God Is Cleaning House: The 2026 Church Scandal Reckoning Has Begun

Is God Exposing Church Leaders Right Now? The Shocking Wave of Scandals Rocking Christianity in 2026

An unprecedented wave of accountability is sweeping through the Christian Church in 2026, with multiple leaders across denominations facing public exposure for misconduct, deception, and institutional cover ups.

Author and prophetic voice Wanda Alger penned a widely shared opinion piece in The Christian Post on February 25, 2026, declaring that what is unfolding is nothing less than divine judgment and cleansing of the Body of Christ.

Alger pointed to the biblical account of Uzzah and the Ark of the Covenant in 2 Samuel 6 as a parallel to what is happening now. Uzzah died after touching the ark to steady it, but the deeper issue was that the ark was being transported on a cart rather than carried by consecrated Levites as God had commanded.

"We must make peace with the process."

Alger argued that modern ministries have built their own "crafted carts of convenience," prioritizing persona and performance over scriptural integrity. She said individual leaders' misconduct reflects deeper systemic failures across the Church.

The catalyst for much of this reckoning has been the Bethel Church scandal. On January 17, 2026, Christian YouTuber Mike Winger released a nearly six hour investigation into prophetic minister Shawn Bolz, detailing allegations of fraudulent prophetic practices and sexual misconduct spanning a decade.

Former insiders alleged that Bolz obtained personal information through social media and then presented it as supernatural insight from God. The investigation also contained allegations of sexually inappropriate behavior in front of ministry employees and volunteers.

Bethel Church leadership, including senior leader Bill Johnson, Kris Vallotton, and lead pastor Dann Farrelly, publicly addressed the congregation on January 25, 2026. In a tearful admission, they acknowledged they had known about the allegations since 2019 but failed to act with sufficient clarity, urgency, or transparency.

"The truth is, we have hurt and scared people because we did not tell the truth enough, early enough, long enough, or loud enough, and this is a just criticism."

Alger referenced the wisdom of Gamaliel in Acts 5:38 39, who counseled that if something is of God, no one can stop it. She urged believers not to interfere with this process of divine correction but instead to embrace corporate repentance alongside individual accountability.

Church Scandal Accountability 2026: Why Believers Say God Is Purifying His People

The exposure extends well beyond Bethel. Multiple church leaders across charismatic, mainline, and evangelical denominations are facing scrutiny as podcasters, journalists, and social media voices drive new accountability conversations that institutional structures long resisted.

Court cases set for 2026 are expected to bring further revelations. The Trinity Foundation reports that testimony this year will disclose evidence of money laundering, sexual abuse, and other crimes by religious leaders, along with details of how cover ups were maintained.

Alger concluded that this moment calls for both honesty about the failures and hope for genuine reformation, pointing to Ephesians 4:11 13 and the biblical mandate to equip the saints for the work of ministry in truth.

The Crusader's Opinion

Let me be blunt: this reckoning is long overdue. For decades, too many pastors, prophets, and church boards operated as untouchable kingdoms rather than servants of the living God. They built empires on personality, silenced victims with spiritual manipulation, and called it "extending mercy." That is not mercy. That is cowardice dressed in religious clothing.

Scripture is clear: judgment begins at the house of God. Not at the mosque. Not at the secular boardroom. At the house of God. And when leaders who claim to speak for the Almighty are exposed as frauds and predators, every Christian should welcome the fire that burns away the chaff. The world is watching, and every cover up gives ammunition to those who want to destroy the Church entirely. Clean house or lose the house.

Take Action

• Read the full op ed by Wanda Alger at The Christian Post and share it with your church community.
• If you or someone you know has been a victim of church leadership abuse, contact GRACE (Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment) at netgrace.org for support and resources.
• Support independent Christian journalism that holds leaders accountable. Follow investigative outlets like The Roys Report that do the work institutional media often avoids.
• Have an honest conversation with your pastor or church board about what accountability structures exist in your congregation. Ask who holds leadership accountable and how complaints are handled.
• Pray for genuine repentance and reformation across all denominations. Support organizations like The Shepherd's Shield that work to protect and advocate for believers.
• Demand transparency from any ministry or church you financially support. If they refuse to answer basic questions about finances and governance, redirect your giving to organizations with proven integrity.