Multiple board members and the lead pastor of an Illinois megachurch on Thursday resigned from their positions, admitting that their management of sexual misconduct allegations against a former pastor was "flawed."

"Today I stand before you broken," said Missy Rasmussen, one of the elders resigning from Willow Creek Community Church's board, in a statement posted on the church's website. "The Elder Board wants to express our deepest sadness around the events that have occurred over the past few months at our church. But to limit our sadness around these past few months is to not recognize the obviously painful events that have occurred over the past 40 years of our existence."

Church founder and former pastor Bill Hybels stepped down in April, amid a raft of allegations of misconduct with women that took place over decades, according to the Chicago Tribune. Hybels resigned following a Tribune investigation that revealed the allegations, which he has denied.

The church's elders, the Tribune reported, also conducted a series of investigations, one of which was carried out by an outside law firm. The elders did not find Hybels guilty of any wrongdoing, and, with their knowledge, allowed Hybels to continue counseling a woman who brought allegations against him. The woman later retracted her allegations.

ADVERTISEMENT

"We can now see this investigation was flawed," Rasmussen said. "It focused on whether there was definitive evidence of an affair rather than whether Bill's actions were above reproach. We viewed the allegations through the lens of trust we had in Bill, and this clouded our judgement."

Lead pastor Heather Larson, who was appointed by Hybels, also announced her resignation, saying she believes the church "needs a fresh start."

"Trust has been broken by leadership, and it doesn’t return quickly," Larson said in a statement. "There is urgency to move in a better direction."

Hybels has been accused of making inappropriate comments, kissing a woman without consent, inviting women to hotel rooms and having a 14-year affair with a married woman.

Lead teaching pastor Steve Carter, who was also appointed by Hybels, resigned on Sunday.