AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM THE GATECITY ELDERS AND LEADERSHIP TEAM
Dear GateCity Family,
We want to inform our church family that Dustin Pennington has resigned from his role as Lead Pastor of GateCity Lawrenceville.
This decision follows the recent emergence of information concerning past events involving a volunteer at his former church, Cornerstone Assembly of God (2011). Dustin has shared that he received a report of sexual misconduct involving minors and did not respond to these serious allegations with the level of discernment and care they required. In a step of accountability, he has brought this information forward and submitted his resignation.
The GateCity Elders and Board recognize the seriousness of this situation and the impact it had on those who were affected and have accepted Dustin’s resignation. We grieve the pain associated with these matters deeply.
Our priority as shepherds is and will continue to be the care of every person in our church family. Those entrusted with spiritual leadership are held to a high standard because the safety, dignity, and well-being of every person in our care depends on faithfulness and integrity in leadership.
Even though the events in question did not happen at GateCity, we have taken and are taking the following steps to ensure the ongoing safety and care of our community:
Reviewing our internal processes for responding to allegations of misconduct and safeguarding practices.
Engaging trusted outside advisors to review our processes, to recommend improvements, and to ensure best practices are followed.
Ensuring that all staff and volunteers are following the appropriate reporting processes.
We want to be clear that we take any form of misconduct with utmost seriousness, and we are committed to ensuring our church remains a safe place for all. We are also committed to appropriate transparency, while carefully honoring and protecting the privacy and dignity of any who have been directly affected by misconduct of any kind.
We ask for your understanding and your prayers for those who have been directly or indirectly impacted by this situation, and for our church as we move forward together. We will share further leadership updates in the days ahead.
AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM THE GATECITY ELDERS AND LEADERSHIP TEAM
Dear GateCity Family,
We want to inform our church family that Dustin Pennington has resigned from his role as Lead Pastor of GateCity Lawrenceville.
This decision follows the recent emergence of information concerning past events involving a volunteer at his former church, Cornerstone Assembly of God (2011). Dustin has shared that he received a report of sexual misconduct involving minors and did not respond to these serious allegations with the level of discernment and care they required. In a step of accountability, he has brought this information forward and submitted his resignation.
The GateCity Elders and Board recognize the seriousness of this situation and the impact it had on those who were affected and have accepted Dustin’s resignation. We grieve the pain associated with these matters deeply.
Our priority as shepherds is and will continue to be the care of every person in our church family. Those entrusted with spiritual leadership are held to a high standard because the safety, dignity, and well-being of every person in our care depends on faithfulness and integrity in leadership.
Even though the events in question did not happen at GateCity, we have taken and are taking the following steps to ensure the ongoing safety and care of our community:
Reviewing our internal processes for responding to allegations of misconduct and safeguarding practices.
Engaging trusted outside advisors to review our processes, to recommend improvements, and to ensure best practices are followed.
Ensuring that all staff and volunteers are following the appropriate reporting processes.
We want to be clear that we take any form of misconduct with utmost seriousness, and we are committed to ensuring our church remains a safe place for all. We are also committed to appropriate transparency, while carefully honoring and protecting the privacy and dignity of any who have been directly affected by misconduct of any kind.
We ask for your understanding and your prayers for those who have been directly or indirectly impacted by this situation, and for our church as we move forward together. We will share further leadership updates in the days ahead.
