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Forty two years after founding one of the nation’s most influential evangelical megachurches, the Rev. Bill Hybels told his congregation Tuesday night that he would step down canada goose outlet online store review from the helm of canada goose jacket outlet store Willow Creek Community Church six months ahead of schedule.

His departure comes less than a month http://www.canadagoosesalesus.com after a Chicago Tribune investigation disclosed that Hybels had been the subject of inquiries by church leaders into claims that he ran afoul of church teachings by engaging in inappropriate behavior with women in his congregation including employees allegedly spanning decades. The inquiries had cleared Hybels.

At times choking back tears, Hybels told the somber crowd at a hastily called canada goose outlet legit meeting at the church’s main campus in South Barrington that, while he continued to canada goose outlet vancouver enjoy support from within his congregation, the buy canada goose uk controversy was proving to be a distraction from the church’s mission and work.

Referring to his wife, he said, “It has been extremely painful for canada goose outlet phone number Lynne and I to see this controversy continue to be a distraction.”

canadian goose jacket He also announced that he would not lead the church’s Global Leadership Summit, an annual event featuring leaders from business, government, entertainment canada goose outlet kokemuksia and churches hosted by the Willow Creek Association, a nonprofit dedicated to leadership development, where Hybels had planned to focus his energy after retirement. canadian goose jacket

While saying he believes he has been cleared of all of the accusations, he canada goose vest outlet apologized canada goose outlet store toronto to the church for how he handled himself. He said he regretted that he reacted in anger when the accusations were made public.

Canada Goose Parka “I apologize to you, my church, for a response that was defensive instead of one that invited conversation and learning,” he said. Canada Goose Parka

Hybels had previously called the allegations against him “flat out lies.” He also had said that the multiyear effort by former canada goose outlet belgium senior leaders of the church to push for an independent investigation was nothing but “collusion.”

On Tuesday, he said he intended to reflect on what has happened and how he reacted.

“I feel the need to look deep inside myself and determine what God wants to teach me through all of this,” Hybels said. “I have complete peace about this decision and I’m canada goose outlet paypal not going to rush this process. Your prayers would be much appreciated during canada goose outlet toronto address this upcoming season of reflection.”

Canada Goose sale Hybels also said that while the accusations against him have been misleading and “some entirely false,” he apologized for making choices that put him in situations that could canada goose outlet uk sale be misconstrued. Canada Goose sale

canada goose clearance “I too often placed myself in situations that would have been far canada goose outlet in usa wiser to avoid,” he said, adding: “I was naive about the dynamics those situations created. I commit to never putting myself into similar situations again.” canada goose clearance

buy canada goose jacket cheap He has said since May 2012 that he would step down in October of this year. buy canada goose jacket cheap

Willow Creek, which hosts more than 25,000 worshippers a weekend at its main campus in South Barrington and seven satellite sites, made history in canada goose womens outlet evangelical circles last October by naming a woman to succeed Hybels as lead pastor.

Heather Larson, the canada goose kensington parka uk executive pastor, will take over as chief executive of canada goose outlet london uk the megachurch while Steve Carter will become the lead teaching canada goose outlet real pastor, effective Tuesday.

uk canada goose outlet “This is going to take time for all of us to process,” Larson said. “This is not the end of the story. It’s not the end of Bill’s story. It’s not the end of Willow’s story, and it’s certainly not the end of God’s story.” uk canada goose outlet

uk canada goose Larson added that leaders would be working on a canada goose outlet mississauga way to appropriately honor the Hybels family. uk canada goose

cheap canada goose uk Hybels’ abrupt departure comes days after one of canada goose outlet england his accusers, as well as a former teaching pastor and a former longtime elder, posted personal blog entries explaining why they made their concerns public when they did. cheap canada goose uk

buy canada goose jacket Vonda Dyer, a former leader of the church’s vocal ministry, who told the Tribune that Hybels kissed and caressed her stomach in an overseas hotel suite 20 years ago, said she stayed silent for decades because she had confronted Hybels privately and believed her encounters were isolated incidents. buy canada goose jacket

“I believe the women who have come forward because our stories are so similar,” she wrote. “For the sake of the other women and for the sake of the church, I cannot stay silent.”

canada goose factory sale Betty Schmidt, a current member and former elder, said that current elders had misrepresented what she told them when she met with them 15 months ago. canada goose factory sale

Canada Goose Online “Women need to know that if they muster the courage to tell their stories church leadership will listen with compassion and fairness,” Schmidt wrote. “That has not happened here. Yet. I hope and pray it will.” Canada Goose Online

canada goose clearance sale The Rev. John canada goose outlet Ortberg, pastor of Menlo Park Church in California and canada goose outlet black friday sale a former teaching pastor at Willow Creek, said that women must feel safe coming forward if they have been abused by church leaders. canada goose clearance sale

canada goose uk black friday “In a family, all canada goose outlet edmonton voices should be heard, and every story canada goose outlet orlando should be told,” Ortberg wrote. “This should happen in a setting where there is a balance of power and independent judgment can be made about their accounts. The women cannot and must not be silenced.” canada goose uk black friday

The announcement left many in the mostly full sanctuary stunned and saddened.

After Carter invited the elders and the Hybels family to the stage for a closing prayer, some members of the congregation slowly trickled out of the auditorium. Others stayed in their seats, processing the news.

canada goose uk outlet Jim Tofilon said he believes Hybels was a victim of the MeToo bandwagon. canada goose uk outlet

Canada Goose Coats On Sale “It’s very destructive,” said Tofilon, who has attended the church since 1991. “It worked. It destroyed an old man’s life. Nothing good came out of it. I hope people making the accusations feel satisfied.” Canada Goose Coats On Sale

canada goose black friday sale His friend John Stob said that when he received the invitation to the service he knew canada goose outlet store calgary it “was not going to be a good news night.” canada goose black friday sale.