Orange Releases Sexual Misconduct Investigation Findings

A 14-month inquiry reveals extramarital affairs, concealment, and hard lessons for ministries.

After the resignations of Christian curriculum companyr Orange’s CEO Kristen Ivy and founder Reggie Joiner— following allegations of sexual misconduct in April 2024 — the company’s board agreed to a full investigation into the matter.

Kristen Ivy and Reggie Joiner / Video screenshot @Backstage with Randy Phillips

The board hired Castañeda + Heidelman LLP, an investigative firm with trauma training and extensive experience conducting investigations for faith-based institutions. The announcement came in an update posted by The reThink Group, Orange’s parent company.

The investigation’s scope was broad: “sexual misconduct by Joiner at reThink/Orange involving any employee, volunteer, contractor, or customer during his time with the organization.”

Over the course of 14 months, Castañeda + Heidelman reviewed thousands of documents and interviewed more than 40 people. Joiner was interviewed over multiple days. Ivy submitted written statements.

The board called the final report “heartbreaking.”

“The investigative findings have left us grieving for those who experienced pain, stress and confusion during their time with reThink. We recognize that there was a betrayal of trust placed in the organization, and most importantly, in its leaders,” the board statement said.

The board will not release the full report — even in redacted form — because doing so would “reveal details that could clearly identify individuals who do not wish their stories to be public.”

According to the investigation, Joiner engaged in six extramarital relationships, beginning before he founded Orange. Two of those relationships occurred while he was a pastor. Joiner did not consider any of them nonconsensual or abusive, but he admitted that one — with a 19-year-old — was an “abuse of his role.” He actively concealed all of the relationships.

Investigators had difficulty determining whether Ivy’s relationship with Joiner was consensual or abusive. Ivy declined to be interviewed in person, later withdrew her written statements, and her personal writings — stored on company computers — contained conflicting accounts.

The board statement said there is no evidence that any member of Orange’s management team or board knew about Joiner’s sexual relationships, apart from the one involving Ivy.

The board statement also included some “key lessons:”

• “Every organization, ministry-related or not, should provide [human resources] oversight that can hold even the highest levels of leadership accountable. Churches and ministries often bypass the expertise of professional human resources leaders in favor of elder boards or volunteer committees.
• Written policies should specify clear non-fraternization, sexual harassment, and reporting requirements.
• Procedures to report misconduct should be in place, whether an anonymous hotline, third-party email box, or independent website that allows employees to safely flag their concerns.
• Organizations should provide ongoing training at every staff level regarding sexual harassment, power dynamics, and abuse of authority.
• Leaders, employees, partners, members and associates should heed warning signs. Use training to recognize unhealthy or imbalanced relationships and raise questions accordingly. Relationships where authority and age gaps exist must be viewed skeptically through the lens of power imbalance.
• Seek objective, trauma-informed resources that could be helpful for church and ministry leaders facing similar situations.”

In January 2025, Orange merged with the Amazing Life Foundation, an umbrella organization for several products — includingAmazing Kids and the BSide App — designed to equip churches with tools and content.

Orange and Amazing Life will “operate with shared oversight,” but Orange will maintain its existing staff and operations in Cumming, Georgia.

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