Following an Anglican Watch report on PCA pastor Liam Goligher and his guilty plea to sex in a public park with married church member Susan Elzey, a lengthy but illusory disciplinary process against Goligher played out within the Philadelphia Presbytery.
The process, marked by multiple lies by Goligher about his actions, reflects a profound disrespect for several key victims of his misconduct.
In considering these issues, let’s start by taking a look at the January 18, 2025, statement from the Presbytery:
In the case of the Presbyterian Church in America v Liam Goligher, Liam Goligher pleaded guilty to the charges of Lying, Conduct Unbecoming of a Pastor and Elder, Harsh and Uncharitable Treatment of Colleagues and Subordinates, and Spiritual Abuse and Adult Clergy Sexual Abuse. After considering the nature of Liam Goligher’s confession and indications of repentance, the Ad Hoc Judicial Commission ruling on this case inflicted the censures of deposition from office and indefinite suspension from the Lord’s Supper.
The Presbytery appointed a pastoral care team to guide Liam Goligher in seeking full repentance and restoration to the Lord’s Supper.
In consideration of the nature of the charge of Adult Sexual Clergy Abuse to which Liam Goligher has pleaded guilty, the censures inflicted upon him and their consequences, and the clarification of evidence over time, the Presbytery decided to drop the charge of Adultery against him.
We encourage prayer for the victims and Liam Goligher’s restoration. (Emphasis added).
Specifically, the decision to drop charges of adultery disrespects at least two people, in addition to members of the church generally.
Those people are Goligher’s long-suffering wife, Christine. Additionally, it touches on Susan Elzey’s husband, Guy Elzey. (We’ll explore Susan’s role in this matter at greater length in a moment.)
To be clear, we’ve already voiced our concerns about a pastoral care team for Liam Goligher, with no mention of any such teams for his victims.
Indeed, Goligher’s repeated lies, evasions, bullying of others, and narcissistic arrogance have already consumed enough time, attention, and cash while damaging the denomination. Thus, there’s no need to throw good money after bad or cast the church’s pearls before swine. He made his hot mess, and he can damned well fix that mess on his own.
Thus, the whole effort to “restore” Liam is farcical and an example of clericalism run rampant.
Meanwhile, the very least Tenth and the Presbytery can do is to respect Christine Goligher and Guy Elzey by holding Liam accountable for his adultery. To do otherwise is to send a message that they’re nothing but pawns in a larger game of “let’s save the pastor.” And let’s be clear: Cheating on your wife, with the wife of a parishioner, reflects a profound disrespect for all involved.
Indeed, if Goligher can’t adhere to his marital vows, what good is he?
Susan Elzey
Speaking of Susan Elzey, we want to return to that issue.
In the past, we’ve taken heat for referring to her as an adulterer and abuser, versus as an adult victim of clergy abuse.
But as friend Lauren Conlin likes to remind us, multiple things can be true.
Yes, Susan is a victim of clergy sexual abuse. Clergy always and everywhere have the responsibility to maintain boundaries. No excuses, no exceptions, no explanations.
At the same time, our investigation of Susan reveals her to be calculating and determined. Indeed, there’s considerable evidence that she actively sought and pursued Goligher. To be clear, if that was the case, it was still Goligher’s obligation to establish and maintain boundaries, even as Susan abused her role in the church.
But what we find most telling is Susan Elzey’s role in testifying in court against Phil Snyder, a former member of the church and whistleblower who sounded the alarm about abuse in the church.
The courts barred Phil from attending or approaching Tenth based on false claims that he had threatened church members. And one of the worst of the perjurers in this matter was Susan Elzey, who looked the judge in the eye and calmly lied, claiming that Phil threatened her—even though video recordings make it clear that this was a fabrication.
Thus, we reiterate that Elzey is a perjurer and a criminal, a victim and a predator.
Speaking of perjurers
While we’re on the topic of perjurers, Liam Goligher, Clerk of Session George McFarland, former church administrator Douglas Baker, also committed perjury in the civil case against Phil Snyder.
The result cost Snyder more than $65,000 in legal fees and ended his marriage.
Yet none of these individuals have made restitution, retracted their perjury, or accepted the criminal consequences of their actions.
To be clear, this is cheap grace at its worst. Just call it water over the dam, promise not to do it again (with your fingers crossed behind your back), and keep right on trucking.
That’s not what Christianity is about, and there can be no rehabilitation of Goligher or any of these dirtbags until they own up to their behavior and repent. That also requires reimbursing Phil his legal fees and issuing a public, written retraction.
Until that happens, there can be no true integrity at Tenth Presbyterian. Anything less is just badly done reputation management,
Closing thoughts
As we’ve said before, the Tenth Session’s decision to resign at the end of the year is too little, too late. Indeed, the elders appear to have wired things to maintain a firm grip on the reins of power, so the more things change, the more they stay the same.
Meanwhile, we are shocked and appalled at the lack of respect for Christine Goligher and Guy Elzey. The decision by the Presbytery to drop adultery charges is outrageous and unacceptable, and Liam Goligher should be held accountable for this specific issue.
Relatedly, Tenth needs to refer Goligher to law enforcement over his criminal perjury. Only then can there be any genuine possibility of Liam being restored to any role in the church — and he should never again be a pastor.
And for the record, if, in a year or two, Goligher ghostwrites a book with a goofy title like “Finding My Way Home: My Struggle of Repentance,” don’t waste your money. Unless he’s actually owned up to his criminal conduct, any such book is a bunch of hogwash intended to keep crooked Liam in the manner to which he is accustomed.
Feel free to quote us.
Pertinent comment. Any further news on President Ryken?
Nothing lately, although we are asking around.
Readers, if you pick up any news on this topic, please let us know.
I think you misunderstand how PCA church discipline works. The PCA is hoping for a full restoration of Gallagher to the Lord’s Supper, not to ministry. To be restored to the Lord’s Supper, he only needs to be truly repentant. That’s a wildly different bar from being restored to ministry, which nobody is even hinting at. Respectfully, you’re pulling the idea of him being restored to ministry out of thin air.
Also, they dropped the adultery charges because Adult Sexual Clergy Abuse is worse. In a state criminal trial, if you murder someone while robbing a candy bar from convenience store, the petty theft charge will usually be dropped. Looks like the same thing is happening here.
Hi Charlie. Unfortunately, we’ve seen far too many corrupt pastors back in the pulpit in record time. And where’s the pastoral care team for others, including Phil Snyder? Indeed, so far Tenth won’t even admit that it engaged in perjury. And we have watched all of the body cam footage, had it assessed for editing, and more. So we are confident in claiming that Tenth and several key players, including George McFarland, are perjurers in the full legal sense.
Speaking of perjury, the Presbytery didn’t even roll that issue into the charges. So we’ve got many miles to travel and bridges to cross before Goligher is in a state of repentance.
On the issue of adult sexual abuse, our sense is that dropping the church of adultery was basically a plea deal. Goligher backed away from his contumacy and re-engaged the Presbytery, and made the right noises about repentance, etc.
That, of course, brings us full circle. Christian repentance includes turning away from the sin, apologizing, making restitution, and living a different life. Thus, we’d like to know: What is Liam doing to fix things with Christine, his wife? Guy Elzey? Susan Elzey? Phil Snyder?
Until these things happen, including restitution, Liam is just playing games.
As for Christine Goligher and the Elzeys, I wouldn’t come away from this plea arrangement feeling any sort of respect or compassion, either from Liam, the Presbytery, or Tenth.
Meanwhile, when the check from Tenth to Phil Snyder clears the bank, we’ll let folks know. Promise.