For Those Asking for Evidence, This Is Where I’ll Continue
Messages from my relationship with Erik Herrmann, shared for the sake of truth, clarity, and accountability.
This week, I’ve begun sharing selected messages from my relationship with Erik Herrmann, former professor and dean at Concordia Seminary, and current Distinguished Professor and Research Fellow at the Institute of Lutheran Theology’s Christ School of Theology. These posts aren’t about revenge or spectacle. They’re about something quieter and more enduring: what really happened. The events themselves and the decisions institutions made in the aftermath.
Though Erik quietly resigned from Concordia Seminary in June 2023, neither the Seminary, the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, nor the Institute of Lutheran Theology (where he now teaches) has issued a public statement acknowledging the real reason for his departure. Now, even after the president of ILT has been made aware of Erik’s misconduct, that lack of acknowledgment continues.
In the meantime, Erik continues to hold public positions of influence in ministry and theological education, including preaching as recently as February 2025 at the Best Practices in Ministry conference, an LCMS-affiliated event held in Phoenix.
Avoidance Protects the Wrong People
When misconduct is concealed or ignored, the community is not safeguarded. The offender is. The weight of that protection is often carried by those already harmed.
A Note for Anyone Who Has Been Through Something Similar
If you’ve experienced spiritual abuse—whether in a hidden relationship, a church setting, or through someone in spiritual authority—this note is for you.
What happened to you wasn’t just a personal betrayal. It was spiritual abuse.
Even if you don’t live in victimhood, even if you’re healing, even if you’re feeling strong now, the truth remains: someone used spiritual, emotional, or institutional power to manipulate and discard you. And the system that enabled that behavior may still be operating around them.
You can say, “I was spiritually abused,” without saying, “I am only a victim.” That’s a key distinction. You’re not reducing yourself to that term, you’re naming the tool they used to harm you.
A Note for LCMS Pastors and Leaders Who May Be Reading
To the LCMS pastors and leaders who may be following along: I understand that these posts may be difficult to read. It is also possible that some of you accepted what you were told—whether through official channels or quiet implication—and assumed there was nothing more to question.
The good news is, the fuller picture is now coming into view. This is not speculation or rumor; it is documented, specific, and points to a version of events that differs significantly from the one previously implied.
You are not responsible for Erik’s actions. However, once new information comes to light, each of us becomes responsible for how we respond to it. Choosing not to engage may feel like the safest path forward, but in reality, it often allows harm to go unaddressed and accountability to be avoided.
I know many of you. This is not about punishment. It is about integrity, care for those harmed, and a kind of leadership that responds with courage when it would be easier to look away.
What’s Behind These Messages
For more than two years, I’ve preserved the record of my relationship with Erik Herrmann—thousands of messages that document not only its emotional and sexual nature, but also its secrecy, imbalance, and lasting impact.
I never intended to publish them. But as I’ve continued to call for public acknowledgment and accountability from Concordia Seminary, the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS), and the Institute of Lutheran Theology (ILT), I’ve been told, both directly and indirectly, that without concrete evidence, my concerns should not be taken seriously.
This is a careful, intentional response to that claim.
To protect my privacy and avoid unnecessary escalation, I’m releasing only a few selected messages at a time. Each has been pulled by a trusted third party from my personal archive. These excerpts are not the most sensational; they are representative.
The full set of messages was submitted to the Missouri District of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in 2023. Based on that record, a formal investigation was being prepared, but Erik resigned before it could move forward.
They reflect:
His romantic pursuit and use of sexualized language
His prioritization of our relationship over professional responsibilities
His expressions of emotional dependence, longing, and personal attachment
All messages shown here were sent directly to me. As such, I am legally and ethically within my rights to share them, particularly in a context where institutions continue to ignore what they now know about the true nature of Erik’s resignation.
Update: the screenshot below was added to this post on May 13, 2025.
