Popular Christian Pastor Tony Evans, leader of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship that features 11,000 members, has stepped away from his duties for what is being called a season of restoration “due to sin,” the church announced this week. We sometimes forget that pastors are just regular people too, who have weaknesses and struggles just like we do. They are not perfect, though we sometimes expect them to be, don’t we? The grace we often have for ourselves is rarely extended to anyone else, and that’s not what Christ would have us do.
“On Sunday, June 9, at both services, Dr. Tony Evans announced that he will step away from his senior pastoral duties at OCBF. This difficult decision was made after tremendous prayer and multiple meetings with Dr. Evans and the church elders,” the church’s elder board went on to reveal in a statement published on the church’s website.
Here are more details from The Christian Post:
The board stated that it is “obligated to govern the church in accordance with the scriptures.”
“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,” the elder board said in response to Evans’ announcement. “We serve a God that is merciful to forgive and gracious to restore. In the days ahead, Pastor Bobby Gibson and the elders will provide more information regarding interim leadership and the next steps for the future of our church.”
While Evans, who has pastored the church for 48 years, did not provide specific details on why he was stepping away, he confessed in a written statement that though he did not commit any crimes, he fell short of the biblical standards espoused by his ministry, suggesting it was “due to sin.”
“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. When we fall short of that standard due to sin, we are required to repent and restore our relationship with God,” Evans explained in his statement.
“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. 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 famous megachurch pastor continued. “While I have committed no crime, I did not use righteous judgment in my actions. In light of this, I am stepping away from my pastoral duties and am submitting to a healing and restoration process established by the elders.”
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Evans then revealed that during this “season” of “spiritual recovery and healing” he will be just another worshiper like any other member of the church. I mean, a leader should probably not ever view himself as anything other than another worshiper, a person who was chosen by God to lead the flock, but also still one of them himself being led by Jesus.
“I have never loved you more than I love you right now, and I’m trusting God to walk me through this valley. Thank you for your love, prayers, support, and forgiveness as I continue my spiritual healing journey. As we walk this journey together, keep your eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith,” he added.
Evans’ announcement comes just months after his December 2023 weddingto Carla Crummie in a “private ceremony surrounded by family and close friends” four years after the death of his first wife, Lois.
Evans was married to his wife Lois for 49 years before she passed due to biliary cancer at 70, back in 2019.
Let’s pray that God provides the healing and restoration that Evans and his family need to help recover spiritually and get back to ministering the Word faithfully.