A pastor at New Life Christian Church in Warsaw, Indiana, admitted during a service that he had a sexual relationship with a woman when she was 16 years old, after she confronted him from the microphone in front of the congregation. The scene took place on May 22, 2022, and was reported this week by the International Business Times, which described both the confrontation and the reaction it drew from churchgoers.
Pastor John B. Lowe II had first addressed the matter himself, telling the congregation he had entered into a sexual relationship with the woman almost two decades earlier and describing it only as adultery. He acknowledged that the relationship had lasted far too long and announced he was stepping down from his pastoral duties.
He asked for forgiveness, saying he had no excuse for what he had done. Footage of the service shows members of the congregation applauding after his remarks, with some standing as he walked away from the pulpit.
Woman disputes pastor's account
The woman then approached along with her husband and gave a different version of events, telling the congregation the relationship had begun while she was still a minor and had continued for years.
She told Lowe he was not the victim in the situation. She said she had lived for 27 years with lies and shame, accusing him of manipulating her, and said that for a long time she had blamed herself for what happened.
Her husband also challenged the way Lowe had characterized the relationship, saying it could not simply be called adultery because it involved a teenage girl.
When congregation members called on Lowe to return to the microphone and respond, he admitted he had a sexual relationship with the woman and confirmed she was 16 when it began.
Congregation's reaction draws criticism
Members of the congregation then gathered around Lowe, and a man began praying over him. Footage of the moment drew heavy criticism online, with users accusing the congregation of shifting its focus and sympathy to the pastor moments after the woman had described her experience.
The church said Lowe formally resigned from his position on May 23, 2022. In a statement, the church expressed sorrow for the woman and her family and said staff had not previously been aware of the allegations against Lowe.
The case was reported to authorities, and the Indiana State Police became involved in the investigation. The report does not mention any subsequent criminal charges being filed. Lowe's admission about the sexual relationship and the woman's age is recorded on video, while her broader allegations have not been presented as facts established in court.
