A Warsaw, Indiana pastor admitted to his congregation that he had committed "adultery" about 20 years ago before telling them he was withdrawing from the position; a woman alleged she was only 16 years old when the pastor took her virginity on his office floor.
On video recording on Sunday at New Life Christian Church and World Outreach in Warsaw, Pastor John Lowe II said he needed to confess because it was the "biblical" thing to do, according to a Facebook Live broadcast shared by Maisey Cook.
"I committed adultery. It was nearly 20 years ago. It continued far too long. It involved one person, and there has been no other nor any other situations of unbecoming conduct for the last 20 years. I will not use the Bible to defend, deflect, protect my past sin. I have no defense. I committed adultery," Lowe said without elaborating the specifics.
"I say it plainly. I didn't have an issue. I didn't have an affair. I didn't make a misjudgment. I sinned. I need to say that, and you deserve to hear it," he continued. Lowe got a standing ovation from his congregation.
Lowe has been in full-time ministry for more than 37 years, he asked the church for their forgiveness and announced that he would step down and face discipline from the church. "In accordance with our church bylaws, I'm stepping aside, stepping down from ministry responsibilities."
The confession was followed by a woman who stepped forward to the microphone with her story. She claimed to be victimized by the pastor when she was 16 years old. "It was 27 years ago, not 20. ... I was just 16 when you took my virginity on your office floor. Do you remember that? I know you do,” she said. "I was a prisoner, and you kept me in your prison,” she said as Lowe stood near. "I'm a prisoner no longer."
The Kosciusko County prosecutor’s office is currently investigating the matter. According to Indiana state law, a person who engages in any sexual activity with a child over the age of 16 but under the age of 18 commits child seduction. It comes with a maximum penalty of one and half years in prison; and up to a $10,000 fine. Prosecution for this crime must start before the victim turns 31.
