Texas pastor sparks outrage after telling women to 'lose 30 pounds' if they want chance at finding husband

Daily Mail UK ^ | December 17, 2025 | Laura Parnaby

[Morgana]

A divisive Texas pastor has sparked fury once again after telling young single women they must shed '20 to 30 pounds' to find a husband.

Joel Webbon, a senior leader at Covenant Bible Church in Austin and the founder of Righteous Response Ministries, found himself in hot water over remarks he made earlier this month.

During an episode of Righteous Response Ministries' livestream from December 3 titled 'Fertility, Beauty, & Submission,' he said: 'Here's the advice for young, single women who want to be married, and feel as though they are being passed over.

'The advice is, there are many things, many things that you can do, the chief thing of course being trusting the Lord, and making your desires of your heart known to the Lord in prayer.

'Say: God, I eagerly desire to be a wife and a mother, if it be your will, would you send me a husband? That's pivotal.

'Being in a good local church, where there are Godly men. Asking your father to help, talking to the elders to see if they might know of a single man who might be a compatible suitor.

'Here's another piece of advice, and people don't like it... lose 20 to 30 pounds.'

The video prompted a mixed response, with some people praising Webbon for giving practical advice, while others called him an 'incel' who does not 'respect women'.

But in a subsequent interview with the Houston Chronicle, Webbon doubled down and said: 'The Bible teaches women that they should be modest, but it doesn't teach that they should be frumpy.'

His comments sparked a barrage of criticism on social media platform X.

'You sir are despicable... your judging is unchristian,' one person wrote, while other women pledged to gain 30 pounds 'to keep men like this away'.

[Morgana]

He needs to lose about 50 pound between his ears.

[wbarmy]

What did he say that was wrong? The bible teaches us to not to be gluttons. The bible says we are to care about the desires of our spouse.

And how many people on FreeRepublic slam some of the leftist women who seem to have never met a calorie they didn’t want?

Was he careful in what he said, being thoughtful and loving? Not even a little, but he was not wrong.

[Right_Wing_Madman]

Texas pastor sparks outrage after telling women to 'lose 30 pounds' if they want chance at finding husband

The truth hurts.

[Raycpa]

You sir are despicable... your judging is unchristian,’ said the Christian.

[philman_36]

Some men like big women. Most don't.

If you don't want to lose weight then don't.
However, a big woman can't force a man who who likes little women to like them
and they shouldn't complain if they get passed over.
The trend is an indicator. If you aren't trending...here's your sign.

[Morgana]

I hate to use the “Not all” but that is true here. Not all women are over weight due to gluttony.

Some pile it on after child birth. Some due to medication/illness.

Then, I’d like to add that a lot of these men spouting this? Have beer bellies so big they look like they are about to head for the maternity ward. How about they practice what they preach?

[Candor7]

I can see his point:

There is a divine aspect to femininity.The Hebrews called it Shekinah

Let it shine.Frumpy or not.

[Morgana]

The Hebrews also had Leah and Rachel.

Mind you Leah was not “frumpy” just “legally blind” by today’s standards and not a perfect 10 like Rachel. However God remember Leah and gave both of her ovaries an extended magazine and Leah popped those babies out left and right, something Rachel could not do.

[roving]

According to Webbon, he is in charge of everything in his household, including when his children go to the bathroom

[Flaming Conservative]

So, losing 20 or 30 lbs is what this “pastor” thinks is important? That tells me where his mind and heart are. I’m guessing his wife is terrified of gaining any weight, for fear of him losing interest her. Besides, throughout history, it was desirable for women to be, basically, overweight, as a sign of health and prosperity.
https://www.kavisht.com/post/for-most-of-history-fat-was-beautiful-what-happened
What is true, is that men are attracted to hourglass figures, no matter how big the hourglass is. Woe be unto the unfortunate apple shaped woman, no matter how small the apple shape is.

[Morgana]

“including when his children go to the bathroom”

That sounds like child abuse. I’m sure we will hear more about this guy in the future.

[Flaming Conservative]

Shekinah refers to the glory of God, NOT anything to do with the glory of women.

[Morgana]

I’m going repeat something a man once told me and I’m sure our Laz here would agree with.

I was told.”making love to a skinny woman is like making love to a pile of sticks that is why men like full figured women”.

[philman_36]

Then, I’d like to add that a lot of these men spouting this? Have beer bellies so big they look like they are about to head for the maternity ward.

You're giving support to the preacher. Their ideal of marriageable women, despite their own weight issues, trends to smaller women.

Do you think a 20 year old man places a 40-50 year old woman as an ideal marriageable women?
Nobody can lose 20-30 years.

[Flaming Conservative]

My husband has a similar opinion.

[Morgana]

“You’re giving support to the preacher. Their ideal of marriageable women, despite their own weight issues, trends to smaller women.

Do you think a 20 year old man places a 40-50 year old woman as an ideal marriageable women?
Nobody can lose 20-30 years. “

I’ve noticed a lot of young people of both sexes are overweight these days. It’s the processed foods and the fact they eat at fast food places several times a day.

When I was growing up this did not happen. Moms made home cooked meals and we ate at MacDonald’s about once a week if that. There were obese kids at school but those were the kids who had some kind of illness making them that way. Now I see so many kids and young (boys and girls) adults obese.

[phil00071]

It’s very ironic that this story is being presented by the UK Daily Mail, a “newspaper” whose website is full of photos of shapely young women in bikinis.

[Candor7]

Shekinah refers to the glory of God, NOT anything to do with the glory of women.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

What you say holds a false presumption that the glory of God has a sexual nuance.

The Hebrew talmudic term “Shekinah” is often used to describe the divine aspect of women. (Such as Mary Magdelene and Mother Mary )

For example:

********************************************

Shekhina
Author Leonard Nimoy
Language English
Genre Photography
Publisher Umbrage Editions
Publication date
October 2002
ISBN 978-1-884-16716-4

Shekhina is a book of photography by Leonard Nimoy representing the feminine side of Jewish divinity as visualized via the imagery of women, with commentary on Jewish tradition and scripture provided by David Kuspit. The book received a certain amount of controversy for the perceived risqué nature of a number of the photographs with his use of nude and partly clad women donning a tallit and tefillin, Jewish prayer accessories traditionally worn by men.[1][2]

The title comes from the feminine Hebrew word shekhinah, meaning the glory or radiance of God, or God’s presence.

Nimoy, Leonard; Kuspit, Donald (Oct 2002). Shekhina. Umbrage Editions. p. 96. ISBN 9781884167164.

**************************

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shekhina_(book)

[MMusson]

I am constantly shocked by women telling me they are Trusting God to bring them their one and only.

God helps those who help themselves.

[55Ford]