Bob Coy, at Liberty University's convocation in 2013.
Posted on 04/08/2014 8:16:22 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
In a stunning revelation Sunday senior officials of the Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale, one of the largest and fastest growing churches in the United States, announced that their popular founding pastor Bob Coy, 58, has resigned after "confessing to a moral failing."
An official statement on the resignation from the Florida church revealed that Coy confessed his failing to the church's leadership team last Thursday and resigned immediately after that.
"On April 3, 2014, Bob Coy resigned as senior pastor of Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale, effective immediately, after confessing to a moral failing in his life which disqualifies him from continuing his leadership role at the church he has led since its founding in 1985. The media ministry of the Active Word that distributes his Bible teachings through radio, television and digital media has also been suspended," began the statement from the church.
"Pastor Bob will be focusing his full attention on his personal relationship with God and with his family. The governing board of the church is providing counselors and ministers who will help guide him through the process of full repentance, cleansing and restoration," it continued.
The senior pastor resigned after he confessed to leaders at the church that he had cheated on his wife, Diane, according to a Local 10.com report.
Anne Marie Giri, who said she was in attendance at the church when officials made the announcement to the congregation on Sunday, noted on Facebook that Coy apologized to the church for his failings through a letter to the church.
"The official announcement was made to the church congregation today (Sunday), which I attended. They read a letter from pastor Bob apologizing for his moral failings and announced that he was stepping down. A letter by the board of directors was also read which addressed the change in leadership," she explained.
"After the announcement we had some worship and prayer. The pastors stayed around to answer questions. Everyone was visibly upset, but we need to remember it is Jesus Christ who is our leader and not man," she continued.
Despite the shock at Coy's failings, however, many responded to the announcement on Calvary's Facebook page with grace.
"Sometimes God allows us to fall hard enough so He can show you who's God. I hope Bob uses this situation as a stepping stone to grow closer to our real Father. Who knows best and controls all! My heart goes out to Bob and his family, and may he return with an awesome life story we can all learn from!" noted Nick Kaloyios.
"I will keep him and his family in my prayers! It is so sad! We are all human and fall short! I have been truly blessed by Calvary Chapel and will be ever grateful! It truly breaks my heart, the suffering they must be going through! I have taken my eyes off the Lord too many times to count! But I am so blessed that we have an Awesome God, full of mercy and grace!" said Michelle Gilchrist.
In his testimony about his conversion in a CBN report, Coy explained how his brother introduced him to the Gospel after a wild party at work during Christmas in 1980. His job at the time, he explains, was managing an all nude girls revue for a casino in Las Vegas.
"I was probably living in the worst way I ever had," he said of the time.
He explained how his brother had shared a Bible with him, and although he reluctantly began reading it in private, God saved him that Christmas.
"I pick up the Bible, and I started reading the Gospel of John. I get to John 3:16, and at that very moment, something begins to break inside my heart. That breaking inside of my heart is so genuine and so true that I just begin to weep," he said.
"At that very point, God reached down from heaven and He saved me. I prayed that prayer, and I've never been the same. It's like, wow. The next morning I wake up and everything's changed in my life and in my heart," he shared.
After that, he said: "I drove back to the casino, and I walked in. I looked around and I saw naked girls. It was like, oh, I work here? Oh, boy. God began to convict me in such a gentle and lovely way that I don't belong here. It's time to make a change in my life."
for later
I hope nobody goes in pride saying "Nothing like that will happen to me" because it is only through grace that e are saved and by grace that we can withstand temptation.
I'm sure he realizes the hurt he has caused those who loved him most but I hope, too, that none should cast their stones at him for none but Christ alone can keep any of us from falling into the same trap.
I’d have a hard time making it in that business. I have moral failings just about daily.
Moral failings: caught in bed with a live boy or a dead girl.
Public scandal warrants condemnation and removal of those in authority. Christ will forgive or not. We live in this world where example counts and this guy is a BAD example! OUT!
Excellent comments!
In Vietnam while in the bush our officers wore their "bars" under the points of their collars. We never saluted them nor said "Sir". Officers and platoon sergeants avoiding pointing out landmarks.
We field radio operators often ran the "tape" antenna (built like a stack of 2 or 3 tape measure blades) down alongside our packs and the coiled handset cord down a sleeve.
The enemy targeted the leadership, communications and machine gunners. I knew three Assistant Gunners, the guys who fed the belts of ammo into the gun, who were deaf in one ear because the gunner had been blown away with an RPG.
Machine guns "talking" to each other in a firefight are a bit harder to disguise than officers or radio operators.
**His job at the time, he explains, was managing an all nude girls revue for a casino in Las Vegas. ***
How come “I” never landed a job like that! No-o-o! I always landed a job working in a steel shop, covered with steel grinding burrs and slag, sour sweat, or even coal dust or coal ash.
You ever try to pick up a girl while blowing black trash out of your nose?
Manager of nude ‘all girl’s revue’, Las Vegas casino
Senior pastor, large Florida church, now unemployed.
Those darn Koch brothers ...
Since the beginning of time the enemy has always targeted the leaders, especially in combat. Kill the leaders and the followers will die off. Priests/pastors are the leaders of the church. No priests/pastors (morality authority) and the Christian faith is irrelevant.
So what exactly is “ ‘Moral Failing’ “. Is it any thing like Jimmy Swaggert’s “I have sinned”?
See post #11 I just had to ask, had to ask.
“Moral failings: caught in bed with a live boy or a dead girl.”
A dead girl? Really?
RE: So what exactly is “ ‘Moral Failing’ “. Is it any thing like Jimmy Swaggert’s “I have sinned”?
I think this sentence in the article tells us what it is :
“The senior pastor resigned after he confessed to leaders at the church that he had cheated on his wife, Diane.”
Yea that’s what Swaggart did.
Only I’ve learned after Swaggart and Bakker that it’s best if these TV preachers step down on their own rather than face a big scandal in the press.
Better yet you’d think they’d take notes off of Billy Graham and avoid scandal.
I am very familiar with Calvary Chapels and have been to his church several times over the years for conferences and events...
Bob Coy is a wonderful pastor, great teacher and leader...
So sad the enemy managed to deceive him and resulted in a moral failings
I know he will be back stronger than ever and continue to be the great pastor and leader that he was...
“A dead girl? Really?”
Old political joke attributed to Edwin Edwards:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwin_Edwards
Did he ‘fess up because he’s sorry, or is he just sorry he got caught?
Smart enemy, and we may need a page from their playbook. When TSHTF, those GIVING THE ORDERS and THE ENEMEDIA should be the primary targets of the machine gunners.
The enemy? No, Coy made the choice all by himself.
Ultimately, Coy made the decision to sin...The enemy put the temptation out there...
1Pe 5:8...Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
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