When disgraced Atlanta pastor Sam Collier returned to the pulpit last Sunday, he got a standing ovation and the founder’s blessing.

That was after taking a few weeks off following sexual misconduct allegations from his former wife.

Collier has been lead pastor of Christian Cultural Center (CCC) Atlanta, a branch of CCC New York, since late 2024. Last September, the Atlanta megachurch restored and re-ordained Collier. It is unclear what was involved in that restoration process. He seemed to have served continually as pastor during the restoration.

A few months later, in December, The Roys Report (TRR) reported that Collier’s ex-wife, Toni Collier, had accused him of hiring a transgender prostitute in 2023 when they were still married. TRR obtained a police report showing that Sam told police that a transgender man was harassing him and “making up lies” to blackmail him for money.

Then in early January, Collier’s congregation stood and cheered when he announced his upcoming return to the pulpit with assurances that his sexuality was “intact.”

“It’s been difficult because you have your integrity questioned, as of recently, your sexuality questioned, which has always been intact and will always remain intact—heterosexual,” Collier said in a Jan. 4 livestreamed service.

TRR couldn’t find a previous announcement stating Collier was stepping back.

Last Sunday, Pastor A.R. Bernard, founder of CCC New York, visited the Atlanta congregation to bless Collier’s return. 

“We want him back in the saddle,” Bernard said. “When we talk about leadership, it’s never perfection. Someone who is teachable, is quick to repent and quick to forgive and willing to learn and grow. … He’s represented that.”

Toni Collier has previously accused Sam of “repeated acts of infidelity” during their seven-year marriage that ended in 2023.  She’s alleged that he cheated on her while he worked at prominent churches. Her husband used to pastor Hillsong Atlanta, which split in 2022 from Hillsong and became the Story Church, and then CCC Atlanta. He was the first African-American pastor at Hillsong, a church network that disgraced pastor Brian Houston, founded in Australia before opening several American branches.

TRR made multiple attempts to contact Bernard and CCC New York, but no one responded.

It’s not clear if CCC knew of Toni’s allegations related to Sam hiring a transgender prostitute when it restored him the first time in September. Toni described the allegation in an Oct. 3 “Girls Gone Bible” podcast.

Despite Bernard saying he wants a pastor willing to repent, it’s unclear whether Collier has publicly repented in this latest restoration. Collier didn’t openly repent in any of the January livestreamed services. December’s first two services following TRR’s reporting haven’t been aired. Other pastors covered preaching for late December.

In his public feud with his ex-wife, Collier initially denied allegations of infidelity, calling Toni Collier a “liar and abuser” in a now-deleted social media post. Four months ago, he admitted he “100-percent made mistakes” on a podcast but didn’t offer any details or name specific sins.

He has told his church multiple times how difficult the divorce was on him. Standing in front of his congregation on Jan. 4, Collier lamented the divorce as an “unexpected trial” during which he says most Christians abandoned him. Last Sunday, he described his situation as an “onslaught of different unexpected things” and again, blamed people for not supporting him better.

“You have churches leaving, you have leaders leaving, just as you’re experiencing life,” Collier said.

The church didn’t post any announcements about Collier and the allegations or his stepping away from ministry on social media in December.

On Jan. 4, Bernard’s son, Jamaal Bernard, Sr., who is senior pastor of CCC New York, read a statement at CCC Atlanta about Collier’s restoration. CCC Atlanta also posted this statement on its website, signed by both Jamaal and A.R. Bernard.

The statement doesn’t go into detail about Collier’s alleged misconduct, doesn’t include an apology from Collier, doesn’t explain the restoration process or clarify Collier’s future accountability plan. Rather it blames “tabloid-style coverage” for focusing on “scandal and spectacle over integrity.”

“Pastor Sam Collier came to CCC as an anointed and authentic, yet flawed human, quite some time after the divorce from his ex-wife,” the Bernards stated. “In spite of the recent publicity campaign we are committed to the healing process we began with Pastor Sam in 2024.”

In the Jan. 4 service, Jamaal Bernard seemed to further downplay the allegations, blaming the situation on today’s culture.

“In the climate that we’re in, everything is judged,” Bernard said. “Me saying, ‘Hello’ can be taken and next you know, it’s a whole situation.”

On Jan. 18, A.R. Bernard explained why he chose not to fire Collier as offering grace for a hurting leader.

“Church typically abandons you when you get in trouble,” Bernard said. “We tend to, like they say, ‘Shoot our wounded’ . . .  So thank you for standing with, for praying for Pastor Sam as he walks through this.” The Bernards made no mention of offering support to Toni.

Rebecca Hopkins is a journalist based in Colorado.