The Church of England has completed its safeguarding investigation into abuse allegations against prominent UK pastor and evangelist Mike Pilavachi, finding him guilty of a range of inappropriate behaviors spanning 40 years.
Pilavachi was the founder of the Soul Survivor Festival, a summer camp/massive outreach event of worship, evangelism, and charismatic focus that drew over 32,500 UK youth in 2019 before being shuttered.
Pilavachi stepped down as Associate Pastor of Soul Survivor after being suspended by the organization in the wake of dozens of allegations of abuse and physical and sexual impropriety, most of them stemming from his interactions with young men under his spiritual care.
These included manipulating them into receiving full-body oil massages in their underwear and participating in ‘vigorous’ wrestling matches with him, which could last as long as twenty minutes. One prominent victim is famed worship leader Matt Redman, who has spoken out against him. A press release from the Church of England reads in part:
The internal Church investigation into Mike Pilavachi, being conducted by the National Safeguarding Team, NST, and the diocese of St Albans, has now concluded. Having explored the safeguarding concerns fully, according to House of Bishops guidance, the investigation team has concluded that they are substantiated…
The overall substantiated concerns are described as an abuse of power relating to his ministry, and spiritual abuse; described in guidance as ‘a form of emotional and psychological abuse characterised by a systematic pattern of coercive and controlling behaviour in a religious context’. It was concluded that he used his spiritual authority to control people and that his coercive and controlling behaviour led to inappropriate relationships, the physical wrestling of youths and massaging of young male interns.
