Lutheran pastor resigns after online misconduct investigation

walterpalladNovember 24, 2022

Canada’s Lutheran Church has discovered that Todd Guggenmos used an anonymous Twitter account to ridicule and belittle people.

Canada’s Lutheran Church has found that a Saskatchewan pastor used an anonymous Twitter account to ridicule and belittle people online. Photo by Olivier D’Liery /AFP via Getty Images

Saskatchewan Lutheran pastor resigns after independent investigation finds he ‘disrespected, mocked and devalued’ people — Especially women — online.

Before retiring from his ministry with the Lutheran Church of Canada (LCC), Todd Guggenmoss was pastor of the Triwan Lutheran Diocese, which serves the rural communities of Langenburg, Landestre and McNutt, about two and a half hours northeast of Regina. I was serving .

In a statement released Thursday, the LCC outlined its findings.

Over the course of about two years, Guggenmoth posted thousands of tweets using “vulgar and degrading language” targeting specific people through an anonymous Twitter account, the statement said.

The study found that Guggenmos’ tweets were targeted at both men and women, but “he used language that was particularly demeaning to women.

“Such misconduct is not compatible with the Bible and the holy life that the LCC requires of pastors, and is therefore unsuitable as a spiritual leader,” the church said.

The research also analyzed tweets allegedly from one of Guggenmos’ anonymous accounts related to age of consent for sexual activity. The investigation was unable to verify the actual author of the tweet, and Guggenmos has publicly denied writing it.

The investigation was launched earlier this year after people online claiming to have been targeted by Guggenmos filed complaints with the church.

“The LCC is grateful to the plaintiffs for their strength and courage in bringing this matter to the attention of us, and for their patience while awaiting the conclusion of the independent investigation,” the church said.

“We express our deepest grief and prayers for all those affected by this unacceptable situation, especially those who have suffered unjust and unwelcome online behavior.”

Guggenmos could not be reached for comment.

— Local Journalism Initiative

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