 and the Diocese of St Albans carried out an internal investigation which has repeatedly been criticised for its lack of independence . It is understood that more than 100 people have already come forward to accuse him of abuse, which includes recent as well as historic allegations, and that Soul Survivor leaders in the UK were aware of allegations surrounding Pilavachi as early as 2002 . However, it has now emerged that the Church's investigation into Pilavachi has no power to discipline him and will instead only be able to refer him to a psychologist. The revelations have prompted criticism from those who have disclosed evidence to the investigation, as well as victims, accusing it of being not only 'toothless' but also 'misleading'. The NST investigators, who are continuing to call for victims and those){kind=link}
Church of England team’s inquiry into allegations against Mike Pilavachi will not be able to discipline him
Soul Survivor’s Mike Pilavachi will not be disciplined by the Church of England’s investigation into spiritual abuse, The Telegraph understands.
Rev Canon Pilavachi, 65, is the charismatic evangelical Christian founder of Soul Survivor Watford church in Hertfordshire, as well as its namesake summer youth festivals, which ran from 1993 until 2019 and attracted tens of thousands of teenagers from around the world.
The movement has spawned global offshoots in countries such as Holland, South Africa, Australia, Canada, the US, and New Zealand, which continue to run today, and has converted thousands of people to the faith.
Since April, The Telegraph has been uncovering the allegations of abuse levelled at Pilavachi and spoke to his victims who revealed for the first time how they were encouraged to receive full-body oil massages in their underwear in his bedroom and vigorous wrestling matches that could last as long as 20 minutes at a time – sometimes in church.