SLO church pastor accused of ‘inappropriate behavior’ toward women resigns
A San Luis Obispo pastor accused of “inappropriate behavior” toward women has resigned from his position, Mountainbrook Church announced Sunday.
Mountainbrook Church lead pastor Thom O’Leary, as well as his wife, church executive pastor Sherri O’Leary, resigned from their respective duties effective Friday, Jan. 31, 2020, according to a statement emailed to local media Sunday.
Both had been on leave from their positions since November, the church’s board of directors notified the congregation in an email sent Nov. 24, 2020. That’s when allegations of misconduct surfaced against Thom O’Leary.
Sherri O’Leary is not accused of misconduct.
The email, sent by the church’s board of directors, said it accepted the resignations following “this difficult and emotional time.”
“We have come to a resolution for Thom and Sherri’s future at Mountainbrook Church,” the statement reads. “They have both resigned from their respective positions at Mountainbrook effective January 31st. The Board has accepted their resignations.”
In their joint letter of resignation, shared in the email, Thom and Sherri O’Leary wrote that “It is with great emotion that we inform you today that we have resigned as lead pastor and executive pastor of Mountainbrook Church effective Jan. 31, 2020.”
“We want to thank you for being gracious to both of us and our family over the last 27 years of our pastoring the church,” the pair wrote. “We also want to encourage you to continue to gather, grow, and give at Mountainbrook, and to bless and encourage the church staff and leaders, fulfilling the ‘God-sized’ vision for the church.”
In Sunday’s statement, the board specified that when its investigation into Thom O’Leary’s conduct began, “there were concerns raised that Thom had engaged in inappropriate conduct toward certain women.”
An independent investigator found those concerns to be valid, the statement says.
But during the investigation, other “concerns surfaced about use of church funds.” Those concerns have now been resolved, the statement says.
“Through all of this, and after spending many, many hours working together on a path forward, the board and the O’Learys agreed that it would be best for all concerned – and the future and unity of the Church – for them to resign,” the statement reads.
“We know that change can oftentimes be difficult; but we know that God has a plan for us as we move forward into this new season. We love Thom and Sherri and are grateful for how God has used them in our lives over the years,” the statement reads. “Even though they have found themselves in a place where they need significant time to find healing, this does not negate the many years of good things that they facilitated through their roles at Mountainbrook.
“God has accomplished tremendous things through their leadership at Mountainbrook. Thom has personally led many of us to Christ. This situation changes none of that.”
The statement says that the church’s parent company, Vineyard USA, has offered to “explore ways they might be able to help (the O’Learys) in their recovery and healing.”
The San Luis Obispo Police Department previously told The Tribune that it has not received any reports of criminal allegations related to the O’Learys.
Thom O’Leary had been lead pastor at Mountainbrook Church since 1995.
