It’s an all-too-familiar story: A charismatic Christian leader, revered for his work and teaching. Then, explosive allegations he engaged in manipulative sexual and spiritual practices. But this isn’t a podcast about another good guy who turned out to be a bad guy; it’s about the rest of us who are left to wrestle with the aftermath—and ensure abuse like this doesn’t happen again.

Hosted by Jenna Barnett, Lead Us Not is a new miniseries from Sojourners magazine. The series explores the legacy of Jean Vanier, a Christian leader once regarded as a “living saint” for starting L’Arche, a global network of communities promoting the dignity of people with intellectual disabilities. But nine months after Vanier’s death, a different story emerged.

You’ll hear from past and present L’Arche members, scholars, theologians, and activists all trying to understand: When trusted leaders commit sexual and spiritual abuse, how do our communities move forward? And if an abusive person shapes our faith, how does that distort our understanding of God?

Listen to the trailer and subscribe today, wherever you get your podcasts.

Produced, written, and edited by Jenna Barnett
Sound design and mixing by JP Keenan
Graphic design by Tiarra Lucas
Music in the trailer is by Yehezkel Raz and Borrtex
Executive production by Betsy Shirley

You can learn more about the podcast, sign up for email updates and bonus information about each episode, and get a transcript of each episode at sojo.net/podcast.

Follow Sojourners on Facebook (@SojournersMagazine), Twitter (@sojourners), and Instagram (@sojogram), and share your thoughts about the podcast with #LeadUsNot or by emailing response@sojo.net.

Sojourners is an independent, award-winning magazine of faith, culture, and politics. Our mission is to inspire hope and action by articulating the biblical call to racial and social justice, life and peace, and environmental stewardship.

Jean Vanier died in May 2019, a beloved spiritual leader, celebrated for his work with people with intellectual disabilities. But in February 2020, he died again when a report published by L’Arche, the organization Vanier founded, revealed that he had been credibly accused of spiritual and sexual abuse by six women. 

In this episode you’ll hear from people who were deeply influenced by Vanier’s work – and equally shaken by the report from L’Arche. You’ll meet Charles Clark, a core member of a L’Arche community in Virginia who was “mad as heck” when he learned about Vanier’s abuse, and Tim Moore, a L’Arche leader in Atlanta who had to break the terrible news to his community. Plus, host Jenna Barnett opens up about the role of L’Arche and Jean Vanier in her own faith journey. 

Listen and subscribe today, wherever you get your podcasts.

Produced, written, and edited by Jenna Barnett
Executive production and story editing by Betsy Shirley
Sound design and mixing by JP Keenan
Factchecking by Joey Thurmond
Graphic design by Tiarra Lucas
Our theme music is by Borrtex and other music in this episode is by Yehezkel Raz

You can learn more about the podcast, sign up for email updates and bonus information about each episode, and get a transcript of each episode at sojo.net/podcast.

Follow Sojourners on Facebook (@SojournersMagazine), Twitter (@sojourners), and Instagram (@sojogram), and share your thoughts about the podcast with #LeadUsNot or by emailing response@sojo.net.

Sojourners magazine is an independent, award-winning magazine of faith, culture, and politics. Our mission is to inspire hope and action by articulating the biblical call to racial and social justice, life and peace, and environmental stewardship.

A just-released 900-page report has revealed that the scope of Jean Vanier's abuse was far more extensive — and insidious — than previously known. Host Jenna Barnett talks with Sojourners' Mitchell Atencio, who reported on this news for sojo.net. You'll hear a short summary of what we learned, plus tips for processing news that is upsetting.

We'll be back next week with a full episode. Meanwhile you can read Mitchell's reporting on the new revelations about Jean Vanier at sojo.net/larche-report-2023 and check out his tips on “How To Read the News Without Sacrificing Your Mental Health.” 

To learn more about the podcast, sign up for email updates and bonus information about each episode, or get a transcript of each episode, visit sojo.net/podcast.

Follow Sojourners on Facebook (@SojournersMagazine), Twitter (@sojourners), and Instagram (@sojogram), and share your thoughts about the podcast with #LeadUsNot or by emailing response@sojo.net.

Sojourners magazine is an independent, award-winning magazine of faith, culture, and politics. Our mission is to inspire hope and action by articulating the biblical call to racial and social justice, life and peace, and environmental stewardship.