In a growing controversy over church leadership and accountability, the elders of Fellowship Church in Huntersville, North Carolina, have reaffirmed their decision to dismiss Dr. Michael Brown, despite the results of an independent investigation that found no evidence of legal or ethical misconduct.

The investigation was conducted by Firefly Investigations, a law firm retained by the church following concerns about Brown’s leadership, including his handling of spiritual abuse allegations and the internal structure of authority. According to Christian Post (CP), the report concluded that Dr. Brown had not committed any legal wrongdoing or policy violations.

However, the church elders released a statement earlier this week maintaining that Brown was, in their judgment, morally disqualified from pastoral leadership. According to CP, the elders emphasized that their conclusion was rooted in biblical standards rather than in legal definitions, noting concerns about Brown’s response to those who raised grievances within the church.

Brown, a widely known Christian apologist and revivalist speaker, denied any misconduct and expressed disappointment over the church’s rejection of the report’s findings. “If you're going to commission a report, then you need to be willing to accept its conclusions,” he said.

The case has sparked ongoing discussion among supporters and critics alike—some viewing the elders’ decision as an act of moral courage, others as a troubling dismissal of an independent review. The situation has raised continuing discussion about transparency, leadership standards, and ethical accountability within church ministry.

As the debate unfolds, the Brown case highlights the complex intersection between legal investigations, spiritual leadership, and congregational trust in today’s church governance landscape.