BROWNSBURG (IN)
Hoodline [San Francisco CA]
March 24, 2026
By Jon Anderson
An independent investigation has found that former Brownsburg Vineyard Church senior pastor Denis Roy sexually abused multiple women over the course of his ministry in both Virginia and Indiana, according to the church. The findings led church leaders to pull him from ministry last year.
Vineyard USA issued a stark public statement: “Denis Roy committed clergy sexual abuse resulting in significant harm – harm to victims, harm to families, and harm to this congregation.” The denomination said it commissioned an independent review, thanked survivors for coming forward, and outlined a timeline of reports and actions it took, according to Vineyard USA.
The conclusions are laid out in a 66-page report by The Stier Group, a Fort Worth law firm hired by Vineyard USA and finished Feb. 8. Local coverage detailed the scope of the report and highlighted key passages, including how investigators assessed credibility and patterns of conduct, according to IndyStar.
What investigators found
The investigation concludes that Roy used his pastoral status and counseling relationships to build emotionally intimate connections, then crossed professional and ethical boundaries through text messages, prolonged physical contact and private meetings. The report describes similar patterns in the accounts of three reported victims and says the overall consistency of their stories supports their credibility, as summarized by JubileeCast.
Timeline and church response
The Brownsburg congregation says the first victim reached out to Vineyard’s confidential reporting hotline in March 2024. Roy and his wife were then placed on administrative leave in February 2025, and Roy’s employment with the church officially ended on May 16, 2025. Church leaders say they have put the investigator’s recommendations into practice, reshaped the board structure and prioritized trauma-informed care for those affected, according to Brownsburg Vineyard Church.
The report also notes Roy’s broader community roles and earlier warning signs. Citing court records, investigators point to a 2015 arrest after a Goodwill accused him of theft, his removal from a police chaplain position around that time, and his resignation from a short-lived school bus driving job in February 2026. Victim advocate Letta Cartlidge told You Are Current that clergy abuse can “twist somebody’s spiritual beliefs” and stressed that transparency and accountability are critical.
Legal and accountability questions
As of the report’s release, there were no public criminal or civil cases directly tied to the allegations. Coverage notes that the investigation was an internal institutional review, not a criminal proceeding. Summaries of the report say Vineyard USA revoked Roy’s ordination and ministerial credentials, while questions linger about potential legal exposure and statutes of limitation, according to The Roys Report.
Brownsburg Vineyard says its primary focus is caring for those who were harmed and that counseling services remain available as leaders work to tighten safeguards. For the full congregational statement and contact information, see Brownsburg Vineyard Church.