Pastor tasked with leading Duluth Vineyard following sex scandal leaves church; Church apologizes to pastor
John Kliewer
(Family Handout)
DULUTH, Min. – Pastor John Kliewer was tasked by the Duluth Vineyard’s congregation to lead their flock following a sex scandal from their youth pastor and his family. Kliewer has now left the Duluth Vineyard.
In March of 2025, the Duluth Vineyard placed Kliewer on leave to investigate him. That investigation was focusing on allegations that Kliewer’s management created an atmosphere of “fear, dysfunction, and retaliation.” The church now says those claims were not true.
In late October 2025 Vineyard Duluth posted a public letter to Kliewer. The letter posted on DuluthVineyard.org from the Church Council wrote in part, “we acknowledge that the independent investigator found that the allegations made against you were unfounded. We recognize that our public statements addressing the allegations and the investigation caused you pain… We re-commit ourselves to truthfulness and accountability going forward.”
Kliewer’s wife posted on Facebook to say the unfounded accusations were in response Kliewer’s efforts in leading the church and uncovering the truth behind what happened with the sex scandal. Lauralyn Kliewer wrote in part, “My husband exposed how Vineyard USA responds to sexual abuse and called for reform, so they retaliated by defaming him. Rather than standing up for him, the Duluth Vineyard leadership shunned him out of fear that Vineyard USA would throw the church out of the Vineyard movement. Although John can’t tell you about the trauma the Duluth Vineyard caused him because they silenced him by requiring he sign an NDA in order to receive a settlement, I didn’t sign an NDA…. John wasn’t physically beaten and robbed, but he was emotionally beaten and robbed of his good name by Vineyard USA.”
The sex scandal came from Jackson Michael Gatlin. He was a former youth pastor at the Duluth Vineyard Church. He sexually assaulted girls from the congregation. Gatlin was sentenced to 13-years in prison after entering a guilty plea on five counts of Criminal Sexual Conduct. Gatlin faced claims of abuse dating back to 2007.
Jackson’s father, Michael, was the head pastor during much of the abuse. Jackson’s mother, Brenda, was also an employee of the church.
The police and church’s own investigation raised questions on how Michael and Brenda Gatlin handled the accusation regarding their son.
The church hired an organization called Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment (GRACE) to conduct its investigation. In a letter to Michael and Brenda Gatlin in December of 2023 church leadership wrote, “you both knew of your son’s abuse and failed to act and that you yourselves engaged in spiritual and emotional abuse… Your abusive behavior described in the GRACE report is shocking, wrong and has done great damage to the victims and the Duluth Vineyard community.” Letters to the Gatlins also banned them from returning to Duluth Vineyards property.
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FULL LETTER ON DULUTHVINEYARD.ORG.
Latest Update
Thursday, October 30, 2025
To Pastor John Kliewer:
On behalf of the Duluth Vineyard Church Council, we acknowledge that the independent investigator found that the allegations made against you were unfounded. We recognize that our public statements addressing the allegations and the investigation caused you pain, and that was not our intent.
We affirm your integrity, your leadership, and your faithful service to the Duluth Vineyard community. We grieve the pain and disruption the allegations and the investigation have caused you, your family, our staff, and our community. We re-commit ourselves to truthfulness and accountability going forward, and wish you and your family the best.
With respect and gratitude,
The Duluth Vineyard Church Council
