A Canadian megachurch says an investigation into a former pastor has substantiated two allegations of sexual abuse and a third allegation of sexual misconduct involving an underage victim.
According to The Christian Post, the former pastor is Bruxy Cavey of Toronto's The Meeting House. Cavey, 57, was arrested in June on a sexual assault charge for abuse that allegedly occurred when he served as the church's primary teaching pastor from 1996 to 2021.
"In all cases, the victims have suffered great harm. We grieve deeply at the hurt caused to each of these individuals at our church," church leaders Bruce Miller and Nour Aziz said in a statement.
"We also acknowledge the courage of those who stepped forward. We are grateful for their bravery, and willingness to be vulnerable. As church leadership, we humbly and profoundly apologize to them for the pain they experienced at the hands of The Meeting House pastors whom they — and we — trusted."
Cavey was named the senior pastor of what was then called Upper Oaks Community Church in Oakville in 1997. Cavey is also the author of The End of Religion: Encountering the Subversive Spirituality of Jesus and the 2017 book Reunion: The Good News of Jesus for Seekers, Saints, and Sinners.
He is also known for his YouTube videos where he answers questions about Christianity.
Previously, he served as a guest lecturer at a California school, Fresno Pacific Bible Seminary.
He was removed from that role in 2018 after school donors said they were concerned about his theology.
The church has set up a victim advocacy page, saying, "we grieve with all victims and are committed to taking all allegations of sexual misconduct seriously."
Another investigation also found that there were "substantiated" sexual abuse allegations against The Meeting House's senior pastor Tim Day. Investigators said in a report that Day "chose not to participate in the investigation, despite multiple opportunities to do so."
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Amanda Casanova is a writer living in Dallas, Texas. She has covered news for ChristianHeadlines.com since 2014. She has also contributed to The Houston Chronicle, U.S. News and World Report and IBelieve.com. She blogs at The Migraine Runner.
