KENOSHA, Wis. — Journey Church has fired longtime Executive Pastor Jon Brown after months of internal turmoil over the church’s search for a new lead pastor. Brown, who served Journey for about 24 years and had been considered a leading internal candidate to replace former Lead Pastor Kevin Taylor, was removed from consideration and then terminated Thursday.

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The firing comes amid broader concerns raised by current and former church members about transparency, finances, staffing and leadership. KCE independently verified that multiple pastors and church leaders have been fired after raising concerns, and that Kevin Taylor’s son-in-law remains employed in a leadership role at Journey Church, a relationship that has fueled concerns among some members about continued influence by the former lead pastor.

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Taylor left Journey Church after being elected Superintendent of the Wisconsin/Northern Michigan Ministries Network of the Assemblies of God in April.

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Board Admits Communication Problems
In a lengthy message to the congregation, the Journey Church Board acknowledged it had failed to communicate clearly and quickly enough about Brown and the pastoral search.

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“We recognize that we should have communicated more clearly and much sooner,” the Board wrote.

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The Board said Brown had been a leading internal candidate, but concerns emerged over a multi-level marketing business operated by Brown and his wife, Janet. The Board said the business itself was not automatically disqualifying, but members were concerned that a lead pastor or pastor’s spouse operating such a business within the congregation could create conflicts involving spiritual authority and financial recruitment.

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The Board said weeks of discussions failed to resolve its concerns and that Brown ultimately had no path forward to become the candidate presented to members.

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Brown Fired After Tensions Grew
After Brown was removed from consideration, disagreement inside the church intensified.

The Board acknowledged that many members strongly supported Brown and wanted more information about why he was rejected. Church leaders said they could not disclose every detail because of personnel and privacy concerns.

The Board then evaluated whether Brown could remain as Executive Pastor while supporting the continued search for someone else.

It ultimately decided he could not.

“Jon Brown is no longer a candidate for the Lead Pastor position and, as of Thursday, is no longer employed by Journey Church,” the Board wrote.

The Board called the firing one of the most difficult decisions it has faced.

Taylor’s Son-In-Law Became Issue During Brown Interview
KCE has learned that Kevin Taylor’s son-in-law, who remains employed in church leadership, became a specific issue during Brown’s interview for the lead pastor position. Board members asked Brown whether he would keep Taylor’s son-in-law employed if Brown became lead pastor. Brown responded that he would need to pray about the decision. Brown was subsequently removed from consideration for the position.

Current and former Journey Church members told KCE they believe Brown was later fired because he was widely supported by the congregation and because he would not simply fall in line with the Board. Those members also told KCE they believe the Board has been pushing out staff and church members who challenge its decisions.

KCE has independently verified that other staff members have been terminated after raising concerns about church leadership and that some members who challenged Board decisions have faced efforts to remove them from church membership.

Those developments have intensified concerns among current and former members that people who challenge the Board are being pushed out and that former Lead Pastor Kevin Taylor continues to have influence at Journey through family and leadership connections even after leaving the church for his regional Assemblies of God position.

Pastoral Search Was Paused
The dispute also provides more context for Journey’s previously unexplained decision to pause its lead pastor search.

Earlier this month, the Board acknowledged that the selection process had been paused while members were seeking records about the process.

The new Board message confirms that Brown had been a major internal candidate, that his candidacy generated weeks of disagreement, and that tensions continued even after he was removed from consideration.

The Board says it has now engaged Legacy Transition to assist with the search.

Trust Strained Inside Church
The Board openly acknowledged significant division inside Journey.

“We know there is hurt. We know there is disappointment. We know there are unanswered questions. And we know that trust has been strained for some within our church,” the Board wrote.

It also acknowledged mistakes and said it wants reconciliation and unity.

But Brown’s firing, the Taylor family connection, disputes over records and finances, and the termination of other pastors and staff members have left many members asking who is really controlling Journey Church and how much say the congregation actually has in major decisions.