PRESS RELEASE
WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Former Ohio Pastor Sued for Using Pastoral Counseling Role to Groom and Sexually Abuse Women; Other Victims and Witnesses Asked to Come Forward
DELAWARE COUNTY, OHIO — Charles E. Boyk Law Offices, LLC has filed a civil lawsuit in the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas on behalf of Jane Doe 1, John Doe 1, and Jane Doe 2 against Vineyard USA, Vineyard Church of Delaware County, former pastor Daniel R. Meyer, and Gospel of Wholeness, LLC.
Vineyard USA is a nationwide church organization with more than 500 churches across the United States, including several in Ohio. The lawsuit alleges that Vineyard USA, as the parent organization for Vineyard churches throughout the country, and its local branch, Vineyard Church of Delaware County, failed to protect vulnerable congregants and counselees from foreseeable abuse.
The Complaint alleges that Meyer, the former pastor and founder of Vineyard Church of Delaware County in Sunbury, Ohio, used his position of pastoral, spiritual, and counseling authority to sexually exploit two adult females whom he personally approached and invited into counseling. Their counseling relationships spanned several years, with the abuse lasting more than five years.
According to the Complaint, Meyer identified women in emotionally vulnerable circumstances, offered to counsel them, cultivated emotionally dependent “father/daughter” dynamics, used secrecy and surveillance to maintain control, and engaged in sexual misconduct during what were supposed to be pastoral counseling relationships.
The Complaint further alleges that Meyer’s conduct was not an isolated incident. According to the lawsuit, reports of clergy and pastoral abuse had been made within other Vineyard churches across the country, including in Ohio. Plaintiffs allege those reports should have put Vineyard USA and its local churches on notice that pastors, pastoral counselors, and spiritual leaders needed real oversight, clear boundaries, and safeguards to protect vulnerable congregants and counselees.
Plaintiffs further allege that Vineyard USA, Vineyard Church of Delaware County, and Gospel of Wholeness, LLC gave Meyer continued access to vulnerable people by allowing him to keep using church offices, church resources, staff support, and the trust that comes with the Vineyard name, even after he formally retired.
Charles E. Boyk Law Offices believes Meyer may have groomed and harmed others over the course of several years. The firm is asking anyone with information about Meyer, these allegations, Vineyard Church of Delaware County, Gospel of Wholeness, LLC, or similar conduct to come forward. Speaking up can help stop the cycle of abuse, protect others, and hold the people and institutions responsible accountable.
“This case is about far more than one man’s misconduct,” said Angela H. Hartford, trial attorney for the Plaintiffs. “It’s about what happens when trusted religious institutions fail to ensure safeguards are in place, fail to protect vulnerable individuals, and fail to provide appropriate oversight of those in positions of spiritual authority. Our clients were sought out by Meyer, who offered to counsel them, gained their trust, and then exploited that trust for his own gratification. They came forward because they want accountability, transparency, and protection for others.”
According to the Complaint, Meyer held himself out as a pastor and pastoral counselor and provided counseling services through Vineyard Church of Delaware County, Vineyard USA, and Gospel of Wholeness, LLC. Plaintiffs allege that he exploited the trust placed in him by women who had disclosed prior trauma and emotional vulnerability, then used his role as a spiritual father figure to manipulate, control, and sexually abuse them.
The Complaint asserts claims for sexual battery, assault, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligent hiring, negligent training, negligent supervision and retention, negligent infliction of emotional distress, loss of consortium, joint enterprise/alter ego/agency liability, and punitive damages.
The lawsuit states that Vineyard USA, Vineyard Church of Delaware County, and Gospel of Wholeness, LLC knew or should have known that Meyer lacked formal training in professional counseling and had previously been accused of inappropriate conduct with women. Despite those alleged warning signs, the Complaint states that these Defendants permitted Meyer to meet privately and alone with vulnerable congregants, both on church premises and at his personal residence.
Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2 allege that they suffered severe psychological trauma, emotional distress, suicidal ideation, deterioration of their mental health, and the need for ongoing therapeutic and medical treatment as a result of Meyer’s conduct. John Doe 1, the husband of Jane Doe 1, brings a loss of consortium claim based on the impact of the alleged abuse on his wife and their marriage.
The lawsuit was filed in the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas on May 26, 2026, and has been assigned to Judge Marianne T. Hemmeter. In their Complaint, Plaintiffs seek compensatory damages, punitive damages, attorney fees, costs, interest, and all other relief available under Ohio law. A copy of the Complaint is available on our website here: https://www.charlesboyk-law.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/FS-Complaint-May-26-26.pdf.
Our office believes Meyer may have groomed and harmed others over the course of several years. The firm is asking anyone with information about Meyer, these allegations, Vineyard Church of Delaware County, Gospel of Wholeness, LLC, or similar conduct to come forward. Speaking up can help stop the cycle of abuse, protect others, and hold the responsible people and institutions accountable.
Anyone with information may contact Charles E. Boyk Law Offices at (419) 241-1395. All inquiries will be handled with sensitivity and confidentiality.
About the Charles Boyk Law Firm
Charles Boyk Law Offices is a sophisticated plaintiff injury firm that has successfully represented thousands of injured individuals in complex injury litigation in Ohio, Michigan, and across the United States. Boyk Law’s experienced attorneys and staff are united in their commitment to excellence and dedication to personally serving the interests of all our clients. For more information: https://www.charlesboyk-law.com
