As we approach 500 signatures, we'd like to thank you personally, encourage you to take further action, and answer a lingering question.

Thank you!

You've given voice to our call for justice. It's being heard because of you.

Don't stop now!

Please alert others who care about Wheaton College so that they can sign the petition as well.

Why the leave of absence?

Our petition offers links to more exhaustive documentation of President Phil Ryken's role in the Dennis Massaro sex abuse scandal, but those seeking a shorter summary can gain useful context from three communications, portions of which are provided directly here.

In the first communication, a letter dated January 15, 2015, President Phil Ryken stated that he had no knowledge of Dennis Massaro's actions in 1998 and expressed no interest in learning more. This was despite the fact that his retired friend Sam Shellhamer—the administrator who fired Dennis Massaro—was living in Wheaton and readily available to answer questions.

As you know, Dennis's separation from the College occurred over sixteen years ago (in 1998). The personnel to whom Dennis reported during his employment are no longer employed by the College, and I have no personal knowledge of any of the events surrounding Dennis's departure (having assumed the presidency in 2010).

While I do not know what factors were considered by the College's personnel back in 1998, I know that the College takes seriously any instance of alleged misconduct. In response, we attempt to take the action that will best serve the legal, moral, and spiritual needs and obligations of each person involved. Knowing personally the leadership in place at the College in 1998, I feel confident that they did their best to honor God in making wise decisions with the facts known at the time.

The second communication is a statement made by a Wheaton College graduate sharing his recollections of a conversation with Phil Ryken that took place less than a year after he sent his dismissive letter to Doug and Kathy Gallagher.

Soon after Dennis's arrival and installation as pastor of <redacted> in January of 2015, I left for the Netherlands, thinking that it would be a favor to Dennis to facilitate <redacted>'s breaking from me and bonding to him as the new pastor. Shortly after settling in the Netherlands, I was called to serve as the interim pastor of the American Protestant Church of the Hague (APCH), replacing the Rev. Tim Blackmon, who had just been hired as the new chaplain for Wheaton College.

Later that same year, in the late summer of 2015, my daughter <redacted> (who's just been ordained at APCH and is now serving as its Associate Pastor) was starting her freshman year at Wheaton College. During her orientation, at the President's Reception event, I had an opportunity to have a conversation with Dr. Phil Ryken. Among other things, we talked about my replacing Tim Blackmon at APCH while Dennis Massaro had newly replaced me at <redacted>. I distinctly remember his more or less expected response regarding Blackmon ("Yes, I think Tim is going to be a good fit [for the position]"), as well as his very curious response regarding Massaro: silence.

In the third communication, a letter dated July 11, 2024, Wheaton College discussed a recently concluded investigation initiated the prior year under President Ryken's leadership. This brief letter is remarkable not so much for what it mentions as for what it omits, including (but not limited to):

• Whether Wheaton College violated Title IX regulations in 1998
• The 1998 NDA, the money given to Dennis Massaro, and who authorized them
• Why Dennis Massaro was permitted to return to campus for decades
• Why the public was not immediately made aware of what he had done
• The college's mistreatment of Kathy (Massaro) Gallagher
• President Ryken's decade of denial and silence

We believe that the investigation, conducted under President Ryken's leadership, was wholly inadequate. For that reason, we are asking President Ryken to take a leave of absence while a more credible and complete investigation is conducted. This second investigation should also address President Ryken's interactions with Kathy (Massaro) Gallagher and the unnamed pastor.

This update has become lengthy, but as we approach 1,000 signatures, we hope to provide another update that includes responses from members of Kathy's family and the church in Turkey.

PS - We've spoken in recent days to people who wish the petition had made fewer or different requests. Please be aware that (a) it would be inappropriate to change the petition after people have already signed it, and (b) the point is to motivate the college to move. How Wheaton College responds to our specific requests is up to them. But if the pressure isn't there? They probably won't do anything at all. That's how it usually works.