A prominent evangelical Christian leader in Kansas City was temporarily removed from the pulpit last weekend after being accused of sexual misconduct by several women within his congregation.

Mike Bickle, founder of the internathouse of prayer international has agreed to step away from public ministry as he is investigated for “serious allegations including sexual immorality” Three former leaders of the International House of Prayer called the allegations against Mike Bickle “credible and long-standing” in an official statement, citing multiple women who shared their experiences of years of sexual abuse. “To be clear, the allegations made about Mike Bickle’s misconduct were sexual in nature where the marriage covenant was not honoured,” the statement said.

“Furthermore, the allegations made also reveal that Mike Bickle used his position of spiritual authority over the victims to manipulate them.”

Bickle is a fringe far-right figure who repeatedly preached that Donald Trump was personally anointed by God to save America, said same-sex marriage was a sign of the End Times and blamed Jews for the Holocaust. His group has been condemned by many ex-staffers and past followers for being cult-like.