- Sexual Harassment/Abuse ·
Former Seacoast Youth Leader Avoids Prison Time After Pleading Guilty to Inappropriately Touching Girls
A former youth leader at multi-site Seacoast Church in North and South Carolina, who admitted inappropriately touching numerous teenage girls, aged 13-16, has avoided prison…
- Church Issues ·
Founding Pastor Chris Hodges Abruptly Steps Down from Church of the Highlands
Chris Hodges, founder of Church of the Highlands (COTH), in Birmingham, Alabama—one of the largest churches in the country—abruptly announced yesterday he’s stepping down as…
- Clergy Sexual Abuse ·
Pastor Accused of Rape Returns to Preaching at South Carolina Megachurch
A former Church of the Highlands pastor, who was accused of rape and resigned from the Alabama megachurch, has returned to preaching at a South…
- Church Issues ·
Gateway Church Cancels Popular Conference Amid Sex Abuse Scandal Involving Robert Morris
Texas megachurch Gateway Church has canceled its popular annual conference in the wake of the sexual abuse scandal involving its founder Robert Morris. The church…
- Sexual Harassment/Abuse ·
Robert Morris Resigns as Overseer at Alabama Megachurch, Following Sex Abuse Allegations
Embattled Texas megachurch Pastor Robert Morris has resigned as an overseer at Church of the Highlands (COTH), the largest church in Alabama, following allegations he…
- Ministry Finances & Governance ·
Ousted FL Megachurch Pastor Sues ARC Network, Alleging ‘Conspiracy’ & Deception
Embattled pastor Stovall Weems, who was ousted last year from the Florida megachurch he founded, has sued the Association of Related Churches (ARC), claiming ARC…
- evangelical industrial complex ·
Analysis: ARC Pastors Enriched Through Hillsong ‘Celebrity Preacher’s Scam’
Recent Hillsong whistleblower documents show that Hillsong’s alleged “celebrity preacher’s scam” didn’t just enrich Brian Houston, founder of the global megachurch, with hefty speaking honorariums.…
- Church Issues ·
ARC Pastor Leading Church Delinquent on Mortgage Teaches College Class on Finances
Jimn Kyles of Anchor Bend Church—an Association of Related Churches (ARC) megachurch in Texas—recently urged his congregation to give more money because the church built…
- Christian Living ·
Disgraced Megachurch Pastor Posts Apology After Being Spotted at John Maxwell Leadership Event
Disgraced megachurch pastor Jeremy Foster this weekend posted a video on Instagram apologizing for the adulterous affair that led to his resignation last year from…
- Church Issues ·
Former Seacoast Youth Leader Charged with Assaulting 10 Girls; Families Say Church Did Nothing for 2 Years
A former student ministry leader at Seacoast Church—an Association of Related Churches megachurch in North and South Carolina—is facing 13 counts of assault and battery…
- Abuse ·
Lead Pastor and Exec Team of ARC Megachurch Resign Amid Allegations of Bullying and Financial Misconduct
Following allegations of years-long bullying and financial misconduct, the lead pastor and executive team of an Association of Related Churches (ARC) megachurch, based in New…
- Church Issues ·
EXCLUSIVE: Dozens Say ARC Megachurch Pastor Bullied and Shamed Staff, Volunteers
Everyone was laughing and goading, like it was a joke—until it wasn’t. Whoever said the dumbest thing had to take off an article of clothing…
- Evangelicalism ·
Pastor Platforming James MacDonald Says Strong Women with Weak Husbands Become ‘Toxic’
Ryan Visconti, the Arizona pastor platforming discredited celebrity preacher James MacDonald is attracting attention—not just for his new partnership, but also his provocative social media…
- Evangelicalism ·
James MacDonald Preaching at ARC Megachurch in Arizona
Despite being disqualified from public ministry by his former megachurch for a “pattern of sinful behavior,” James MacDonald is preaching at Generation Church—an Association of…
- Abuse ·
Elder at San Diego Megachurch Arrested in Alleged Abuse Death of 11-Year-Old Daughter
An ordained elder at a megachurch in San Diego, California, has been arrested on suspicion of abuse and murder in the death of her 11-year-old…
- Church Issues ·
Church of the Highlands Quietly Advances Controversial Pastoral Retreat Center
Although public information on The Lodge Retreat Center has lessened since the public announcement in September 2021, updated photos shared with MinistryWatch show that construction is…
- Abuse ·
Sheriff Investigating Death of San Diego Megachurch Elder’s Daughter; ‘Possible Child Abuse’
The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the death of an 11-year-old adoptive daughter of an ordained elder at The Rock Church—a San Diego…
- Evangelicalism ·
EXCLUSIVE: Incoming Saddleback Pastor Accused of Retaliating When Baptist Group Wouldn’t ‘Broker’ Deals
For his first 10 years of leading Echo Church, a multisite megachurch in San Jose, California, Pastor Andy Wood—the incoming pastor of Saddleback Church—expressed no…
- Church Issues ·
ARC-Linked Pastor Drops Defamation Suit, Faces Demand for Legal Fees
Jonathan Wiggins, the pastor of a Colorado megachurch formerly linked to the Association of Related Churches (ARC), could be on the hook for tens of…
- Ministry Finances & Governance ·
Accused Pastor Tavner Smith Acknowledges Venue Church Facing Foreclosure
Despite asserting earlier that Venue Church’s campus in Chattanooga “is going nowhere,” Tavner Smith on Sunday acknowledged that the congregation he pastors is facing foreclosure.…
- Sexual Harassment/Abuse ·
After Year’s Silence, Pastor Accused of Rape Fills Pulpit at ARC Church
Pastor Micahn Carter, who was accused of rape and removed last year from Church of the Highlands in Birmingham, Alabama, has returned to public ministry…
- Abuse ·
EXCLUSIVE: Former Staffers Expose Bullying, Abuse of Rick Warren’s Successor Andy Wood
Andy Wood—the man poised to replace Rick Warren in September at Saddleback Church—is an abusive pastor who punishes those who cross him, according to two…
- Ministry Finances & Governance ·
Bank: Ousted Founders of ARC-Linked Celebration Church in Default on Over $700K
Stovall Weems and his wife Kerri were ousted this spring from the church they founded, a Florida-based megachurch in the Association of Related Churches (ARC)…
- Church Issues ·
ARC-Linked Colorado Pastor Sues Former Staff & Members, Claims Defamation
The pastor of a Colorado megachurch connected with the Association of Related Churches (ARC) is suing six people, including former staff and church members, claiming…
- Church Issues ·
Founder of ARC-Linked Megachurch ‘Unjustly’ Enriched Himself, Report Says
Stovall Weems—the founder of a Florida-based megachurch formerly linked with the Association of Related Churches (ARC)—committed fraud and “unjustly” enriched himself with church funds, according…
- Church Issues ·
ARC-Linked Florida Megachurch Embroiled in Legal Dispute with Founder
Stovall and Kerri Weems say they are whistleblowers and victims of retaliation by the church they founded—Celebration Church, a multi-site megachurch in Florida formerly part…
- Church Issues ·
Opinion: ARC President Urges Congregation to Pray Judgment Over “Persecutors” in Spiritually Abusive Sermon
After an article of mine generated criticism of Greg Surratt, president of the Association of Related Churches (ARC), Surratt on Sunday encouraged his congregants at…
- Church Issues ·
ARC Church Planting Group Under Fire for Claiming Payments from Churches Are Voluntary
The Association of Related Churches (ARC)—one of the largest church planting organizations in North America—is coming under fire for claiming that payments to ARC from…
- Church Issues ·
TN Megachurch Pastor Returns to Pulpit After Six-Week Absence for Alleged Adultery
Tennessee megachurch pastor Tavner Smith returned to the pulpit Sunday—six weeks after allegations surfaced that Smith had engaged in an adulterous affair and eight of…
- Church Issues ·
Pastor of Orlando-Area Megachurch Quietly Divorces
The pastor of Action Church—a Florida multi-site megachurch planted with the Association of Related Churches (ARC)—has quietly divorced his wife in a court half the…
- Church Issues ·
TN Megachurch Pastor Accused of Affair Says He’ll Be Back After Short Sabbatical
Despite evidence of an adulterous affair, Tennessee pastor Tavner Smith says he’ll be back at his Chattanooga megachurch next month, following a short sabbatical. Just…
- Church Issues ·
Despite Continued Cult-like Activity, Mark Driscoll Continues to Headline Conferences
Despite a viral podcast documenting his disqualifying behavior, scores of testimonies from his victims, and articles and podcasts at The Roys Report showing his continued…
- Church Issues ·
Pastor Resigns From Houston Megachurch After Admitting Affair
Hope City Church in Houston, Texas—once touted as the “fastest-growing church in American history”—has just announced that its pastor, Jeremy Foster, has resigned due to…
- Church Issues ·
Pastor’s Alleged Infidelity Causes Staff Exodus from Venue Church
What was once one of the fastest growing megachurches in the country—Venue Church in Chattanooga, Tennessee—today is reeling from a staff exodus due to their…
- Church Issues ·
Despite Scandals, Alabama Megachurch Invests Millions to “Restore” Pastors
Church of the Highlands (COTH)—a 43,000-member megachurch in Alabama, which recently sparked controversy for trying to rehabilitate a pastor accused of sexual assault—is building a…
- Sexual Harassment/Abuse ·
Lawsuit Accuses Church Planting Group of Allowing Florida Pastor to ‘Sexually Prey’ on Employee
A Florida lawsuit accuses the Association of Related Churches (ARC)—one of America’s largest church planting organizations—of negligence and coverup concerning a pastor who allegedly raped…
- Church Issues ·
Megachurch Pastor Resigns Amid Accusations He Raped His Assistant in 2019
A pastor accused of raping his former secretary has resigned from an Alabama megachurch after the woman went public with her story. Micahn Carter and…
- Church Issues ·
Oops, John Gray Did It Again
For years, as rumors of extramarital affairs circulated, people asked, “Did John Gray do it?” Now, following additional rumors that arose this summer, people are…
All articles loaded
No more articles to load
English 
Spanish 