Grace Church agrees to $2 million settlement to Tyler Bates

By Leonardo Blair, Senior Reporter Wednesday, March 05, 2025

Months after agreeing to pay former member and intern Tyler Bates $2 million to settle a lawsuit by which he alleges he was sexually abused as an adolescent by a workers member whereas he slept, Grace Church, one of many largest church buildings in Houston, based by Steve Riggle, has paid-up after months of delay.

“Grace Church and its insurers paid all agreed quantities to Mr. Bates by way of his attorneys — a normal association required by the settlement,” Lawrence Swicegood, a spokesperson for Grace Church, informed The Christian Submit.

Bates confirmed with CP on Feb. 24 that the matter highlighted in authorized paperwork was settled. He now hopes the Christian group will use his story to higher perceive why church buildings want extra accountability.

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“I might like to see a reform within the Church in the best way that we deal with these conditions. I might like to see us strategy this higher with extra training on how this impacts households and victims,” Bates stated. 

“It makes me actually unhappy as a result of the Bible that I learn and the Christ that I consider in, that we profess as our Lord and Savior, and many of the church buildings do, … for those who learn the story of Christ, … Christ submitted Himself to the authorized system, though he was the proper son of God,” he added. “But we have now pastors who confess Him, however they act like they’re above the authorized system. They usually act like their authority from God locations them above any kind of accountability to actions or crimes.”

The previous Grace Church member first sued the church, which is presently led by Senior Pastor Garrett Sales space, as John Doe in 2017, a criticism reviewed by CP exhibits. He went public together with his id final month in an interview with Rita Springer on her “Worship Is My Weapon” podcast. 

In his 2017 lawsuit, filed in opposition to Grace Church and now former workers member Joel Davis, Bates alleged that Davis touched his penis whereas he slept throughout an in a single day journey with the church’s youth dance group in July 2009 when he was 17. The dance group was fashioned within the church’s NOIZE Academy, which Davis directed.

In July 2010, shortly after he turned 18, Bates stated Davis touched him once more whereas he slept throughout one other journey with the dance group, which is proven in movies on YouTube acting at high-profile occasions like a Nationwide Basketball Affiliation recreation.

Bates alleged that though Davis knowledgeable church leaders of his abusive acts shortly after they occurred, they did not disclose this to him or his mother and father.

In his interview with Springer, Bates stated he discovered in regards to the 2010 incident from Davis in February 2011 after an ex-girlfriend, whose father was an govt pastor at Grace Church, ordered her to interrupt up with him. Bates stated the order from his ex-girlfriend’s father left him confused.

“I am like, ‘Why?’ and she or he’s like, ‘I am not allowed to let you know, however it’s so dangerous. If you happen to knew, for those who knew Tyler, it is so dangerous,'” Bates stated she informed him.

At the moment, Bates, who was a scholar on the Christ for the Nations Institute in Texas, did not know that his ex-girlfriend’s father was conscious of the abuse and had disclosed it to her. 

Bates informed Springer that after his then-girlfriend broke up with him, he referred to as Davis, whom he had thought of a “huge brother” and “finest pal.”  When he shared what occurred, Bates stated Davis revealed to him that he had abused him whereas he slept in 2010.

Bates additional famous that Davis informed him that he had beforehand confessed to Sales space that he had touched him sexually. Nevertheless, he stated church leaders determined it was finest to not inform him or his mother and father in regards to the abuse as a result of they did not need their religion within the church to be shaken.

Each Sales space and Riggle deny Bates was suggested to not inform his mother and father.

“Garrett Sales space didn’t advise Tyler to not say something to his mother and father. Garrett did advise Tyler to convey what he felt essential to his mother and father,” Swicegood stated.

“An individual’s religion is predicated on their acceptance or rejection of the Phrase of God. It ought to by no means be based mostly on a church or some establishment,” Riggle defined in an emailed response to questions from CP. “I by no means met with Tyler until after he had already met with and had informed his mother and father. Mr. Davis was particularly informed Tyler Bates would be told and that his mother and father would additionally be told.”

Bates alleged that Grace Church perpetuated a false narrative that he was a gay and that the abuse was allegedly a part of a consensual relationship with Davis. However Swicegood informed CP, “This declare is unfounded and unfaithful.”

Riggle informed CP {that a} Grace Church staffer had publicly questioned Bates’ sexuality throughout the ordeal, however that particular person was subsequently requested to resign.

“Tyler was a sufferer of abuse and, in keeping with Mr. Davis and Tyler, the incidents befell with out Tyler’s data or consent whereas he was asleep. I recall one workers particular person had questioned Tyler’s sexuality to others. That workers particular person was reprimanded, and he personally apologized to Tyler.  He in the end was requested to resign from workers, which he did,” Riggle stated.

Riggle famous in his feedback to CP that whereas Bates claims the church withheld the abuse from him and his mother and father, it was Bates who objected to informing his mother and father till he was able to share it with them. Even after the abuse grew to become recognized, Riggle stated Bates and Davis maintained their friendship.

“Grace Church made repeated presents of assist and counseling to Tyler and his household.  As requested, the church tried to steadiness these actions with Tyler’s continued want for privateness. Upon Tyler’s studying of the abuse, I used to be knowledgeable that Tyler didn’t need his mother and father to know, or for that matter, anybody else. After I objected to that, I used to be informed that we may solely inform his mother and father together with his permission,” Riggle stated.

“My recollection is that Tyler and Joel continued their relationship as pals for a number of years, together with being in one another’s weddings. I used to be really shocked to search out out that he had waited till after he was married to tell his mother and father,” the megachurch founder stated.

“Finally, Mr. Davis was terminated from workers, and households within the youth ministry had been knowledgeable, and the workers pastor who did not correctly report the incident resigned from Grace Church. Tyler filed a lawsuit in 2016, and that lawsuit was settled final fall.”

Bates informed CP he remained pals with Davis after his confession in 2011 as a result of he felt it was the Christian factor to do. Bates stated he was not conscious till 2014 that Davis had abused him in 2009 when he was 17. Since studying of the complete extent of the abuse, Bates stated he has not been involved with Davis.

Davis, who’s now married with kids and is the proprietor of Greatlight Inventive, was sued by Bates for assault and battery and intentional infliction of emotional misery. Bates additionally sued Grace Church for negligence, negligent hiring, supervision and retention, negligent failure to warn, negligent misrepresentation and vicarious legal responsibility.

Swicegood insists that Grace Church prioritizes defending kids and famous that the lawsuit had been settled with mutual satisfaction.

“Grace Church places the very best precedence on defending its kids, college students, and households. Throughout a management transition in 2014, the church terminated the accused workers member, knowledgeable households of the ministry by which he had served and requested and acquired the resignation of a workers pastor. The church tried to steadiness these actions with the sufferer’s continued want for privateness,” Swicegood stated.

“The church made repeated presents of counseling and different assist to the sufferer and his household between 2010 and 2016 when the sufferer determined to pursue civil motion. Grace is grateful that the authorized course of has now concluded with a mutually agreeable decision. We pray that this decision will convey therapeutic and peace to the sufferer,” Swicegood added.

In a declaration filed within the Superior Courtroom of California within the County of San Diego on Nov. 1, 2024, and reviewed by CP, attorneys for Bates stated he agreed to settle his criticism in opposition to Grace Neighborhood Church, Joel Davis and Does 1 via 100 on July 26, 2024. The settlement was absolutely executed on Aug. 28, 2024, and fee was anticipated inside 45 days after that, however the cash was not paid in a well timed method.

“From August 28, 2024, and persevering with, my workplace made quite a few makes an attempt to contact protection counsel relating to the standing of fee with out success. Lastly, on October 29, 2024, protection counsel responded to plaintiff’s counsel by way of electronic mail, stating that the dealing with lawyer is on maternity depart and that they had been engaged on making ready the checks,” wrote Bate’s lawyer, Mindy S. Bish of Bish Legislation, APC.

Bish famous that Bates’ settlement settlement with the church allowed the opposite get together to convey a movement to transform the settlement to a judgement if it was breached.

“Grace Neighborhood Church did not tender the settlement quantity to plaintiff by October 12, 2024, as was required by the settlement settlement. Plaintiff has no different treatment at regulation, so is looking for the entry of judgement as in opposition to Grace Neighborhood Church efficient the date of the breach of the settlement settlement, October 13, 2024,” Bish wrote.

Bates’ lawyer then filed an ex parte utility to transform the settlement settlement and mutual launch (settlement settlement) to a judgment in opposition to Grace Church, however Superior Courtroom of San Diego County Choose Cynthia Freeland denied the appliance on Nov. 7, 2024, noting that the request have to be made by way of a observed movement.

An ex parte movement is a request to the court docket for an order with out giving the opposite events discover. A “observed movement,” alternatively, is a proper request to the court docket by a celebration in a authorized case the place the opposing get together is given prior discover of the movement. The case is presently listed as a conditional keep or maintain. 

Davis didn’t reply to a request for remark from CP. 

Milestone Church in Texas, the place he was most lately contracted to work, informed CP that he was briefly on workers with them. Nevertheless, after they discovered of the allegations in opposition to him in 2017, he was fired.

“In December 2016, Milestone Church employed Joel Davis to work on our video manufacturing workforce. In the course of the hiring course of, his background verify was clear and nothing was flagged on his consumption kind. In March of 2017, we had been made conscious of a civil lawsuit filed in California in January of 2017 involving Joel Davis that included allegations of a sexual nature whereas he was on workers at Grace Church in Houston, TX. Upon studying about these claims, Milestone Church instantly positioned him on depart after which rapidly terminated his employment,” a spokesperson stated in an announcement to CP.

“From 2020 to 2024, Joel was used as a contractor for video manufacturing providers till we didn’t renew his contract in July 2024. As a workforce, we’re reflecting on previous choices via the lens of present info and we deeply remorse his continued involvement,” the church added.

The church additionally famous that Davis’ spouse, who was employed on the identical time, continued to work with them till she resigned in summer time 2024.

“As our church has grown, all of our processes have developed and strengthened since 2016, together with our hiring course of. Our workforce approaches each facet of our ministry with seriousness, particularly the choice course of for Milestone workforce members,” the spokesperson famous.

“Milestone Church strongly condemns abuse of any form and believes no particular person ought to ever be harmed within the care of a church, at any age, underneath any circumstance. We’re unaware of any complaints or issues that had been raised about Joel throughout his time at Milestone.”