REDDING, CA – The senior leadership team at Bethel Church is coming to terms with the way they handled scandals surrounding disgraced spiritual leader Shawn Bolz. Three of the church’s leaders – Bill Johnson, Kris Vallotton, and Dann Farrelly – released a statement of repentance on Sunday (Jan. 25) after Christian watchdog Mike Winger delivered a five-hour-long video that connected the church to Bolz.
Bill Johnson introduced Shawn Bolz as a trusted friend during the Azusa Now conference in 2016. Bolz exercised what many thought was prophecy and words of knowledge on the crowd. Several individuals received what are now recognized as false prophecies from Bolz. For years, the leaders at Bethel knew he was a false prophet but did not openly condemn him as such.
“We take responsibility for the fact that we did not properly and fully bring discipline, closure, or clear and timely communication regarding the gravity of our concerns with Shawn Bolz,” the senior leaders of Bethel said in Sunday’s statement. “This was someone we platformed to preach and prophesy in our house and with our teams on many occasions up until 2019,” they continued.
“The truth is, we have hurt and scared people because we did not tell the truth enough, early enough, long enough, or loud enough, and this is a just criticism. Our hearts are grieved, and embarrassed. When we sin or mess up publicly as we have, it’s important to take responsibility publicly, to listen as people share their frustration, sadness, fears, and corrections. We have been hearing a lot of this, and expect to hear more in the season ahead, as sometimes it takes a while for the frustration to land, and for people to really trust you’ve heard them. We are not rushing past this.”
Mike Winger released an exposè video earlier this month that highlighted what he believed to be “skeletons” in Bethel’s closet. The video shed light on how the leaders at Bethel church knew of Shawn Bolz’s alleged sexual misconduct and false prophecies but failed to warn the public about him. Many, including Winger, accused the church of actively engaging in coverup culture.
Kris Valloton denied the allegations of trying to cover up Bolz’s sin during a verbal statement given to the church on Sunday. The pastor explained that he and the leadership team were trying to give the disgraced spiritual leader time to repent. He admitted, though, that letting too much time lapse caused harm.
“We platformed him because we believed in him, and when he failed, and failed to repent, it was our responsibility to tell people that we no longer trusted him in order to protect them,” Valloton said in the written statement. “That was my decision to not communicate more widely, and my error in judgement.”
The senior leaders of Bethel Church asked for grace and prayers from those who have believed in the ministry. “We ask for you to cover us with grace as we seek the Lord for forgiveness in the face of some grievous mistakes.”