Pastor Tyler Sollie elected as new leader of Life Center Assembly after dismissal of Dean Curry
Some six months after removing their former leader Dean Curry in July for sexual misconduct allegations, the Life Center Assembly of God megachurch in Tacoma, Washington, announced they have elected Pastor Tyler Sollie as their new leader.
“We are thrilled to confirm Tyler and Amber Sollie as Life Center’s new Senior Pastors,” Nate Angelo, chairman of the Life Center Board of Directors said in a news release Monday. “Their roots run deep in the 253 and their heart and passion for Jesus is clear. We look forward to this next season for Life Center as we celebrate 100 years. Tyler’s vision to sustain a generational church that impacts the 253 for Jesus excites us as a church body. Tyler and Amber’s years in ministry outside this area groomed them well for such a time as this. The humility with which Tyler leads will continue to plant seeds and grow roots.”
Sollie has been acting as Life Center’s interim lead pastor since their longtime pastor Curry was removed from his post. His family also has a long history with the church and their affiliated institutions.
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Writing in a blog post about the appointment, Sollie, who had been serving as lead pastor of Life Center Rainier for the last four years said he realized God was calling him to the new role as he served as Life Center Assembly’s interim leader.
“This winter marks 4 years since our family arrived at Life Center in Tacoma, WA. Over the past few years we have seen Jesus move in some very special and significant ways. We love this place and the people of this city,” he began.
“This summer brought change to Life Center. During the summer months, I was asked to consider serving in the Interim Senior Pastor role while we navigated the changes that were happening within our church. Throughout those months it became clear to the board, leadership and to us that God was preparing us for a new role at Life Center,” he said.
He noted that even though he will be serving the church in a new role, he is happy he’ll be working with the same organization.
“We have spent the past number of years leading the Rainier Campus of Life Center. We are thankful for the team, volunteers and the people of Life Center Rainier! What I love is that we will be serving the same church, just from a different seat. Life Center is one church with multiple locations. We will continue to serve Life Center Rainier and our other campuses, just from a new seat,” he said.
Life Center Assembly officials revealed in September that prior to firing Curry in the summer, he had ignored a strong warning from the church's executive board about sexual harassment two years prior.
Results of a 2018 investigation found that Curry used foul language with regularity, made inappropriate sexual comments, continued to commit "boundary crossings" and generally violated church policies forbidding sexual harassment, the church explained.
"The board is in unanimous agreement that Pastor Dean Curry's removal as senior pastor was the correct decision," Angelo told congregants about Curry’s firing. "He is disqualified from gospel ministry because of repeat violations of Life Center's sexual harassment policies. He will not be returning as Life Center's senior pastor."
Curry, has repeatedly denied the sexual misconduct allegations against him.
