The law and the case
Tennessee’s anti-grooming law took effect July 1, 2026, and applies only to conduct occurring on or after that date, according to Public Chapter 1021. It defines grooming as a course of two or more acts directed at the same minor that show continuity of purpose. The law covers a minor under 13 when the alleged offender is at least 18, or a minor aged 13 to 18 when the alleged offender is at least 10 years older; clergy members and youth program leaders are among the listed positions of authority.
The woman’s allegations concern conduct she says occurred when she was 14 and 15, before the law took effect. Separately, the district attorney’s office told WSMV that the statute of limitations for potential sexual-battery charges had passed. That is the office’s reported conclusion about that offense; it does not mean the allegations were adjudicated.
Investigative and church responses
Metro Nashville police investigated and presented their findings to the district attorney’s office, WSMV reported. The church told the station it filed a report with the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services child-abuse hotline and spoke with police. DCS said it had no active investigation and declined to explain why, citing privacy. After Kihnley’s termination, the church changed its social-media policy to bar Snapchat communications with youth group members, according to WSMV.
Reporting suspected child abuse
The Tennessee Department of Children’s Services says everyone in the state is a mandated reporter and must report suspected child abuse or neglect.
Church pastor Grant Miller told WSMV that Kihnley was fired and lost his Nazarene pastoral license, which prevents him from serving as a pastor in that church. Miller said Kihnley disputed the nature and substance of some allegations but acknowledged the screen captures and conversations were genuine. Kihnley did not respond to WSMV’s requests for comment. The woman told the station she had spoken with a Gallatin police detective; Gallatin police did not respond to the outlet’s requests for comment.
The allegations and saved messages
The woman, now 20, told WSMV that when she was 15, Kihnley, then a youth pastor at Nashville First Church of the Nazarene, touched her inappropriately during a church game. She also alleged that he contacted youth group members on Snapchat and sent her messages expressing affection, asking to date her and making sexualized remarks. She said some messages referred to her menstrual cycle and that he sent photos of himself in a tank top.
She told WSMV she saved some messages from when she was 14 and 15 because they troubled her. After learning about the new law, she went to police. A Metro Nashville detective showed her how to retrieve saved Snapchat messages she had thought were no longer accessible. WSMV reported that Miller and the woman said she had documented only a few messages by the time Kihnley was terminated.
According to WSMV, the woman later confided in church member and parent Janet Killingsworth, who encouraged her to speak with Miller. The station reported that Miller had discussed the conduct with Kihnley. The allegations and descriptions of the messages in this account are based on WSMV’s reporting and interviews.
