Bethel Church Places Prophetic Ministry Director on Leave Amid Allegations
As new revelations emerge, Bethel Church finds itself navigating a challenging situation involving one of its senior leaders. The Redding-based church, known for its global influence, announced that Ben Armstrong, Prophetic Ministry director, is now on administrative leave following allegations of clergy sexual abuse that surfaced from 2009.
On February 15, Bethel leaders released a “Second Update” where they outlined their awareness of a YouTube video with serious allegations against Armstrong. The church has decided to suspend Armstrong from his ministering duties while an independent third-party investigation is conducted.
The church stressed this decision as “not a verdict, but a necessary measure,” and highlighted their engagement with external counsel to ensure a fair and thorough investigation. They also expressed a commitment to maintaining spiritual, physical, and emotional safety within the organization.
Initial statements from February 13 acknowledged an accusation from 2008-2009 involving Armstrong and a former student at their Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry. It was noted that Armstrong had previously repented for a “known moral failure in 2009,” after which he underwent a lengthy healing process.
The catalyst for these developments was a YouTube video titled “Bethel Survivor Sarah Shares Her Experience of Clergy SA by Ben Armstrong,” showcasing an interview with a woman identified as Sarah. She alleged that Armstrong abused his position of spiritual authority to manipulate and cross sexual boundaries with her when she was a 23-year-old intern at the ministry school.
Sarah’s account, which she shared for the first time after 16 years, described instances where Armstrong used his role to create a father-daughter dynamic before overstepping boundaries. She detailed events where Armstrong’s actions led to uncomfortable and inappropriate encounters.
Despite Armstrong’s past characterization of the 2009 incident as an affair, Sarah disputed this, stating she never saw the relationship as consensual. The podcast host affirmed to Sarah, “What happened to you was a crime,” to which Sarah reflected on the confusion and guilt she endured for years.
Sarah also criticized Bethel’s handling of the matter in 2009, stating she felt isolated after disclosing the relationship to church leaders. The church’s recent statements acknowledge the need to revisit past processes to better support victims with “compassion, integrity, and support.”
Bethel Church, guided by Senior Leader Bill Johnson, has acknowledged previous shortcomings in handling allegations, particularly highlighted by recent criticism of their dealings with other leaders like Shawn Bolz. The church admitted to failures in its response, promising reforms in transparency and truthfulness.
Bethel reiterated their commitment to thoroughness and integrity as they navigate this new chapter, urging that this step is taken with care and seriousness to ensure transparency and truth in their proceedings.
This article was originally written by www.christianpost.com
