Tony Evans, the longtime leader of a Dallas megachurch and best-selling creator, has announced that he’s stepping back from his ministry because of sin he committed years ago.
“The foundation of our ministry has all the time been our commitment to the Word of God as absolutely the supreme standard of truth to which we’re to evolve our lives,” Evans said in a June 9 statement to his Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship church that was posted on its website.
“When we fall wanting that standard because of sin, we’re required to repent and restore our relationship with God. Various years ago, I fell wanting that standard. I’m, subsequently, required to use the identical biblical standard of repentance and restoration to myself that I actually have applied to others.”
Evans, 74, was not specific about his actions but said they weren’t criminal.
“While I actually have committed no crime, I didn’t use righteous judgment in my actions,” he said. “In light of this, I’m stepping away from my pastoral duties and am submitting to a healing and restoration process established by the elders.”
Evans, the founding father of the Christian Bible teaching ministry The Urban Alternative, has led the congregation for greater than 40 years and has a radio broadcast, The Alternative with Tony Evans, that’s carried on lots of of radio outlets across the globe.
An additional statement on the web site of the predominantly Black nondenominational church said Evans made the announcement about stepping away from his senior pastoral duties during each of the congregation’s services on Sunday.
“This difficult decision was made after tremendous prayer and multiple meetings with Dr. Evans and the church elders,” the opposite statement reads. “The elder board is obligated to manipulate the church in accordance with the Scriptures. Dr. Evans and the elders agree that when any elder or pastor falls wanting the high standards of Scripture, the elders are liable for providing accountability and maintaining integrity within the church.”
The second statement said lead associate pastor of fellowship Bobby Gibson and the church’s elders will provide more details about future steps concerning interim leadership.
Evans noted in his statement that he had shared this development together with his family and church elders who, he said, “have lovingly placed their arms of grace around me.”
Evans’s wife of 49 years, Lois, died in 2019. He remarried in November, and the church announced his marriage to the previous Carla Crummie in December, introducing her as “Mrs. Carla Evans.”
Tony Evans, the primary African American to have each a study Bible and a full Bible commentary bearing his name, has called on others to be accountable.
In 2021, in an interview with Religion News Service, he spoke of how he “corrected” gospel musician Kirk Franklin, who then apologized for an obscenity-laced audio that was released by Franklin’s oldest son after the 2 had an argument.
Evans said at the moment that Franklin “was each challenged and corrected for that. And that’s a part of the accountability that each man needs in his life.”
Now, the pastor told the congregation that he’s entering a period of “spiritual recovery and healing.”
“During this season, I might be a worshiper such as you,” he said. “I actually have never loved you greater than I really like you right away, and I’m trusting God to walk me through this valley.”
