(UPDATE) A group of Christian leaders, known as the Elder Accountability Team, has publicly rejected the findings of an independent investigation conducted by Firefly into allegations of sexual misconduct against Michael Brown, founder of The Line of Fire Dr Brown Ministries and the Fire School of Ministry in Concord, North Carolina.

The investigation, which concluded that Brown engaged in “sexually abusive misconduct” with two women in 2001-2002, has stirred controversy, with the elders arguing that the investigation overstepped in its definition of sexual abuse.

This development has drawn attention from various news outlets, highlighting tensions within the Christian community over accountability and the handling of misconduct allegations.

According to The Christian Post, Firefly, an independent firm specializing in sexual abuse investigations, was commissioned on January 13, 2025, to examine allegations that Brown had an inappropriate relationship with Sarah Monk, a former Fire School of Ministry member, and another woman referred to as IS#1, who is deceased.

The 47-page Firefly report, released earlier in April 2025, concluded that Brown’s actions toward the two women were “inappropriate and unacceptable for his leadership position within the ministry,” violating ethical standards and undermining trust within the church community.

The report specifically noted that Brown’s conduct constituted “sexually abusive misconduct,” a term that Firefly defined broadly to include deception, manipulation, coercion, grooming, or intimidation, beyond the traditional understanding of sexual assault.

Firefly’s investigation involved 74 initial interviews with witnesses, survivors, and Brown himself, who was reported to have cooperated fully.

The firm aimed to determine whether the incidents were isolated or indicative of a broader pattern of predatory behavior. Ultimately, Firefly found the allegations valid but limited to the two known cases from over two decades ago.

On April 29, 2025, The Christian Post reported that the Elder Accountability Team, appointed by the board of The Line of Fire Dr Brown Ministries, rejected Firefly’s conclusions.

The team, comprising prominent Christian leaders such as Jonathan Bernis (Jewish Voice Ministries International), Raleigh Washington (Rock of Our Salvation Evangelical Free Church), Leif Hetland (Global Mission Awareness), and Mark and Nicki Pfeifer (Open Door Church), argued that Firefly overreached by expanding the definition of “sexual abuse” beyond its “historically narrow understanding.”

They contended that Brown’s actions, while inappropriate, did not constitute sexual abuse and that he did not engage in such behavior.

The elders’ stance has sparked debate about the scope of investigations into misconduct and the definitions used to classify such behavior.

Protestia, a Christian news outlet, noted that the disagreement hinges on Firefly’s broader interpretation of “sexually abusive misconduct,” which includes nonphysical conduct influenced by manipulation or coercion.

The outlet suggested that this expansive definition may have led to the elders’ rejection of the findings, as they viewed the incidents as isolated and not reflective of ongoing misconduct.