Aspiring pastor is accused by his colleagues of “secretly practicing polygamy”

A prominent St. Louis evangelical pastor leads a secret double life as a polygamist, arguing that having multiple wives is a way to “escape sexual temptation,” according to two whistleblower preachers.

Dr. Vince Bantu, who leads the interdenominational Beloved Community Church and Assistant Professor of Black Church Studies at Fuller Theological Seminary, told them the news at breakfast earlier this year, according to a sensational report published on Thursday in Christianity todayIt states that Bantu justified polygamy with scripture and argued that the practice only required a “non-westernized” interpretation of the Bible.

In January, Bantu, 42, told fellow pastors Thurman Williams and Darren Young — who formed a so-called accountability group with Bantu five years ago to help each other stay godly — that he had taken a second wife and was considering marrying two more, the article said. The woman, whose identity was not publicly released, was reportedly a parishioner and student of Bantu's.

“I never expected that,” Young told the outlet. “I just never thought that. He said he married her and him 'for the Lord.' That was the phrase he used, 'for the Lord.'”

Williams, who heads the homiletics department at Covenant Theological Seminary, said: “I could have simply [told him]'Man, this is crazy.' But I tried to argue with him about it.”

Paulea Mooney-McCoy, who oversaw the Beloved Community Church’s compliance department and was responsible for investigating the polygamy allegations until her resignation earlier this year, reportedly told Williams and Young that Bantu’s side of the story “was not[ed] logical” for them. (Mooney-McCoy did not respond to Christianity today's or The IndependentPlease leave a comment.)

But in a statement to Christianity todayBantu accused Williams and Young of making up the story.

“My brothers in Christ have fallen into the trap of jealousy and have made false accusations against me,” he said. “I cannot fully understand the motivation for these accusations.”

Bantu’s alleged second wife categorically denied having married him at all and said Christianity today in an email that she was “friends with the Bantus” and “would never do such a thing.”

Bantu did not respond to a request for further comment on Thursday.

In a statement on Friday to The IndependentYoung said, “Our mission as an accountability group and Vince's brother in Christ has always been clear: to encourage Vince to repent, to expose the ongoing problems within his leadership, and to seek healing for the victims, the church, and for Vince himself. We diligently followed the appropriate steps, confronting Vince directly and contacting board members, elders, and faculty members responsible for his oversight – long before the release of the [Christianity Today] Article. When we received no answers, faced resistance, and received legal threats, we felt a deep obligation as believers to take further steps and bring this situation to light. The evidence reveals a disturbing pattern of behavior, supported by extensive witness testimony. We mourn the pain inflicted on the victims and the deep sense of loss felt in our church community.”

Contacted by email, Williams declined to comment further on the allegations..

Pete Singer, a licensed social worker and CEO of GRACEa Virginia-based nonprofit that conducts independent investigations on behalf of churches facing abuse allegations, said The Independent that it is crucial to look at allegations against clergy through the lens of the specific power dynamics at play here.

“One of the things that is important to remember in a situation like this where there are allegations of sexual misconduct is that the person with more power in the relationship has the responsibility to maintain the boundaries in the relationship,” said Singer, who is not involved in the Bantu case and stressed that he was discussing the issue in general terms. “I am a therapist. It is not my client's responsibility to maintain the boundaries in our relationship. It is my responsibility as a therapist because I am the one with more power.”

It is unclear when exactly Bantu and the woman allegedly married. Bantu first expressed interest in polygamy in December 2023; in January 2024, he told Williams and Young that he now had two wives, according to Christianity today.

Bantu, born Vince Campbell, grew up in St. Louis “and was rescued when he was in elementary school,” his The church’s official biography is. “From the beginning, Pastor Vince's heart was to share the gospel in his school and neighborhood. Pastah V was called to pastor while he was still in high school and left St. Louis to study the Bible. Pastah V met his wife Diana in Bible college and they had their two daughters, Taina and Naniki, while he was completing his doctorate. They returned to Lou to share the gospel and partner with the church to witness the shalom of Jesus in the neighborhood.”

Bantu used his position as a teacher and his great appeal to religious speakers to pick up women, so Christianity todaywhich quoted a pastor from Bantu's former congregation as complaining of an almost total lack of accountability for what he said had become a “clear pattern” of disturbing behavior.

When Williams, Young and a third local pastor told Bantu that he needed to come clean about his alleged second wife, Bantu threatened them with a libel suit if they exposed his dealings, according to Christianity today. The board chairman of the Meachum School of Haymanot, a Bantu-founded seminary for blacks where he serves as “Ohene,” the Ghanaian word for “king,” also warned the group that they would be sued for defamation if they pursued their claims, the CT article said. (Bantu's alleged second wife is reportedly a student at Meachum.)

At a crossroads, the three made their story public.

On Friday, Meachum's homepage appeared welcomed the visitors with a message: “Many of you have read the recent article by Christianity today, There are serious allegations against Ohene Vince Bantu. We take these allegations seriously. We will meet as a board in the next few days and discuss the next steps. We ask for your prayers for the Bantu family and the Subscribe And Subscribe by Meachum.”

Fuller Seminary is also currently investigating the allegations and has commissioned an external firm to conduct an independent investigation. Christianity today reported.

Bantu has reportedly faced allegations of sexual misconduct before. In 2018, he was expelled from a church and a seminary for an alleged affair with a student, according to Christianity todayA year or two later, Bantu confessed to having an affair with a close friend of his wife, Williams and Young said.

As for polygamy, Williams and Young said Bantu insisted that it was not explicitly forbidden in the Bible but was a way to avoid seduction, and that it was a long-accepted practice in African Christianity – a claim that African Christian scholars disputed. Christianity today.

When Young and Williams last saw Bantu in April, they urged him to admit his wrongdoing, repent, resign from the ministry and divorce his second wife, whereupon Bantu left the room, Christianity today.

“He's trying to avoid responsibility, and he's taking advantage of his position and his fame,” Young told the outlet. “I promised him I would hold him accountable.”