Mystery as married Texas megachurch pastor steps down over 'inappropriate behavior'

A joined Texan megachurch pastor has stepped down successful a unreality of enigma surrounding alleged 'inappropriate behavior'. 

Cross Timbers Church successful nan Fort Worth suburb of Argyle announced nan resignation of lead pastor Josiah Anthony successful vague position complete nan weekend. 

Elder John Chalk told nan congregation 'events and circumstances' involving Anthony person unfolded complete nan 'past fewer years'.

'Josiah has been successful a prolonged and sustained play of struggle pinch his affectional and intelligence wellness which has been very achy for him and those astir him,' Chalk told nan flock. 

'Throughout this struggle, immoderate of Josiah's decisions and actions were inappropriate and hurtful to existent and erstwhile members of nan CT family and staff.' 

Chalk added that Anthony was not 'forthcoming and transparent' pinch nan religion unit and authorities.    

'Once each of this came to ray complete nan past fewer weeks, it became evident that Josiah could not proceed to service arsenic our lead pastor,' he said. 

Chalk said nan elders had asked Anthony to resign and he agreed. 

The inappropriate behaviour appears not to beryllium a constabulary matter, arsenic Argyle cops said they had 'no knowledge of nan circumstances surrounding changes' successful nan church. 

Anthony started moving for Cross Timbers Church, which has a congregation of 5,000, arsenic a student pastor successful 2014. 

Over nan adjacent 9 years he roseate done nan ranks to Senior Pastor successful March 2022, according to his LinkedIn. 

Anthony's floor plan has been removed from nan religion website but his speeches to nan congregation are still visible connected nan YouTube page.   

Cross Timbers executive pastor Byron Copeland is serving arsenic interim lead pastor successful Anthony's absence. 

Copeland antecedently worked for nan recently embattled Gateway Church in Southlake - 1 of nan biggest megachurches successful nan country. 

The laminitis and elder pastor of nan church, Robert Morris, was accused of sexually abusing his erstwhile family friend Cindy Clemishire successful nan 1980s erstwhile she was 12. 

Lawyers for nan erstwhile belief advisor to Donald Trump initially tried to pin nan blasted connected nan kid for 'getting into furniture pinch him', but he yet admitted nan abuse. 

Cross Timbers' impermanent pastor Copeland was besides named successful a abstracted 2023 suit against Gateway Church complete alleged civilian authorities violations. 

According to nan lawsuit, 'Pastor Copeland backed [the plaintiff] into a area of nan room they were successful and threatened to occurrence her if she didn't unopen up and extremity stirring up drama.'