By Erika Hernandez
07 Aug 2024, 13:35 PM EDT
Following reports in June that a Texas religious leader had resigned over abuse allegations, it was recently revealed that A pastor at a megachurch in the same state was forced to resign after a pattern of disturbing behavior was allegedly discovered which included unwanted sexual communications with women.
When the resignation of senior pastor Josiah Anthony was announced late last month, the Cross Timbers Church in Argyle cited inappropriate communications with women that were overly personal and overly familiar, but initially non-sexual, WFAA reported.
But in an update to congregants, The Church now says other messages were found to be sexual in nature.
“Please know that we are trying not to keep it from you … we are sharing with you what we knew to be true at the time,” church elder John Chalk said Sunday.
“We have made mistakes along the way, we should have communicated with you more clearly and directly. Our lack of clarity led us to make many assumptions about the situation and, in trying not to cause unnecessary damage, we did so without realizing it,” he added.
In announcing Anthony’s resignation, the church said it would preach about his mental health issues, which Chalk says now makes it seem like they were excusing his inappropriate behavior.
“That was not our intention and we regret that,” Chalk said.
Chalk also apologized on behalf of another former staff member who described his inappropriate actions as emotional affairs, saying that The interactions between Anthony and the women were at no time consensual. due to the power imbalance caused by his leadership role within the church.
In an update to congregants, church elders said other messages were found to be sexual in nature.
“Such behavior will not be tolerated in our church, it should not be tolerated in any church or ministry. We are deeply sorry to those who have experienced it,” Chalk added.
Chalk said the Church is committed to making necessary changes as they move forward and continue to investigate the situation.
In June it was announced that The pastor of another Texas megachurch has resigned after a woman revealed that he had sexually abused her on multiple occasions in the 1980s, beginning when she was 12.
The board of Gateway Church said in a statement released Tuesday that it had accepted the resignation of Robert Morris, the church’s founding senior pastor.
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