Note: This report deals with allegations of sexual interference and sexual assault and may not be suitable for all readers.
Witness describes strict two-adult rule, medical documentation
A former staff member at Generations Church testified in B.C. Supreme Court in Nanaimo that she never personally observed the accused, Ryan Richard James Morgan, 43, sexually touch any minors. Morgan, who previously worked as a youth pastor, faces charges of sexual interference of a person under 16 and sexual assault for incidents alleged to have taken place in Bella Bella, Nanaimo and Courtenay in 2017 and 2020.
The trial, which first opened on May 25, adjourned in June and resumed on Sept. 21 before Justice David Crerar in Nanaimo.
How leaders handled one-on-one interactions
Under questioning from defence counsel Owen James, the witness said church practice required at least two adults to be present whenever a leader needed to be alone with a student. She told the court the rule applied broadly — including during medical or first-aid situations — and that leaders were careful to document any treatment.
“He was really intense about it, and he always said that he just wanted to make sure that nothing could ever happen, nothing could ever be seen as happening … So you’re not allowed alone in a room with a student, generally at all, but especially with students of the opposite sex.”
She said Morgan insisted on those safeguards to avoid any appearance of impropriety. The witness told the court he would not drive students home, would avoid being alone in his office and would alert others when he planned to be in the building. She added that other staff sometimes teased him for being "such a stickler."
Medical records and procedures
The witness described a system of medical sheets used to record incidents: two people would sign the form and entries included an anatomical diagram to note the area treated. She said staff routinely asked recipients if they were comfortable and sought permission before touching a young person's body. Topical creams, she said, were applied for sore muscles but never to the buttocks.
- Accused: Ryan Richard James Morgan, 43
- Charges: Sexual interference (under 16), sexual assault
- Alleged incidents: 2017, 2020 in Bella Bella, Nanaimo, Courtenay
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Court | B.C. Supreme Court, Nanaimo (Justice David Crerar) |
| Trial timeline | Began May 25; adjourned June 19; resumed Sept. 21 |
The testimony on Monday came as part of the defence case. The witness recounted seeing Morgan administer first aid in the company of at least one other adult and said documentation practices included identifying the area treated. Her evidence focused on church policy and how it was followed in practice, rather than on the allegations themselves.
Proceedings are ongoing. As the court record continues to be developed, further testimony and documentary evidence will be heard before the matter proceeds to verdict.
Local impact: The case has attracted attention in the Nanaimo community because of the accused’s former role with a city congregation and because some alleged incidents are said to have occurred locally. Court hearings in Nanaimo provide residents with a nearby forum to follow testimony and rulings as the trial continues.
