Denison Forum
Biblical Living
Dr. Jim Denison
Dr. Tony Evans, the highly respected pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas, made headlines with his recent announcement that he was stepping down from his pastoral duties for a “healing and restoration” time.
He told his congregation, “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.” He added: “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.”
Dr. Evans wrote: “While I have committed no crime, I did not use righteous judgment in my actions.” He is therefore submitting to a restoration process established by the church elders to afford him “a needed time of spiritual recovery and healing.”
While Dr. Evans has clearly not been convicted of a crime, his decision to step down from his pastoral duties raises the question: can pastors be restored after moral failure? What does the Bible say? What guidelines should churches and pastors follow today? More Here
