A pastor at one of Canada’s largest churches has been accused of sexual misconduct and has been placed on leave while the church undertakes an external investigation.
Bruxy Cavey, who grew The Meeting House into a megachurch with some 5,000 people attending 19 campuses in the larger Toronto metropolitan area, was accused of sexual misconduct by a woman who reported it to the church’s Overseers Board, or board of directors, last week.
In a brief statement, Maggie John, chair of the Meeting House board, wrote: “Bruxy has now been placed on a leave of absence while an external investigation takes place. We take these allegations very seriously and are committed to a thorough and transparent process. We are praying through this situation.”
The church would not comment further.
Cavey, 56, is the teaching pastor at The Meeting House and the author of a popular book, “The End of Religion: Encountering the Subversive Spirituality of Jesus.” He became the senior pastor of Upper Oaks Community Church in 1997 and changed its name to The Meeting House. The church grew exponentially as it sought to appeal to people alienated from Christianity and church traditions.
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The church affiliates with Be In Christ, a small Anabaptist denomination, formerly known as Brethren in Christ Canada, which is committed to peace and nonviolence. The denomination is evangelical in its teachings.
Cavey has also taught at U.S. seminaries and universities, including Messiah University and Fresno Pacific University Biblical Seminary.
He is one of Canada’s most recognizable church leaders and recently the subject of a book, “The Subversive Evangelical: The Ironic Charisma of an Irreligious Megachurch” by Peter J. Schuurman.
In the book, Schuurman writes that Cavey cultivates an identity as leading an “irreligious” megachurch and provides followers with “a more culturally acceptable way to practice their faith in a secular age.”
Responding to the news about Cavey, former RZIM speaker and Canadian, Daniel Gilman, urged that the independent investigation of Cavey be conducted in a “victim-centered way.”
“The questions regarding how to handle this need to first and foremost be about the impact on whoever the woman is involved in this rather than on how this might impact the church,” he said. “The immediate questions need to be about the woman’s safety, the woman’s dignity, the woman’s well-being, as well as whatever she wants to pursue.”
Cavey’s ministry has promoted a compassionate God and has had a big impact on Canadians and others around the world, Gilman said.
“Bruxy Cavey’s entire ministry has been presented as an invitation for those who are uncomfortable with conventional church,” Gilman said. “There are many who are struggling in their faith who will likely find themselves floundering in their faith in light of seeing yet another leader be embroiled in this stuff.”
Gilman says he doesn’t know specifics of the allegation, and whether the “concern brought forward is about a consensual affair among equals or if it includes power dynamics and abuse.” But he added that leaders must remember the “immense sacred trust” they hold and “the haunting damage that our betrayal of those realities brings about.”
Church Statement Obtained by The Roys Report:
Announcement-BruxyCaveyGilman’s statement has been updated to clarify his view.
Julie Roys & Rebecca Hopkins contributed to this report.
Yonat Shimron is a national reporter and senior editor for Religion News Service.
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10 Responses
I am grieved for the woman and her family who has been a victim of clerical misconduct.
You are not the cause of Bruxey’s downfall — he is.
Thank you for your courage.
Bruxy Cavey is a false teacher. He does not believe in an eternal hell, that one can be saved without Jesus, etc. See https://trinitybiblechapel.ca/yes-bruxy-cavey-is-a-false-teacher/ , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCJxmvy3cLw,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5Z6OVUkWCM, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXgTUuIvAJ4, etc.
He is associated with Brethren in Christ Canada who I have contacted about his false teachings and they ignore me.
That means they approve of him and his false teachings. He has deceived many but mainly because they don’t read their Bible themselves.
Like the comment before me – I applaud her courage. I pray peace and protection over the woman who had the strength to speak out. There is no end game for her. There is no “win”.
To speak out is an act of courage and defiance to say no more… whatever this is determined to be in public and church domain – let this women and yes her family know as well that speaking out is indeed a statement for whoever has “ ears to hear”. You are heard. You are brave.
And you are loved, by no less than the One who knows all and weeps and rages with I dare say a violently fierce love at any abuse of power – especially that in the realm of Their name. The God I know is not non violent in response to abuse of power. I am so sorry. I am also angry. You are brave. You are loved.
To clarify… I do not mean to use the word violent to promote or insinuate physical aggression. Perhaps it is pushback to Cavey’s signature platform of non violence. Abuse of power is violence.
Jesus was angry enough to overturn tables in the synagogue… over basically Amazon in the church courtyard. I suspect and sincerely hope that Jesus is angered at abuse of power in the Church and everywhere else. Then and now. Does Jesus Love Cavey as much as the alleged victim? Of course, and all the more broken hearted no matter what the outcome of this investigation is.
Daniel is wrong in what he says about the ” “victim-centered way.” The presumption of innocent until proven guilty remains a good value.
What must be “victim-centered” is engagement with the complainant. Every conceivable appropriate support must be extended.
The investigation on the other hand, must be thorough, objective and impartial; concerned only with establishing facts and truths across a transparent due process.
The accused too must also be supported. Not so as to see an institution protected or supported, but so as to see due process enacted fairly.
When judgement is come to fairly, is another and separate phase.
Could we wait for the results of the investigation before immediately assuming the pastor is guilty?
Yes! Amen to that Denny! Thank you.
I guess that the fact that Bruxy Cavey is a false teacher is not of significance here?
What about innocent until proven guilty? If he’s innocence, and I hope he is, when this kind of stuff is shared publicly before the details are known it can really damage a person’s reputation and ministry (and our Christian witness).
That’s sad. ????
The “Me Too” movement has moved this subject to the forefront. If this had occurred ten years ago, the response to the allegation would have been way different and not likely been made public. As Bob Dylan song says….”The Times They Are A-Changin”.
The BIC board has handled this the correct way by publicly stating that there is a credible accusation so there will be a thorough investigation. That is way to get out in front of this difficult situation to properly address what what happened. We shall know the truth and the truth will set us free (JC).
However, by now lawyers have been retained by both sides, so it will not take “months” even though the public and stakeholders typically want fast answers. One way or the other, if he is found guilty or not, his career as a pastor is finished.
That has to be the inherent risk these days for anyone going into the ministry who exercises platform privilege.
The additional accusation being levelled above that he is a “false teacher” is a personal opinion that has nothing to do with this situation.