Josiah Anthony, the lead pastor of Cross Timbers Church in Argyle, Texas, has resigned following allegations of inappropriate and unwanted sexual communications with women. The church elders initially described Anthony’s behavior as “excessively personal and overly familiar,” but not sexual. However, further investigation revealed that some of the messages were indeed sexual in nature.
The announcement of Anthony’s resignation was made last month, with the church elders acknowledging a “concerning pattern of behavior.” They also admitted to making mistakes in their initial communication about the situation, which they said led to assumptions and confusion among the congregation.
John Chalk, a church elder, addressed the congregation, stating, “Please know that we are trying not to hide it from you… we shared with you what we knew to be true at the time.” He also admitted that the church should have been more transparent and direct in their communication about the situation.
In the past, Anthony had openly discussed his struggles with mental health during his sermons. Chalk acknowledged that this may have given the impression that the church was excusing Anthony’s inappropriate behavior, which was not their intention. He expressed regret for any misunderstanding.
Chalk also apologized on behalf of a former staff member who had referred to Anthony’s actions as “emotional affairs.” He emphasized that the interactions between Anthony and the women were never consensual due to the power imbalance inherent in his leadership role within the church.
Chalk assured the congregation that such behavior would not be tolerated in their church, or in any church or ministry. He expressed deep regret for those who had been affected by Anthony’s actions.
The church elders are committed to making necessary changes and continuing the investigation into the situation. They are determined to ensure that such incidents do not occur in the future.