Chris Reed released a statement in a newly uploaded video to YouTube about his resignation with MorningStar Ministries.
“Hello friends, family, just come to you tonight in response to regards to a couple of things. No. 1, there seemed to have been some confusion over my departure from MorningStar,” Reed says.
He continues: “My departure from MorningStar was what I said in the letter to the department heads and to the staff and volunteers, which was this: I said I did not want to be leading the ministry that would be in a case against four victims who were abused as children by a former volunteer of the ministry, who is a policeman as well.”
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Reed reiterates that this occurrence happened prior to his coming to MorningStar Ministries. He says he did not want to be caught in the middle of the lawsuit between MorningStar and the youth who were affected by abuse from a former ministry volunteer.
“I could not because I know the victims, many of them, we’ve gotten to know them,” Reed says. “I made a tough, painful, painful choice and I just didn’t care, you know, if I lost everything … if I defended the ministry, then it was like I’m having to go against the victims. If I defend the victims, then where does the ministry stand?”
“It happened all before we came here, and that was why I left,” he explains. “There was absolutely no other reason why I left.”
Reed also addresses something that was previously reported on regarding a woman who was connected to MorningStar a few years ago. Reed acknowledges that his relationship with her was wrong, but says this situation was not part of his decision to leave MorningStar. Further, he apologizes for what happened.
“The two were separate completely,” he says. “I want to just make that abundantly clear. And I also want to just say tonight as well, that I am very sorry. Sorry to my wife, sorry to the body of Christ, to my friends, to my family.
“In this time, this season, I am dedicating to spending, before the Lord, with my family, making sure my heart is clean and right,” Reed says. “I just want to say this is so unbecoming of a Christian; it was so unbecoming of a minister; it was so un-Christlike, whether it happened three years ago, five years ago, two months ago, you know, I am deeply sorry.”
Reed says everything was properly dealt with and that he was restored after both parties presented their evidence. He says his ascension to replace Rick Joyner at MorningStar was placed on hold for 15 months following the situation. In the video, he also takes full responsibility for the relationship, which lasted approximately one month.
During this time, pray for Chris Reed and his family and all those who have been affected by this sudden shake-up at MorningStar Ministries.
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Abby Trivett is content development editor for Charisma Media.
