Sarah McMillan/cvnznews.com
Church finally names predator and apologises to survivors it failed to protect
The Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand has publicly identified another former minister who sexually abused children during decades of ministry and is appealing for additional survivors to come forward.
The church says it is currently working with three victims of the late Rev David Wentworth Pimm, who died in 2014, but believes there may be others who suffered abuse during his more than 40 years of service.
Assembly Executive Secretary Erin Pendreigh said the church was deeply sorry for the harm caused by Pimm and acknowledged that survivors had been failed.
“Anyone who was abused by David Pimm was not at fault. They were let down by the church,” Pendreigh said.
She also apologised to those who may have spoken up in the past but were ignored, disbelieved, silenced, or pressured to forgive.
“If you spoke up and were not believed, or were asked to remain silent or simply forgive, that was terribly wrong and we are truly sorry.”
The church is publicly naming Pimm as part of a wider shift toward transparency following the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care and advocacy by survivors. Because Pimm is deceased, disciplinary action is no longer possible, but church leaders say identifying him may help other victims seek recognition and redress.
“We are ready to listen and to begin a process of redress when survivors are ready,” Pendreigh said. “While we cannot undo the betrayal that occurred, we are committed to responding in ways that matter to those affected. Our focus is on accountability and transparency.”
Pendreigh pointed to the denomination’s public apology issued last year, in which church leaders acknowledged longstanding failures to protect vulnerable children and respond appropriately when concerns were raised.
“We failed to provide protection and did not act when warnings were given. We did not uphold our own values or our commitments to children. That breach of trust is indefensible, and we deeply regret that this abuse was allowed to occur.”
The church says it continues to strengthen safeguarding measures, requiring ministers, staff, and volunteers to comply with its Code of Ethics and Child Protection policies.
Ministry History
Pimm’s ministry spanned almost five decades and took him into numerous communities throughout New Zealand.
Originally from the Mataura Presbytery in Southland, he received his Presbyterial Certificate in 1955 while training as a home missionary.
His first appointment was at Granity-Karamea on the West Coast, serving communities including Hector and Seddonville from 1955 to 1958, where he was involved in youth and children’s activities.
Following theological training in Dunedin, Pimm served at Fortrose in Southland until 1965 and later held ministry positions in Opotiki, Ahuriri-Putorino in Hawke’s Bay, and a range of other locations across the country.
Between 1978 and 1981 he carried out itinerant ministry work in Northland, Bay of Plenty, Otago, Southland, Canterbury, and other regions before taking up a settled role at St John’s Presbyterian Church in Palmerston North.
He served there until his retirement from active ministry in 1986 and later became associated with Knox Presbyterian Church in Feilding until 2003.
Church officials are encouraging anyone who experienced abuse by Pimm, or who has information relevant to his conduct, to make contact so concerns can be heard and addressed through the church’s survivor redress process.
