An Indiana pastor announced he is stepping down from his position as he had committed adultery. However, a woman claimed that it was only the “partial truth” as she was 16 at the time.
Indiana pastor’s half-truth and admission of Adultery
On Sunday, John B. Lowe II, a pastor in Indiana announced to his congregants that he will be stepping down from his position as he had “committed adultery”. As soon as he stepped away from the mic, a woman claimed that this was just half of the truth. She stated that she was 16 at the time. The video footage went viral on social media, and thousands of people watched it. The incident took place at the end of Sunday service. In the video, Lowe is seen claiming that his infidelity was “nearly 20 years ago” and “continued far too long”.
“It involved one person and there’s been no other. I sinned. I need to say that and you deserve to hear it,” he said. Seeking forgiveness from “those that I sinned against,” he announced that he is stepping down from the position. The move is in accordance with the church rules and the board’s recommendations. “We are hurting and broken for a woman who has lovingly attended and served in the church for many years, as well as for her husband and family,” stated the New Life Christian Church & World Outreach. The organization is located in Warsaw and acknowledged the accusations against the pastor.
The pastor got a standing ovation for admitting to adultery
The pastor got a standing ovation for admitting to adultery. However, a hush quickly took over as a woman and her husband approached the microphone. “For 27 years, I lived in a prison. It was not 20 years. I was just 16 when you took my virginity on your office floor. Do you remember that? I know you do,” said the woman. She described herself as a victim of Lowe’s actions. She is currently in her 40s. The Pastor is 65. In her address to the congregation, she added that she lied to protect Lowe and his family.
“You are not the victim here. The church deserves to know the truth. This church has been built on lies, but no more,” she said to Lowe. “People have to be held accountable. They can’t just bamboozle people and just say, well I just committed adultery. It was far beyond adultery,” added her husband. Several churchgoers were seen demanding to her from Lowe. Hence, around 12 minutes into the video, Lowe can be heard answering, “She was 16 years old”. “It was wrong. I can’t make it right. I can’t make it any better. That’s just the way it is. If I could go back and redo it all, I would. I can’t, and all I can do is ask you to forgive me,” he added.
More on the matter
The Kosciusko County Prosecutor’s Office on Monday revealed to WANE 15, a news station that an investigation on the matter is pending. “After reviewing the Indiana Rules of Professional Conduct, Kosciusko County Prosecuting Attorney Daniel Hampton is not permitted to disseminate any information regarding alleged misconduct,” said a spokesperson to the PEOPLE. In a statement on the New Life Christian Church and World Outreach‘s website, the church said “this long-held secret first came to light when a woman in the church came forward and disclosed the relationship to various people within the church”.
“When confronted by others in church leadership concerning that report, Pastor Lowe confessed privately that the adultery did, in fact, occur. The woman in question and her family did attend together and addressed the congregation, indicating that improper sexual conduct first occurred when she was 16 years of age and continued into her twenties. She also tearfully described living with deep shame and pain over the ensuing years,” added the statement. Additionally, the church also claimed that until the woman came forward, “none of this was disclosed to or known by any of the staff, ministers or personnel”.
