Stephen Timmis, the former CEO of Acts 29, and his wife Janet have been charged with eight counts of rape allegedly committed 18 years ago. The allegations were made in a report of non-recent sexual abuse, according to a statement from South Yorkshire Police.
The police are appealing for anyone with information or concerns to come forward, offering support to those who may have been affected. The Crowded House Church, where the alleged offenses took place, has since been rebranded as Redeemer Church Sharrow Vale.
The charges against the Timmis couple come more than six years after Stephen Timmis was removed as CEO of Acts 29 amid allegations of "abusive leadership". Stephen Timmis also resigned as an elder at the Crowded House Church in February 2020, following similar allegations.
The investigation is ongoing, and the police are seeking information from anyone who may have been a member of the church at the time of the alleged offenses.