Rick Olmstead, longtime senior pastor of Arise Vineyard Church in San Luis Obispo, California, has resigned from his leadership role at the congregation following the resurfacing of past allegations involving the inappropriate photographing of young women.
Olmstead stepped down from his position on December 20, 2025, after an anonymous report brought renewed attention to an incident that occurred in October 2020. At that time, Olmstead was observed taking unsolicited photographs of college-aged women outside a local Trader Joe's grocery store.
According to accounts shared with church leadership, the behavior was reported by a former intern who witnessed the conduct and brought it to the attention of the church's board. The church subsequently addressed the matter internally, placing Olmstead on a counseling plan, requiring him to apologize to the store, and restricting his interactions with minors and young women associated with the congregation.
In a statement released by Arise Vineyard Church, leadership acknowledged that Olmstead had "exercised poor judgment" in the 2020 incident and reiterated that the matter was addressed through confession, counseling, and a restoration process at the time. The church also noted that some aspects of the recent report were new to them and prompted further review.
Olmstead, 74, has also been involved with ministries beyond the local church, including roles with the 4/14 Movement and Generation Now-organizations focused on youth and children's discipleship.
Arise Vineyard Church affirmed that the decision for Olmstead to step back was made in consultation with the board and was intended to support the wellbeing of both the leadership and the congregation. The church has stated it has since strengthened reporting procedures and transparency measures to better address personnel matters.
The incident has also unfolded against a broader backdrop of accountability concerns within the larger Vineyard USA network, which has faced civil lawsuits and reviews related to past misconduct cases.
Arise Vineyard Church, formerly known as Mountainbrook Church, is a congregation located in San Luis Obispo, California, affiliated with the Vineyard USA network. The church provides worship services, community outreach, and discipleship ministries for families and individuals in the region and beyond.
For media inquiries or further information, please contact the church's communications offic
