Former Employees of U.S. Senate Candidate Adam Hamilton Split on Handling of 2005 Camp Abuse Report

Former employees of Adam Hamilton, the founding pastor of the Church of the Resurrection and a candidate for the U.S. Senate, offer mixed assessments of his leadership. While some describe him as a caring but demanding boss, others scrutinize his handling of the first report of child sex abuse at a church camp 21 years ago. Despite these criticisms, even his detractors characterize him as a “brilliant” theological mind who is “smart” and “charismatic.” The Church of the Resurrection, located in Leawood, Kansas, has grown from its 1990 origins in an old funeral home into a megachurch with an $81 million campus and satellite locations across the Kansas City metro area.

Hamilton announced his candidacy in April and is considered the frontrunner among 11 Democratic candidates for the U.S. Senate, based on fundraising, polling, and his status as the leader of the largest United Methodist church in the United States. He must win the Democratic nomination in the Aug. 4 primary before facing Republican candidate Roger Marshall. State Sen. Patrick Schmidt, a Topeka Democrat also running for U.S. Senate, accused Hamilton in May of covering up child sex abuse reported at a church camp in both 2005 and 2006.

In an interview with the Kansas Reflector, Hamilton acknowledged that he would handle the first report of abuse differently today. However, he defended the church’s internal investigation, stating, “There was no attempt at a cover-up.” He added, “I can just say that our aim was to make sure that if we got anything wrong, we wanted to get it right.” The Kansas Reflector contacted more than a dozen former church employees and members, interviewing four who agreed to be identified. Several others declined to comment for fear of retaliation by Hamilton or the church.

Sue Thompson, a longtime Hamilton assistant who left the church at the end of 2019, began working at the church in 1996. She eventually coordinated Hamilton’s professional and personal calendars, often working 50 to 60-hour weeks. Thompson recalled that her name is written on the bare concrete that has since been carpeted over in the main church. She noted that she used to bake pumpkin and cream cheese bread for Hamilton around Thanksgiving and that they used to talk politics. She described her experience as an adventure, stating, “It wasn’t always a good adventure, but it was an adventure.”

The divergent views among former employees highlight the complexities of accountability in large religious organizations. The distinction between allegations, internal investigations, and confirmed outcomes remains central to the current political and public discourse surrounding Hamilton’s candidacy. The case underscores the importance of transparency and governance in institutions that serve communities, particularly those involving minors.

In the context of public trust and institutional integrity, the biblical call for justice and mercy is evident. Micah 6:8 urges leaders to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God, a standard that resonates with the need for accountability in positions of influence. Similarly, Proverbs 31:8-9 emphasizes the duty of leaders to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, a principle that is critical in addressing concerns about the safety of children within religious settings.

The ongoing scrutiny of Hamilton’s past actions and his current political ambitions reflects a broader societal demand for ethical leadership. As the community evaluates his candidacy, the focus remains on the principles of justice, care for victims, and the responsible stewardship of trust. The narrative serves as a reminder that leadership in the public sphere, particularly within faith-based organizations, carries a profound moral weight that demands both transparency and compassion.

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