No discipline for Zacharias: Christian & Missionary Alliance

Well known Christian apologist, Ravi Zacharias, will not be facing discipline from the denomination which holds his credentials.

The Christian & Missionary Alliance (C&MA) has held Zacharias' credentials for 45 years. They say they have concluded an investigation after Zacharias was accused of an inappropriate relationship as well as misrepresenting his credentials.

The denomination says they have investigated both claims and, according to a press release on their website, the "evidence does not provide basis for formal disciple under the C&MA policy."

In the fall of 2017 rumours began to circulate online that Zacharias had an ongoing inappropriate relationship with a Canadian woman. Zacharias released a statement in December of 2017 in response to the rumours. In that statement, he revealed that he had eventually taken the woman and her husband to court in 2016 after they attempted to extort him. Zacharias' attorneys filed a lawsuit against the couple under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. "The other side requested mediation rather than going to trial. We agreed to mediation and we reached an agreement in November 2017 to resolve the matter and dismiss my lawsuit," Zacharias says.

The C&MA says that they have "completed a thorough inquiry of these accusations, including interviews with those involved and a review of all available documentation and records." They will not release the details they found in that investigation, citing that it would go against their privacy policy. They added, however, "the available evidence does not provide a basis for formal discipline under the C&MA policy."

Around the same time, Zacharias was accused of misrepresenting his credentials. Specifically, that he and his ministry, Ravi Zacharias International Ministries, referred to Zacharias as "Doctor," though he has not actually earned a Ph.D., D.Min., or any other doctoral degree. Rather, he has been given the honourary title from some Christian universities. Typically it is understood that recipients of honourary degrees do not represent themselves using those titles.

Responding to those allegations, the C&MA said in the release, "Mr. Zacharias and his employer, Ravi Zacharias International Ministries, have revised and clarified their communications to address these concerns. The C&MA has determined that there is no basis for formal discipline regarding this matter."