This archive report was first published on 28 December 2019.
Published on December 28, 2019, a Methodist pastor, Rev. Heckman, has stepped down from his position as executive director of the Tri-Faith Initiative in Omaha, Nebraska, following allegations of sexual harassment.
Four women, including Megan Anderson, have come forward with complaints against Rev. Heckman, alleging that he engaged in unwanted and harassing behavior. Ms. Anderson said that Rev. Heckman invited her to his hotel room, where he attempted to put his hands down her pants, and later sent her text messages with sexual fantasies.
Rev. Heckman disputed the accusations, stating that he had not harmed or harassed anyone and wished for the well-being and peace of all parties involved.
Ms. Anderson's path continued to cross with Rev. Heckman, and in March 2018, he became the executive director of the Tri-Faith Initiative. However, after an uncomfortable visit to their offices in Nebraska, during which Rev. Heckman told her, “Daddy will buy you lunch,” Ms. Anderson said she felt uneasy.
Wendy Goldberg, the interim director of Tri-Faith, confirmed that Rev. Heckman had left his position as executive director last February “in light of allegations of harassment.”
The four complaints against Rev. Heckman were filed together in November 2018 after Cassandra Lawrence, a Methodist seminarian, began investigating rumors about Rev. Heckman's behavior. She said that her investigation connected her with Rev. Heckman’s ex-wife, an ex-girlfriend, Ms. Anderson, and another woman who reported being harassed at an interfaith conference.
