Bethel Church Leaders Apologize for Response to Misconduct Allegations
Leaders at Bethel Church in California have issued an apology after facing criticism for their delayed and unclear response to allegations of sexual misconduct against Shawn Boltz, as well as questionable practices related to prophecy.
The joint statement, released on January 25 by Senior Associate Leader Chris Vallotton, Senior Leader Bill Johnson, and Senior Pastor Dan Farrelly, begins with an acknowledgment of their “mistakes and failures” in handling the situation. This follows a video by Mike Winger that brought attention to these issues, titled “The Skeletons in Bethel’s Closet Are Now Talking.”
“We take responsibility for not addressing the seriousness of the allegations regarding Shawn Boltz adequately or communicating effectively,” the statement read. “While Boltz is ultimately accountable for his actions, we too must acknowledge our own failures in this matter.” The statement referenced a biblical passage, emphasizing the sin of knowing the right action and not taking it.
“We’ve caused pain and fear by not being truthful quickly and sufficiently, and that’s a justified critique,” the leaders continued. “We feel heavy-hearted and somewhat confused. Public failures like this necessitate accountability and we want to truly listen to the concerns of our community. Change takes time, and we won’t rush the healing process.”
Vallotton mentioned that the church became aware of the sexual harassment allegations against Boltz in 2019, though Boltz has denied any wrongdoing. After discussions with former members of Boltz’s team, they concluded that the claims were credible and reflective of the team’s culture, Vallotton noted.
At around the same time, European church leaders reached out to Bethel, alleging that Boltz used social media to gather personal information, presenting it as if it were divinely sourced insight. In other words, he had presented ordinary research as if it were a revelation.
“Danny and I faced several challenges during this period,” Vallotton recounted. “I went to Los Angeles to confront Boltz with my findings. He denied the allegations in a lengthy meeting, but I warned him that failure to confess would lead to greater consequences than just admitting guilt. We allowed him some time for reflection.”
Boltz was subsequently removed from church activities, including the withdrawal of his books and sermons, Vallotton confirmed.
However, he admitted, “The problem was that I approached this as merely helping a friend. He wasn’t on our staff, and we thought we’d taken appropriate action by reporting to his board. In retrospect, this was a significant oversight. We should have informed our community in 2020, but we didn’t. Our support of him blinded us to the need for transparent communication.”
Vallotton expressed regret that it took a public video to prompt their accountability.
Johnson also acknowledged his delayed response to the situation, admitting he was too trusting of Boltz, making his loyalty a hindrance. “My desire to meet Sean in a positive manner led me to overlook what was required. I didn’t want to believe the accusations were true, and that proved to be a mistake,” he stated.
In light of the situation, Bethel plans to refer any future abuse allegations to a new independent reporting system they established last year. They shared their thoughts during their church service on January 25 and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to do so. “As we navigate this reflection period, we hope to prioritize holiness and integrity,” the church’s statement concluded.
In related news, Boltz has deactivated his social media accounts. Winger noted in a post that Boltz intends to step back from public duties but hinted at a potential return after a break.
