At a town hall last week, embattled Pastor Albert Tate claimed that 11 months ago, when his “inappropriate” texting was first discovered, he took a leave of absence and was “out of the pulpit for six weeks.”
However, a review of sermons posted by Tate’s church, Fellowship Monrovia, shows that’s not true.
At the town hall, Fellowship Monrovia Board Member Christian Washington said Tate confessed to the board in January 2023 that he had been involved in “inappropriate texting” with a woman other than his wife. At that time, a “plan of restoration” was put in place for Tate, Washington said.
Tate’s misconduct was kept from the congregation until late September. That’s when rumors and additional allegations forced the board to address the situation publicly and place Tate on a leave of absence, Washington said.
In their public statements, neither the board nor Tate has mentioned any prior leave of absence or removal from the pulpit back in January when Tate’s misconduct was first discovered. However, at the town hall, Tate introduced the idea in response to a question from a congregant.
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Referring to Tate’s leave of absence in September—and plan to return to preaching at the beginning of 2024—a congregant said: “(F)or me, a leave of absence of three months is not enough. Restoration is humility and repentance. You might have done that. I don’t know. But my concern is: Are you restored enough to take the pulpit back if your indiscretions happened last year, and you were still on the pulpit preaching?”
That’s when Tate responded: “This is my second leave. When it initially happened, I was out of the pulpit for six weeks. And I took that time then—and have been doing deep work over the course of the last year and continuing to do that.”
You can watch the interaction in the video below:
But Tate wasn’t absent from preaching for six weeks at any time in January or in the weeks and months afterward.
According to videos posted on Fellowship Monrovia’s YouTube channel, Tate preached on Jan. 1, Jan. 8, and Jan. 15. He took two weeks off. Then he preached Feb. 5, Feb. 12, and Feb. 19.
There was no seeming “leave” and no period during the time in question that he took six weeks off.
TRR reached out to the Fellowship Monrovia board and Tate to explain what seems to be a blatant falsehood. To date, no one has responded.
However, I noticed that on a Q&A page Fellowship Monrovia recently posted, it states that Tate confessed his inappropriate texts to the board in late 2022, not January 2023. Similarly, a letter by concerned staff posted online says Tate’s misconduct was brought to the board in December 2022.
So, I searched the sermons posted online to see who preached at Fellowship Monrovia in December 2022.
Tate preached Dec. 4, Dec. 11, and Dec. 18. He did not preach on Dec. 25, Christmas Day. But he was back preaching the following week.
So, according to the evidence online, Tate’s board became aware of his inappropriate texting with a woman other than his wife but allowed Tate to continue preaching without interruption and without informing the congregation. Compounding the situation is Tate’s recent claim that he was out of the pulpit for six weeks, which apparently is false.
Plus, last January, one guest preacher who preached at Fellowship Monrovia—Summit Church Executive Pastor Bryan Loritts, whom Tate describes as his “mentor” and “spiritual father”—glowingly praised Tate. In addition, Loritts, who’s faced his own controversy for alleged misconduct, stated something that raises concern, especially given the context.
Loritts preached on January 29, 2023, and stated in his opening remarks that “the hand of God was upon (Tate)” and expressed delight that God had “enlargened (Tate’s) sphere of influence.”
Loritts then mentioned that he and his wife had recently been on a cruise in the Mediterranean with Tate and his wife. And Loritts noted that in conversations, Tate told jokes that crossed “the line.”
“If you know anything about your pastor, he loves to laugh,” Loritts said. “And he loves to joke. A lot of times, he crosses the line with those jokes, but he wouldn’t be Albert if he didn’t do that.”
You can hear Loritts’ comments in the video below:
TRR has posted an article on the recent town hall in which Tate made his claims about being out of the pulpit for six weeks. At the contentious town hall, Tate was accused of lying, paying “hush money,” and mistreating staff. Tate also addressed allegations that he had sexually harassed women on staff.
Julie Roys is a veteran investigative reporter and founder of The Roys Report. She also previously hosted a national talk show on the Moody Radio Network, called Up for Debate, and has worked as a TV reporter for a CBS affiliate. Her articles have appeared in numerous periodicals.
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13 Responses
So in other words, he blatenly lies to his mind numbed sheep (aka giving units). Why is still in the pulpit and why should he be allowed preach ever again?
Because there really are no checks and balances in so many of these personality-driven churches. It’s their profession, pays very well with lots of perks, grants them power over others, and frankly most of these guys would be unlikely to find such prestige and money if they had to go out and find real jobs in the world.
Protege Tate was trained well in immoral behavior and the art of appearing sincere while telling boldfaced lies by his mentor Loritts, who covered up the sex crimes of his brother-in-law Rick Trotter.
You are exactly right, Mark. As you may recall, Loritts had no recollection of what happened to Trotter’s phone (which was in his possession) with all the videos taken of women using the church restroom.
No shame, repentance, integrity or accountability!! The biblical qualifications of a pastor are clearly noted in 1 Tim. 3:1-7… “Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.”
I am saddened by these happenings. I heard Albert Tate preach at a men’s conference a year and a half ago. The Presence of God was palpable (and this was via video conference) as he preached on the prodigal son. May God bring repentance where repentance is needed and may Albert continue to do God’s work, in whatever role God would have. May the Monrovia church find healing as well.
It appears Willow Creek Community Church has separated from Albert Tate as he is no longer listed on their Executive and Teaching Team. On the other hand, the Global Leadership Network out of Willow Creek continues to stand by their man as he is still listed on their Board of Directors.
There is a 6 week gap. They haven’t given specific dates when his indiscretion was brought to the board’s attention. I think I have heard “late last year” and “in the fall of last year”. There is a 6 week period that Pastor Tate did not preach. 10/16/22, 10/23/22, 10/30/22, 11/6/22, 11/13/22, 11/20/22.
(It took me less than10 minutes to confirm it from the messages posted on the Fellowship website.) Not very thorough investigative reporting Ms. Roys, but if he did indeed take a time away that wouldn’t make an interesting story, would it!
If the board and Pastor Tate would be more specific with the timeframe it would help us avoid believing these lies.
Yes, Tate was gone from the pulpit for six weeks in Oct/Nov 2022. But the board specifically said at the Town Hall that it became aware of the inappropriate texts in January 2023. Now, it’s true that the board contradicted itself in the Q&A where it said it became aware of the inappropriate texts in late 2022. But the staff letter states the board learned of the texts in December 2022, so it seems Dec 2022/Jan 2023 is the approximate time the board was informed–certainly not Oct/Nov 2022. Also, Tate was speaking during those months, just not at Fellowship Monvrovia. It’s my understanding that he spoke on the cruise in the Mediterranean he took during that time.
I can confirm that Albert Tate was speaking during that time period. I was on the Holy Land Mediterranean Cruise with Mr. Tate, along with Bryan Loritts who spoke, as well. It was my first introduction to both pastors and I am grieved at these reports. But, I do believe them. I know Julie’s investigative reporting to be thorough and without malice.
If removing Albert from the pulpit brings peace to those in the Church family that are upset, then maybe he should consider a different position within the church that would be acceptable to the congregation. The church itself depends on a pastor’s significance within the community to continue to thrive and not wither so the Church, as a business, would want to keep him as the pastor. My concern from knowing him and his wife years ago is that he is right with himself. The pressures on a senior pastor are many and can destroy as well as build up a person’s spirit. Prayer for this community in conflict, prayer and packing the pews and being heard as a member to voice concerns and lament, for our sins are costly to us and those we love.
I have additional concerns not previously expressed, as well as concerns arising from Fellowship’s November 19, 2023 “Town Hall Meeting.” In preparation for a thorough written discussion of these concerns, I have presented, in writing, Scriptural evidence concerning a fundamental support responsibility of church elders and thus pastors. Specifically, church elders must support themselves, including financially, and not by preaching. For example, Acts 20:34-35 record that the Apostle Paul during his “farewell” address to church elders from Ephesus, proclaimed: “34 Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. 35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
Moreover, sometimes elders and pastors claim they are entitled to support themselves, including financially, by preaching because 1 Cor. 9:14 states, “the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.” There are several reasons why this claim, however well-meaning, is erroneous. I have discussed these and other related Scriptures and Scriptural issues at https://kerobersonsrltrtofellowshipchurch.blogspot.com/.
I have posted today concerns about Fellowship’s Articles of Incorporation, and Bylaws, especially about how they impact the congregation. For example, Fellowship operates under Fellowship Church, Inc. For example, the Bylaws grant authority to a “Board of Elders.” The Bylaws do not grant congregation members any authority in the corporation. The Bylaws do not require that a Board member attend Fellowship. The Bylaws permit discipline of any Fellowship pastor to be handled privately per Mt. 18:15-17 (including, “if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone), no matter how egregious the sin(s), and the Bylaws nowhere refer to 1 Tim. 5:20 (“them [elders] that sin rebuke before all, that others may fear”). The Bylaws have three sentences’ worth of qualifications to be on the “Board of Elders,” in contrast to the many Scriptural qualifications to be an “elder.” My post also poses questions concerning the Bylaws and compensation to members of the “Board of Elders,” salaries to Fellowship’s officers, and Pastor Tate’s employment relationship with the corporation.
I have also reviewed the video of the 11-19-23 “Town Hall Meeting.” A separate post that I have posted today discusses concerns about that meeting, including (1) questions about Pastor Tate’s income from Fellowship, (2) comments about the confusing remarks of the meeting’s panel members concerning the nature and responsibilities of Fellowship’s board, (3) comments about the alleged misappropriation and/or alleged misuse of Fellowship funds, and (4) Pastor Tate’s unfair and hypocritical treatment of Ms. Julie Roys at the meeting. I have discussed these and other pertinent matters at https://kerobersonsrltrtofellowshipchurch.blogspot.com/.