A New Public Call from "Pastors and Friends" for Tullian Tchividjian to Leave the Ministry

Tchividjian image expastorA “group of pastors and friends” has publicly called on Tullian Tchividjian to step away completely from vocational ministry. This group maintains that Tchividjian has deceived them and engaged in disqualifying actions. This call follows the strongly worded statement from Kevin Labby, pastor of Willow Creek Presbyterian, which I published here last week. See the full statement below:

Dear Friends:

We join with others in expressing our shared grief regarding these latest allegations, as well as our thankfulness for the courageous women who came forward to tell their stories. We join our prayers together that they will receive the care and support that they need to heal and move forward in their lives.
In the wake of the initial revelation in June of 2015 that Tullian Tchividjian had engaged in an inappropriate sexual relationship, a group of pastors and friends reached out to him in accordance with scripture’s clear admonition in Galatians 6:1–2:
 

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.


In the months that followed, we were encouraged that Tullian seemed committed to walking a path of healing and renewal through repentance under the authority of his church of membership. However, later disclosures, and these most recent allegations, cast grave doubts over the sincerity of this commitment.

Inasmuch as Tullian Tchividjian has habitually and impenitently used his public platform, his family’s good name, and the name of Christ for his own selfish ends, we believe that he has disqualified himself from any form of public vocational ministry.
For the sake of his eternal soul, we implore Tullian Tchividjian to repent of his wickedness and demonstrate his repentance by submitting himself to the leadership of his church of membership, pursuing forgiveness, healing, and reconciliation with those whom he has sinned against.
We send our plea to Tullian in a spirit of gentleness and with broken hearts.
May Christ have mercy.
Pastor R.J. Grunewald
Pastor Kevin Labby
Pastor Matt Popovits
Pastor Donovan Riley
Pastor Chris Rosebrough
Pastor Scotty Smith*
Paul David Tripp
Mrs. Elyse Fitzpatrick
Mrs. Kimm Crandall

For undisclosed reasons, Scotty Smith dropped out of this effort.
Apparently, David C. Cook Publishing is staying with plans to publish Tchividjian’s next book.