Texas megachurch Pastor Dr. Tony Evans has stepped down from Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship Church due to a “sin” he committed “years ago.”
In a statement shared Sunday, June 9, on the church’s website, the mega pastor revealed that he was resigning from his post after having fallen short of his “commitment to the Word of God,” People reports.
“The foundation of our ministry has always been our commitment to the Word of God as the absolute supreme standard of truth to which we are to conform our lives, “Evans wrote in his statement. “When we fall short of that standard due to sin, we are required to repent and restore our relationship with God.”
He continued, “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 nature of the sin Pastor Evans, who’s been a pastor with the Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship Church for nearly 50 years, committed remains a mystery. In his statement, he merely said that he “committed no crime” and “did not use righteous judgment in my actions.”
“I have shared this with my wife, my children, and our church elders, and they have lovingly placed their arms of grace around me,” the former chaplain for both the Dallas Cowboys and the Mavericks added.
In a separate statement, the “elder board” of the church said, “This difficult decision was made after tremendous prayer and multiple meetings” between themselves and Dr. Tony Evans.
They also noted their obligation to govern the church in accordance with the scriptures, stating, “Dr. Evans and the elders agree that when any elder or pastor falls short of the high standards of scripture, the elders are responsible for providing accountability and maintaining integrity in the church.”
By stepping down from his pastoral duties, Dr. Evans said he is “submitting to a healing and restoration process established by the elders. This will provide him with the much-needed time to explore “spiritual recovery and healing,” he added.
The Kingdom Rising Men author also urged his congregation members to continue without him and said Associate Pastor Bobby Gibson would take up the mantle of guiding the church forward.
“During this time, it is critical that the ministry of OCBF continue as vibrantly as ever,” he wrote. “Remember, you serve the Lord Jesus Christ, not a man.”
Dr. Evans then thanked the congregation for their undivided “love, prayers, forgiveness, and support,” adding, “I have never loved you more than I love you right now, and I’m trusting God to walk me through this valley.”
Longtime Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship church member James Harris Jr. was shaken over the mega pastor’s abrupt resignation.
“He’s a staple in the community. I think he is one of the most known pastors in the nation,” Harris Jr. told CBS News. So, “it was a shock. Everyone really couldn’t believe what was being said,” he added.
Dr. Tony Evans founded OCBF in 1976 with just 10 people at his home in Dallas, Texas; according to the church’s website, the church has now grown to over 10,000 members and 100 different ministries, reaching people “locally and abroad.”
Apart from his pastoral duties, Dr. Evans has authored several bestselling worship books and is the host of the worldwide radio show “The Alternative,” which airs in over 130 countries. He was also the former chaplain for both the Dallas Cowboys and Mavericks.
