How to restore a fallen leader

As Tony Evans resigns from leading his megachurch following admission of sin, Justin Humphreys considers what a process of repentance, reparation and restoration should look like for fallen leaders

Recent times have seen a plethora of leaders in church and other Christian contexts ‘falling’ or ‘failing’ and either being removed or voluntarily removing themselves from their roles temporarily to enable some form of reparation and restoration to follow genuine repentance.

Earlier this month it was announced the popular US preacher Dr Tony Evans is stepping down from leading his Dallas megachurch. Few details were given as to why, but Dr Evans did state he had not committed any crimes, but rather his actions were taken “a number of years ago” and lacked “righteous judgement”. 

Hearing of Dr Evans’ case, along with so many others, is both challenging and encouraging to the wider Church. We are challenged because many of these individuals are known to us and loved by us and facing the reality of their failings, misdemeanours and sometimes crimes is difficult – especially when we have to contemplate that they weren’t necessarily the people we thought they were.