Leadership guru John Maxwell publicly praised Bill Hybels at the Global Leadership Summit (GLS) last week, despite credible allegations the disgraced pastor sexually harassed and abused multiple women over several decades.
Hybels founded the GLS in 1995—a leadership conference which once attracted more than 400,000 people worldwide and featured major speakers like Bono and Bill Clinton. But in 2018, Hybels resigned from the GLS and the Chicago-area megachurch he co-founded, Willow Creek Community Church, after several women came forward with stories of his alleged sexual misconduct.
Those allegations were later deemed credible by an independent group of pastors commissioned to investigate the claims.
Yet, last Friday, Maxwell told thousands of GLS attendees at Willow Creek, “I would be incredibly remiss if I would not say that every one of us in this room today are a part of the calling and the heart that (Hybels) had to train leaders around the world. And I’ll never forget it. I’ll always be grateful, Bill! Thank you, buddy!”
In addition to those attending the annual conference at Willow Creek, the conference was also broadcast to another 240,000 people at more than 800 sites worldwide. Maxwell’s comments prompted applause from those attending in-person, though some refrained, as video of the event obtained by The Roys Report (TRR) shows.
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Vonda Dyer, one of Hybels’ alleged victims and former director of vocalists at Willow Creek, told TRR she was “disappointed and defeated—but not surprised” by Maxwells’ comments and the response of conference attendees.
“Years after the truth about his treatment of women came to light, throngs of Christian leaders still choose to honor a man who abused his power, exploited women in multiple ways, and defrauded the church when he took his money and went silent,” Dyer said.
“I never imagined that leaders once held as ethical examples would stoop so low—dishonoring the abused while honoring the abuser.”
Dyer noted that Hybels has never apologized publicly or privately for his “sexual, verbal, and emotional abuse, his gross lack of leadership, and his moral corruption.”
She added, “This applause and hero worship are not only a disgrace to the Christian community but a scarlet letter on the church’s head.”
TRR reached out for comment to John Maxwell through his assistant but did not hear back.
We also reached out to the Global Leadership Network, which runs the GLS, but did not receive a response from GLN either.
Maxwell stresses values Hybels reportedly violated
Maxwell praised Hybels immediately after receiving a Legacy Award from GLS and immediately before speaking on the importance of character and leaving “a legacy that matters.”
Maxwell explained how the GLS was birthed by Maxwell and his “precious, dear friend” Bill Hybels during a dinner in Dallas in 1991.
“In our conversation, I looked at him and I said, ‘I love what you’re doing at Willow, but you need to train leaders around the world,’” Maxwell said. “And he said, ‘How do you think that should happen?’ It was in that dinner hour that the Global Leadership Summit was birthed in his heart.”
Maxwell said he and Hybels worked together to launch the first summit, which was “very much of a success.” But when Hybels suggested they do the summit together the following year, Maxwell told Hybels to get other leaders.
“You need to expose them to the best leaders in the world,” Maxwell recalled telling Hybels, adding, “That’s exactly what he did.”
Maxwell then told GLS attendees that they “are a part of the calling and the heart” Hybels had “to train leaders around the world.” Maxwell then thanked Hybels, and the audience applauded.
Maxwell proceeded to teach the crowd at GLS about leaving a legacy that matters, highlighting principles that Hybels reportedly violated.
These included, “BE BIGGER ON THE INSIDE THAN THE OUTSIDE . . . Character Matters!” and “FOLLOW THE GOLDEN RULE . . . People Matter!”
Maxwell also urged conference-goers to “FINISH WELL . . . Consistency Matters!” and “PLAY THE INFINITE GAME . . . Legacy Matters!”
Willow Creek and GLN further harmed women
Maxwell’s comments highlight a long and painful history between the Global Leadership Summit (GLN) and Hybels’ alleged victims.
In 2018, Dyer was one of several women included in the Chicago Tribune’s first report on Hybels’ alleged misconduct. Dyer told the paper that Hybels called her to his hotel suite during a trip to Sweden in 1998. He then kissed her unexpectedly and suggested they could lead Willow Creek together—an offer she rebuffed.
When the Tribune story first published, leaders at Willow Creek and the Willow Creek Association (WCA)—now GLN—labeled the women “liars” and “colluders.” The association also sent sales representatives to churches hosting the Global Leadership Summit to convince them not to back out, according to a 2018 Chicago Tribune article. One pastor reportedly told the Tribune that the WCA salesman insisted that the “women had a vendetta against Hybels and lied.”
However, in August 2018, Hybels’ former secretary, Pat Baranowski, told her story of being repeatedly groped and sexually harassed by Hybels to the New York Times. Within days, Willow Creek’s entire elder board resigned, along with Lead Teaching Pastor Steve Carter and Lead Pastor Heather Larson.
Then-president of the WCA, Tom DeVries, sent an apology to the GLS host sites for “disparaging comments” about the women. However, the organization did not give a broader public apology at that time.
In February 2019, the Willow Creek Independent Advisory Group concluded that the allegations against Hybels were credible. The WCA, which had rebranded as GLN, accepted the report’s conclusions, but did not issue a direct apology to Hybels’ victims.
Three months later, a longtime member of the GLN—First Baptist Church of Athens, Texas—issued a public apology to Hybels’ victims and criticized GLN for not doing the same.
In July 2019, the Willow Creek elders issued a final statement on the scandal, affirming findings of the Independent Advisory Group. The elders’ statement also noted that Willow Creek’s initial response led to “verbal and written attacks against the women.” The statement said “the narrative persists in identifying (the women) as liars and colluders” and called on those who had attacked the women to apologize.
In December 2019, Vonda Dyer and her husband, Scott Dyer, told a conference at Dallas Theological Seminary how both Willow Creek’s and GLN’s response had harmed them profoundly.
“I had no idea that the church that I loved would not believe me and the nine other women as claims mounted,” Dyer said. “I did not imagine that they would assassinate my character publicly. I was naïve and could not imagine being persecuted, slandered, lied about and continually bullied by the church on a global scale for reasons I may never fully know.”
Similarly, Scott Dyer recounted, “They (Willow Creek Community Church and GLN) believed him (Hybels) and called my wife a liar in front of the church we loved and had given our lives to help build,” Scott said.
“And then they told the entire global church community that she was a liar. My wife—who has done nothing but love and serve and sacrifice herself for the church, and live her life with the utmost integrity—had a cloud of suspicion placed over her that was incredibly unfair, unwarranted, and untrue and unkind. And by connection, that cloud was placed over me, as well.”
Maxwell hires adulterous former pastor
Maxwell’s praise of Hybels is not the only time his actions have seemingly violated his company’s principles, which emphasize character and serving others.
In 2023, Maxwell Leadership hired adulterous, former megachurch pastor, Jeremy Foster, as a marketing executive, as TRR previously reported. And last March, Foster was a featured speaker at an invitation-only event for “High Capacity Leaders” with Maxwell and Tim Tebow in Orlando, Florida.
In 2022, Foster resigned from his Houston megachurch, Hope City, in the wake of his adulterous relationship coming to light.
Foster then left his family and married his mistress, prompting gut-wrenching posts from his oldest daughter, Jayden Foster, on Instagram.
“From the moment I found out he had an affair, my dad moved in with his mistress,” Jayden said in a video posted on Instagram. “. . . And then, a month and a half after my parents’ divorce was finalized, I got an email—because I don’t have communication with him—got an email, and he was telling me that he had gone ahead and gotten married. . . .
“And it, like gutted me—like it really, really wrecked me. And I don’t know if I can adequately put into words how that felt.”
TRR has repeatedly reached out to Maxwell for clarification on Foster’s position and why he was hired despite his infidelity, but Maxwell has not responded.
UPDATED: The information about Foster speaking at “High Capacity Leaders” was added after the initial publication of this article.
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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35 Responses
I’m not surprised that Maxwell would come out in support of Hybels. Maxwell sounds good when he speaks but he demonstrates over and over that he is above most people. I question his values and ethics.
It does not surprise me, but it does disappoint to see how these puffed up evangelical leaders continue to try to prop each other up. That’s what they always do. I can only assume they think that we will go on and on being blind and dumb, while putting up with them.
what does our bible say and teach ? it teaches us that satans ministers.appear as angels of light. that come to decieve. and willow creek is not a church.it is an enterprise..of power and money.that crowd you see in that picture.they are there for entertainment and motivational speaking.. this is an example of Illinois corruption culture,and remember, these goats.who support hybels and his cohorts,will stand at the seat of judgement.for the sin they have condoned .this is apostisy.at its worst .if you are really a true born again, going to willow creek. get out of there
Maxwell’s statements AND the allegations can be true at the same time.
John,
The only way that I see to reconcile Maxwell’s statements and Hybel’s allegations is if Maxwell’s statements were a condemnation rather than a commendation of those in the room. Is that what you mean, or am I missing something? Honest question. Thanks in advance for your clarification.
David Till
John, are you saying that Hybels can be a friend of Maxwell and also be guilty of predatory behavior? That would be accurate.
It struck me as manipulative, however, when Maxwell described Hybels as “my precious dear friend” because that wording attempts to blunt any criticism of the latter. Many persons profiled by The Roys Reports maintain close associations with others while simultaneously abusing congregants and employees. Neither action eliminates or justifies the other.
The GLS is a far cry from the Pastor’s conferences that were birthed in the 90’s. The emphasis was on serving pastors US & internationally, & in the beginning, they were beautiful. Pastors were given respite, poured into, given resources for training & sharing. Some of these pastors did not even have Bibles. I saw gorgeous African garb, pastors & wives crying with joy & relief. I cried while serving. & then it became numbers & a business & the pastoral heart was lost. & they came at the expense of BH taking his normal 6 weeks off to recalibrate. That was a costly mistake as he became the “whale,” & found a sinful respite in women who weren’t Lynne & often not willing, either
I was on the music team for the very first Pastor’s conferences. I remember how eager the pastors were to find ways to build their churches. I spoke to many who wanted to know where they could find musicians like the people on our team. That’s when I felt God’s call to go into teaching, in order to prepare musicians who were able to handle both traditional and contemporary music and fill the needs of these churches. Before I left WCCC at the end of 1994, Bill was already moving into the Clinton orbit. The conferences then seemed to become showcases for the famous people Bill knew, the most egregious being Clinton himself.
Yes, hear what you’re saying. Initially gave Hybels and Willow Creek a degree of credence but gave both away when they switched track by being preoccupation with business modeling and leadership that had little to do with hands on pastoral care and service elements to it. This is not to also mention some of the “leaders” who were platformed with one being Tony Blair who backed George Bushes bombing of Iraq when no valid evidence justified it and diplomacy had yet to be exhausted. The result of what now even political conservatives said was a “mistake,” or more correct lie – hundreds of thousands of dead men, women & children and thousands injured people even to this very day.
No parallel to the Prince of peace who advocated truth at all costs.
I wonder how many pastors and leaders of Christian ministries really believe the Bible.
I am reminded of the time in the Old Testament when God stopped working publicly.
He no longer punishes like he used to and now few fear God – including aforementioned pastors and leaders.
Judges 17: 6 “and everyone did what was right in his own eyes ”
1 Samuel 31 and several other places. “In those days the word of the Lord was rare”
Jesus called the religious celebrities of His day “A brood of Vipers” and “White-washed Graves” which was about the crudest thing He could say to them. An equivalent of a real translation of that could not be posted here for it would get this comment deleted instead of posted. Yet the real problem is not the celebrities with big heads (no surprise they have no scruples and are corrupt) for the real problem is the people who follow them and insist on sticking them up on pedestals bowing down before them and worshipping their every word. The little people empower the superstars to do what they do. That is because Jesus is not what the churches worship, nor what their followers do either. They have their celebrities and have no time to actually know Jesus and study His Word for themselves. Tragic, but not dealing with the real root problem will not fix anything. Instead, we have a revolving door of new snakes replacing the old. These posts will never end because the people refuse to repent. They want a fantasy where good people do not get corrupted in the systems that they love.
I was one of the little people and yes, I was brainwashed. But the truth is, where does one go to on a Sunday morning? House churches are not the answer. This often are just a smaller version of the same.
Thank you for reporting on this. The key issue is the lack of focus on what God wants. These people are not committed to God.
I have forgiven my enemies my friends my brothers and sisters and most importantly, myself. I have never touched snother woman with romantic intentions. But, I have been tempted to. For that I have been forgiven, as my true leader has publicly stated “Father forgive them they do not know what they do.” As a young man I was given drugs in a soda glass and I have no memory of the perpetrations against my body, but I have forgiven the men who abused me. Please help your beloved forgive as well as expose those who are perpetrators so they might also forgive. We live in a dark evil world and temptations have to be overcome so that love and forgiveness can be completed by the cross of our savior.
Absolutely despicable–but when are we going to face the greater elephant, that Hybels got away with what he did for so long because he held popular/acceptable views and was embraced by our cultural establishment?
Of course Maxwell and Hybels thought alike when it came to the church. You treat it like a business and that takes precedence over everything else. It’s that mindset that has helped to contribute to untold problems and cover-ups in the church today.
Leadership has replaced servant hood for the pastor in this season of life.
Great comment… often in the evangelical Christian world, it is leadership over shepherding and serving.
The Evangelical Industrial Complex would love to have Bill Hybel’s image rehabilitated.
They need to sell more books…. and they would say then say …..Thanks buddy !!
John was our pastor long ago. It was clear when he left that he was bogus; completely self-centered and given to playing fast and loose with the truth. All of his leadership material is nonsense.
Maxwell started marketing himself as the premier authority on leadership and founder of at least 3 successful businesses. Those businesses were a small church, a fairly large church and a new and very minor start-up ministry! I think he might be what Jesus called a Tare.
High status males have always historically had numerous women at their beck and call (see, Louise Perry, _The Case Against the Sexual Revolution_). If the Christian church elevates its pastor above Jesus Christ, it’s unsurprising that what’s normal for human males follows in the wake of that. Lord have mercy…
I watched GLN for the first time. For over a decade I worked within a Catholic diocese working on the clergy abuse crisis and had followed Bill Hybel’s exit closely. I would watch all his sermons and read all his books. They were having major tech issues during the live broadcast so I saw it on demand. I was surprised Maxwell made those comments in that setting. With that being the church Hybels was pastor and where the hurt and damage had occurred I thought it was a poor choice. If he had also made a statement condemning the behavior it may have come across better. Overall, I wouldn’t have done it in that setting.
I keep asking myself why the principal women involved in accusing Hybels waited for decades to make the abuse known to the public? Why did these accusations not come out until the peak of the #metoo movement, and a time when Hybels was out of the picture and no longer providing the career boost that he had given to them? And where were the husbands, when they heard of Hybels’ actions? Did the wives not tell them, or were the husbands too willing to continue benefitting from Hybels’ patronage to speak out? Weren’t they concerned that other women would be hurt because of their silence? I’m embarrassed by all of them, and yes…I know them all.
Larry,
I believe Mary DeMuth has an excellent statement that serves as a needed response to your stance.
https://substack.com/inbox/post/171077036?utm_campaign=post&showWelcomeOnShare=true
For many years while under the leadership of Bill Hybels years Willow Creek was one of the largest and most influential Evangelical churches in America. Hybels was perceived as the figurehead of what is known and the ‘Seeker Sensitive’ movement. Thousands of churches looked to Willow Creek for advice on how to do church their way via the Willow Creek Association.
That being said there had to be some sense of fear of coming forward with stories of Hybels and how he treated particular women in his church. since they were afraid of not being heard (Regardless of their egalitarian stance on women). They may have also had a sense that this would bring down an important movement in the church and damper its influence.
Larry, I never write remarks to comments made. However, this willful ignorance is so very hurtful to us women that lived through the fear and pain of Bill’s behaviors. Yes, I was one of them.
I can only ask that you educate yourself and hopefully apologize for this. Remarks like yours will only add to the pain/fear to bring truth to light.
The truth about Bill and getting to the place of coming forward started years before the Me Too Movement! You do not know what you are saying here.
I’m so very grateful to Mary DeMuth for her response.
Julia Williams
And can we still not celebrate the incredibly positive impact Bill had on so many of us who attended Willow at that time? These women accusers seem to want all of us whose faith grew deeply during Bill’s leadership to feel guilty for the appreciation we have for Bill’s significant influence on our lives. No one of us is defined solely by their bad behavior. Isn’t that the message of grace and forgiveness? That while we were yet sinners Christ died for us? Bill wasn’t perfect (any stone throwers reading this?) but his legacy should also remember all the remarkable Kingdom work he did!
What powerful words from both Vonda and Scott Dyer! I hope that their words reach everyone who needs to hear them. Julie, thank you so much for exposing John Maxwell’s horrific choice to praise and elevate a known abuser, completely disregarding his harmful conduct and the damage he inflicted on so many survivors. For the church’s sake, it is so important that you and your staff keep doing what you’re doing, Julie. The complaints you are getting from wolves affirms the how effective your work is. God bless.
I remember the first time I heard Maxwell at GLS and he faked crying. How people have not seen through his act confuses me? Also, why do people still attend GLS? The Willow Industrial Complex completely failed on every level of its primary brand attribute, leadership. And, you still go to learn leadership???
“Faked crying”
Goodness, even talented actors have mentioned that this isn’t an easy thing to do and no doubt says much of what’s occurring these days. People of all walks of life being ‘in character’ to the extent its a day to day challenge to know who one is observing and actually dealing with, including clergy.
Not really new of course after all Jesus for one specifically warned that religious piety and any religious image is a role some people play well to their personal material and social advantage.
Also could be argued that internal fear is a motivating factor for wearing a mask. After all, if you truly know me, you may not like what you see. 🤔
The consequences of the fall. Fear.
Thanks for making us aware of what is happening… and for giving us a path to support the victims of these crimes.
I never have understood why Christians flock to Maxwell as THE guru of leadership. He has not led large organizations and many pastors who have any longevity in their ministry would seem to have just as much experience. In addition, his books have one glaring flaw – a lack of scripture references to support his leadership principles. Most of the principles he puts forth are not revelatory, they are simply common sense.
I had been ill for several days and found Julie Roys’ podcasts on You tube. Coming from a church tradition that really emphasizes the simplicity of the early church and plurality of leadership with equal authority it is easy to understand how abuse of power can occur. The mega church movement and the celebrity it creates become easy prey for the evil one. Lack of scriptural authority and accountability probably means ” I’m removing your lampstand” Sobering words