Christian & Missionary Alliance won't discipline Ravi Zacharias for misrepresenting credentials

The Christian & Missionary Alliance (C&MA) has decided not to take disciplinary action against renowned apologist Ravi Zacharias, after conducting a review of the allegations that he had made false claims about his credentials.

On Monday, C&MA issued a statement on its website saying the evidence against Zacharias does not warrant discipline under its policy.

"Ravi Zacharias has maintained his licensing credentials through The Christian and Missionary Alliance for 45 years. Along with all C&MA licensed workers, he is subject to the Uniform Policy on Discipline, Restoration, and Appeal," the statement said.

"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," it continued.

In December, Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM) addressed the allegations, claiming that the ministry had never knowingly misstated or misrepresented Zacharias' credentials.

The allegations surfaced in November when attorney Steve Baughman published his lengthy investigation into the apologist on his website Ordinary Times.

Baughman had alleged that the apologist was often referred to as "Dr." Ravi Zacharias, although he has never earned an actual doctoral degree of any kind and has only been conferred honorary doctorates from certain Christian institutions.

While some Christian publishers have referred to Zacharias as "Cambridge educated," Baughman had pointed out that he only spent a few months attending lectures at Ridley Hall, which is affiliated with Cambridge but not officially part of the school.

The C&MA also noted that it had performed a thorough inquiry about the allegations that Zacharias had an illicit relationship with a woman through electronic communications. The denomination noted that the inquiry included "interviews with those involved and a review of all available documentation and records."

"While it is not appropriate to publicly discuss the nuances of these allegations, the available evidence does not provide a basis for formal discipline under the C&MA policy," the organization stated.

Zacharias said in a statement in December that he had reached a settlement with the woman, but denied that he had met her alone publicly or privately.

The Christian Post reported that screenshots of emails that appeared to be of Zacharias and the woman have emerged online. In one of the messages, the woman told the apologist that she has to reveal their relationship to her husband because she can no longer live with the "guilt."

The apologist seemed to have responded by threatening to commit suicide if the woman went through with her plan to reveal the relationship to her husband.

The couple sent the apologist a letter claiming they had suffered "irreparable harm" and threatened to file a lawsuit against Zacharias unless he sends a check in the amount of $5 million.

Zacharias filed a lawsuit in response to the letter, prompting the couple to request mediation instead of a trial. Attorneys representing Zacharias agreed to mediation and both sides ultimately reached an agreement in November, ending the lawsuit.