Mike Pilavachi Explained

Mike Pilavachi
Birth Name:Michael Pilavachi
Birth Date: July df=y

use both this parameter and |birth_date to display the person's date of birth, date of death, and age at death) -->| death_place = | years_active = | occupation = | education = | alma_mater = St Mellitus College| known_for = | spouse = | partner = | parents = | children = | relatives = | website = | footnotes = | signature = | signature_alt = | nocat_wdimage = | religion = Christianity| church = Church of England| ordained = | laicised = 2024| writings = | congregations = | offices_held = | title = | module = }}Michael Pilavachi, (; born 1958)[1] is a British charismatic evangelist, former Anglican priest and author. He is the co-founder and former leader of the Soul Survivor charity based in Watford, England.

Pilavachi founded the Soul Survivor summer festivals in 1993, which subsequently ran every year until 2019 and grew to a yearly attendance of around 32,500 young people. Pilavachi was known for encouraging direct contact with the Holy Spirit and practicing this at the festivals. Pilavachi and others from his former church established the Soul Survivor Church, Watford, where Pilavachi served as pastor.

In May 2023, Pilavachi was suspended from ministry while under investigation for safeguarding concerns, having stepped back from ministry the previous month. In July 2023, Pilavachi resigned from his role at Soul Survivor Watford, and in September the investigation concluded that Pilavachi had abused his power in the Church to foster inappropriate relationships with young men. Pilavachi had participated in full body massages while straddling the young men and participated in wrestling matches of up to 20 minutes at a time.

Ministry

Soul Survivor

See main article: Soul Survivor (charity). The Soul Survivor summer festivals started in 1993, after Pilavachi saw the success of New Wine and was inspired to create a festival for young people to experience charismatic Christianity. The early festivals were supported by St Andrew's Church, Chorleywood, and were held at the Bath and West showground. A group from St Andrew's went on to establish a permanent Soul Survivor church in Watford, where Pilavachi served as pastor. During the summer festivals, Pilavachi encouraged active interaction with the Holy Spirit.[2]

The festivals continued yearly until 2019, when Pilavachi announced that the Soul Survivor conference would be ending, after the Soul Survivor team felt that God had told them to stop.[3] In the final year, around 32,500 young people attended over three separate week long festivals.

Ordained ministry

Pilavachi trained for ordination at St Mellitus College, an Anglican theological college in London. He was made a deacon in the Church of England at St Albans Abbey on 1 July 2012, and ordained a priest the following year. He served as a curate at St Peter's Church, Watford, in the Diocese of St Albans from 2012, and was made an honorary canon of St Albans Cathedral in 2016. On 30 June 2020, The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby awarded Pilavachi with the Alphege Award for Evangelism and Witness.[4]

Safeguarding investigation and substantiated allegations

On 2 April 2023,[5] Soul Survivor Watford announced that Pilavachi had "stepped back from all ministry" while "non-recent safeguarding concerns" were investigated by the Church of England National Safeguarding Team and the diocese of St Albans.[6] On 28 April, the phrase "non-recent" was removed after more recent concerns had become apparent.[5] Pilavachi resigned as a director of the Soul Survivor charity on 4 April.[7]

Also on 4 April, The Daily Telegraph reported on the concerns, adding that the allegations were related to inappropriate messages and intimate relationships with young adults involved in Soul61, a Christian gap year project.[8] On 1 May and 12 May, The Telegraph released further reports detailing the allegations. They alleged that Pilavachi straddled young people to apply full-body oil massages, engaged in up to 20 minute long wrestling matches and preyed upon a "conveyor belt" of young attractive men who he made feel "special".[9] [10] According to The Telegraph, there were allegations by over 100 people spread across three decades, with the most recent in 2020.[11] [12] The Times stated that concerns about Pilavachi's behaviour were first raised with Soul Survivor leadership in 2004 but were not followed up.[13] On 15 May, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby said he was "deeply conscious of the impact" of the reports and backed the Church of England's investigation as being independent from Soul Survivor.

Pilavachi was suspended as an employee of the Soul Survivor charity on 20 May,[14] [15] and on 11 July, Pilavachi resigned as Associate Pastor of the Soul Survivor Church in Watford. In a Facebook post announcing his resignation, Pilavachi stated, "I have taken this step because the Church needs to heal and I have realised that my continued presence will hinder that process" and "I seek forgiveness from any whom I have hurt during the course of my ministry."[16]

On 6 September, the investigation by the Church of England National Safeguarding Team and the Diocese of St Albans concluded. The investigation substantiated the accusations of massaging, wrestling and abuses of power. The associated press release also stated that Pilavachi had resigned his licence to officiate and therefore could no longer minister in the Church of England.[17] In addition, the report noted that a complaint under the Clergy Discipline Measure, had been taken out against Pilavachi, which related to "verbal interactions with a vulnerable person" and was ongoing at the time of publication. In January 2024, this investigation concluded and the Church of England gave Pilavachi a written warning for his conduct.[18] They clarified that Pilavachi had no authority to minister, but could return after being "fully risk assessed".[19] However, by September 2024, he had been fully laicised.[20]

Following concerns of the Church of England's objectivity in their investigation,[21] in November 2023, Soul Survivor commissioned the law firm Landmark Chambers to provide an independent report into Pilavachi's conduct.[22] [23] The report was published on 26 September 2024, and verified the reports of coercion, wrestling matches and intimate massages.[24] [25] It also suggested that his "spiritual celebrity" may have been a factor in the failure to stop his behaviour.[26]

In April, Matt Redman, an early worship leader at Soul Survivor, released the documentary "Let There Be Light" on his YouTube channel, which documented his experiences of abuse by Pilavachi.[27]

Personal life

In the 2020 New Year Honours, Pilavachi was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to young people.[28] As of September 2023, Pilavachi's MBE has not been revoked, despite calls to remove it after the safeguarding allegations were substantiated.[29]

Pilavachi has stated that his celibacy enabled certain work which he would not have been able to balance with having a family.[30]

Books

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Silverman . Rosa . Leake . Natasha . 2024-10-02 . How Soul Survivor’s predatory pastor Mike Pilavachi hid in plain sight . 2024-11-21 . The Telegraph . en-GB . 0307-1235 . 4 October 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241004022911/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/10/02/soul-survivor-mike-pilavachi-christian-glastonbury/ . live .
  2. Web site: 2019-09-13 . Soul Survivor: Farewell in the Big Top . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240716153500/https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2019/13-september/features/features/soul-survivor-farewell-in-the-big-top . 2024-07-16 . 2024-11-20 . Church Times.
  3. Web site: Soul Survivor summer festival to end in 2019 . 31 May 2018 . BBC News . 24 October 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181024182700/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-44252891 . live .
  4. Web site: 2020-07-03 . Archbishop of Canterbury’s awards . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240714073631/https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2020/3-july/gazette/personals/archbishop-of-canterbury-s-awards . 2024-07-14 . 2024-11-20 . Church Times.
  5. Web site: 22 May 2023 . Latest Updates . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230522173023/https://www.soulsurvivorwatford.co.uk/latestupdates . 22 May 2023 . 20 May 2023 . Soul Survivor Watford.
  6. News: 3 April 2023 . Canon relating to Mike Pilavachi 'steps back' during safeguarding investigation . Church Times . 3 April 2023 . 3 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230403120155/https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2023/6-april/news/uk/canon-mike-mike-pilavachi-steps-back-during-safeguarding-investigation . live .
  7. News: Swerling . Gabriella . 11 April 2023 . Christian youth festival founder quits charity amid 'inappropriate massage' claims . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230428225954/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/04/11/mike-pilavachi-soul-survivor-festival-founder-resigns/ . 28 April 2023 . 28 April 2023 . The Daily Telegraph . London.
  8. News: Swerling . Gabriella . 4 April 2023 . Christian youth festival founder quits over 'inappropriate massages' claim . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230428230114/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/04/04/youth-festival-pastor-allegations/ . 28 April 2023 . 28 April 2023 . The Daily Telegraph . London.
  9. News: Swerling . Gabriella . 2023-05-01 . Victims of Christian 'cult' leader speak out for first time . https://archive.today/20230501202629/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/05/01/soul-survivor-church-of-england-rev-canon-pilavachi/ . 2023-05-01 . 2023-05-01 . The Telegraph . 0307-1235.
  10. News: Swerling . Gabriella . 12 May 2023 . 'I introduced hundreds of young men to him': US Christian leader's fears over festival vicar . https://web.archive.org/web/20230512121937/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/05/12/mike-pilavachi-soul-survivor-paul-martin-concerns/ . 12 May 2023 . 12 May 2023 . The Telegraph.
  11. News: Swerling . Gabriella . 2 May 2023 . Allegations against Soul Survivor vicar are recent as well as historic, Church admits . 24 May 2023 . The Telegraph . 24 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230524142905/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/05/02/pilavachi-investigation-church-of-england-soul-survivor/ . live .
  12. News: Swerling . Gabriella . More than 100 people come forward to accuse Christian 'cult' leader of abuse . 12 July 2023 . The Telegraph . 7 June 2023 . 11 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230711223730/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/06/07/mike-pilavachi-soul-survivor-watford-church-investigation/ . live .
  13. News: Gatens . Katie . Burgess . Kaya . Hellen . Nicholas . 7 June 2023 . Soul Survivor: Church knew about 'teen massages' for 19 years . The Times . subscription . 7 June 2023 . 6 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230606024646/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/mike-pilavachi-soul-survivor-first-reported-2004-inappropriate-behaviour-5brvp6jsr . live .
  14. News: 21 May 2023 . Christian youth festival founder suspended after 'inappropriate massages' claim . The Telegraph . 22 May 2023 . 21 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230521210141/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/05/21/mike-pilavachi-suspended-soul-survivor-massages-claim/ . live .
  15. News: McMenemy . Rachael . Lewis . Katy . 2023-05-23 . Watford Church of England youth leader suspended in safeguarding probe . 2024-10-30 . . 29 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230529140642/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-65619623 . live .
  16. News: Thornton . Ed . 11 July 2023 . Canon Pilavachi resigns as Associate Pastor of Soul Survivor, Watford . 11 July 2023 . Church Times . 11 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230711144138/https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2023/14-july/news/uk/canon-pilavachi-resigns-as-associate-pastor-of-soul-survivor-watford . live .
  17. Web site: 6 September 2023 . Concerns substantiated in Mike Pilavachi investigation . 7 September 2023 . The Church of England . 7 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230907123407/https://www.churchofengland.org/media-and-news/press-releases/concerns-substantiated-mike-pilavachi-investigation . live .
  18. News: Mike Pilavachi receives written warning after alleged misconduct . https://web.archive.org/web/20240126101702/https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2024/26-january/news/uk/mike-pilavachi-receives-written-warning-after-alleged-misconduct . 26 January 2024 . 26 January 2024 . Church Times.
  19. Web site: Statement on complaint against Mike Pilavachi . 2024-10-30 . The Church of England . en . 26 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240126142307/https://www.churchofengland.org/safeguarding/safeguarding-news-releases/statement-complaint-against-mike-pilavachi . live .
  20. Web site: Team . Communications . 10 July 2024 . Statements on Mike Pilavachi and Soul Survivor . 27 September 2024 . The Diocese of St Albans . 27 September 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240927190126/https://www.stalbansdiocese.org/news/statements-national-safeguarding-team-diocese-mike-pilavachi-soul-survivor/ . live .
  21. News: Swerling . Gabriella . 16 May 2023 . Archbishop of Canterbury gives 'full support' to Soul Survivor investigation . 17 May 2023 . The Telegraph . 17 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230517173349/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/05/16/justin-welby-soul-survivor-watford-investigation-archbishop/ . live .
  22. Web site: Review . 2024-10-30 . Soul Survivor Watford . en-GB . 27 September 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240927132423/https://www.soulsurvivorwatford.co.uk/review . live .
  23. Web site: Appeal from independent Soul Survivor Review . 2024-10-30 . The Church of England . en.
  24. Independent Review into Soul Survivor . Scolding . Fiona . Fullbrook . Ben . 2024-09-26 . 2024-10-30 . 14 November 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241114235307/https://static1.squarespace.com/static/547c7dfde4b028a1612a4736/t/66f5374e329e35524f9c0f7c/1727346512153/Soul+Survivor+Review+-+Final+Report+260924.pdf . live .
  25. News: McGuinness . Fintan . 2024-09-27 . Soul Survivor: full report published on Mike Pilavachi abuse . 2024-10-30 . . 29 September 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240929151534/https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/24614121.soul-survivor-full-report-published-mike-pilavachi-abuse/ . live .
  26. News: Maqbool . Aleem . 2024-10-01 . Preacher abused his power as 'spiritual celebrity' . 2024-10-30 . . 3 October 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241003033459/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crl808nxjw5o . live .
  27. News: Swerling . Gabriella . 2024-04-09 . Christian singer Matt Redman reveals details of Soul Survivor’s Mike Pilavachi abuse for the first time . 2024-11-20 . The Telegraph . en-GB . 0307-1235 . 26 September 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240926194021/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/04/09/christian-singer-matt-redman-mike-pilavachi-abuse-church/ . live .
  28. Web site: New Year Honours: Hertfordshire. ITV News. 2019-12-28.
  29. News: Swerling . Gabriella . 2023-09-15 . Victims say Soul Survivor vicar was 'wolf in sheep's clothing' who should lose MBE . 2024-11-20 . . en-GB . 0307-1235 . 5 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240305003302/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/09/15/mike-pilavachi-victims-soul-survivor-call-stripped-mbe/ . live .
  30. Web site: January 2005 . Talking To Mike Pilavachi . https://web.archive.org/web/20050317161651/http://www.jesus.org.uk/ja/mag_talkingto_pilavachi.shtml . 17 March 2005 . Jesus Army Magazine.
  31. Book: Pilavachi, Mike . Live the Life . Borlase . Craig . 1998-06-04 . . 978-0340713853 . en.
  32. Book: Pilavachi, Mike . Walking with a Stranger: Discovering God . Borlase . Craig . 1999-12-31 . . 978-0340735343 . en.
  33. Book: Pilavachi, Mike . My First Trousers: Growing Up with God . Borlase . Craig . . 1999 . 9780340735350 . en.
  34. Book: Pilavachi, Mike . For the Audience of One: The Soul Survivor Guide to Worship . Borlase . Craig . . 1999 . 978-0340721902 . en.
  35. Book: Pilavachi, Mike . Weeping Before an Empty Tomb: Struggling with God . Borlase . Craig . . 1999 . 978-0340735367 . en.
  36. Book: Pilavachi, Mike . Afterlife: Facing the Future with God . Borlase . Craig . 2000-06-08 . . 978-0340735374 . en.
  37. Book: Pilavachi, Mike . Life, Death (and Everything in Between) . Borlase . Craig . 2001-07-19 . . 978-0340785928 . en.
  38. Book: Pilavachi, Mike . Wasteland: Encountering God in the Desert . Kingsway Publications . 2003 . 9781842911389 . 2003-07-04 . en.
  39. Book: Pilavachi, Mike . When Necessary Use Words: Changing Lives Through Worship, Justice and Evangelism . Hoeksma . Liza . 2007-05-07 . Baker Publishing Group . 978-0830738144 . en.
  40. Book: Pilavachi, Mike . Storylines: Tracing the Threads of the Bible . Croft . Andy . 2008-07-18 . Kingsway Publications . 978-1842913840 . en.
  41. Book: Pilavachi, Mike . Life Beneath the Surface: Thoughts on a Deeper Spiritual Life . Borlase . Craig . 2011-08-29 . . 9780830738977 . en.
  42. Book: Croft, Andy . Storylines, your map to understanding the Bible . Pilavachi . Mike . 2010-03-01 . . 978-1434764751 . en.
  43. News: Williams . Hattie . 2016-09-02 . Christians’ supernatural experiences surveyed . 2024-10-30 . Church Times.
  44. Book: Pilavachi, Mike . Lifelines: Sound Advice from the Heroes of the Faith . Croft . Andy . 2018-07-01 . . 9781434711861 . en.

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