Ligonier Ministries

Ligonier Ministries
Formation1971
FounderR. C. Sproul
Founded atLigonier, Pennsylvania
TypeNon-profit
HeadquartersSanford, Florida
Chairman
W. Robert Godfrey
President and CEO
Chris Larson
Websitewww.ligonier.org

Ligonier Ministries (also known as simply Ligonier) is an international Christian discipleship organization headquartered in the greater Orlando, Florida area. Ligonier was founded in 1971 by R. C. Sproul in the Ligonier Valley, Pennsylvania, outside of Pittsburgh.[1] Ligonier is distinguished by its teaching of Reformed theology.[2]

Ligonier operates Reformation Bible College,[3][2] which offers an unaccredited[a] Bachelor of Arts in Theology as its flagship program, which is recognized by Westminster Theological Seminary, an accredited organization.[5][6] Ligonier also runs annual national conferences on various topics.

Teaching fellows

As of March 2026, the teaching fellows at Ligonier Ministries are the following:[7]

Fellowship history

In early 2010, working to prepare for leadership succession, Ligonier founder and chairman R. C. Sproul[8] appointed Sinclair Ferguson, W. Robert Godfrey, Steven Lawson, and R. C. Sproul Jr. as the first members of a new teaching fellowship.[9] In 2013, Stephen Nichols was appointed as a fellow,[10] where in 2014 he was named president of Reformation Bible College and chief academic officer for Ligonier.[3] In 2015, an email address belonging to Sproul Jr. was leaked as part of the July 2015 Ashley Madison data breach. Sproul Jr. claims that he visited the website in August 2014, two and a half years after the death of his wife. After informing the board of Ligonier, Sproul Jr. was suspended from ministry for a year.[11][12][13] In late 2015, Albert Mohler and Derek Thomas were appointed as fellows.[14] In December 2016, Sproul Jr. contacted Sproul and the Ligonier board to resign from his positions at Ligonier and Reformation Bible College, citing "personal reasons."[15][16][17] In 2017, Burk Parsons was appointed as a fellow.[18] After Sproul's death in December 2017,[1] Mohler concluded his fellowship tenure in early 2019.[14] In late 2024, Lawson resigned from his position after confessing to a five-year relational affair.[19][20] In January 2026, Joel Kim and Michael Reeves were appointed as fellows.[21]

PCA conviction of Burk Parsons and departure of Stephen Nichols

In 2019, Ligonier teaching fellow Burk Parsons, being the senior pastor of independent Reformed church Saint Andrew's Chapel (SAC),[b] pled guilty to charges surrounding harsh treatment of congregants.[24] In 2023, SAC joined the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), where Parsons stated, "We need to have that accountability. I made it very clear to our people in preaching. I said, they need to be in a position to be able to take me to court. And they need to be in a position to bring charges against me and bring charges against our elders."[22]

On June 12, 2025, Parsons was found guilty on three charges by a commission of the PCA Central Florida presbytery, involving "domineering [and] contentious leadership ... being harsh, ungentle, and unkind to those under his care ... [and] slandering and demeaning other [ministers] and churches." Parsons pled not guilty to all three charges, where SAC appealed the verdict.[24] On December 14, 2025, before the completion of the appeal process, SAC voted 669–108 to leave the PCA.[25] SAC elder David Zima (who had previously represented Parsons during ecclesiastical trial), concerned of Parsons having "complete, unchecked authority over [SAC]," informed the SAC session that he was leaving the congregation.[22] A former SAC congregant told The Roys Report that Zima "was an outstanding elder ... He had the deepest Presbyterian background of any of the elders and that made him very responsible and responsive to concerns." Another former congregant claimed that the session "wanted to scapegoat David Zima."[22]

On March 8, 2026, the SAC session excommunicated Zima under the charge of contumacy.[26] Two days later, the session also excommunicated Ligonier chief academic officer and Reformation Bible College (RBC) president Stephen Nichols, along with his wife Heidi, under the charge of contumacy. On March 12, 2026, SAC issued two separate letters to its congregation, informing them that Zima and the Nichols were now "excluded from the sacraments and cut off from the fellowship of Christ's church."[26] On the same day, Ligonier vice president of media Nathan W. Bingham announced his resignation.[27] The following day, Reformation Bible College announced that Stephen Nichols "will conclude his tenure as president on May 31, 2026," with college board chairman Robert Wohleber stating, "For twelve years, Dr. Nichols has faithfully served Reformation Bible College."[28] Nichols was also removed as a Ligonier teaching fellow.[26]

Stephen Adams, the former youth pastor of Saint Andrew's Chapel, alleged on social media that Stephen and Heidi Nichols had engaged in harassment against him for years, spreading "vile and wicked slander." Adams also stated, "Think of the worst thing someone in my position could be accused of. Yes, that is what it was." PCA elder Bob Mattis, who represented Stephen and Heidi Nichols in ecclesiastical court, disputed the veracity of Adams' allegations, stating, "It's you who have slandered and harassed the Nichols, and likely motivated Ligonier to part ways with them." The Roys Report found that "Adams was investigated by a PCA committee in Central Florida for allegations of inappropriate and abusive conduct with minors, according to an elder in Orlando who served on the committee. The inquiry did not result in charges, but Adams resigned from ministry last month."[26]

On March 20, Stephen and Heidi Nichols posted a public statement on X:[29]

... [We appreciate] that both RBC and Ligonier have conducted themselves in an amicable, gracious, and honorable manner during this season of transition, and we have sought to do the same. ... In January 2024, we learned from the counselor of our daughter ... that he had submitted a report to the Florida Department of Children and Families of suspicion of sexual abuse ... by Stephen Adams. On January 10, 2025, we reported suspicion of sexual abuse of our daughter by Stephen Adams to Saint Andrew's Chapel. Over subsequent meetings, we realized that we were at an impasse with our church and that we had different perspectives on how to handle this situation. On April 21, 2025, we notified a pastor at Saint Andrew's that we would begin the process of finding a new church. We notified him again on July 20, 2025, that it would be our last Sunday (and it was). We each received separate indictments two days later, July 22, 2025. We were accused of slander, unresolved anger, collusion to deceive, failure to follow session directives, and breach of membership vows. There was never a trial, and our case was never adjudicated. After Saint Andrew’s Chapel voted to disassociate from the PCA on December 14, 2025, we immediately resigned our memberships. On Sunday evening, December 14, we joined New Hope PCA in Eustis, Florida, by testimony. ... Afterwards on February 25, 2026, at [SAC's] request, we met with a committee of the session to answer any questions and hopefully bring some resolution to our differences. On March 10, 2026, Saint Andrew's excommunicated us, not on the underlying indictments, but for contumacy. ... We are deeply saddened by all that has taken place and grieved for everyone involved. Our prayer and hope is that the central issue will not be lost. At the heart of this issue is the suspected sexual abuse of our daughter.

Notes

  1. ^ With regard to accreditation, former Reformation Bible College president Stephen Nichols states the following: "One of the accrediting associations to which many Bible colleges belong, the Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE), formerly required member institutions to have thirty credit hours of biblical and theological instruction. Recent standards have relaxed that threshold. Historically, Bible colleges have not had robust programs in the humanities and great works, and they have tended not to be Reformed. Bible colleges trace their roots to the Bible institute movement of the early twentieth century, a movement rooted in fundamentalism and dispensationalism."[4]
  2. ^ Saint Andrew's Chapel was founded in 1997 by the late R. C. Sproul.[22] Located in Sanford, Florida, Ligonier relocated its offices to the same site in 2011.[23]

References

  1. ^ a b Shellnutt, Kate (December 14, 2017). "Died: R. C. Sproul, Reformed Theologian Who Founded Ligonier Ministries". Christianity Today. Archived from the original on January 30, 2026. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  2. ^ a b Stetina, Karin Spiecker (April 2022). "R. C. Sproul, A Life". Themelios. 47 (1). Archived from the original on January 30, 2026. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  3. ^ a b Taylor, Justin (March 18, 2014). "Stephen Nichols Named New President of Reformation Bible College and Chief Academic Officer for Ligonier". The Gospel Coalition. Archived from the original on January 30, 2026. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  4. ^ Nichols, Stephen (September 8, 2020). "Why Reformation Bible College Exists". Reformation Bible College. Archived from the original on January 30, 2026. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  5. ^ "Academics". Reformation Bible College. Archived from the original on January 30, 2026. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  6. ^ "Westminster's Accreditation Status". Westminster Theological Seminary. July 18, 2025. Archived from the original on January 30, 2026. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  7. ^ "Who We Are". Ligonier Ministries. Archived from the original on March 20, 2026. Retrieved March 20, 2026.
  8. ^ Gryboski, Michael (October 31, 2017). "Biggest Threat to Christianity in 21st Century Comes From Within, Theologians Say". The Christian Post. Archived from the original on January 30, 2026. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  9. ^ Larson, Chris (May 12, 2010). "The New Teaching Fellows of Ligonier Ministries". Ligonier Ministries. Archived from the original on March 2, 2021. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  10. ^ Larson, Chris (June 27, 2013). "Welcoming Dr. Stephen J. Nichols as Our Newest Teaching Fellow". Ligonier Ministries. Archived from the original on January 30, 2026. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  11. ^ Morgan, Timothy C. (August 31, 2015). "Ligonier Suspends R. C. Sproul Jr. over Ashley Madison Visit". Christianity Today. Archived from the original on January 30, 2026. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  12. ^ "R.C. Sproul Jr. Suspended from Ministry after Admitting to 'Visiting' Ashley Madison". Relevant. September 1, 2015. Archived from the original on January 30, 2026. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  13. ^ Blair, Leonardo (August 31, 2015). "Christian Minister R.C. Sproul Jr. Is Suspended After Confessing Visit to Ashley Madison in 'Moment of Weakness'". The Christian Post. Archived from the original on January 30, 2026. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  14. ^ a b Larson, Chris (November 9, 2015). "Welcoming Dr. R. Albert Mohler Jr. and Dr. Derek W.H. Thomas as Our Newest Teaching Fellows". Ligonier Ministries. Archived from the original on January 30, 2026. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  15. ^ "A Statement Concerning Dr. R.C. Sproul Jr". Ligonier Ministries. December 12, 2016. Archived from the original on May 7, 2021. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  16. ^ Blair, Leonardo (December 16, 2016). "R.C. Sproul Jr. Resigned From Ligonier Ministries After Felonious DUI Arrest With Minor in Vehicle". The Christian Post. Archived from the original on April 16, 2022. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  17. ^ Einselen, Sarah (June 28, 2021). "After Moral Failures, R.C. Sproul Jr. Launches College to Train 'Men of Godly Character'". The Roys Report. Archived from the original on January 30, 2026. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  18. ^ Larson, Chris (March 9, 2017). "Welcoming Rev. Burk Parsons as Our Newest Teaching Fellow". Ligonier Ministries. Archived from the original on January 30, 2026. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  19. ^ Eturralde, Jessica (March 13, 2025). "Steve Lawson Breaks Silence". MinistryWatch. Archived from the original on January 30, 2026. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  20. ^ Roys, Julie (September 25, 2024). "Steve Lawson Had '5-Year Relationship' with Woman in Her 20s, GCC Pastor Says". The Roys Report. Archived from the original on January 30, 2026. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  21. ^ Larson, Chris (January 28, 2026). "Announcing Two New Ligonier Teaching Fellows: Joel Kim and Michael Reeves". Ligonier Ministries. Archived from the original on January 30, 2026. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  22. ^ a b c d Silliman, Daniel (February 4, 2026). "Burk Parsons' Florida church won't allow elder to resign". The Roys Report. Archived from the original on March 20, 2026. Retrieved March 20, 2026.
  23. ^ Bilmanis, Karisa (May 3, 2011). "We're Moving!". Ligonier Ministries. Retrieved March 20, 2026.
  24. ^ a b Shepherd, Josh (June 19, 2025). "Prominent Presbyterian Pastor Suspended for 'Harsh' Treatment of Congregants". The Roys Report. Archived from the original on March 20, 2026. Retrieved March 20, 2026.
  25. ^ Silliman, Daniel (December 15, 2025). "Florida church votes to leave PCA denomination that suspended its pastor". The Roys Report. Archived from the original on March 20, 2026. Retrieved March 20, 2026.
  26. ^ a b c d Silliman, Daniel (March 17, 2026). "3 Reformed institutions eject leader Stephen Nichols, as turmoil from church spreads". The Roys Report. Archived from the original on March 20, 2026. Retrieved March 20, 2026.
  27. ^ Fava, Anthony (March 15, 2026). "Ligonier Ministry's Steve Nichols Excommunicated By Saint Andrew's Chapel". Evangelical Dark Web. Archived from the original on March 20, 2026. Retrieved March 20, 2026.
  28. ^ "A Season of Transition at Reformation Bible College". Reformation Bible College. March 13, 2026. Archived from the original on March 20, 2026. Retrieved March 20, 2026.
  29. ^ Nichols, Stephen; Nichols, Heidi (March 20, 2026). "Steve Nichols on X". X. Retrieved March 20, 2026.
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