Pastor CJ’s employment as Senior Pastor of Northview was terminated by the Elders because of the impact his leadership style and interpersonal conduct was having on our staff, some in our community, and many of our attenders. This was not the result of one isolated incident, but rather a pattern of repeated behaviors that continued without change. The Elders determined Pastor CJ was not acting in accordance with the Biblical standards identified for church leaders in 1 Timothy chapter 3. We know that many people are concerned that this termination was caused because of financial impropriety against Northview Church, we want you to know that was not the case.

The Elders voted to terminate Pastor CJ’s employment on June 4th after a series of serious concerns that were brought to the attention of the Elders and executive staff over the course of time. These concerns, in addition to the allegation that had been raised in mid-2025, combined with what we determined was a posture that was not above reproach, led the Elders to make the decision that parting ways with Pastor CJ was necessary.

We are not able to discuss the details of the investigation or the allegation upon which it was based, But we can share about the process because we know that for some of the church, our decision seemed to happen quickly and without warning, and for others, the decision did not happen quickly enough. In 2025, upon hearing the allegation, we immediately called an emergency elder meeting and voted to place Pastor CJ on an administrative leave of absence. We then hired a third-party law firm to investigate and report back on the allegations, and thereafter, had a full discussion about the outcome of the investigation and next steps. At that time, based on the report, the Elders did not believe terminating Pastor CJ’s employment was called for; however, we did commit to remaining attuned to any conduct that was inconsistent with the biblical standards.

Over time, the Elders became aware of, and our staff continued to experience, conduct, that did not align with what Scripture requires of a church leader. Accordingly, the Elders made the difficult decision, after much prayer and discussion, to end Pastor CJ’s employment with unanimous support from the trustee board and the executive team.

We understand that for some Pastor CJ’s termination felt too slow and for others it felt sudden. What we can say is that we believe the timing was appropriate given the complexity of the situation. When concerns were raised, we acted. We followed a process. We made a hard call because we love this church and the people in it. Trust is built over time and through action, and we understand that some of you may need time.

We take that statement seriously, and we also take seriously the responsibility to be up front with the congregation as much as we are able. Pastor CJ and his family are loved and that has not changed. We ask you to extend grace to everyone impacted by this situation. Please continue to pray for the Johnson family.

We understand that outside sources will share information and that not all of it will be accurate or complete. We encourage our congregation and staff to come directly to Northview leadership with questions rather than drawing conclusions from outside reporting. We are committed to communicating honestly with our church family and will share what we are able to as we are able to share it.

Our elders are men recognized by the church as being called by God to serve as spiritual overseers and to provide, along with the Senior Pastor, spiritual direction for the congregation. Under the church's bylaws, the Senior Pastor is accountable to the elders. Our current elders are:

Tim Colvin (Vice President), Wayne Kinney, Travis Theobald, Ryan Frantz, Jeff Seagrave, and Earnest Asamoah.

The elder team leads the senior pastor search. They are the governing body of this church and this decision falls within their responsibility. They will establish a process that is thoughtful, thorough, and prayerful, and will communicate updates to the congregation as things move forward. There is no set timeline. Finding the right leader for Northview is the priority. Mark Crull and the Executive Pastor team are fully capable of leading the church well in the meantime.

The Elder Board holds spiritual and doctrinal oversight. The Trustees hold financial integrity oversight. The Senior Pastor reports to the Elder Board. We are actively evaluating how to improve transparency across all three groups and will communicate more as decisions are made.

Elders are selected through a process of nominations, review, and a vote among the existing elder board. That process is outlined in our bylaws, available upon request through the church office.

We have added both boards to the Northview website so the congregation has a clear understanding of who is providing oversight and how to reach them. 

To reach the Elder Board directly, email elders@northviewchurch.us

Current Elder Board:

• Tim Colvin

• Ryan Frantz

• Wayne Kenny

• Travis Theobald

• Jeff Seagrave

• Ernest Asamoah

Current Trustee Board:

• Kent Shrock

• Jonathan Clark

• Lance Peterson

• Chad Pfeifer

• Ryan Stan

• Josh Gehring

• Mike Reffeitt

We want every question heard and answered. We have learned that some of our responses are landing in spam or junk folders. Please check there first. If you still do not see a response, forward your original email to elders@northviewchurch.us and we will make sure it is addressed.

Northview operates with a clear and healthy leadership structure:

• Elders carry the spiritual oversight of the church. They provide prayerful guidance and are responsible for the overall spiritual health and direction of Northview. Major leadership decisions, including those related to pastoral staff, fall within their oversight.
• Trustees oversee the financial stewardship of the church. They ensure that our resources are managed with integrity and in alignment with our mission.
• Executive Team drive ministry strategy and execution. They carry the day-to-day work of leading our ministries and serving our congregation well.

Each of these roles works together to keep Northview moving in a healthy and unified direction. That structure remains fully in place and fully functioning.

The search team structure was designed to maintain objectivity during the process. Our Director of HR and Director of Projects have been added to the hiring team. Executive Pastors are valued and are contributing to this transition in meaningful ways, just in a different capacity. We are being thorough and intentional throughout this process.