In a troubling case that has left a Michigan community reeling, a worship leader at a prominent church has been arrested after allegedly confessing to placing a hidden camera in a bathroom, according to reports. Will Johnson, 37, the worship pastor director at 2|42 Community Church in Brighton, was fired immediately after admitting to the disturbing act. This shocking revelation comes as a serious blow to the church, which prides itself on creating a safe, trusted space for its congregation.
The scandal erupted on Friday when a staff member discovered a hidden camera inside a non-public, unisex bathroom located in the backstage area of the church. The church’s executive pastor of ministry operations, Eric Rauch, wasted no time in addressing the situation. After confronting Johnson, the church leader admitted to planting the camera. This confession led to his immediate dismissal.
The Livingston County sheriff’s office was promptly notified, and Johnson was arrested after also confessing to law enforcement that he had been placing the camera in the bathroom intermittently over the past two years. Disturbingly, the pastor allegedly targeted specific church employees who used that bathroom.
“We are shocked and deeply saddened by this situation,” said Rauch. “The protection, safety, and privacy of every person who enters our church is our utmost priority.”
This violation of trust within the church is particularly jarring given the vital role the church plays in offering spiritual guidance and support to the community. Church leaders like Johnson are entrusted with far more than just leading worship—they are seen as moral compasses, responsible for guiding their congregations in faith and righteousness. For someone in that position to betray the trust of fellow staff members and the church family is an unforgivable breach that shakes the foundation of any faith community.
2|42 Community Church has vowed to take immediate action to ensure the safety of its congregation and staff, saying it is cooperating fully with the sheriff’s investigation. The church also announced it has enlisted a third-party investigator to conduct an independent review of all church facilities to ensure that such breaches of privacy do not happen again.
Johnson has been charged with multiple offenses, including tampering with evidence, surveilling an unclothed person, and using a computer to commit a crime. These are not minor charges: the tampering with evidence charge alone carries a potential four-year prison sentence, while the charges of using a computer to commit a crime and surveilling an unclothed person each carry up to two years behind bars.
At a time when trust in public and religious institutions is already fragile, incidents like these only deepen the wounds. As more revelations come to light, one can only hope that this betrayal does not erode the faith of the congregants in their church or in their spiritual journey. What happened at 2|42 Community Church is not just a crime; it’s a moral failure. For a church leader to take advantage of his position in this way is a violation of everything the church stands for.
As the investigation unfolds, the community will undoubtedly rally together, but the scars left by this violation of trust will take time to heal. While Johnson’s alleged actions have cast a shadow over the church, the leadership’s swift response is a reminder that accountability and justice must prevail, especially in places that people turn to for comfort, safety, and faith.