LTRP Note: The following is posted for informational and research purposes and is a follow up of two related articles we posted in 2020 (1, 2). Lighthouse Trails has been concerned about John Ortberg’s contemplative/emergent propensities for many years. In this case, our concerns extend to the protection of children in the church. Lighthouse Trails has been a voice and an advocate for children since our inception in 2002. We encourage all church leaders and workers to read Wolves Among Lambs (by Pastor Stacey Shifflet) and Seducers Among Our Children (by Sergeant Patrick Crough) (both available through Lighthouse Trails) to help better equip churches in protecting children.
“Menlo Church Investigation Finds No Direct Evidence or Disclosures of Sexual Abuse”

Bob Smietana | Religion News Service (provided by Christian Headlines)
A third-party investigation at one of Northern California’s most prominent megachurches that consumed its congregation and former pastor’s fractious family ended this week with a report that found no evidence the pastor’s adult child had acted on his confessed attraction to minors.
“After interviewing 104 witnesses and reviewing or analyzing more than 500,000 documents, Zero Abuse Project did not find any disclosure or other direct evidence the volunteer in question sexually abused a child,” said the report by the firm hired by Menlo Church near San Francisco to study its handling of the confession.
In 2018, one of Pastor John Ortberg’s offspring, referred to only as “Individual A” in the report but identified in earlier news reports as Johnny Ortberg, confessed to having long been sexually attracted to children.
John Ortberg, a bestselling author who played a role in exposing misconduct by former Willow Creek pastor Bill Hybels, did not report the confession to church staff or other leaders. Nor did he remove Individual A from volunteering with children at the church or insist the volunteer stop coaching a youth sports team. Click here to continue reading.