Man Arrested Following Sexual Assault Allegations at Birmingham LGBTQ+ Church

An individual has been taken into custody in connection with sexual assault allegations at an LGBTQ+ church located in Birmingham. Several former congregants of Inclusive Gathering Birmingham (IGB) claim they experienced inappropriate sexual conduct. The Birmingham Methodist District reported that a five-month safeguarding inquiry concluded in June, stating it was “finding no ongoing risk in relation to the original allegation”. West Midlands Police confirmed it is investigating multiple sexual assaults, and the 49-year-old man has been released on bail as investigations proceed. One individual who alleges being a victim stated he encountered several “inappropriate” incidents, and physical contact from the person “made me feel uncomfortable and awkward”. This individual recounted an event where the person “came towards me to say hello, and I was pinned between them and the wall. They groped my backside, tightened their grip, and walked off.” A second alleged victim characterized the conduct as “inappropriate touching”. They stated, “He’d come from behind me and I felt very uncomfortable in the way that he was suddenly touching me.” This individual added, “I would look out for him and make sure I was facing him so he couldn’t suddenly put his arms around me. I made sure he couldn’t touch me.” The Birmingham Methodist District further stated: “A safeguarding concern was first brought to the attention of Inclusive Gathering Birmingham’s leadership in late 2023. “This was followed by further complaints to the Birmingham Methodist District as IGB’s oversight body in January 2024.”Swift action was then taken by IGB and district leaders to ensure the safety of the community. “With risk removed, a five-month safeguarding investigation followed. However, beyond the initial concern, multiple further allegations could not be corroborated or were found to be inaccurate and therefore dismissed.” The church also mentioned that IGB had not resumed public gatherings “due to the distress and damage this situation has caused”. Matthew Lloyd, who advocates for the alleged victims, stated that church leaders “have refused to meet or speak with survivors”. The Birmingham Methodist District responded that “multiple opportunities to respond were offered to the whole IGB community, and all those put forward as witnesses were specifically contacted and invited to make statements.” The official website for IGB characterizes the church as “a diverse, justice-seeking, LGBTQIA+ affirming church for all”. In a comment provided to the BBC, the Birmingham Methodist District indicated it had “supported and funded Inclusive Gathering Birmingham for seven years because we believe that LGBTQ+ people are deeply loved by God and that faith communities that celebrate the gifts, wisdom and spirituality of queer people are desperately needed”. This section contains promotional and copyright information from the BBC, including details on how to follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X, and Instagram. It also includes the copyright notice for 2024 BBC, a disclaimer regarding external sites, and information about their approach to external linking.