Evangelical pastor and radio host Tony Evans cited an unnamed “sin” as he stepped down as senior pastor at Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas, the most recent controversy for high-profile pastors in America.
Evans shall be “temporarily stepping away from his senior pastor’s duties,” Shari L. Carroll, a spokesperson for the church, mentioned in a Friday e-mail to USA TODAY. On Sunday, the pastor mentioned in an announcement on the church’s web site that he has “committed no crime,” however “did not use righteous judgment in actions.”
It is a acquainted sample in American Christianity – standard pastors unfold their religion, invite scrutiny and infrequently face fallout for his or her indiscretions, in response to Deborah Whitehead, a non secular research professor on the College of Colorado Boulder.
“One of the perils of celebrity is that you have this high profile status and a lot of the fame and fortune that comes with that and as well as additional publicity for your mistakes,” Whitehead mentioned. “It can definitely generate controversy around the faith.”
Fraud, personal jets and a Lamborghini:10 televangelists who’ve confronted controversy
Pastors have a protracted historical past of superstar in america – a development that may be seen as early because the 1700s. That is when preacher George Whitefield turned what some historians contemplate “America’s first celebrity,” Whitehead mentioned.
Within the 1980’s and a long time following, there was a surge of televangelist pastors who had been standard till they confronted controversy. Many evangelical pastors had been concerned in scandal on the time, together with disgraced pastors Jimmy Swaggart and Ted Haggard.
“There’s a long history there of seeing these very public figures be hypocritical in some respects and have to go through these very public scandals and sometimes imprisonment,” Whitehead mentioned. “It’s had an impact on the way Christianity and especially Evangelical Protestantism is viewed – but also religion more broadly as an object of potential suspicion.”
What occurred with Tony Evans?
Evans based Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas in 1976, which has grown from 10 individuals in a house to over 10,000 members.
So has Evans’s fame. Evans’ radio program, “The Alternative with Dr. Tony Evans,” airs on greater than 1,000 stations worldwide. He is well-known for serving because the chaplain for the Dallas Cowboys and the Dallas Mavericks. And he is written a number of faith-based books.
Evans is thought for being a trailblazer within the Black religion group, Whitehead mentioned.
Evangelical Texas pastor Tony EvansSteps down from church because of unnamed ‘sin’
On Sunday, Evans launched an announcement.
“When we fall short of that standard due to sin, we are required to repent and restore our relationship with God,” Evans wrote. “A number of years ago, I fell short of that standard. I am, therefore, required to apply the same biblical standard of repentance and restoration to myself that I have applied to others.”
The choice wasn’t sudden, in response to church leaders who mentioned he made his resolution after “tremendous prayer and multiple meetings” with church elders.
In recent times a number of different well-known pastors have additionally made information for controversies, allegations and polarizing feedback:
Two controversies for Hillsong Church leaders
In early 2022, megachurch pastor and Hillsong co-founder Brian Houston resigned from the Christian megachurch after he was accused of getting inappropriate conduct with two ladies and an inside investigation proved the allegations true.
Two years earlier, Carl Lentz, the Hillsong Church pastor, was fired by church leaders after an extramarital affair. Lentz famously ministered to Justin Bieber and different celebrities.
In “The Secret of Hillsong” docuseries, Lentz additionally denied allegations ofsexual abuse and abuse of energy.
“I am responsible for allowing an inappropriate relationship to develop in my house with someone that worked for us,” he mentioned within the sequence. “Any notion of abuse is categorically false. There were mutual adult decisions made by two people who lied profusely, mainly to my wife.”
Lentz later joined a Midwest megachurch in Tulsa as a strategist in 2023.
Embattled former minister to the celebs:Carl Lentz goes from Hillsong to Tulsa megachurch
Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill Church in Seattle
Mark Driscoll, a former pastor and co-founder of Mars Hill Church in Seattle, was accused of bullying, overseeing mismanagement of church funds and different complaints from members in 2014, in response to The Seattle Instances. Driscoll resigned from Mars Hill Church and the church was dissolved. (A decide cleared Driscoll from a civil racketeering lawsuit in 2016, in response to The Christian Submit.)
Driscoll has since been the topic of one other lawsuit for his work on the church.
In April, he was faraway from a stage on the non secular Stronger Males’s Convention in Springfield, Missouri, after he in contrast the convention’s opening sword-swallowing act to a strip membership for ladies who’ve the Jezebel spirit.
“Before the word of God was opened, there was a platform, it was a high place,” mentioned Driscoll, in response to movies posted on-line. “On it was a pole … the same thing that’s used in a strip club for women who have the jezebel spirit to seduce men.”
Driscoll is now the senior and founding pastor of Trinity Church in Scottsdale, Arizona.
‘Jezebel spirit’Pastor kicked off stage at Christian convention in Missouri
Franklin Graham, son of Billy Graham, drew criticism for homophobic feedback
Franklin Graham, the son of well-known preacher Billy Graham, confronted warmth after he made a homophobic remark about former Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg. Graham is the president and chief govt officer of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Affiliation.
On CNN, Buttigieg mentioned “God does not have a political party” to which Graham responded: “As a Christian I believe the Bible which defines homosexuality as sin, something to be repentant of, not something to be flaunted, praised or politicized.”
Contributing:Joshua Botte, Emily DeLetter; Julia Gomez and Erin Jensen; USA TODAY
Contact Kayla Jimenez at kjimenez@usatoday.com. Comply with her on X at @kaylajjimenez.
“Well bless their hearts.”
