In a move raising serious questions about consistency, transparency, and biblical accountability in large evangelical ministries, Crossroads Church—one of America's largest megachurches—has placed its founding senior pastor, Brian Tome, on indefinite administrative leave. The suspension stems from allegations of "inappropriate physical humor" during a church video shoot in late 2015, a complaint the church's own Spiritual Board previously investigated, admonished Tome over, and declared resolved in 2024.
The church announced the action in an email to congregants dated February 27, 2026. No new evidence has been presented, according to the statement, yet leadership opted to hire an independent third-party investigator to re-examine the claims, citing "renewed scrutiny over leadership standards and transparency" following a separate staff misconduct case earlier this year.
Church Background: Seeker-Sensitive Non-Denominational Evangelical Megachurch
Crossroads Church, founded in 1996 by Tome and a small group in Cincinnati, Ohio, has grown into a multi-site powerhouse with campuses across Greater Cincinnati, Dayton, Columbus, and Lexington, Kentucky, plus a robust online ministry. It ranks among the nation's top 10 largest churches, drawing around 34,000 weekly attendees at its peak.
The church identifies as seeker-sensitive, non-denominational evangelical (often described as "interdenominational"). Its own website states it was started "for their friends who didn't like church" and positions itself as a "Spiritual Outfitter™ that inspires, equips, and guides people who want to explore faith and go on an adventure." Services feature free coffee, unfiltered talk, no memberships, and a "come as you are" atmosphere explicitly welcoming skeptics: "I absolutely do not believe in God. Am I still welcome? Yes, you absolutely are welcome." The focus is practical faith, generosity, biblical manhood, and outreach rather than deep doctrinal distinctives.
Key Facts About Crossroads Church:
- Founded: 1996 by Brian Tome
- Weekly Attendance: ~34,000 (peak)
- Locations: Cincinnati, Dayton, Columbus, Lexington
- Affiliation: Non-denominational evangelical
- Style: Seeker-sensitive, contemporary worship
- Governance: Spiritual Board oversight
The Allegations: What Happened in 2015?
According to the church's February 27 email, the allegations center on an incident during a church video shoot in late 2015. The complaint describes Tome engaging in "inappropriate physical humor" with a staff member. The church has not publicly disclosed the specific nature of the behavior, citing privacy concerns and the ongoing investigation.
What is known is that the complaint was initially brought to the church's Spiritual Board—the governing body responsible for pastoral oversight—sometime after the 2015 incident. The Board conducted an investigation, concluded that Tome's behavior was inappropriate, issued a formal admonishment, and required corrective action. The matter was then considered resolved.
"The Spiritual Board previously investigated this matter, found the behavior inappropriate, admonished Pastor Brian, and implemented corrective measures. The Board considered the matter resolved. However, in light of renewed scrutiny and our commitment to transparency, we have decided to engage an independent third-party investigator to re-examine these allegations."
— Crossroads Church statement, February 27, 2026
The decision to reopen a resolved case has raised eyebrows among church governance experts and congregants alike. If the Board conducted a thorough investigation and implemented corrective action, why revisit the matter now? And if the original investigation was inadequate, what does that say about the Board's oversight capabilities?
Timeline of the Allegations and Church Response
Alleged incident of "inappropriate physical humor" occurs during a church video shoot, upsetting one community member present. No details of the specific act have been publicly released by the church or media. Reports confirm it is not criminal, does not involve minors, and is not under police investigation.
The complainant first raises the issue with leadership. The independent Crossroads Spiritual Board investigates without Tome or staff involvement in the process. After meetings—including one with the complainant and Tome (a board member present)—the complainant states the discussion "went very well." The board formally admonishes Tome to "be mindful to be above reproach" in his words and actions, then closes the matter as resolved.
A separate Crossroads staff member is fired after Cincinnati police inform the church of allegations involving secret filming of women at a local gym. Tome publicly addresses the incident, condemning it as contrary to biblical standards.
The same 2015 complainant contacts the church again with the identical allegations (no new information provided). The Spiritual Board reopens the case, engages a third-party investigator to interview all parties, and suspends Tome from all duties—preaching, events, leadership—pending completion. The church commits to "however long the investigation will take" and promises updates, while urging prayer for "truth, reconciliation, and unity."
Church spokesperson Erin Caproni has declined further comment beyond confirming no criminal probe exists. Tome has issued no public statement since the suspension.
Public Reaction and Broader Implications
Public responses on social media and news comment sections are polarized. Supporters of Tome highlight the age of the allegation, the prior resolution, and question the timing and motives behind its revival—some labeling it "borderline extortion." Others express concern that reopening closed matters sets a precedent for endless revisiting of past incidents, potentially undermining pastoral stability and trust.
Critics point to the recent gym-related firing as evidence that Crossroads is now applying stricter standards to leadership conduct, even for non-criminal matters.
From a biblical perspective, Scripture calls the church to handle accusations with justice, mercy, and due process. The Berean Examiner urges discernment: While protecting the vulnerable is essential, repeatedly reopening resolved complaints without new substantiation risks turning accountability into instability. More importantly, when a church's seeker-sensitive doctrine softens the call to holiness for its leaders, incidents like this become almost inevitable.
No public witness statements or detailed complainant accounts have emerged beyond the church's summary. The independent investigation continues, with no timeline provided.
This case underscores ongoing challenges in evangelical megachurches: balancing grace with accountability, handling historical complaints in a #MeToo-aware era, and ensuring processes honor both truth and restoration—especially when doctrine itself may contribute to lowered standards. The Berean Examiner will monitor developments and report further findings as they emerge.
How Other Seeker-Sensitive Megachurches Handled Similar Allegations
Crossroads is not the first seeker-sensitive megachurch to face allegations of pastoral misconduct. The pattern across similar churches reveals a troubling trend: when doctrine prioritizes accessibility over accountability, leadership failures are often handled with minimal transparency and delayed action.
Willow Creek Community Church
South Barrington, Illinois • Founded 1975
Leader
Bill Hybels, Founding Senior Pastor
Allegation Type
Sexual harassment, inappropriate behavior with multiple women over decades
Initial Response
Elders defended Hybels, dismissed allegations as a coordinated attack (2018)
Final Outcome
Hybels resigned April 2018; entire elder board resigned August 2018; independent advisory group completed review Feb 2019
Correction of Record
A prior version of this article stated no independent investigation was conducted initially. This was inaccurate. A 4-member Independent Advisory Group completed a 6-month review in February 2019 and found the allegations credible. However, this investigation was reactive — initiated only after sustained media pressure and the resignation of the entire elder board, not proactively by leadership.
Berean Examiner Assessment
Failed biblical standards. The elder board initially circled the wagons to protect their celebrity founder rather than the victims. Only after sustained media pressure and staff resignations did leadership acknowledge their failures (1 Timothy 5:19-20).
Elevation Church
Charlotte, North Carolina • Founded 2006
Leader
Steven Furtick, Founding Pastor
Allegation Type
Financial secrecy, lack of elder accountability, staged baptisms, manipulative practices
Response
Internal review only; no suspension, no independent investigation
Outcome
Furtick remains senior pastor; church continues to refuse financial disclosure
Berean Examiner Assessment
Failed biblical standards. Elevation's governance structure is designed to insulate Furtick from accountability. No independent elders exist — only staff members who report to him (Titus 1:7-9).
Harvest Bible Chapel
Rolling Meadows, Illinois • Founded 1988
Leader
James MacDonald, Founding Senior Pastor
Allegation Type
Financial misconduct, bullying, abusive leadership, threatening behavior
Response
Elders initially defended MacDonald; fired him only after leaked audio recordings went public (2019)
Outcome
MacDonald terminated; independent audit confirmed financial misconduct; church filed bankruptcy; multiple campuses closed
Correction of Record
A prior version of this article stated no independent investigation was conducted. This was inaccurate. After MacDonald's termination, the church engaged Winston & Strawn LLP (law firm) and CapinCrouse (accounting firm) to conduct a full independent audit. The review found a “substantial pattern of sinful behavior” and millions of dollars in misused funds. As with Willow Creek, this investigation was reactive — forced by media exposure, not initiated proactively by leadership.
Berean Examiner Assessment
Failed biblical standards catastrophically. Harvest's elders knew about MacDonald's abusive behavior for years but did nothing until investigative journalists forced their hand. The independent audit that followed confirmed the worst — making the years of institutional protection all the more inexcusable (1 Timothy 3:2-7).
The Pattern Is Clear — With One Important Correction
Updated following editorial review. A prior version of this summary overstated the rarity of independent investigations. The corrected data is below.
Corrected Finding — Churches That Did Conduct Independent Investigations
- Willow Creek — 4-member Independent Advisory Group (Feb 2019). Reactive: initiated only after the entire elder board resigned under sustained media pressure.
- Harvest Bible Chapel — Winston & Strawn LLP + CapinCrouse accounting firm. Reactive: commissioned only after leaked audio recordings forced MacDonald's termination.
- Mercy Culture — Member/victim-driven Firefly investigation. Reactive: leadership rejected the findings, called them "gossip and slander," and gave Michael Brown a hero's welcome back to the pulpit.
- Hillsong — Grant Thornton forensic audit + second financial structure review + ACNC regulatory investigation (2022–2023). Reactive: all three reviews followed the collapse of global leadership and sustained investigative journalism.
Across all cases, the consistent pattern holds:
- Celebrity pastors are protected until media pressure or legal exposure becomes unbearable
- Independent investigations, when they happen, are reactive — forced by journalists, victims, or regulators, never voluntarily initiated by leadership
- Governance structures are designed to insulate leaders, not hold them accountable
- Swift action is reserved for lower-level staff, not senior leadership
- When investigations are rejected by leadership (as at Mercy Culture), findings are dismissed as attacks rather than accountability
Why Crossroads Still Stands Apart
Of the four churches that conducted independent investigations, Crossroads is the only one where leadership itself proactively initiated the process before being forced to by media exposure, legal action, or institutional collapse. That distinction matters — even if the full test of their commitment will be the transparency of the final outcome.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Brian Tome suspended from Crossroads Church?
Is Brian Tome under criminal investigation?
What does the Bible say about holding pastors accountable?
How does Crossroads' response compare to other megachurches?
The Transparency Problem
One of the most troubling aspects of this case is the lack of transparency. The church's statement provides minimal details about the nature of the allegations, the scope of the original investigation, or the specific reasons for reopening the case. Congregants are left to speculate about what "inappropriate physical humor" means and whether it constitutes a pattern of behavior or an isolated incident.
"Transparency isn't just about legal compliance—it's about spiritual integrity. When a church refuses to provide clear information about allegations against its leaders, it sends a message that protecting the institution matters more than protecting the people."
— Dr. Diane Langberg, psychologist and expert on clergy abuse
Does Their Doctrine Contribute to This Alleged Behavior?
Yes—Crossroads' seeker-sensitive doctrine appears to play a direct role in creating an environment where even the "appearance of sin" can be minimized for leaders.
Seeker-sensitive churches intentionally downplay hard-edged teaching on sin in order to attract the unchurched. Their "What We Believe" page frames sin as "seemingly small decisions that separate us from God" while immediately pivoting to "God gives grace freely and abundantly."
The Doctrinal Danger:
When a church's public message is "grace, grace, grace" and "come as you are," the standard of "avoid even the appearance of evil" (1 Thessalonians 5:22) can quietly erode—especially for the senior pastor.
What Scripture Actually Requires of Leaders
James 3:1
"Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly."
1 Timothy 3:2
Requires an overseer to be "above reproach… respectable… of good reputation with outsiders."
Titus 1:6-7
Demands an elder be "blameless… not arrogant, not quick-tempered… self-controlled."
1 Timothy 5:19-20
Adds that accusations against elders must be handled carefully, but when proven, they are to be rebuked publicly "so that the others may take warning."
What Happens Next?
As of this writing, the independent investigation is ongoing. The church has not provided a timeline for completion or indicated what actions might be taken based on the findings. Brian Tome remains on administrative leave, with other pastors filling in during his absence.
The outcome of this case will have significant implications not just for Crossroads Church but for the broader evangelical community. It will test whether megachurches can implement meaningful accountability or whether their size and complexity make them inherently vulnerable to leadership failures.
Conclusion: A Test of Institutional Integrity
The Crossroads Church case is ultimately a test of institutional integrity. Will the church prioritize transparency and accountability, even when it's uncomfortable? Will it implement systemic changes to prevent similar failures in the future?
The Bible calls church leaders to be "above reproach" and to shepherd God's flock with integrity. When leaders fail to meet these standards, the church's response reveals whether it truly values biblical accountability or merely pays lip service to it.
This investigation is ongoing. We will continue to update this article as new information emerges.
If you have information related to this case, please contact our tip line securely and confidentially.
Sources
Official Crossroads Church email (Feb. 27, 2026), WLWT, Cincinnati Enquirer/Fox19, Julie Roys Report, church website (crossroads.net/about, /what-we-believe, /statement-of-faith), and related coverage.
