Bill Hybels, founder and leader of Willow Creek Church in
South Barrington, Illinois, announced he is accelerating the date of planned
retirement from October of this year to today.
He
made the announcement at a family meeting for Willow Creek members
on April 10, 2018.
“I have decided to accelerate my planned retirement date
from October of this year to tonight.” In addition to stepping down from
leading the church, he has also “decided to step out of my usual teaching
and hosting roles at the upcoming Global
Leadership Summit.”
Hybels said the news of the allegations
of sexual misconduct that broke in the Chicago Tribune recently
lead to this decision. Hybels maintains the accusations against him are false,
and while he believes the congregation of Willow Creek has accepted his
testimony on the matter, “some in the wider Christian community continue to be
confused and conflicted.” This confusion is distracting the leadership team of
Willow Creek from being able to focus fully on the work of the ministry.
While Hybels maintains he did not commit the actions he is
accused of committing, he said this time has lent itself to self-reflection. He
shared three things he regrets doing.
First, my first response to some of these
recent accusations was anger. I confess to feeling very angry these last few
weeks as I watched harmful accusations fly around without accountability. I
felt attacked and knew that my loved ones and this church family would be
affected. I sincerely wish my initial response had been one of listening and
humble reflection. If I could go back, I would have chosen to listen first, and
then to seek to learn and understand. I apologize for a response that was
defensive, instead of one that invited conversation and learning.
Secondly, I realize now that in certain
settings and circumstances in the past I communicated things that were
perceived in ways I did not intend, at times making people feel uncomfortable.
I was blind to this dynamic for far too long. For that
I’m very sorry.
Thirdly, I too often placed myself in
situations that would have been far wiser to avoid. I was, at times, naive
about the dynamics those situations created. I’m sorry for the lack of wisdom
on my part. I commit to never putting myself in similar situations in the
future.
Moving forward, Hybels reiterated the original plan to have Heather
Larson and Steve Carter replace him. “Heather and Steve have been
functioning in their new roles since last October,” Hybels explains and
although they were officially going to take over as Lead Pastor and Lead
Teaching Pastor, respectively, in October, they will instead be taking over
sooner.
As far as the Willow Creek Association and the Global Leadership Summit
is concerned, Hybels said CEO Tom DeVries and Board Chair Dick DeVos “will
continue to expand the reach and impact of the Global Summit all over the
world.”
As far as what the immediate future holds for Hybels
himself, he said he has employed wise counselors, friends and family
members to help him through a time of “humble reflection” as he steps down from
his leadership position. After this time of reflection, however, Hybels intends
to rejoin the congregation he started. “Willow will always be my home church,”
Hybels said.
Pam Orr, the head of the elder board of Willow Creek, also
addressed the congregation last night.
Over the past few weeks, the Elders have been
in the process of carefully discerning next steps in regard to new information
that surfaced in the media. Over the weekend, Bill informed the Elders of his
decision to move up the date of his retirement. Although we are deeply
saddened, for so many reasons, by the circumstances surrounding the end of
Bill’s tenure, we accept and see the wisdom in his decision. We thank God that
He uses ordinary people to do His good work. And we are grateful that Bill
listened to God’s call on his life and served the church, and God’s Kingdom,
for the last 42 years.
Heather Larson, the new Lead Pastor, had a message
specifically for the women in the congregation.
I know many of you are confused or frustrated.
Some of the language you have heard in the media does not resonate with your
experience or what you know to be true of our church. I want to assure you we
can at the same time respect someone’s story and stand up for our own. You are
strong. You have your own voice.
Larson also articulated the leadership is “radically
committed to a healthy environment where we can work and serve together… We
will continue to build a strong and healthy culture where all of us, women and
men, are fully able to live out the potential of who God has created us to be.”
Source: Megan Briggs
Megan Briggs is a writer and editor for ChurchLeaders.com.
Her experience in ministry, an extensive amount of which was garnered overseas,
gives her a unique perspective on the global church. She has the longsuffering
and altruistic nature of foreign friends and missionaries to humbly thank for
this experience. Megan is passionate about seeking and proclaiming the truth.
When she’s not writing, Megan likes to explore God’s magnificent creation.
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