“We believe your allegations about Bill”

Willow Creek Community Church is a non-denominational church founded in 1975 by Bill Hybels. It has eight sites in Illinois and is evangelical. 

In March last year, allegations surfaced in a Chicago Tribune article about Hybels and suggestive comments, extended hugs, an unwanted kiss and invitations to hotel rooms, causing him to resign in April 2018 despite denying the claims.

In a statement from Willow Creek this week, which it says will be its ‘last’ statement on the matter, the church leadership acknowledges the harm its founder’s behaviour has had on women and the church as a whole and express no doubt about the validity of the claims. 

The statement, signed by the nine elders, reads: “In the aftermath of the events made public in March 2018, we experienced a fracture in our church marked by disbelief, confusion, fear, and hurt.

“We have intentionally talked with former Elders, former staff, and the individuals who raised concerns regarding our senior pastor starting in 2014 and went public in 2018. We have also sought to listen to church attenders and current staff who have come forward. We have reached out to Bill Hybels; however, he has chosen not to engage in dialogue at this time. We welcome the opportunity to meet with him to aid in healing and reconciliation. We are issuing this statement because in listening, we recognise that there are some…