Threatened From Pulpit: My Response

Overview

Teasi Cannon responds to a sermon by Steve, her former pastor of nearly 25 years. She says he portrayed her as a Satan-inspired false accuser and threatened to show a video of her unless she stopped writing about him. Cannon explains that she responded because the sermon was public and had caused concern and confusion in their community.

Cannon’s Response to the Claims

Cannon disputes the pastor’s account of her conduct. She says she never called venues to undermine his speaking engagements, wrote about him under a pseudonym, or tried to ruin his life. She says her public writing and videos about spiritual abuse were published under her own name.

She also provides context for a video of her drinking a beer in one gulp. According to Cannon, it was filmed at her daughter’s wedding after the guests had left, while she was drinking with adult friends. She says the clip was later used to discredit her and rejects the suggestion that it demonstrated hypocrisy or wrongdoing.

Criticism of the Pastor’s Conduct

Cannon argues that the sermon contained false and damaging claims while condemning false accusation. She describes what she sees as a long-running pattern of broken relationships, treating critics as enemies, applying teachings about gossip inconsistently, and using sermons or private pressure to intimidate people and defend the pastor’s reputation.

She says these patterns conflict with biblical expectations for church leaders and have contributed to fear, division, and lasting harm in the congregation and community.

Personal Appeal

Cannon says she does not want to destroy Steve’s life and hopes he will recognize the people who care about him and finish his ministry well. She recalls that he was her first pastor, helped deepen her faith, baptized her children, officiated her wedding, and supported her through difficult periods.

Presenters and Contributors

• Teasi Cannon
• Steve, her former pastor, whose sermon excerpt is played in the video