Austin Stone Church Fires Head Worship Pastor Aaron Ivey After Gay Sexual Misconduct

Austin Stone Church, a multisite Southern Baptist megachurch in Austin, Texas, has fired its lead worship pastor, Aaron Ivey, after he was discovered engaged in multiple instances of predatory homosexual misconduct, according to a statement from the elders.

The church, which is home to Austin Stone Worship, announced that Ivey, 45, who appeared on a panel for the ERLC on “Faithful husband, strong father: Embracing God’s design for manhood in marriage” has been disqualified from ministry “after it came to light that he engaged in inappropriate and explicit ongoing text messages with an adult male.” Pursuant to the discovery, he was swiftly terminated” in accordance with the clear biblical standards outlined in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and 1 Timothy 5:19-20.”

Aaron Ivey is the husband of Jamie Ivey, an author, podcaster, and influencer. They have four children, including three adopted ones.

The elders explain that since the initial discovery last week, “we have uncovered multiple similar instances with different individuals dating back to 2011 that show a very clear pattern of predatory manipulation, sexual exploitation, and abuse of influence.” Accordingly, “three of the known instances involved adult male individuals. However, one known instance, in 2011, involved a minor male outside our formal programming.”

Due to these “abhorrent instances” the church has provided a timeline, lamenting and warning that “we will not be surprised if more is uncovered”

2011: the first known instance, which took place with a teenage male victim and continued over time, involved inappropriate and explicit communications, indecent exposure, and the use of alcohol and illegal substances
2020: involved inappropriate and explicit ongoing texts with an adult male
2021: involved inappropriate and explicit behavior with an adult male
February 2024: involved inappropriate and explicit ongoing texts with an adult male (this was the cause for discovery of the pattern of inappropriate behavior)

Pray for the folks and the church.