An investigation at a church in Wichita has revealed sex abuse by a former student ministries director.
In July of 2024, according to a statement on the church web site Eastminster Presbyterian Church, 1958 North Webb Road in Wichita, allegations against Bodie Weiss, a former director of Student Ministries at the church, were brought to Eastminster’s governing Board of Elders accusing him of sexually abusing boys within his youth group during the 1990’s and early 2000’s.
In response, to these allegations Eastminster’s Session hired Fact Finding Ministry (“FFM”) to investigate these allegations. Over the next six months, FFM conducted over fifty-two interviews with former staff, victims and witnesses. In addition, FFM screened forty-three former students. Out of these interviews, FFM determined that there was a total of twenty-three victims. Eastminster’s Board of Elders received the final, summary report in May of 2025.
Weiss died in June of 2020 at the age of 59, according to an online obituary with Cozine Memorial Group.
"We acknowledge and grieve over all harm suffered by each victim (as well as all families and friends of each victim) subjected to the ministerial misconduct, spiritual abuse, sexual harassment and sexual abuse perpetrated by Bodie Weiss during his tenure at Easminster Church."
"We lament all that happened during Weiss’s tenure and pray for those who were and are affected by this abuse. Eastminster takes the safety of our children as the utmost priority and are continually updating our safety trainings, policies and practices under the programs and guidance of MinistrySafe."
If you have any additional questions regarding the practices or policies, please reach out to us at [email protected].
If you or someone you know was affected or if you are a congregant of Eastminster, we invite you to attend our Service of Repentance, Lament and Healing on Sunday, June 22 at 4p.m.
Planned Actions by Eastminster:
- Send update letters to victims and interviewees
- Reimburse counseling costs for victims and affected witnesses
- Utilize Ministry Safe 3rd party training while continuing Eastminster’s current Safe Sanctuary policies and procedures
- Make FFM’s summary report available to Eastmtinster members and participants of the investigation in a highly confidential and secure manner through the church office, as we seek to protect the identity and confidential testimonies of the victims and witnesses. This will be available following the Service of Repentance and Lament. Members and participants may contact Bryan Robert to schedule and request access to the report. Appointments to read the summary report can be made following the June 22nd service.