Covenant Members of The Village Church,

It is heartbreaking to send this email regarding two Covenant Members of The Village Church,

former missionaries Jordan Root and Karen Hinkle !formerl Root", but our ho#e is set on Christ

through it all$

%hen a #ublic ministr leader, such as a missionar, has #ersisted in sin, The Village ma announce

their removal from ministr to the church !

"$ %e t#icall define +the church as our

Covenant Members$ In the case of Jordan and Karen, we have alread communicated their situation

to our church staff and all Covenant Members of the -allas cam#us$ However, in light of the #ublic

nature of this situation, some misinformation that we.ve seen onli ne and /uestions we have been

receiving from our members, we felt it was necessar to e0tend this communication beond

Covenant Members at the -allas cam#us to all Covenant Members of The Village Church$ %e

a#ologi1e if ou are not a Covenant Member of our -allas cam#us and found out about the situation

from outside sources, but our intent here is to #rovide clarit and understanding$

Jordan and Karen have been Covenant Members of The Village Church for three ears and were

sent out last 2ugust b the -allas cam#us as missionaries to 3outh 2sia through a missionar

agenc called 3erving in Mission !3IM"$ In -ecember, Jordan confessed that he had viewed online

#ornogra#h involving children$ The Village and 3IM were grieved at this news and immediatel

recalled the Roots from the mission field to further assess the situation and determine the best

course of action$ 3IM, as their em#loer, began an investigation and notified the #olice in case

Jordan.s actions had legal im#lications$ 2t the same time, our staff and elders began walking closel

with both Jordan and Karen in ho#es of working toward their healing and restoration while also

dealing with the seriousness of Jordan.s sin, including coo#erating with all civil authorities$

This case of sin has brought immense damage to a marriage and a ministr$ 4e t, in the midst of this

heartbreaking situation, we have maintained a tremendous love and burden for both Jordan and

Karen, for both the offender and offended$ 3ince Jordan and Karen are Covenant Members of The

Village who committed themselves to receive the care and #rotection of our church and elders, we

have sought to minister to this brother an d sister out of love and biblical commitment$

%ith regard to Jordan.s care and disci#line, we have res#onded in the two was that we believe the

church should res#ond with regarding an sin( the blood5bought grace of Jesus for the sinner and

the necessar conse/uences of sin$