Canadian Megachurch Puts Ministry on Pause After Insurer Pulls Abuse Coverage - Christianity Today
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It’s been two years since its former pastor resigned and was arrested, but The Meeting House continues to feel the impact of its past.

The Meeting House was one of the largest megachurches in Canada, but this Sunday, each of its locations will be empty. Its home church gatherings won’t meet during the week. Kids won’t get together for youth programs. Members can’t see their pastors for counsel.

In the aftermath of an abuse scandal that shook the congregation and its leadership, the Ontario-area multisite church announced that it had lost a portion of its insurance coverage and would have to pause its ministry activities.

“Our current insurer has advised us that they will not be renewing our Abuse Liability (AL) and Employment Practices Liability (EPL) coverage as of June 30, 2024,” according to an email sent to congregants, explaining that the Anabaptist megachurch has struggled to get an extension from its insurer or to find another option for replacement coverage.

    • Stern@lemmy.worldEnglish
      51·
      4 months ago

      A doctor having malpractice insurance doesn’t make them bad… but I probably wouldn’t visit the one who got dropped by his insurer either.

      • norimee@lemmy.worldEnglish
        7·
        4 months ago

        That’s not the same! Doctors like everyone are just humans and humans make mistakes. No matter how much they intent to not harm anyone mistakes happen.

        Abuse is not an accidental mistake.

        • Stern@lemmy.worldEnglish
          25·
          4 months ago

          Yes, it is the same.

          Doctors can get sued for malpractice. Whether they did or not is up to the courts, and lawyering up ain’t free, hence insurance to cover that.

          Edit: Downvotes for statements of fact? Did I mistype and go to reddit?

  • Maple Engineer@lemmy.worldEnglish
    10·
    4 months ago

    They told members that they “grieve the need to pause ministry as a church” yet “have tremendous hope in the process of surrendering and listening to the Spirit as we discern together during this difficult time of pause.”

    If I’m reading the article correctly, and I did read the article, this paragraph suggests that they are going to think and prey rather than working on the abuse mitigation strategy and processes that their insurer requires to continue to insure them.

    • Phoenixz@lemmy.caEnglish
      1·
      4 months ago

      Yeah doh, what else would you expect from them? In their minds its all about Gods will and the Devils plans and whatever other nonsense