Bill Hybels

{{short description|American church figure and author (born 1951)}}

{{Infobox writer

| name = Bill Hybels

| image = Bill_hybels_photo.jpg

| imagesize =

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| pseudonym =

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1951|12|12}}

| birth_place = Kalamazoo, Michigan, U.S.

| death_date =

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| occupation = Author, Minister

| period =

| subject = Leadership

| movement =

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| signature =

| spouse = Lynne Hybels (m. 1974)

| children = Shauna Niequist
Todd Hybels

}}

William Hybels (born December 12, 1951) is an American church figure and author. He is the founding and former senior pastor of Willow Creek Community Church and the founder of the Willow Creek Association, and he is also the creator of the Global Leadership Summit. Hybels has authored a number of Christian books, especially on the subject of Christian leadership.

Hybels was slated to retire from his position at Willow Creek in October 2018; however, he resigned in April 2018 after allegations of sexual misconduct were made against him. Although Hybels has denied all allegations, an independent review found the allegations to be credible.

Early life and education

Hybels was born and raised in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He is Dutch-American and grew up participating in the Christian Reformed Church in North America. Hybels's father was an entrepreneur in wholesale produce whose work ethic was the model for his son. In a 2006 interview with the Chicago Tribune, he pointed to an experience at a Wisconsin summer camp as a teenager that crystallized his understanding and personal embrace of Christian belief.{{Cite web |last=Tribune |first=Chicago |date=2006-08-06 |title=REV. BILL HYBELS |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2006/08/06/rev-bill-hybels/ |access-date=2024-02-11 |website=Chicago Tribune |language=en-US}} Hybels holds a bachelor's degree in Biblical Studies from Trinity International University, near Chicago.{{Cite web |last=Roys |first=Josh Shepherd, Julie |date=2023-02-20 |title=Trinity International U Announces Closure of Residential Program and Camp |url=https://julieroys.com/trinity-international-university-announces-closure-residential-program-camp/ |access-date=2024-02-11 |website=The Roys Report |language=en-US}}

Willow Creek Community Church

In 1971, Hybels—then serving as youth pastor at South Park Church in Park Ridge, Illinois—started a youth group with friend Dave Holmbo called 'Son City'.[http://www.ascg.org/journal/11Spg00/Reid.html Journal/ASCG Vol.11, Spg 2000 - Reid] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070407215641/http://www.ascg.org/journal/11Spg00/Reid.html |date=April 7, 2007 }}{{Cite web|url=http://www.willowcreek.org/news/retrospective/default.asp|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926225617/http://www.willowcreek.org/news/retrospective/default.asp|url-status=dead|title=News at Willow Creek Community Church|archivedate=September 26, 2007|accessdate=February 5, 2021}} After 300 youth waited in line for a service in May 1974, Hybels and other leaders began dreaming of forming a new church. They surveyed the community to find out why people weren't coming to church. Common answers were reported to be: "church is boring", "they're always asking for money", or "I don't like being preached down to." These answers shaped the group's approach to the new church.{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071212082831/https://www.prairie.edu/servant/InnerviewBillHybels.pdf|archive-date=December 12, 2007|url=https://www.prairie.edu/servant/InnerviewBillHybels.pdf|title=Interview with Bill Hybels: May 2007|work=Servant|access-date=August 9, 2018}}

On October 12, 1975, the group held its first service at Willow Creek Theater in Palatine, Illinois. One hundred and twenty-five people attended the service. The rent and other costs were paid for with 1,200 baskets of tomatoes, sold door-to-door by 100 teenagers. Hybels spoke on "New Beginnings".{{cite web|url=http://ctlibrary.com/16163|title=Community Is Their Middle Name|work=Christianity Today|accessdate=November 7, 2015}}

Challenges in 1979 led to a recommissioning of the church's vision to be broader and deeper than before. Hybels apologized for the example of his relentless schedule and overemphasis on grace. "We've set up all our leadership structures and goals to grow a full functioning Acts 2 community, as opposed to just an evangelizing machine that doesn't drive the roots down deep and do all the other things it's supposed to do."Rediscovering Church, Bill and Lynne Hybels (Zondervan, 1997)

In 1981, the church moved to its current location in South Barrington. By 2000, six services were being held each weekend for 15,000 attendees in a {{convert|352000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} building.{{Cite web|url=http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/2382.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070227162320/http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/2382.html|url-status=dead|title=Willow Creek Community Church|archivedate=February 27, 2007|website=encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org|accessdate=February 5, 2021}} Starting in 1998 Hybels acted as a spiritual advisor to then-President Bill Clinton during the Monica Lewinsky scandal.https://www.c-span.org/video/?158757-1/presidential-religious-reflections {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}} In 2004, a new Worship Center was opened. With a capacity of more than 7,000, the state-of-the-art auditorium is one of the largest theaters in the United States. In 2017, the church averaged 25,000 attendees per week, making it the eighth largest church in America, according to Outreach 100.{{Cite web|url=https://outreach100.com/largest-churches-in-america/2017|title=2017 Largest Churches in America|website=|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191222190323/https://outreach100.com/largest-churches-in-america/2017 |archive-date=2019-12-22 |access-date=2 January 2020}}

On July 1, 2010, Hybels introduced President Barack Obama for a speech on immigration reform.{{cite web|url=http://blogs.pioneerlocal.com/religion/2010/07/bill_and_baracks_immigration_a.html|title=Bill and Barack's Immigration Adventure: Hybels introduces Obama|work=pioneerlocal.com|accessdate=November 7, 2015|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150703112034/http://blogs.pioneerlocal.com/religion/2010/07/bill_and_baracks_immigration_a.html|archivedate=July 3, 2015|df=mdy-all}}

Hybels was not heavily involved in the church's day-to-day operations between mid-2006 and 2008. Gene Appel served as lead pastor of the South Barrington Campus from mid-2006 until Easter 2008.{{cite web| title = From the Elders of Willow Creek| date = January 26, 2008| url = http://www.willowcreek.org/weekend/Jan262708.html| accessdate = February 2, 2008| archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20080131120729/http://www.willowcreek.org/weekend/Jan262708.html| archivedate = January 31, 2008| url-status = dead| df = mdy-all}}

In September 2018, Religion News Service reported attendance was down 9% across all Willow Creek campuses following a scandal involving Hybels and the resignation of the church's entire senior leadership team.{{Cite web|url=https://religionnews.com/2018/09/28/whats-next-for-willow-creek/|title=What's Next For Willow Creek|last=Miller|first=Emily|date=28 September 2018|agency=Religion News Service|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180929014937/https://religionnews.com/2018/09/28/whats-next-for-willow-creek/ |archive-date=2018-09-29 |access-date=2 January 2020}}

The Global Leadership Summit

Hybels started the Global Leadership Summit (hosted by the Global Leadership Network (GLN) (rebranded from Willow Creek Association in 2018{{Cite web|url=https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2019/july/willow-creek-bill-hybels-reconciliation-service.html|title=Can Willow Creek Find Closure After Bill Hybels?|last=Service|first=Emily McFarlan Miller-Religion News|website=News & Reporting|date=24 July 2019 |language=en|access-date=2020-04-15}})) in 1995 as an annual training event for leaders to sharpen their skills. The summit telecasts live from the campus of Willow Creek Community Church, with 118,000 people watching via livestream at host sites across the U.S. in 2018,{{Cite web|url=https://religionnews.com/2018/08/09/willow-creek-leadership-summit-goes-on-despite-mass-resignations/|title=Willow Creek leadership summit goes on despite mass resignations|date=2018-08-09|website=Religion News Service|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-15}} and hundreds of thousands more later watching via video in countries around the world.Chu, Jeff [http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/151/what-would-jack-do.html How Willow Creek Is Leading Evangelicals by Learning from the Business World] Fast Company December 6, 2010 The Summit lost more than 100 host sites and tens of thousands of viewers in 2018 following the Hybels scandal.

Misconduct allegations and resignation

On March 23, 2018, the Chicago Tribune published an article detailing allegations of sexual misconduct by Hybels spanning decades. The article reported that Hybels had engaged in a prolonged affair with a married woman; however, this allegation was retracted by the woman herself. The Tribune wrote that the elders of Willow Creek had conducted an internal review of Hybels' behavior which led to no findings of misconduct; following this report, at least three leaders of the Willow Creek Association board reportedly resigned their posts because they believed the inquiry to have been insufficient. All accusations have been denied by Hybels.{{cite web |last1=Pashman |first1=Manya Brachear |last2=Coen |first2=Jeff |date=March 23, 2018 |title=After years of inquiries, Willow Creek pastor denies misconduct allegations |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2018/03/23/after-years-of-inquiries-willow-creek-pastor-denies-misconduct-allegations/ |access-date=February 4, 2024 |work=Chicago Tribune}}

Hybels had planned to retire in October 2018 to focus his energy on the Willow Creek Association. On April 10, 2018, Hybels announced that he was resigning, effective immediately, stating he did not want to be a distraction to the church's ministry. He also announced that he would leave the board of the Willow Creek Association and would no longer lead Willow Creek's Global Leadership Summit.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2018/04/10/bill-hybels-prominent-megachurch-pastor-resigns-from-willow-creek-following-allegations/|title=Megachurch pastor Bill Hybels resigns from Willow Creek after women allege misconduct|newspaper=The Washington Post|last=Bailey|first=Sarah Pulliam|date=April 11, 2018|access-date=August 9, 2018}}

On April 21, 2018, the Chicago Tribune and Christianity Today reported further misconduct allegations which were not part of the initial investigation.{{cite web|url=https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2018/april/bill-hybels-willow-creek-promises-investigation-allegations.html|title=Willow Creek Promises Investigation Amid New Allegations Against Bill Hybels|work=Christianity Today|last=Smietana|first=Bob|date=April 21, 2018|access-date=August 9, 2018}} Despite its initial denial and defense of Hybels, the Willow Creek Board of Elders released a statement on May 9, 2018 as part of its second investigation into allegations against him. The statement indicated that the Board "[does] not believe the stories were all lies or that all the [accusers] were colluding against him."{{cite web |title=Elder Update |url=https://www.willowcreek.org/en/elder-update-two |website=willowcreek.org |accessdate=10 May 2018 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180511013019/https://www.willowcreek.org/en/elder-update-two |archivedate=11 May 2018 |language=English}}

On August 5, 2018, The New York Times published allegations from a former employee of Hybels who alleged that he repeatedly sexually harassed and assaulted her in the 1980s, including fondling her breasts and obtaining oral sex. The complainant only came forward after hearing of the other allegations against Hybels, but crucially had contemporaneous evidence of her allegations from people in whom she confided at the time. Hybels denied the allegations.{{cite news |title=He's a Superstar Pastor. She Worked for Him and Says He Groped Her Repeatedly |work=The New York Times |date=5 August 2018 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/05/us/bill-hybels-willow-creek-pat-baranowski.html |accessdate=5 August 2018 |language=English |last1=Goodstein |first1=Laurie }}

In August 2018, both lead pastors at Willow Creek tendered their resignations, and the other members of the elder board all stated they would step down by the end of the year.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/aug/09/illinois-willow-creek-community-church-board-of-elders-step-down|title=Illinois: church leadership steps down after sexual harassment allegations|work=The Guardian|date=August 9, 2018|access-date=August 9, 2018}}

In March 2019, The Washington Post reported that a six-month independent review by four evangelical leaders found the misconduct allegations against Hybels to be credible. The reviewers asserted that were Hybels still pastor at Willow Creek, disciplinary action would be required.{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/religion/2019/03/01/independent-report-finds-allegations-against-willow-creek-founder-bill-hybels-are-credible/|title=Misconduct allegations against Willow Creek founder Bill Hybels are credible, independent report finds|first=Emily McFarlan|last=Miller|accessdate=February 5, 2021|newspaper=The Washington Post}}{{cite web |author1=Independent Advisory Group |title=Report of the Independent Advisory Group |url=https://www.willowcreek.org/-/media/images/7-0-about/elders2019/iagreport-022819.pdf?la=en |website=Willow Creek Community Church |accessdate=30 March 2019 |format=PDF |date=February 28, 2019 |archive-date=28 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190228204419/https://www.willowcreek.org/-/media/images/7-0-about/elders2019/iagreport-022819.pdf?la=en |url-status=dead }}

Publications

Books which Hybels has authored or made a contribution to include:

Authenticity: Being Honest with God and Others (and Kevin Harney) (Zondervan, 1996) – {{ISBN|978-0-310-26588-7}}
Axiom: Powerful Leadership Proverbs (Zondervan, 2008) – {{ISBN|978-0-310-27236-6}}
Becoming a Contagious Christian (and Mark Mittelberg) (Zondervan, 1996) – {{ISBN|978-0-310-21008-5}}
Character: Reclaiming Six Endangered Qualities (and Kevin Harney) (Zondervan, 1997) – {{ISBN|978-0-310-26602-0}}
Christians in a Sex-Crazed Culture (Scripture Press Publications, 1989) {{ISBN|978-0896934955}}
Commitment: Developing Deeper Devotion to Christ (and Kevin Harney) (Zondervan, 1996) – {{ISBN|0-310-26595-9}}
Community: Building Relationships Within God's Family (and Kevin Harney) (Zondervan, 1996) – {{ISBN|0-310-26591-6}}
Courageous Faith Through the Year (and Keri Wyatt Kent) (InterVarsity Press, 2004) – {{ISBN|978-0-8308-3294-1}}
Courageous Leadership (Zondervan, 2002) – {{ISBN|978-0-310-24823-1}}
Descending Into Greatness (Zondervan, 1993) – {{ISBN|978-0-310-54471-5}}
Engraved on Your Heart: Living the Ten Commandments Day by Day (Cook Communications, 2000) – {{ISBN|0-7814-3396-7}}
Essential Christianity: Practical Steps for Spiritual Growth (and Kevin Harney) (Zondervan, 2005) – {{ISBN|978-0-310-26604-4}}
Finding God in the Storms of Life (Inter-varsity Press, 2002) – {{ISBN|978-0-8308-6546-8}}
Fit to be Tied: Making Marriage Last a Lifetime (and Lynne Hybels) (Zondervan, 1991) – {{ISBN|978-0-310-53371-9}}
Fruit of the Spirit: Living the Supernatural Life (and Kevin Harney) (Zondervan, 1998) – {{ISBN|978-0-310-26596-2}}
Getting a Grip: Finding Balance in Your Daily Life (and Kevin Harney) (Zondervan, 1998) – {{ISBN|978-0-310-26605-1}}
Holy Discontent: Fueling the Fire That Ignites Personal Vision (Zondervan, 2007) – {{ISBN|978-0-310-27228-1}}
Honest to God? Becoming an Authentic Christian (Zondervan, 1990) – {{ISBN|978-0-310-52181-5}}
How to Hear God (InterVarsity Press, 1999) – {{ISBN|0-8308-6559-4}}
James: Live Wisely (Zondervan, 1999) – {{ISBN|978-0-310-22767-0}}
Jesus: Seeing Him More Clearly (and Kevin Harney) (Zondervan, 2005) – {{ISBN|978-0-310-26597-9}}
Just Walk Across the Room: Simple Steps Pointing People to Faith (Zondervan, 2006) – {{ISBN|978-0-310-26669-3}}
Lessons on Love: Building Deeper Relationships (and Kevin Harney) (Zondervan, 2005) – {{ISBN|0-310-26593-2}}
Living in God's Power: Finding God's Strength for Life's Challenges (and Kevin Harney) (Zondervan, 2005) {{ISBN|0-310-26606-8}}
Love in Action: Experiencing the Joy of Serving (and Kevin Harney) (Zondervan, 2005) – {{ISBN|978-0-310-26607-5}}
Making Life Work: Putting God's Wisdom Into Action (Inter-varsity Press, 1998) – {{ISBN|978-0-8308-1788-7}}
Marriage: Building Real Intimacy (and Kevin Harney) (Zondervan, 2005) – {{ISBN|0-310-26589-4}}
Meeting God: Psalms for the Highs and Lows of Life (and Kevin Harney) (Zondervan, 2005) – {{ISBN|978-0-310-26599-3}}
New Identity: Discovering Who You Are in Christ (and Kevin Harney) (Zondervan, 2005) – {{ISBN|0-310-26594-0}}
Parenting: How to Raise Spiritually Healthy Kids (and Kevin Harney) (Zondervan, 2005) – {{ISBN|978-0-310-26590-0}}
1 Peter: Stand Strong (Zondervan, 1999) – {{ISBN|978-0-310-22773-1}}
Philippians: Run the Race. (Zondervan, 1999) – {{ISBN|978-0-310-23314-5}}
Prayer: Opening Your Heart to God (and Kevin Harney) (Zondervan, 2005) – {{ISBN|978-0-310-26600-6}}
Reaching Out: Sharing God's Love Naturally (and Kevin Harney) (Zondervan, 2005) – {{ISBN|0-310-26592-4}}
Rediscovering Church: The Story and Vision of Willow Creek Community Church (and Lynne Hybels) (Zondervan, 1997) – {{ISBN|978-0-310-21927-9}}
Revelation: Experience God's Power (Zondervan, 2001) – {{ISBN|0-310-22882-4}}
Romans: Find Freedom (Zondervan, 1999) – {{ISBN|978-0-310-22765-6}}
Sermon on the Mount 1: Connect with God (Zondervan, 2001) – {{ISBN|0-310-22883-2}}
Sermon on the Mount 2: Connect with Others (Zondervan, 2001) – {{ISBN|0-310-22884-0}}
Significance: Understanding God's Purpose for Your Life (and Kevin Harney) (Zondervan, 2005) – {{ISBN|0-310-26603-3}}
Simplify: Ten Practices to Unclutter Your Soul (Tyndale Momentum, 2014) – {{ISBN|978-1-414-39122-9}}
Tender Love: God's Gift of Sexual Intimacy (Moody Publications, 1993) – {{ISBN|978-0802463494}}
The Pastor's Guide to Personal Spiritual Formation (and Reginald Johnson, Neil B. Wiseman) (Beacon Hill Press, 2004) – {{ISBN|0-8341-2209-X}}
The Power of a Whisper: Hearing God, Having the Guts to Respond (Zondervan, 2010) – {{ISBN|978-0-310-32074-6}}
The Real Deal: Discover the Rewards of Authentic Relationships (and Kevin Harney) (Zondervan, 2005) – {{ISBN|0-310-26601-7}}
The Real You (Zondervan, 1996) – {{ISBN|978-0-310-20682-8}}
The Volunteer Revolution (Zondervan, 2004) – {{ISBN|978-0-310-25238-2}}
Too Busy Not to Pray (InterVarsity Press, 1994) – {{ISBN|978-0-8308-2004-7}}
Transformation: Letting God Change You from the Inside Out (and Kevin Harney) (Zondervan, 2005) – {{ISBN|978-0-310-26598-6}}
Transparency (Zondervan, 1997) – {{ISBN|978-0-310-21715-2}}
When Leadership and Discipleship Collide (Zondervan, 2007) {{ISBN|978-0-310-28306-5}}
Who You Are When No One's Looking (InterVarsity Press, 1995) – {{ISBN|978-0-8308-2003-0}}