The Bloomington church’s board said in a statement read to congregants Sept. 27 that Wigington had voluntarily submitted to a review by Assemblies of God district leaders. The review had been underway for more than four months, the board said, and its outcome was still pending. The board said it believed Wigington was innocent and continued to offer him its “full confidence, love and support.”

The board also said it had asked Wigington and his wife, co-lead pastor Shana Wigington, to take time away from the church. It described the leave as vacation, not a suspension or disciplinary action.

Wigington, 54, leads Cornerstone at 2655 S. Adams St. in southwest Bloomington. He has denied the allegations, previously describing them as fabricated. The allegations involve consenting adults, and no criminal charges or local police investigation into the alleged misconduct have been identified.

Jo Fipps, a former congregant and volunteer, said he gave church and Assemblies of God leaders digital records that he believed raised serious questions about Wigington’s conduct. The records included messages, emails, calendar entries and account information, Fipps said.

The records have not been independently authenticated, and their connection to Wigington could not be established. Fipps has acknowledged that they do not conclusively prove misconduct and that much of the material is circumstantial.

Fipps said his concerns began in 2021, after Wigington gave him a used computer that had not been reset. He said he later examined other church computers Wigington had used and found additional material he considered concerning. He met with district leaders on May 26 and shared the information, including how he said he obtained it.

Fipps said district leaders told him in July that they did not believe the accusations, that he had misinterpreted the material and that they had not found the questionable files on Wigington’s computer. Fipps said he was frustrated that leaders did not examine files he believed could help establish where the messages came from. He said they did not explain what had been reviewed, who conducted the review or whether it was complete.

“The church needed to be aware,” Fipps said.

A separate police matter was reported in Bloomington on Oct. 1. According to a police log, Wigington told Bloomington police that a man had entered a restricted area of the church, gone into his office and taken information from his computer. Police said Wigington reported that the alleged break-in happened in May and that the investigation was ongoing. Police have not announced an arrest or identified a suspect.

Project Rescue, a Missouri-based nonprofit focused on helping survivors of sexual exploitation, said Wigington was asked to resign during its investigation and is no longer affiliated with the organization. The group said he had raised funds for it but was not involved in its operations in the field.

The dispute has also affected church members. Michael Richardson, who attended Cornerstone for about two years, said his family recently left because of the allegations and what he considered an inadequate response from church leaders. He questioned why the board declared its confidence in Wigington while saying the district review was still underway.

Fipps said he expected Wigington to be removed from church duties until the review concluded. Instead, he said, Wigington continued leading services and performing ceremonies until late September. Fipps also said the local church has directed questions to the district, though he believes the local board has authority to remove the pastor while the district can revoke his credentials.

Cornerstone is part of the Assemblies of God, a global Pentecostal organization. The church’s board has not publicly detailed the evidence reviewed or the steps taken in the district process.