Bill Hybels
Disgraced pastor Ted Haggard faces new allegations
By Yonat Shimron — July 26, 2022
(RNS) — A pastor at St. James Church said two young adult men told him Haggard touched them inappropriately on several occasions at the church.
Willow Creek announces major layoffs amid post-COVID struggle
By Bob Smietana — May 19, 2022
(RNS) — The layoffs come as the church struggles to rebound from COVID-19 and the scandal involving co-founder Bill Hybels.
Author Shauna Niequist apologizes for her silence following allegations against father, Bill Hybels
By Emily McFarlan Miller — February 22, 2021
(RNS) — Niequist spoke out about the allegations for the first time in a long Instagram caption posted Monday (Feb. 22)
Megachurch pastor John Ortberg kept a family member’s attraction to children secret. Then his son blew the whistle.
By Bob Smietana — July 6, 2020
(RNS) — The Rev. John Ortberg’s son reportedly confessed he was attracted to children. The megachurch pastor kept that admission secret while his son continued working with kids.
Willow Creek names Michigan pastor David Dummitt as new leader
By Bob Smietana — April 15, 2020
(RNS) — Two years after the fall of Bill Hybels, Willow Creek names David Dummitt as its new pastor.
On Super Tuesday, new book encourages Christian voters ‘Thou Shalt Not Be A Jerk’
By Emily McFarlan Miller — March 3, 2020
(RNS) — Pastor and author Eugene Cho talked to Religion News Service about a better way for Christians to engage politics in a contentious election year and discussed his new book, 'Thou Shalt Not Be A Jerk.'
Senior pastor candidates, interim pastor out at Willow Creek
By Emily McFarlan Miller — January 30, 2020
CHICAGO (RNS) — Elders have released the final two senior pastor candidates they were considering to replace founding pastor Bill Hybels, who retired early in 2018 amid allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse of power.
Willow Creek confirms abuse allegations against Hybels’ mentor Gilbert Bilezikian
By Emily McFarlan Miller — January 28, 2020
CHICAGO (RNS) — Willow Creek Community Church confirmed that a mentor of former pastor Bill Hybels has been accused of sexual misconduct.
They made a mark on the religious scene this decade; some rose, others fell
By Yonat Shimron — January 2, 2020
(RNS) — This list of 12 — drawn from stories RNS has covered between 2010 and 2019 — offers a one-time retrospective of the personalities (and not a few of the issues) that dominated the religious scene this past decade.
Willow Creek’s troubles can be found in its word cloud
By Scot McKnight — September 19, 2019
(RNS) — The recent job description posted for Willow Creek Community Church’s new head pastor is little more than a repetition of the reshaped pastoral role defined by and embodied in Bill Hybels.
Willow Creek elders preach reconciliation after allegations against Hybels
By Emily McFarlan Miller — July 24, 2019
SOUTH BARRINGTON, Ill. (RNS) — Not everybody is convinced that reconciliation may be possible at this point — or wise.
Willow Creek plans reconciliation service to move on; Hybels not involved
By Emily McFarlan Miller — July 23, 2019
CHICAGO (RNS) — In what they said would be their last public statement about the allegations of sexual misconduct against founding pastor Bill Hybels that have torn apart Willow Creek Community Church, the church’s elders called on Hybels to repent and the church to gather for a service of worship and reflection.
Willow Creek’s crash shows why denominations still matter
By Tish Harrison Warren — March 25, 2019
(RNS) — To identify as Christians is to inevitably involve ourselves in a deeply human story — a long story of the church, marked by redemption and beauty and marred by violence and catastrophic failure.
Independent report finds allegations against Willow Creek founder Bill Hybels credible
By Emily McFarlan Miller — February 28, 2019
CHICAGO (RNS) — The Willow Creek Independent Advisory Group released its findings in a report posted online Thursday (Feb. 28) by Willow Creek Community Church in the Chicago area.
Willow Creek Association releases resource on ministry and #MeToo
By Emily McFarlan Miller — January 31, 2019
CHICAGO (RNS) — The Willow Creek Association published a series of videos titled "Ministry and #MeToo" online Wednesday (Jan. 30), nine months after founder Bill Hybels stepped down amid allegations he acted sexually inappropriately with women at the Chicago-area evangelical megachurch he also had started, Willow Creek Community Church.
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