Willow Creek Independent Advisory Group Update
The Willow Creek Independent Advisory Group (IAG) has been fully engaged in its assignment since its formation this past August. Its task is threefold: 1) consider allegations related to Bill Hybels as founder and pastor of Willow Creek Community Church (WCCC) and founder and spokesperson of the Willow Creek Association (WCA); 2) review organizational culture of the church and association; and 3) make recommendations to the church and association for future actions.
The IAG works autonomously. Neither WCCC nor WCA are represented on the IAG nor party to the group’s work except for providing information as requested. Both WCCC and WCA have pledged their full cooperation and to date have been fully cooperative of all requests made of them.
Extensive written documents have been reviewed by the IAG, including submissions to its fully confidential hotline. A lengthy list of interviews has and is being conducted, and additional consultations have been engaged. The IAG continues to receive broad and candid engagement.
The IAG is on track to meet its completion target of sometime in the first quarter of 2019.
Members of the IAG serve without remuneration. Expenses are covered by an anonymous donor outside of WCCC/WCA and administered by a third party. The group is co-chaired by Jo Anne Lyon, General Superintendent Emerita of The Wesleyan Church, Indianapolis, IN, and Leith Anderson, President of the National Association of Evangelicals, Washington D.C. Other members are Margaret Diddams, Provost of Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL, and Gary Walter, past president of the Evangelical Covenant Church, Chicago, IL.
The IAG continues to welcome confidential submissions to the hotline at: WillowInvestigationHotline@CapinCrouse.com. Confirmation of a received submission comes via return email acknowledgement. Voice submissions may be left at the hotline number of 630.682.9797 x 1292, receipt of which is acknowledged in the message. The IAG does not respond to media requests or individual inquiries.
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