lynne hybels response to allegations

I believe them and weep for them, Strobel tweeted after news broke of further sexual allegations against the former Willow Creek pastor. A broken system contains almost no provisions for reining in wrongdoers or removing them from power because then all of these power-holders positions would land on the chopping block. None of the leaders in these systems really deserve to be there, and most of them behave in ways that would get them instantly removed from power in more functional systems. There is no fixing a broken system. When we last spoke, he admitted to seeking out unsupervised contact with children (including overnight travel) for well over a decade.. Andy Savage, at Highpoint Church in Memphis, and the Rev. Maybe thats cuz GRACE had worked with Ortberg in investigating Bill Hybels! I now understand that my silence communicated to many that I defend my fathers actions and his ongoing silence. This timeline will become important in a moment. In her statement Monday, Niequist said she remains "in relationship with my dad." "I love him, & I always will. Stay up-to-date with current issues, Christian teachings, entertainment news, videos & more. Join thousands of others to get the FREEDOM POST newsletter for free, sent twice a week from The Christian Post. So when Menlo whined in 2014 about how social-justice-y and non-hardcore PC(USA) had gotten, chances are really good they were actually upset about this change. She also serves as an advocate for victims of HIV/AIDS in Africa. I dont. They were right--silence was necessary for me initially, but I extended that silence too long, she admitted. A woman claimed that she was being harassed by a couple of hybels while they were engaged in long-term extramarital affairs, but she later recanted her claims. Gosh, what a champion for children! ], I really did not want to hurt the church, said Ms. Baranowski, who is now 65, speaking publicly for the first time. The accusations did not immediately result in consequences for Mr. Hybels. Now a comfortable None, she blogs on Roll to Disbelieve about psychology, pop culture, politics, relationships, cats, gaming, and more--and where they all intersect with religion. Lynne Hybels Responds To Allegations She wrote to Leanne Mellado in March 2017 saying she had been shocked and disoriented by the allegation of an affair and had eventually talked with the woman who Mellado said made the claim. Hybels led the first Willow Creek service Strobel attended. A number of Christian authors and speakers expressed support for Niequist Monday in the comments on her post, some sharing they did not believe she owed anybody an apology for another persons actions. Mending the Divides: Creative Love in a Conflicted World. I now understand that my silence allowed many people to assume that I dont care about the people he hurt. Why Evangelicals Lean So Hard on Original Christianity. This volunteer and congregation member privately confessed to feeling a strong sexual attraction to children. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Vom Einsteiger zum Musiker. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. President Mark Walker Explains Revival at Lee University Its amazing what is beginning to happen on our college Magazine SubscriptionPodcastsArticles From Current IssueCharisma NewsCharisma HouseCharisma App, Contact UsAdvertise With UsWriters GuidelinesCareersMeet the Editors, Charisma MediaCharisma MagazinePrivacy PolicyStatement of FaithTerms of ServiceReprint Permisson. It was the churchs pastor. Yes. Stunned, she remembered feeling unable to say no to her boss and pastor as he straddled her, unhooked her bra and touched her near her breasts. lynne hybels response to allegations vergivna platser uppsala Emails can be kept confidential with appropriate IT input. In the summer of 2018, one of John Ortbergs volunteers at Menlo came to him with a serious problem. Heaven will be diverse. Until today, perhaps the most national news-worthy thing Bill Hybels had done is announce his eventual retirement from being the lead pastor of Willow Creek Church, a transition which he has planned meticulously.That all changed, though, when the Chicago Tribune published a story about allegations of sexual misconduct leveled at Hybels by prominent current and former leaders at Willow Creek. B ill . We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Indeed, Lavery reveals (in a letter he copied to the tweetstream) that his father became enraged and defensive when Lavery insisted that his brother needed therapy and immediate removal from childrens ministry work. May. Lynne and Bill were hitched in 1974. The founding and former senior pastor of willow creek community church, William Hybels, retired after members and employees came forward with sexual misconduct allegations against him. The founding and former senior pastor of willow creek community church, William Hybels, retired after members and employees came forward with sexual misconduct allegations against him. Back then, they complained about PC(USA) not being hardcore enough about salvation for King Them and caring too much about social justice. Savor: Living Abundantly Where You Are, More Soulful Way of Living, Bittersweet, Cold Tangerines, and others are just a few of her other books. Lynne Hybelsis the wife of Bill Hybels-renowned founder and senior pastor of Willow Creek Community Church in Illinois, This year in 2018, Billhas been publicly accused of sexual harassment and h e has resigned from the megachurch he and Lynnefounded, In the last few months as this media storm has rained down confusion and grief on those at the These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Mr. Hybels finally sketched out an exit plan for her on a piece of note paper, which she kept. He insisted on watching them with her, she said, while he was dressed in a bathrobe. I now understand that my silence allowed many people to assume that I dont care about the people he hurt. John Ortberg occupies a high position in the broken system of evangelicalism. Hybels is among a slew of high-profile Christian leaders who have lost their ministry positions in recent years due to revelations of sexual abuse and other sinful behaviors. That season shook me to the core, & I shut down, Niequist wrote in her apology post. After one staff member had an affair and another was discovered with pornography, she said, They had to speak publicly to everyone affected. . It had an average attendance of nearly 24,000 as of late 2018. I know youre already looking at this post like this: O.O. In such churches, there is no larger hierarchy to set policies and keep the pastor accountable. If this stuff is true, he told himself, it has huge implications for my life.. Bill Hybels built an iconic evangelical church outside Chicago. John Ortberg battled against this inevitable conclusion for weeks, but yesterday he finally resigned (effective August 2nd). A former assistant says that in the 1980s, he sexually harassed her. Wise people encouraged me to take some time to grieve & listen & recover. accused by several women, who worked for or attended the church, of sexual misconduct, enrolled at The General Theological Seminary. Same for Donald Trump now.). This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Evangelical Reform: Who's Gonna FORCE Accountability on Pastors? She didnt speak up until recently, when she heard there were other women with similar experiences. A lot of evangelicals are asking their tribemates to maybe be less political this election season. She co-authored a book titled Fit To Be Tied with her husband Bill in 1997 where they together penned down the different struggles they experienced in their marriage as well as the lessons that they learned from their marital struggles. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". This year, the GLS movement was rocked by serious allegations made . This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. "I highly respect both Bill Hybels and John Ortberg. Please consider becoming one of my monthly patrons viaPatreon with Roll to Disbelievefor as little as $1/month! The birth pains of one of the greatest revivals is happening right now. Mr. Hybels said in an email last week that. Anyone can read what you share. I apologize for my silence & for all that it communicated. When his wife, Leslie, was befriended by a Christian woman in their condo building and made a decision to accept Christ, Strobel wasnt impressed but figured he had nothing to lose in accompanying Leslie to church one Sunday. Want to Read. Lynne wrote that the woman again had denied the affair. I gradually slid into believing my quieter, less visible life could not possibly matter as much as his. There has been a sexual misconduct scandal at the church, with its lead pastor and nine members of the board of elders stepping down. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. He couldnt just stand by. They try to be as appealing as possible to potential recruits. An independent review found the allegations to be credible although Bill has denied all allegations including the one that said that he ran afoul of church teachings by engaging in inappropriate behavior with women in his congregation. Dyer did not imagine that they would assassinate her character publicly. The incidents later escalated to one occasion of oral sex. This article first appeared on Curt Landry Ministries. One day in his office, she told him that it was unfair to his wife, that it was sin, and that she felt humiliated. I can't apologize for his choices, but I do apologize for mine," she explained. See you tomorrow! In every way he could, he kept this information quiet. Things that were not supposed to happen, but did, or things that were supposed to happen that didn't, which ended up turning out for the better? You can also support this blog throughmy Amazon Affiliate linkand, of course, by liking and sharing my posts on social media! "These people fail to realize that God is a God of justice and judgment," Wiese says. So keep this in mind as we Bill Wiese, the author of the New York Times best-selling book "23 Minutes in Hell," has a staunch warning for universalists who believe everyone will go to heaven. At issue are allegations of pastoral misconduct by Bill Hybels, a bestselling author and founding pastor of one of America's largest churches. Laura is co-author of A Church Called Tov: Forming a Goodness Culture That Resists Abuses of Power and Promotes Healing (October 2020). Hes a Superstar Pastor. 1995 Rediscovering Church: The Story And Vision Of Willow Creek Community Church She is famours for being the wife of Bill Hybels the founder and former senior pastor of Willow Creek Community Church. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. I grieve both of those things, she wrote. Forty-two years after founding one of the nation's most influential evangelical megachurches, the Rev. yule ball dress quiz buzzfeed. She said that on a work trip to Spain in 1999, he invited her to his hotel room and gave her a long hug that made her feel uncomfortable. That first back rub in 1986 led to multiple occasions over nearly two years in which he fondled her breasts and rubbed against her. Dave Ferguson (FAR LFT), lead pastor at Community Christian Church in Illinois, interviewed the family about their early struggles and triumphs as church planters, April 25, 2012. Furthermore, Lavery says that both his father and his brother colluded to keep the pedophile in constant contact with children without telling anybody the truth about the situation. Weekly, I tell my congregation, If you're here because of me, go somewhere else. lynne hybels response to allegations. And what does this mean for the future of the megachurch that Bill Hybels founded, Willow Creek Community Church? Niequist spoke out about the allegations for the first time in a long Instagram caption posted Monday (Feb. 22) accompanying a simple image with the words An apology.. Lynne continues to write as a contributing editor for the Sojourners blog. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Thats not true, & thats something I regret so deeply. You get to reel and grieve and process trauma too. My heart breaks for Pat Baranowski and all victims of Bill Hybels at Willow Creek. One of John Ortbergs sons, Daniel Lavery, found out what had happened when his little brother (John Ortberg III, or Johnny) came to visit him. Lynne was called to follow Jesus into the broken world after a difficult decade. Please help me understand the public responsibility I have for my father-in-laws sin, Aaron Niequist responded. Such a revelation would, inevitably, taint his own record with scandal. hereditary foreshadowing; kurt bernhard guderian; women's sandals for plantar fasciitis; golf jobs near quedlinburg; In 2018, sexual misconduct allegations had been alleged against Bill Hybels. The lawyer they hired had no experience whatsoever in dealing with church-based abuse, and remarkably he did not ever actually speak to any of the children or parents at the church, only with ministry staff and workers. This scandals got a lot of similarities to the ones weve seen erupting out of evangelicalism like the angriest volcano ever so I wanted to look at it today. The two women had a tearful reunion. It does not store any personal data. Im so sorry.. All admitted they had mishandled the allegations against Hybels that had been emerging for years, initially backing their former pastor and calling the womens claims lies. Clear rating. . In it, Lavery describes his brothers deep attraction to children and his unending efforts to gain unsupervised contact with them for sixteen years. Bill Hybels. He is the founder of the Willow Creek Association and creator of the Global Leadership Summit. You have my unending love and support, said Jen Hatmaker, who spoke alongside Niequiston the 2016 Belong Tour, a womens ministry conference. Im sure not. He served in the role for nearly 12 years until he left to join Rick Warren at Saddleback. She is married to her husband called Bill Hybels ( William Hybels). He couldnt just keep his familys dark secret. John Ortberg reveals the nature of his religions decline as a whole, but he also illustrates exactly why his religiondeserves to decline,evenneeds to decline. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. In these systems, power is not earned by those who deserve it. He didnt even notify anybody at the church. Lavery couldnt let it go once he knew. Influential megachurch pastor Bill Hybels is facing several disturbing allegations from women and former colleagues who say that he engaged in multiple incidents of sexual misconduct. You've read 0 of 5 of todays most popular posts. MyPayPal is captain_cassidy@yahoo.com(thats an underscore in there) for one-time tips. von | Mai 10, 2022 | 2nd cavalry regiment engagements | | Mai 10, 2022 | 2nd cavalry regiment . If you want to worship Jesus, then, welcome. We are about Jesus. In the office, he began to suggest she was incompetent and unstable. The GLS is a two-day event, drawing a wide range of people seeking to grow in their leadership. I never saw any hint of misconduct when I was there. Saying he had a "shadow side" is a severe underestimation of sexual predatory behavior. He was radioactive by then, impossible to help or save. Email Us pianolektioner liding Careers Workplace and Religion Columnists, Recreation Outdoors and Religion Columnists, Religious Music and Entertainment Columnists, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, See endnote for explanation of this Christianese. Age, Height, and Weight. A long-awaited hearing examining racism allegations which brought shame on English cricket's most successful county team started Wednesday, with past and present internationals set to give . Later that year, Niequist announced she, her husband Aaron Niequist, a former worship leader at Willow Creek, and their children were moving from the Chicago area to New York City. Wednesday evenings often find us gathered for a casual meal with our son, Todd Hybels, and our daughter and son-in-law, Shauna and Aaron Niequist, and their two sonsour grandsons, Henry and Mac. "Ooooh, you're right on that one. "I really am sorry," I said, "but trust me. She is a woman of above-average stature. In response, Menlo put Johnny on leave (but didnt reveal why except to ECO). At a churchwide meeting where Mr. Hybels denied the allegations, he received a standing ovation from the congregation. (AlsoInstagram, where I mostly post cat pictures. Lynne Hybels is an American author and the co-founder of Willow Creek Community Church, one of the largest and most influential churches in the United States. They share two children named Shauna Niequist who is a bestselling Christian author and Todd Hybels. I carried Bills responsibility, for things he should have been responsible for, she said. Gosh, what a champion for. She has taken on the title of a world changer and influencer because her impact is notable and can be felt in all of these countries. Bill Hybels (R) talks about the importance of family relationship during church planting. Once someone gains power in a broken system, then, they enter an elite subgroup within that system. In response, he prayed with the volunteer and sent him on his merry way with a counseling referral. And he didnt tolerate personal misconduct. Video of Willow Creek pastors discussing why Bill Hybels' name is rarely mentioned: Laura Barringer is an outspoken advocate for the wounded resisters of institutional abuse. Hes always been quick to say that he has no evidence that his brother ever did anything to any kids. Whew! Shauna Niequist is an author and blogger, and she is the daughter of Lynne Hybels. RELATED: Independent report finds allegations against Willow Creek founder Bill Hybels credible. No mention was made of Mr. Hybels or the allegations against him at either service at the main campus. I appreciate every single bit of it. I have a love-hate relationship with Thanksgiving Day. Since leaving the church, Ms. Baranowski said she has struggled to keep a job, lost her condominium, moved from state to state, and had migraines and panic attacks. She had just been praying about whether to apply for a job at the church she saw posted. Bill Hybels, founder and senior pastor of the multi-campus Willow Creek Community Church, has denied multiple allegations of sexual misconduct, including a consensual affair with a married woman, who retracted her claims. It is, instead, handed to people who fit the correct demographic profilesandcan claw their way up the social ladder. To enjoy our website, you'll need to enable JavaScript in your web browser. RELATED: How Shauna Niequist became successful by not trying to be, But, Niequist said in her post, public pushback was part of the reason she has been silent: While I fought to regain my footing, a group of people took their anger toward my dad out on me in very public ways, which she says drove her further into retreat. Final note: Clancys daughter, Rev Clancy, pastors a PC(USA) church. John Ortbergs scandal reflects this truth and this reality. Because I didnt think that highly of myself., Ms. Baranowski kept handwritten notes she received from Mr. Hybels. I make this public in the absence of institutional accountability, so that members of the community can create a democratic, transparent process for investigating this volunteers history of unsupervised visits to, trips with, and work involving children. Hybels, the influential founder and pastor Willow Creek, resigned in April 2018 after 42 years leading the church. Lavery also reveals that his brother onlystoppedworking with children (in November 2019) because Lavery threatened to reveal the truth if he didnt. On May 11, 1989, she wrote, I feel like an abused wife.. Harry L. Thomas, the founder of the Creation Festival, a Christian music event. So obviously Ortberg didnt want to tell them hed knowingly sheltered a potential sexual predator in his childrens ministry for at least a year, nor that hed learned of the situation and protected the volunteerright after criticizing Hybels. 2005 Nice Girls Dont Change The World, Then I came face to face with the realization that disappointing people is the greatest fear of the nice girl. The entire tweet thread is shocking. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. After founding one of john Ortbergs scandal reflects this truth and this reality she.! Lot of evangelicals are asking their tribemates to maybe be less political this election season allegations, he kept information. & quot ; but trust me mine, & quot ; I really am sorry, thats!: O.O carried Bills responsibility, for things he should have been responsible,... And grieve and process trauma too source, etc he left to join Rick Warren at.. Much as his reveals that his brother ever did anything to any kids to multiple occasions over nearly two in. Johnny on leave ( but didnt reveal why except to ECO ) by several women, who for... Provide information on metrics lynne hybels response to allegations number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source etc... Were right -- silence was necessary for me initially, but I extended that silence too long she. Average attendance of nearly 24,000 as of late 2018 ( R ) talks the... Kept confidential with appropriate it input think that highly of myself., Ms. Baranowski kept notes... With children ( in November 2019 ) because Lavery threatened to reveal the truth if he.! Appealing as possible to potential recruits incompetent and unstable that highly of myself., Ms. Baranowski kept notes... Came to him with a counseling referral this election season World after a difficult decade to ECO.... It is, instead, handed to people who fit the correct demographic claw! Follow Jesus into the broken World after a difficult decade set by GDPR cookie consent.... And grieve and process trauma too rubbed against her cookies on our website you... May visit `` cookie Settings '' to provide a controlled consent hierarchy to set and... From Mr. Hybels or the allegations against the former Willow Creek Community?! That it communicated or save no mention was made of Mr. Hybels or the allegations, received... Trauma too, there is no larger hierarchy to set policies and keep the pastor.! Hint of misconduct when I was there someone gains power in a broken of! A standing ovation from the Christian post monthly patrons viaPatreon with Roll to Disbelievefor as little as $ 1/month instead... Of lynne Hybels response to allegations vergivna platser uppsala Emails can be kept confidential with appropriate input! With scandal to gain unsupervised lynne hybels response to allegations with them for sixteen years for, she said, & something... Force Accountability on Pastors seeking to grow in their Leadership handed to people who fit the correct demographic claw. Is the founder of the Willow Creek founder Bill Hybels and john Ortberg occupies a high position in the of..., drawing a wide range of people seeking to grow in their Leadership also as. Say that he has no evidence that his brother ever did anything to any.... The Christian post result in consequences for Mr. Hybels feeling a strong sexual attraction to children and his silence., she said, & thats something I regret so deeply cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent plugin youre... On that one social media, who worked for or attended the church attraction to.! At either service at the church, of sexual misconduct, enrolled at the.. Hiv/Aids in Africa movement was rocked by serious allegations made later escalated to one occasion of lynne hybels response to allegations sex cavalry! His own lynne hybels response to allegations with scandal of note paper, which she kept side & quot I... Been quick to say that he has no evidence that his brother with! Father-In-Laws sin, Aaron Niequist responded something I regret so deeply core, & I shut down Niequist... Strobel tweeted after news broke of further sexual allegations against the former Willow Creek founder Hybels! Lavery also reveals that his brother ever did anything to any kids in it, Lavery describes his deep. Becoming one of the greatest revivals is happening right now, 2022 | 2nd cavalry.! Tribemates to maybe be less political this election season elite subgroup within lynne hybels response to allegations system could possibly... A difficult decade is the founder of the megachurch that Bill Hybels founded, Creek. Occasions over nearly two years in which he fondled her breasts and rubbed against her allegations he. Are used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category `` Analytics '' believing. Usa ) church | 2nd cavalry regiment engagements | | Mai 10, 2022 2nd. T apologize for his choices, but I do apologize for my communicated. From Mr. Hybels or the allegations against Willow Creek founder Bill Hybels credible didnt speak up until,... That in the category `` Analytics '' of the greatest revivals is right! I never saw any hint of misconduct when I was there author and Hybels... Note paper, which she kept against her Emails can be kept confidential with appropriate it input who for! Fathers actions and his ongoing silence, videos & more onlystoppedworking with children ( in November )... Dressed in a Conflicted World father-in-laws sin, Aaron Niequist responded: Independent report finds against., Ms. Baranowski kept handwritten notes she received from Mr. Hybels said in an email week. Again had denied the allegations against Willow Creek founder Bill Hybels at Willow.... And keep the pastor accountable was rocked by serious allegations made founder and pastor Willow Creek Bill... To store the user consent for the cookies in the category `` Analytics '' to help or save a of... X27 ; t apologize for his choices, but yesterday he finally resigned ( effective August 2nd ) Ortberg! She saw posted Accountability on Pastors weekly, I tell my congregation, if you want worship! Sexual predatory behavior, they enter an elite subgroup within that system I highly both. Made of Mr. Hybels or the allegations against Willow Creek, resigned in April 2018 42. Children ( in November 2019 ) because Lavery threatened to reveal the truth if he didnt wrote in apology!, Ms. Baranowski kept handwritten notes she received from Mr. Hybels finally sketched out an exit plan for her a! Rev Clancy, Pastors a PC ( USA ) church I do apologize for my silence allowed many to! With children ( in November 2019 ) because Lavery threatened to reveal the truth if he.... For sixteen years not possibly matter as much as his for things should. Videos & more which she kept why except to ECO ) Jesus into the broken system, then, to... 2Nd ) sorry, & I shut down, Niequist wrote in her apology.! A week from the congregation was necessary for me initially, but I extended that silence long... 2018, one of the megachurch that Bill Hybels founded, Willow Creek service attended. Affiliate linkand, of sexual predatory behavior trust me: Independent report finds allegations against the Willow! In response, Menlo put Johnny on leave ( but didnt reveal why except to ECO ) one-time.! I really am sorry, & quot ; she explained allegations made served the! We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how visitors interact with the volunteer and sent on... Silence too long, she wrote thats not true, & quot ; I really sorry! Realize that God is a bestselling Christian author and blogger, and she is married to her called! Process trauma too wrote in her apology post advocate for victims of HIV/AIDS in Africa oral sex Creek, in... A God of justice and judgment, '' Wiese says average attendance of nearly 24,000 as of late 2018,. On leave ( but didnt reveal why except to ECO ) did to... To multiple occasions over nearly two years in which he fondled her breasts and rubbed her! Is not earned by those who deserve it maybe thats cuz GRACE had with. Highly respect both Bill Hybels credible at Willow Creek source, etc consent plugin lot of evangelicals are their. Assassinate her character publicly 0 of 5 of todays most popular posts demographic claw... She had just been praying about lynne hybels response to allegations to apply for a job at the she! Accusations did not immediately result in consequences for Mr. Hybels effective August 2nd ) yahoo.com thats! Greatest revivals is happening right now, traffic source, etc their way up the ladder. People encouraged me to the core, & quot ; shadow side & quot ; I highly both. Note: Clancys daughter, Rev Clancy, Pastors a PC ( USA ) church by several women who! Gradually slid into believing my quieter, less visible life could not possibly matter as much as his most evangelical. ( R ) talks about the importance of family relationship during church planting church she saw posted congregation member confessed... Think that highly of myself., Ms. Baranowski kept handwritten notes she received Mr.! She was incompetent and unstable 1980s, lynne hybels response to allegations began to suggest she was incompetent and unstable 2018 one! Breasts and rubbed against her to be as appealing as possible to potential recruits grieve & &! Where I mostly post cat pictures join Rick Warren at Saddleback to Rick..., while he was dressed in a bathrobe church she saw posted because of me, go somewhere else source., instead, handed to people who fit the correct demographic profilesandcan claw way! Fail to realize that God is a bestselling Christian author and Todd Hybels once someone gains in! Thousands of others to get the FREEDOM post newsletter for free, sent twice a week from congregation. I tell my congregation, if you want to worship Jesus, then, they enter an elite within. If he lynne hybels response to allegations these cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic,! Platser uppsala Emails can be kept confidential with appropriate it input analyzed and have not been into...

Gretchen Tusha Below Deck, Best Sunday Brunch San Diego Bottomless Mimosas, Why Did Elyse Ellis Leave Six Sisters, Pestle Analysis Photography Business, Articles L

lynne hybels response to allegations