Other Christian institutions & contexts Evangelical, Pentecostal, and independent Watford, England, United Kingdom · 2024

United Kingdom: official findings that Soul Survivor's founder used spiritual authority to coerce youths

Record class

Core record

Evidence status

Official finding

Authority role

founder and figurehead of a national youth ministry

Organization

Soul Survivor, Diocese of St Albans

Spiritual nexus

Both investigations named his spiritual authority over the young people as the coercive mechanism — the criterion in the findings' own words.

Evidence structure

Proceedings

2024-09-01 · official ecclesiastical and independent-review findings; NO criminal charge

Church of England National Safeguarding Team; independent review (Fiona Scolding KC-led, published 2024). The Church of England's National Safeguarding Team and an independent review both substantiated that Mike Pilavachi, founder of the Soul Survivor youth ministry, used his spiritual authority and celebrity status over four decades to draw young interns and attendees into coerced massages and physical wrestling. No criminal charges were brought; he resigned and surrendered his licence to minister.

Primary record

official church safeguarding finding official finding Church of England National Safeguarding Team statement and independent review findings on Mike Pilavachi (2024).: The substantiated findings and the surrender of his licence.

Related record