[Christian Post] A Kansas City evangelical megachurch pastor has been placed on an indefinite leave of absence as he seeks help at an addiction treatment facility after confessing to a “moral failure” to his wife and church leaders.
Norm Rasmussen, the acting president of the board of the multicampus Vineyard Church in Missouri, recently informed congregants that the church’s senior pastor, Fred Herron, has entered a “treatment facility away from Kansas City” as he recovers from “addiction and dependence issues.”
Rasmussen delivered the news at the Vineyard’s last Sunday service before Thanksgiving and announced that the church’s leadership position will be jointly assumed by three of the Vineyard’s executive pastors with help from the board in the months that Herron is in recovery.
“This week, our senior pastor Fred Herron was placed on indefinite leave of absence due to his inability to perform his job duties,” Rasmussen told the church. “Fred is suffering from various health issues, including addiction and dependence issues. The extent of some of these issues has only come to light in the last seven to 10 days, even to his wife, Janet.”
In the days prior to Rasmussen’s announcement, the 57-year-old Herron entered the treatment facility with the help of his wife, friends and the church’s board of directors.
“During the initial stages of that treatment, Fred called and confessed moral failure to his wife, Janet,” Rasmussen explained.
Details of Herron’s addiction and moral failing were not disclosed in the announcement.
The church was founded in 1990 by Herron and Rasmussen and has grown to several thousand members at its four campuses.
