Florida Church Defends Decision to Hire Tullian Tchividjian after he Admitted to Affair

Veronica Neffinger | iBelieve Contributor | Updated: Sep 03, 2015

Florida Church Defends Decision to Hire Tullian Tchividjian after he Admitted to Affair

Willow Creek Presbyterian Church in Florida is defending its decision to hire Tullian Tchividjian.

After being deposed from his position as senior pastor at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church due to an affair, Tullian Tchividjian has accepted a new position with Willow Creek Presbyterian Church as director of ministry development.

Willow Creek asserts that, although the South Florida Presbytery has barred Tchividjian from holding the position of teaching elder due to his extramarital affair, it did not bar him from being involved in ministry in other capacities.

Christian Today reports that Willow Creek is excited to welcome Tchividjian to the church and that his position as director of ministry development will involve serving the homeless and those in need within the church and the community.

Tchividjian stated a few weeks ago in a Facebook post that he was concerned about providing for his family since he had to step down from Coral Ridge. Willow Creek has said that it is glad to be able to partner with Tchividjian and help support his family by offering him the position.

"Tullian is not new to our church family,” Willow Creek Pastor Kevin Labby said. “He and his family attended Willow Creek years ago, during his seminary studies. He has friends here, and so his re-entry into our community during this difficult time seems quite appropriate and natural. We simply want to care and help provide for him and, by extension, his family.”

Labby went on to say that he believes Tchividjian is showing genuine signs of remorse and repentance over his sin.

Although Tchividjian is receiving a welcome reception from those within Willow Creek, others outside the church and on social media have mixed feelings about his re-entry into ministry.

Publication date: September 3, 2015



Florida Church Defends Decision to Hire Tullian Tchividjian after he Admitted to Affair