'We Do Not Believe the Stories Were All Lies,' Willow Creek Elders Say on Bill Hybels Allegations

Christian Post ^ | 05/10/2018 | Leonardo Blair

[SeekAndFind]

Pam Orr, chair of Willow Creek Community Church's elder board in suburban Chicago, has apologized to multiple women who publicly accused the megachurch's founder, Bill Hybels, of sexual misconduct in recent months and revealed after listening to some of them, "we do not believe the stories were all lies."

In a statement released by the church late Wednesday, Orr, who had previously defended Hybels against the allegations along with the elder board, also revealed that she will step down from her role at the end of this month and will be replaced by longtime church member Lane Moyer.

"Our top priority has been reaching out to the women who have made allegations against Bill. We have talked with several of them and are deeply saddened by the experiences they are sharing with us. We do believe we owe these women some apologies," Orr said.

"The tone of our first response had too much emphasis on defending Bill and cast some of the women in an unfair and negative light. We are sorry. Initially, it was stated that the stories were all lies and the individuals involved were colluding against Bill. We apologize for those sweeping statements. We do not believe the stories were all lies or that all the people were colluding against him," Orr continued. "It takes courage for a woman to step forward and share her story, and we are doing everything we can to listen respectfully."

Hybels resigned prematurely from the helm of the church he founded in 1975 on April 10, after multiple women accused him of sexual misconduct in an extensive investigation published by the Chicago Tribune in March. The women in the report alleged a pattern of behavior against Hybels that includes suggestive comments, extended hugs, an unwanted kiss,

[Psalm 73]

A woman is chair of Willow Creek Community Church's elder board?
And this is a "conservative" Christian church? I'm a little shocked.

[lurk]

‘Pam Orr, chair of Willow Creek Community Church’s elder board...’

I think we’ve located the problem. Or, at least one of them.

[Boogieman]

I don’t know how “conservative” they are. Seems to be quite a popular church among suburban moderate types. You know, the ones who usually like guns and low taxes, but don’t want to get involved in all that messy “culture war” stuff like abortion or gay marriage.

[riverrunner]

Pam Orr, chair of Willow Creek Community Church’s elder board

If they have a woman as chair of the elder board they are not a conservative Christian church.

You are right that is one of their problems

[John O]

Willow Creek has never been conservative.

[Psalm 73]

"...popular church among suburban moderate types....but don’t want to get involved in all that messy “culture war” stuff like abortion or gay marriage."

Roger that.
Ice cream socials = good. Praying at abortion mills = bad.

[metmom]

Over here.....

[Gamecock]

Thanks for the ping metmom!

From the archives:

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- Willow Creek Church Invites Muslim to Preach to Saints- Bill Hybels "Islam Not Religion of Violence"
-Bill Hybels Accused of Multiple Accounts of Sexual Misconduct
-Bill Hybels Resigns From Willow Creek Church Amid Misconduct Allegations

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