NC Megachurch Pastor John Munro No Longer Suspended; Investigation Finds Allegation 'Not Supported'
Dr. John Munro, senior pastor of Calvary Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, will return to church this coming Sunday, weeks after he was placed on paid leave for alleged violation of the employee handbook, a complaint that a third-party investigation did not find support for. The Back to the Bible ministry had earlier fired him as their radio Bible teacher for "inappropriate conduct and behavior."
"I wanted to let you know that after extensive analysis in the investigation report, multiple session meetings and extensive prayer, the session determined that the specific handbook violation alleged was not supported," church elder Bill Bailey announced Sunday, according to Charlotte Observer.
The elder, however, added that the third-party investigation revealed that Pastor Munro used judgment that was not in accordance with the high expectations to which church leaders are held.
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Munro was also in the 4000-member church Sunday, and addressed the congregation, who gave him a standing ovation.
The pastor thanked the church members and admitted he committed "an innocent error of judgment that while was neither unlawful nor sinful, failed to demonstrate the judgment the church expects of me."
"I thank God for my Godly wife who stood with me," Munro said. "We will testify that this ordeal has deepened our faith in Christ. We're not bitter against God, we're not bitter against people. ... Our love for each other as husband and wife has been deepened."
Munro will officially return as senior pastor Sept. 15, but will begin preaching only Sept. 21 due to his pre-planned travel schedule.
Bailey apologized to the pastor and the congregation on behalf of the church's lay leaders for causing any pain during the investigation. The "intent was never to harm anyone but to protect the church and bring the truth to light. ... We did what we thought was right to protect our flock," he said.
Back to the Bible, a 75-year-old global radio and web Christian ministry based in Lincoln, Nebraska, also fired Munro last month after a similar, but unspecified, complaint was received.
In an email earlier obtained by The Christian Post, Dr. Arnie Cole, CEO of Back to the Bible, relayed the decision regarding Munro to the ministry's affiliates and supporters and called it "a very difficult situation" without detailing the specific nature of the "misconduct."
"I wanted to personally share with you a very difficult situation," Cole began the email message. "Back to the Bible has terminated its relationship with Dr. John Munro due to inappropriate conduct and behavior that is detrimental to Back to the Bible's mission of leading people closer to Jesus on a daily basis."
According to the Observer, Bailey earlier told the congregation about Back to the Bible's decision during a Sunday service, while noting that an internal "H.R. complaint" had also been filed against their pastor, presumably by a member.
Details of the "H.R. complaint" were not provided, but, according to the Observer, Munro was accused of violating some part of the church's employee handbook.
