Bethel Church in Redding, California, has recently disclosed that it addressed allegations against Christian minister Shawn Bolz regarding the fabrication of prophecies, a matter that dates back over five years.
Led by Pastor Bill Johnson, the church indicated that it distanced itself from Bolz after he did not provide a satisfactory explanation for the concerns raised.
Around the same period, an employee accused Bolz of exhibiting behaviors that could be described as sexual harassment and contributing to a hostile work environment, as stated in a recent announcement.
Bolz, who had been a frequent minister at Bethel, has faced ongoing online allegations suggesting that he utilized social media data mining techniques to create prophetic messages. He has denied these accusations, asserting, “As a ministry, we would never condone nor engage in finding information online to prophesy over people.”
Concerns regarding Bolz’s prophetic practices first emerged in 2019 when some Christian leaders expressed suspicions that he was relying on publicly available information instead of receiving divinely inspired insights. According to reports from The Christian Post, these leaders presented over a dozen troubling examples, although Bethel’s leadership was divided on the strength of the evidence.
In response to the allegations, Bethel sought clarification from Bolz, meeting with him on two occasions. Each time, he denied the claims made against him.
Ultimately, Bethel made the decision to quietly distance itself from Bolz, ceasing to invite him for ministry engagements, removing his materials from their store, and issuing a clear warning regarding his conduct.
In addition to the concerns about his prophetic ministry, one of Bolz’s former employees alleged inappropriate behavior in the workplace. The church stated that they confronted him about these claims, to which he reportedly acknowledged that the behaviors had ceased.
Bethel encouraged the individual to pursue legal action, asserting that it had taken all possible steps based on the limited information available at the time.
Since then, Bolz has shifted his focus toward the realms of media and entertainment, stepping back from traveling ministry. In a recent statement, he reiterated his dedication to supporting prophetic ministry and fostering healthy relationships within the Christian community. More to come on this development