New Life Chapel in West Chester, Ohio, has suspended an executive leader for failing to notify its governing board about sexual misconduct involving founder and former senior pastor Lonnie Snell, according to a November 9 report from The Christian Post.
The church has declined to identify the executive, who reportedly serves on its six-member leadership team. His suspension runs through the remainder of 2026.
Citing reporting from The Roys Report, The Christian Post said the church's external board learned that the executive had known about the misconduct before Snell's dismissal. The executive reportedly confronted Snell, who downplayed the matter, but did not take the information to the board.
The board concluded that his handling of the situation fell below the church's expectations for leadership. He was suspended on October 29.
Interim executive director Randy Thome reportedly compared the emotional impact of the disclosure on the executive to a concussion, suggesting that his distress was not readily apparent to others. Thome urged members to consider both accountability and the personal impact of the crisis.
Snell's employment was terminated effective October 23 after sexual misconduct involving a subordinate staff member, according to an October 25 church statement. The Christian Post reported that the staff member was also dismissed.
The church said it would investigate the matter and communicate significant decisions affecting its ministry. It also asked members to pray for the congregation and its leaders.
The developments leave New Life Chapel addressing both its founder's misconduct and a separate failure by another leader to report it. The church did not respond to The Christian Post's request for comment on November 6.
