New Life Chapel Fires Founder Lonnie Snell Following Sexual Misconduct With Staff Member

New Life Chapel in West Chester, Ohio, has dismissed founder and senior pastor Lonnie Snell following sexual misconduct involving a subordinate staff member, according to a church statement reported by The Christian Post.

The church announced that Snell's termination took effect on October 23, 2026, and that he is no longer affiliated with the congregation. Its statement, released Friday, described the other person involved as a "subordinate of consensual age and development."

Church leaders said an investigation would take place and pledged to communicate significant decisions affecting the congregation's future. They also encouraged members to pray for those affected and avoid speculation while the matter is addressed.

The announcement leaves the congregation navigating the departure of its founding pastor and questions about its next steps. According to The Christian Post, Snell and his wife, Ruth, have been married for more than 23 years and have four sons.

During Sunday's first service, ministry director Eric Dolby thanked congregants for attending amid the upheaval. He spoke about his concerns over potential attendance losses following a leadership crisis and expressed gratitude for those who continued to participate in church life.

The Christian Post reported that New Life Chapel had not responded to its requests for comment by Monday. The supplied report did not include a response from Snell.

Responding to the dismissal, Daryl Blank, superintendent of the Southwestern Ohio District of the Church of the Nazarene, urged ministers to strengthen accountability, maintain appropriate boundaries and attend to their marriages and personal well-being.

Drawing on more than three decades in ministry, Blank warned that exhaustion, isolation and overconfidence can leave leaders vulnerable. He encouraged pastors to maintain relationships with people who can question them candidly and to seek help promptly when their conduct crosses appropriate boundaries.

New Life Chapel said its leadership remains focused on supporting the church's mission as it works through the consequences of Snell's dismissal.