Christian leader resigns as former staff describe “toxic masculinity” in workplace
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) leaders also rescinded their recommendation of a book by Noel Castellanos, former president of the Christian Community Development Association, for church members to read and discuss.
The president of the Christian Community Development Association resigned after former staff members came forward with accounts of abusive workplace behavior especially directed toward women.
Several women who worked for CCDA created a website describing “the toxic masculinity that is pervasive within the organization,” giving examples such as Noel Castellanos berating them in front of others, questioning their competence, and having angry outbursts perceived as physically threatening.
Two of the women, Audrey Velez and Evelmyn Ivens, described a meeting with Castellanos in which he yelled and slammed his fists on the table after they requested that a mediator and board members be present at a staff retreat. Velez also wrote about a period of weeks when her supervisor and Castellanos got into verbal altercations in the office so often “that staff started wearing noise-canceling headphones while working.”
