting’ by calling 911 and told Plaintiff that she should have ‘submitted’ to her husband instead of ‘escalating’ the situation,” the lawsuit read. “When Plaintiff questioned whether wives should submit to husbands when their safety or the safety of their children is threatened, she was accused of being resentful of God’s ordained roles in marriage.”
After that call, Doe allegedly feared church retaliation if she refused to obey.
The complaint claims leaders pushed her to return to the marital home despite multiple reports describing abuse, manipulation and coercion. It states she submitted a 10-page document describing threats, tracking, sexual misconduct and violence.
The church allegedly discouraged her from providing photos to leadership because viewing them “could be required to inform law enforcement.”
According to the complaint, church leaders supervised some visits between the father and the children and told the mother there had been “no child abuse.”
After months of pressure, the mother returned to the home with the children. Church leaders allegedly told her she would harm the children if she remained separated.
The filing alleges further abuse took place during supervised court-ordered visitation. It states Jung forced his daughter to touch his genitals during a visit at an ice cream store. The child disclosed this later.
Months later, the complaint says he forced his daughter to look at his genitals during a hotel visit. The child told her teacher and her mother, and both notified police.
A prosecutor later declined charges because investigators could not prove intent. According to the filing, the district attorney wrote that church interference “muddled” evidence that might have supported prosecution.
The lawsuit alleges childhood sexual abuse, negligence, domestic violence and aiding and abetting domestic violence. It seeks damages and a jury trial.
The new complaint asserts that the church placed “institutional interests” above safety. It states the church “emboldened” the father by refusing to report abuse.
As the case moves forward, lawyers argue the harm could have been prevented if leadership had followed mandated-reporting laws.
Lawsuit: Jane Doe et. al. v. Grace Community Church – filed Sept 29, 2025 – please see original article for lawsuit filing.