The Michael Tait Effect

Recently, Newsboys’ lead singer Michael Tait was accused of sexual assault by several men who believe they were drugged. 

 

And then more stories and lurid allegations of grooming surfaced. One victim said it succinctly: “This man destroyed my life.”

For those unfamiliar with the Christian music industry, Newsboys were originally a rock band from Australia signed to an American record label in the late 1980’s. They won a multitude of gold records, Grammy nominations, and a number of Dove awards and later became known by their connection with the “God’s Not Dead” film franchise from 2014 to 2021. They are—were—“contemporary Christian music” royalty.

And a big business.

Newsboys are an LLC, owned by their manager, Wes Campbell. None of the original members are a part of the current lineup. The musicians are hired hands; salaried players. If you’re old enough, think of Menuda, the Puerto Rican boy band with their fifty disposable members over the decades. They sold twenty million albums—a money-making machine of replaceable parts.

Some people in the know have remarked that Tait’s indiscretions were “the worst kept secret” in the Christian music business. So what kept it going?

That’s easy. Money.

Covering your assets—excuse the wordplay—when leadership or an organization goes south is critical. And when an organization is doing what seems to be ethical and helpful work, boards, trustees, shareholders, or owners often button down and cover up even more. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a band, a church, or a corporation…we’ve all seen poor behavior justified in multiple ways.

It’s a stretch to believe that Newsboys management and fellow members didn’t know what was happening. Just keep the machine running at all costs.

Toxic organizations that protect abusers at any level will eventually be exposed, whether in this life or the next. And I shudder to think what the consequences are in that future dimension.

So here is a question to ponder as leaders: is there anything or anyone that you’re protecting from an ethical standpoint because you fear your church or nonprofit would be damaged financially? Be honest.

Or let’s take the obvious morality issues out of the picture: is there anything you believe you should be doing but afraid it might cause a reduction in financial support? There are sins of omission.

It may be that it’s not just the love of money—as St. Paul wrote—that’s the problem; it can also be the fear of money and its consequential effects from loss.

Integrity, my friends. You can’t buy it.

Dave Workman | The Elemental Group

Pray for the abused and the abuser: justice and healing for one, repentance and forgiveness for the other.

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Every healthy organization is marked by four essential traits: Integrity, Passion, Servanthood, and Imagination. With a practitioner perspective, author Dave Workman offers common sense guidance and tools to maximize leadership. Filled with insight, humor, and reflective exercises, this is an indispensable exploration of these four universal values. Check out Elemental Leaders: Four Essentials Every Leader Needs...and Every Church Must Have.