Assemblies of God Churches Accused of Protecting Alleged Child Abusers for Decades

An investigation has uncovered a disturbing pattern within the Assemblies of God, the world’s largest Pentecostal denomination, where church leaders have repeatedly returned accused sexual predators to positions of authority over children, often with devastating consequences.

The findings reveal that since the 1970s, nearly 200 pastors, church employees, and volunteer leaders within Assemblies of God congregations have been accused of sexual abuse. These individuals allegedly victimized more than 475 people, the vast majority of whom were children. The cases span five decades and continue into the present year.

The pattern is both consistent and troubling. In Arkansas, a children’s pastor caught filming girls in a church bathroom received only a brief suspension from church elders. In Illinois, when a preacher faced accusations of child sexual abuse, church leaders opted for therapy rather than contacting law enforcement. A California worship minister who served prison time for molesting boys returned to find his congregation had organized a celebration in his honor. Each of these men remained in ministry within the denomination. Each went on to abuse additional children.

While major Christian denominations have increasingly adopted protective measures including mandatory background checks and required reporting of abuse allegations, national leadership within the Assemblies of God has resisted such reforms. Church officials have argued that implementing these safeguards would increase legal liability, compromise the denomination’s principle of local church autonomy, and contradict the biblical mandate to forgive.

This resistance has created what can only be described as a patchwork system that has consistently failed to protect the vulnerable while providing cover for the accused.

The investigation identified 123 ministers among the alleged abusers, with nearly half serving as youth pastors. Others held positions as church employees, youth group leaders, or Sunday school teachers. A significant number allegedly exploited their access to boys through the Royal Rangers, the denomination’s answer to the Boy Scouts.

The allegations themselves are deeply disturbing. Survivors reported violations in church sanctuaries, at pastors’ homes, and during camping trips. A California preacher stands accused of threatening children with knives while forcing them to perform sexual acts. In Louisiana, a youth leader confessed to drugging and assaulting three boys during a sleepover. A New Mexico couple alleges their pastor manipulated his spiritual authority to destroy their marriage before coercing the wife into sexual relations.

Perhaps most alarming is the evidence that in approximately 30 cases, church leaders knowingly placed accused abusers into positions of authority after allegations had surfaced. Convicted sex offenders were permitted to lead youth groups. Accused ministers received reinstatement or quiet transfers to unsuspecting congregations. The predictable result, documented in lawsuits and police records, was that dozens more children fell victim to abuse.

In nearly 40 additional cases, church leaders allegedly engaged in active cover-ups or dismissed reports of misconduct outright, frequently by failing to notify law enforcement or preventing victims from coming forward.

The investigation raises fundamental questions about institutional accountability and the protection of children within religious organizations. When the principle of forgiveness is invoked to shield predators rather than heal victims, when local autonomy becomes a mechanism for avoiding responsibility, and when legal liability concerns trump the safety of children, something has gone profoundly wrong.

The facts speak with clarity that demands a response from both the denomination’s leadership and the broader community of faith.