MOUNTAIN VIEW — The Mountain View Menlo Church branch worship director was fired Saturday for “inappropriate behavior online” years ago, church leadership said.
In a letter to congregants Saturday, Transitional Pastor John Crosby and Elder Board Chair David Kim said they were contacted earlier this week by someone who claimed that Mountain View Menlo Church worship director Michael Bryce Jr. “engaged in inappropriate behavior online” several years ago before he joined the church’s staff.
The church did not give any details of the allegations, but they have contacted Zero Abuse, a non-profit aimed at preventing, recognizing and responding to child sexual abuse.
When leaders learned about the allegation they immediately placed Bryce on leave, contacted the police and began an investigation. The church said they have no reason to believe that anyone was affected at Menlo Church, but have asked anyone with information to reach out. Zero Abuse also offered to intake any requests, the church said.
“We have no reason to believe that anyone was affected at Menlo Church, but if you have any concerns, please reach out to your campus pastor,” the letter says. “We recognize that this news is heavy to receive. It may evoke difficult memories or emotions for many of us. This is a hard reminder that our churches, by the grace of God, are gatherings of ordinary, imperfect people. We hope that you will reach out to your church family as you need.”
The news of Bryce’s termination comes just a month after the church also fired pastor John Ortberg — the prolific Christian author and longtime leader of the 4,000-member Menlo Church — after he did not disclose a conversation he had with a church volunteer who “obsessive sexual feelings” about minors for years.
Ortberg instead allowed the person to continue working in the community for months, church leaders said. He was placed on leave in November and fired Feb. 5.
This is a developing story. Please check back for more.
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