Posted on 09/20/2024 2:46:38 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
These scandals have been increasing in the leaderships of Evangelical Churches lately.
A Texas pastor known for his fiery preaching and frequent appearances alongside John MacArthur has been removed from ministry after an alleged "inappropriate relationship" with an unidentified woman.
Steve Lawson, the 73-year-old lead preacher at Trinity Bible Church of Dallas and president of OnePassion Ministries, informed the church's elders about the relationship, according to a statement released by the church.
"The elders have met with Steve and will continue to come alongside him and pray for him with the ultimate goal of his personal repentance," the statement reads. "Steve will no longer be compensated by Trinity Bible Church of Dallas."
“In light of this, may we be reminded that we are ALL sinners, and Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners — and Christ remains Head of His Church, which is bigger than any fallen man," the statement adds. "The Lord was building Trinity Bible Church of Dallas well before Steve became our Lead Preacher, and He will continue to build this church long after Steve Lawson, or any other man for that matter."
Lawson holds a master of theology from Dallas Theological Seminary and a doctor of ministry from Reformed Theological Seminary. His information has been removed from the leadership page of the church's website.
Lawson also resigned from "all his duties at OnePassion Ministries," according to a statement posted on the OnePassion website that describes his actions as "a sin that has disqualified him from ministry."
"Pastor Steve has confessed and regrets the damage he has caused to his family, the church, the reputation of OnePassion Ministries and most of all Jesus Christ," the statement read. "We are saddened for the glory of Christ in this matter. The truth of the gospel will continue [to] go out to the lost world as it is empowered by the Holy Spirit and not by men. It is a reminder that we have been warned of the craftiness of the enemy."
The statement concluded with 1 Peter 5:8: "Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour."
Lawson has dedicated more than 40 years to ministry and is a prominent figure in the Reformed/Calvinist Evangelicalism movement.
He formerly served as a teaching fellow at Ligonier Ministries, working with R.C. Sprout, and as the dean of Doctor of Ministry Studies at The Master's Seminary but has since been removed from both websites.
A frequent speaker with MacArthur at TMS events, Lawson often appeared in front of MacArthur's congregation at Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, for The Sheperds Conference and other events.
His page on the Grace Community Church website remained active as of Friday.
Additionally, Lawson has written over 30 books, including It Will Cost You Everything: What it Takes to Follow Jesus and Foundations of Grace: A Long Line of Godly Men.
Lawson has been married to his wife, Anne, for over 40 years. They have four adult children.
Lawson's resignation is the latest in what's been a year of scandal for pastors in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.
* In June, Tony Evans, pastor of the 11,000-member Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship church in Dallas, stepped down from his pastoral duties "due to sin."
* Days later, Robert Morris, founding pastor of Gateway Church based in Southlake, resigned as lead pastor following allegations of sexual misconduct. Morris founded the congregation in 2000.
* Over the summer, Lead Pastor Josiah Anthony of Cross Timbers Church resigned over sexual messaging with women and other inappropriate behavior, which sparked a chain of resignations from other Cross Timbers leaders.
* Earlier this month, Scott Crenshaw, the senior pastor of Lake Country Church in Fort Worth, Texas, was fired and accused of looking at "inappropriate images," an allegation which Crenshaw called "absolutely baseless."
It's the second such allegation against Crenshaw since 2016, when, while recovering from cancer and serving as senior pastor of the multi-campus New River Church in Texas, he was removed from his post for "viewing inappropriate images" on his computer while he was at work.
THERE IS NO PRIVACY ANY LONGER, and just one click, one visit of a website will expose your private proclivities to the public!
See Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson’s case as an example:
Because of this, North Carolina just might elect a Democrat for Governor.
Or this was manufactured. Old trick.
I have noticed this happening on sports teams too.
Move a few key people out and pretty soon, damned if everyone aint a commie!
We’re under assault.
No surprise here. Religious leaders and sex issues. They have the same human instincts as anyone and think that they are immune somehow. Some are frighteningly sick. My personal (witness) was Robert Moorehead of Overlake Christian mega church in Washington state back in 1992ish. Underneath his Jesus mask he was a creepy dude.
Well, this particular case being manufactured ( like the rape allegations by EJ Carroll against Trump ), looks unlikely.
According to the article:
Steve Lawson, the 73-year-old lead preacher at Trinity Bible Church of Dallas and president of OnePassion Ministries, informed the church’s elders about the relationship, according to a statement released by the church.
Maybe.
Awful lot of coincidence these days.
There seems to be one of these type of stories everyday!
Wonder if the woman was over 21?
My wife and I have an understanding. I don’t have “inappropriate relationships” with other women and she doesn’t kill me in my sleep and bury me in our pasture.
We’ve been happily monogamous for almost 40 years now and so far she hasn’t had any cause to bury me in our pasture.
yep.
How different this is than the Roman abusive priests, who hid the multiple abuse as long as they could silence the victims, then were protected by bishops and shuffled to a new field of young boys.
Great Mr. Lawson came clean and great the elders removed him. That's what should happen.
THERE IS NO PRIVACY ANY LONGER........
....
Yep one click with your cell phone and you have
evidence to share with the world. Devices now
have the ability to track you as you move about.
ping
No it doesn’t
Ah, the 53 Million explains the 73 year old guy getting some in the side. I understand now.
At the same time I read evangelicals are dumping Trump for Harris.
No excuses here. He should be removed. Most likely will not come back as a big time leader, overseer, etc....but....it is a huge battle...if he had some testosterone in his blood, and his wife had less estrogen...he was gonna’ have problems...being on the road, lonely, etc...”24 hours from Tulsa” syndrome...I pray he can somehow heal all the hurt he put out..and he gets Gods forgiveness..King David did much worse.
Well, The parishioners lose their church? It seems to be a given in my for a Catholic Church. Why?
Christians are not immune to sin- it happens-
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