Tony Evans, one of the founding pastors of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship Church, announced to the congregation on Sunday that he would be stepping down from his pastoral duties for a “healing and restoration process.”
Evans chartered the church in 1976, growing it from 10 members to 10,000 in recent years. In a statement posted Sunday to the church’s website, Evans said he is stepping down due to an unnamed “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,” Evans’ statement reads. “When we fall short of that standard due to sin, we are required to repent and restore our relationship with God. 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.”
According to the church, the decision for Evans to step down was made after “tremendous prayer and multiple meetings” with Evans and church elders.
In his statement, Evans said he had shared the news of his resignation with his wife, children and church elders.
“While I have committed no crime, I did not use righteous judgment in my actions,” he wrote. “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. This will afford me a needed time of spiritual recovery and healing. During this time, it is critical that the ministry of OCBF continue as vibrantly as ever.”
The Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship website says Pastor Bobby Gibson and the elders will give more information in the coming days about interim leaders and the church’s next steps.
