Leaders of 2|42 Community Church in Michigan are emphasizing transparency after a staff member discovered a hidden camera in a bathroom at one of the church’s locations. Church leaders said that Will Johnson, who had been serving as the church’s worship pastor/director, was fired the same day he confessed to hiding the camera.
Johnson has been arrested and charged with surveilling an unclothed person, destruction of evidence, and use of a computer to commit a crime.
Craig Ryan, the chairman of 2|42 Community Church’s leadership advisory team, spoke about the incident to the congregation on Sunday (Sept. 16), reading a letter written on behalf of the leadership team.
Several times throughout his delivery of the prepared remarks, Ryan visibly held back tears.
“It is with the heaviest of hearts that we must share with you some very disturbing news,” Ryan read. “On Friday, Sept. 13, church leadership was informed that a staff member here at 2|42 Community Church discovered a hidden video camera located inside a unisex bathroom in the backstage area of our Brighton campus.”
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Eric Rauch, Executive Pastor of Ministry Operations, said in an email to ChurchLeaders that the restroom was “non-public.”
“Will Johnson, our former worship pastor/director confessed to church leadership that he placed the camera in that location, and he was immediately terminated,” Ryan continued.
The letter went on to explain that church leadership immediately notified local authorities, who arrested Johnson that same evening.
“At this time, we’re not aware of the full scope of this crime, but we are fully cooperating with the ongoing investigation,” Ryan read. “Just like you, we’re shocked and we’re deeply saddened by this situation, as the protection, safety, and privacy of every person who enters our church is our priority.”
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“Our commitment to you is to be fully transparent and care for all the victims of this crime,” Ryan said.
