CALL TO ACTION: Bringing Awareness to Pastor Bob Grenier’s Lawsuit Against His Son
The following is a call to action. It details a very specific plan to bring awareness to the Calvary Chapel pastor Bob Grenier’s lawsuit against his son. This awareness will be created through a social media blitz. This blitz will begin on Thursday, February 21, starting at 9 am PST.
Here is a brief summary of the lawsuit:
The plaintiffs are Bob Grenier, pastor of Calvary Chapel Visalia, California, and his wife, Gayle. They are represented by Nick A. Pritchett of Williams, Jordan, Brodersen & Pritchett LLP of Visalia. The defendants are Tim Taylor, a former member of Calvary Chapel Visalia, and Alex Grenier, a step-son of Bob/son of Gayle. Tim lives in Visalia and Alex lives in Idaho. They are represented by Paul Clifford of the California Anti-SLAPP Project.
This is a defamation lawsuit, filed October 17, 2012, where the plaintiffs allege that the defendants committed “Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress,” “Defamation,” and “Conspiracy to Defame.” Bob Grenier claims to be an innocent victim of their “cyber-bullying hate campaign.” The plaintiffs are asking for an award “of exemplary and punitive damages.” The defendants view this as a legal maneuver by the plaintiffs and by Bob Grenier in particular to intimidate and silence them and others from speaking out against sexual abuse, physical abuse, and ecclesiastical corruption they allege he perpetrated.
** The decision on this case has momentous ramifications for First Amendment rights as “citizen journalist” bloggers and spiritual abuse survivors organize and speak out against ecclesiastical abusers. **
To read more about the case, visit http://www.calvarychapelabuse.com/.
Please join us in this campaign on Thursday to speak out and speak loudly about a pastor’s attempt to silence the son he abused. By joining together online throughout Thursday and beyond, we can make our voices unite and make our voices heard.
This call to action has two parts. Part One is Twitter tactics; Part Two is Facebook tactics.
********************
Part One: Twitter
********************
Note: if you aren’t familiar with Twitter, Spiritual Sounding Board provides a good summary of how to use it — http://spiritualsoundingboard.com/proactive-response-to-abuse/.
Summary of Twitter Tactics:
1. End all tweets with #WhoWouldJesusSue.
2. Tweet at Calvary Chapel (@CalvaryChapel) and Bob Grenier (@Bobgrenier).
3. Tweet the story to prominent Christian leaders.
4. Tweet the story to news outlets.
5. Tweet throughout the day of the blitz as often as you can. Use a variety of these Twitter tactics.
6. If you have multiple Twitter accounts, use them all.
7. Include a link to current coverage of the lawsuit in some of your tweets.
8. Tweet the story to specific people who follow you, asking them to retweet (RT).
Detailed Version of Twitter Tactics:
1. End all Tweets with #WhoWouldJesusSue.
&
2. Tweet at Calvary Chapel (@CalvaryChapel) and Bob Granier (@Bobgrenier).
By ending all Tweets with the same hashtag, we will create a unified feed that can be traced easily and (hopefully) consequently trend. That’s Twitter-speak for going viral. And by Tweeting @ Calvary Chapel and Bob Grenier, they will have no choice but to hear our voices.
If you don’t know what exactly to Tweet, or are new to Twitter, here a few examples of good things to Tweet. (You are even welcome to copy and paste these, or use them as templates to create your own messages.) The following 8 examples all fit within Twitter’s word limit.
a. Pretty sure if Jesus sued, it would be the hypocritical religious leaders and pastors of today. #WhoWouldJesusSue @CalvaryChapel
b. Nothing says Jesus loves you like a pastor suing you for speaking out about abuse. #WhoWouldJesusSue @CalvaryChapel http://tinyurl.com/bba3p8n
c. Standing with survivors of abuse. #WhoWouldJesusSue @CalvaryChapel http://tinyurl.com/bba3p8n
d. @CalvaryChapel Even secular orgs demand leaves of absence until abuse claims are resolved. #whowouldjesussue http://tinyurl.com/bba3p8n
e. As Jesus said, “Blessed are those who sue their sons, for they shall silence the accusations.” #whowouldjesussue @CalvaryChapel@Bobgrenier
f. So lawsuits are the new turning-the-other-cheek?#whowouldjesussue #abuse @CalvaryChapel @Bobgrenier http://tinyurl.com/bba3p8n
g. Jerry Sandusky considers legal switch to Nick Pritchett citing@bobgrenier’s success. http://calvarychapelabuse.com/wordpress/?p=1646 … #whowouldjesussue
h. @CalvaryChapel and @Bobgrenier, heard about the Streisand effect? #whowouldjesussue http://tinyurl.com/bba3p8n
3. Tweet the story to prominent Christian leaders.
Tweet what’s going on @ Christian leaders, in the hopes that they will share the story and stand up for what’s right.
What to Tweet (fill in blank with the Twitter handle of the leader): @_____________, please take a public stand against pastors suing their kids to hide abuse. http://tinyurl.com/bba3p8n #whowouldjesussue
The following is a small example list of Christian leaders and their actual Twitter accounts. You can Tweet at these people and/or others. Remember: you don’t have to necessarily agree with the person you Tweet at. You’re just trying to get the message heard.
T.D. Jakes, @BishopJakes
Michael Farris, @michaelfarris
Gregg Harris, @GreggEHarris
Joshua Harris, @HarrisJosh
John Piper, @JohnPiper
Jeremy Camp, @jeremycamp
Joel Osteen, @JoelOsteen
Billy Graham, @BillyGraham
Bill Hybels, @Bill Hybels
Joyce Meyer, @JoyceMeyer
James Dobson, @DrJamesCDobson
Rob Bell, @realrobbell
Luis Palau, @LuisPalauLive
Rick Warren, @RickWarren
Chuck Swindoll, @chuckswindoll
John MacArthur, @johnmacarthur
Beth Moore, @BethMooreLPM
Donald Miller, @donaldmiller
4. Tweet the story to news outlets.
Tweet what’s going on @ media groups, in the hopes that they will pick up the story.
What to Tweet (fill in blank with the Twitter handle of the media group): @_____________, please cover the story of a @CalvaryChapel pastor suing his kid to hide abuse. http://tinyurl.com/bba3p8n #whowouldjesussue
The following is a small example list of media outlets and their actual Twitter accounts. You can Tweet at them and/or others.
OC Weekly, @OCWeekly
The Christian Post, @ChristianPost
Relevant Magazine, @RelevantMag
Christianity Today, @CTmagazine
Baptist Press, @baptistpress
Christian Press News, @ChristianPress
Prodigal Magazine, @Prodigal
The Raw Story, @RawStory
The Daily Beast, @thedailybeast
The Atlantic, @TheAtlantic
Conor Friedersdorf, @conor64
Fox News, @FoxNews
Fox News Hannity, @hannityshow
Fox News Opinion, @fxnopinion
Fox News Politics, @foxnewspolitics
Stephen Colbert, @StephenAtHome
The Daily Show, @TheDailyShow
CNN, @CNN
CNN Breaking News, @cnnbrk
CNN Politics, @CNNPolitics
Anderson Cooper, @andersoncooper
New York Times, @nytimes
New York Times Live, @nytlive
Margaret Sullivan, @Sulliview
Mark Oppenheimer, @markopp1
5. Tweet throughout the day of the blitz as often as you can. Use a variety of these Twitter tactics.
Just remember to space out your Twitter posts. And don’t focus on just one person or media group. You don’t want to have your account suspended for being “spam.” Be smart in how often you post.
6. If you have multiple Twitter accounts, use them all.
If you have more than one email address, you can have more than one Twitter account. Just saying…
7. Include a link to current coverage of the lawsuit in some of your tweets.
The following are different news pieces on the lawsuit, along with TinyURLs I created for each.
Calvary Chapel Abuse, “Pastor Bog Grenier of Calvary Chapel Visalia and Mother Sues Stepson/Son He Abused” — http://tinyurl.com/a7tv4jn
The Wartburg Watch, “Outrage Growing Over Calvary Chapel’s Bog Grenier Suit Against Allegedly Abuse Son” — http://tinyurl.com/bba3p8n
OC Weekly, “Alex Grenier, Frequent Calvary Chapel Critic, Seeks to Have Defamation Lawsuit Filed by His Pastor Father Dismissed” — http://tinyurl.com/aj7omy8
Christianity Today, “Calvary Chapel Pastor Sues Son for Cyberbullying” — http://tinyurl.com/b28jdg8
Spiritual Sounding Board, “Calvary Chapel Visalia Lawsuit, Local News Article, Court Declaration” —http://tinyurl.com/bzp6q5w
The Daily Beast, “Calvary Chapel’s Tangled Web” —http://tinyurl.com/apkaqc4
8. Tweet the story to specific people who follow you, asking them to retweet (RT).
For example:
@_____, RT! Standing with abuse survivors. #WhoWouldJesusSue @CalvaryChapel http://tinyurl.com/bba3p8n
********************
Part Two: Facebook
********************
Summary of Facebook Tactics:
1. Share links to articles about the lawsuit on your own page.
2. Share links to articles about the lawsuit on Calvary Chapel pages.
3. Share links to articles about the lawsuit on prominent Christian leaders’ pages.
Detailed Version of Facebook Tactics:
1. Share links to articles about the lawsuit on your own page.
This should self-explanatory. You can use the list of stories mentioned above.
2. Share links to articles about the lawsuit on Calvary Chapel pages.
Post your position and a link to an article about the lawsuit on Calvary Chapel’s Facebook pages. They have multiple pages. Post on more than one, or on all of them.
** Calvary Chapel, main page: http://www.facebook.com/CalvaryChapelPage?fref=ts
** Calvary Chapel Visalia: http://www.facebook.com/CalvaryChapelVisalia?fref=ts
Other Calvary Chapels that have Facebook pages with more than 300 likes:
Calvary Chapel South Africa: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Calvary-Chapel-South-Africa/180519246512
Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale: http://www.facebook.com/CalvaryFTL
Calvary Chapel Golden Springs: http://www.facebook.com/calvarygs?fref=pb
Calvary Austin: http://www.facebook.com/calvaryaustin?fref=pb
Calvary Chapel Boise: http://www.facebook.com/ccboise?fref=pb
Calvary Chapel School of Worship: http://www.facebook.com/ccschoolofworship
Calvary Chapel Virginia Beach: http://www.facebook.com/CalvaryVB?fref=pb
Calvary Chapel Sacramento: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Calvary-Chapel-of-Sacramento/107438519296657?fref=pb
Calvary Chapel Miami: http://www.facebook.com/CalvaryChapelMiami?fref=pb
Calvary Chapel OKC: http://www.facebook.com/CalvaryOKC?fref=pb
Calvary Chapel Oceanside: http://www.facebook.com/calvaryoceanside?fref=pb
Note: If a Facebook page disables the “write something” or “make a recommendation” feature, you can always share your post as a comment on one of the pages’ own posts.
3. Share links to articles about the lawsuit on prominent Christian leaders’ pages.
Ask prominent Christian leaders on their Facebook pages to take a public stand against Bob Grenier’s lawsuit. Here are links to some leaders’ pages:
Chuck Smith, http://www.facebook.com/pastorchucksmithfans?fref=pb
T.D. Jakes, http://www.facebook.com/tdjministries?fref=ts
Michael Farris, http://www.facebook.com/michael.farris.374?fref=ts
Joshua Harris, http://www.facebook.com/joshharris.fanpage?fref=ts
Harvest Crusades, http://www.facebook.com/harvestcrusades
Jeremy Camp, http://www.facebook.com/jeremycamp
Joel Osteen, http://www.facebook.com/JoelOsteen?fref=ts
Billy Graham, http://www.facebook.com/BillyGrahamEvangelisticAssociation?fref=ts
Bill Hybels, http://www.facebook.com/pastor.bill.hybels?fref=ts
Joyce Meyer, http://www.facebook.com/joycemeyerministries?fref=ts
James Dobson, http://www.facebook.com/DrJamesDobsonsFamilyTalk?fref=ts
Rob Bell, http://www.facebook.com/therealrobbell?fref=ts
Luis Palau, http://www.facebook.com/LuisPalauLive?fref=ts
Rick Warren, http://www.facebook.com/pastorrickwarren?fref=ts
Chuck Swindoll, http://www.facebook.com/pages/Chuck-Swindoll/107888769305?fref=ts
John MacArthur, http://www.facebook.com/JohnMacArthur.GracetoYou?ref=ts&fref=ts
Donald Miller, http://www.facebook.com/donaldmillerfan?fref=ts
Note: If a Facebook page disables the “write something” or “make a recommendation” feature, you can always share your post as a comment on one of the pages’ own posts.
********************
Concluding Principles
********************
Just a few reminders:
1. Represent our campaign, as well as yourself, with sober earnestness, passionate zeal, and justified rage. But don’t forget to speak with respect and grace.
2. Don’t feed the trolls.
3. Space out your Twitter and Facebook posts. You don’t want to have your accounts suspended for being “spam.” Be smart in how often you post.
4. If you get official responses from Calvary Chapel, a prominent Christian leader, a news outlet, etc. — TAKE A SCREENSHOT. That way you have a permanent record of the response, in case someone chooses to delete it later.
If you don’t know how to, don’t worry. It’s easy:
* How to take a screenshot on a Mac: http://guides.macrumors.com/Taking_Screenshots_in_Mac_OS_X
* How to take a screenshot on a PC: http://graphicssoft.about.com/cs/general/ht/winscreenshot.htm
5. Follow the #whowouldjesussue Twitter campaign by following the @WhoWouldJesuSue Twitter account.
6. Go get ’em!
7. Feel free to copy and paste this post onto your own blog to get the word out!
********************
Who Would Jesus Sue? 
Thank you for your effort in stopping the abuse and sounding the bullhorn! Let’s goooooooooooo!
”Blessed be the LORD, my rock, Who trains my hands for war, And my fingers for battle” (Psalm 144:1).
A lot of CC senior pastors have a public facebook page using their own name in addition to the CC page.
I.E. David Rosales https://www.facebook.com/#!/david.rosales.90?fref=ts
Thank you guys, thanks Ryan! Let’s roll!!!!
http://www.cafepress.com/snarkattacktees/9845770 Check these t-shirts out!
i my goodness, there’s t-shirts already!
“Nothing says
Jesus Loves You
…like a lawsuit”
Reblogged this on Speakingtruthinlove's Blog and commented:
We must all help expose the truth about abuse.
I am so getting that t-shirt!
So impressed and energized by your passion, Julie Anne. Praying for peace as we head into tomorrow.
[…] of Under Much Grace has a post calling attention to the #WhoWouldJesusSue campaign. The website #WhoWouldJesusSue has details including links to news stories about the lawsuit as well as specific steps to follow […]
Good cause. The name of the movement is killing me though. *whom* would jesus sue. Eesh.
[…] night, we were presented by an amazing website, Who Would Jesus Sue link which is going to bat for Alex and Paul Grenier as well as Tim Taylor. This site instructs concerned […]
(giggles) I have never twittered so much in my life…or is it tweeted so much..
It was so worth it!
[…] Garrison of No Longer Quivering and Cindy Kunsman of Under Much Grace explain on their respective blogs how social media can be employed to get the word out about this […]
from SpirtitualSoundingBoard February 17, 2013 @ 8:18 AM
Julie Anne writes: “David, I don’t understand what makes someone want to hurt innocent and vulnerable children. It just doesn’t make sense to me.”
There’s a dimension to this which is demonic. Here’s what Alex Grenier (at the 86 minute mark of an October 29, 2011 interview) had to say:
“Bob [Grenier] had night terrors. He’d walk around the house naked; he’d look demon possessed; he looked absolutely freaked out. He would also go into this mode when he quote unquote disciplined us, and he would absolutely lose it—his demeanor would change, it was like a demon entered his body; and you’ve got a grown man absolutely berserk—wailing on us. He had this custom made wooden paddle that was about a quarter inch thick, and he would take that thing—he would take pride in it; he had this made just to beat on us. Bob frames it as him just spanking them. Ahh, No. It’s not spanking when you’re a grown man and you take this wooden paddle and you hit the kid as hard as you can in a full rage, you hit them on the lower back, you hit them on the back of your legs, you hit them on the buttocks. You hit them so hard that you leave purple bruises and draw blood. I remember my underwear sticking to my body often from the wounds that he would cause. He’d hit you so hard that you’d naturally react to the pain—you’d reach back to try to protect yourself and you’d get hit in the hands, on the forearms—that was the mild stuff.”
Alex continues, “But that [you see], that was ‘godly discipline.’ And Bob framed it—you know, he had to ‘keep us in line because he’s a pastor.’ But, Yeah, obeying Bob was like trying to hit a moving target, you just didn’t know what was going to set this guy off.”
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/we-are-the-remnant/2011/10/29/dealing-with-devils–a-conversation-with-alex-grenier