Megachurch Misconduct: Apologia and the Rhetoric of Presumed Forgiveness.

This article examines the rhetoric employed by Pastor Matt Chandler and the elder board of The Village Church, a Southern Baptist megachurch in Texas, following revelations of Chandler's inappropriate messaging with a woman outside his marriage. It introduces the concept of a "rhetoric of presumed forgiveness," wherein church leadership invokes Christian doctrines of divine forgiveness to preemptively secure congregational forgiveness without allowing the community to fully assess the misconduct or hear from all parties involved. This strategy, analyzed within the broader context of apologia—a rhetorical genre of public apology—differs from traditional forms by conflating theological forgiveness with communal absolution, thereby maintaining institutional control and protecting leadership status. The article situates this case alongside similar scandals in American megachurches, highlighting how such rhetorical approaches can silence dissent, obscure accountability, and reinforce hegemonic power structures within religious communities.