Gloriavale leader Howard Temple has resigned after admitting to abuse against girls and young women.
Last month, the 85-year-old pleaded guilty to five counts of indecent assault, five of doing an indecent act, and two of common assault.
He had earlier denied 24 charges of sexual offending over more than two decades. His trial at the Greymouth District Court heard the complainants were aged between nine and 20 years old at the time of the offending.
Sources inside the West Coast commune have told 1News that Temple resigned as the Overseeing Shepherd on Sunday.
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“He gave a long talk about who he is and the background to the court stuff and how he used to cuddle girls as a kindly man would,” one person said.
“Then [Temple] pivoted to talking about how it wouldn’t be good for the Gloriavale businesses if he stayed on.”
Some members thought it was “so humble” of Temple to stand aside, while others said it was “just an optics act to save Gloriavale’s reputation”.
Stephen Standfast has been anointed the new leader.
Standfast — a married man with children — had worked as a teacher and Gloriavale’s farm manager, as well as oversaw the development of a new commune at Lake Brunner.
In a statement, Gloriavale acknowledged Temple had resigned, and said Temple succeeded the community’s founder, Hopeful Christian, on his death in 2018.
“In the years since then, he has led a campaign to establish policies around child safety and well-being, as well as workplace health and safety.
“Mr Standfast, 48, has spent several years now working with outside agencies to support on-going changes for safety and well-being,” read the statement.
Temple was currently living in a farmhouse on the Gloriavale property but was not permitted near the main building.
He was on bail awaiting a sentencing hearing in December.
