Josiah Anthony, the senior pastor at Cross Timbers Church in Argyle, Texas, has stepped down from his position amid allegations of inappropriate sexual communications with women. Initially, the church elders characterized Anthony’s actions as “excessively personal and overly familiar,” but not sexual. However, subsequent investigations revealed that some of the messages were indeed sexually explicit.
The church elders announced Anthony’s resignation last month, acknowledging a “concerning pattern of behavior.” They also conceded that their initial communication about the situation was flawed, leading to misunderstandings and confusion among the church members.
John Chalk, one of the church elders, addressed the congregation, assuring them that the church was not trying to conceal the truth. He stated, “We shared with you what we knew to be true at the time.” He also acknowledged that the church should have been more transparent and direct in their communication about the situation.
In the past, Anthony had publicly shared his mental health struggles during his sermons. Chalk recognized that this might 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 issued an apology on behalf of a former staff member who had referred to Anthony’s actions as “emotional affairs.” He stressed 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 reassured 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.