Highpoint Church in Memphis, Tennessee has released a statement updating its members on an investigation that is 'wrapping up' into Pastor Andy Savage, who has been accused of an alleged sexual assault in 1998 and who remains on leave.
In the statement, Highpoint Church officials said: 'We want to update you regarding Andy Savage. The investigation is wrapping up and the initial findings give us assurance that we can begin the long process of moving forward as a church.
'Just as the culture around us is waking up to the suffering expressed by the courageous voices of the #metoo movement, we are taking very seriously our commitment to fully understand how our church should minister to the needs of the people we impact. Andy Savage remains on leave. We will release further updates as the situation requires.'
Savage has said that he will abide by the wishes of church leadership once the investigation is complete.
However, Savage has received support from leaders at Highpoint, who said they were aware of the historic incident, that took place in Texas, before Savage was hired, and church members gave Savage a standing ovation after he spoke about the case shortly after it emerged into the public eye in January.
Savage was youth pastor at Woodlands Parkway Baptist Church in Houston and the alleged victim, Jules Woodson, was a 17-year-old high school senior when the incident occurred.
In an account originally published on the website The Wartburg Watch, Woodson said that Savage sexually assaulted her in his car in a secluded area while driving her home from a church event.
Woodson said that she reported the encounter the following day to, but police were never contacted. Woodson contacted the authorities recently but the statute of limitations has expired. The staff member to whom she reported, Larry Cotton, resigned from his post at The Austin Stone Community Church last month.
Savage eventually left the church, returned home to Memphis and accepted the position at Highpoint.
He has said that he recalls the incident as consensual.
An administrator at Highpoint has said that the investigation there includes a review of past and present actions by church leaders regarding Savage, as well as the impact of those actions. Fredricks is also advising the church 'as it makes decisions about the future of ministry at Highpoint'.
A separate independent investigation, which is expected to begin after the Savage review is complete, will evaluate the church's child protection practices,
