ARGYLE, Texas — During a sermon Sunday, Cross Timbers Church announced the resignation of lead pastor Josiah Anthony, citing "inappropriate and hurtful" actions.
Cross Timbers officials in a statement to WFAA on Monday clarified that Anthony's alleged actions "does not include any children, physical or sexual interactions or any illegal activity to our knowledge."
Elder John Chalk addressed the change in broad terms at the church Sunday, mostly reading from a written statement addressing Anthony's resignation. The church has since removed a recording of the sermon from its Facebook page.
"Josiah has been in a prolonged and sustained season of struggle with his emotional and mental health which has been very painful for him and those around him," Chalk said to the congregation. "Throughout this struggle, some of Josiah’s decisions and actions were inappropriate and hurtful to current and former members of the CT family and staff."
"Events and circumstances" involving Anthony have occurred over the "past few years," Chalk told congregants.
"During this time, Josiah was not forthcoming and transparent with the staff and the elder board," Chalk said during his sermon. "Once all of this came to light over the last few weeks, it became evident that Josiah could not continue to serve as our lead pastor."
Church elders asked Anthony to resign and he agreed, according to Chalk.
Anthony began working for Cross Timbers church as a student pastor in 2014. Over nine years, he worked his way up to become Senior Pastor, a position he has held since March 2022, according to Anthony's LinkedIn.
Anthony did not offer a comment to WFAA when contacted Sunday. The Argyle Police Department told WFAA there are no open investigations related to Cross Timbers Church. The department has no "knowledge of the circumstances surrounding changes to their leadership team," Argyle police said in a statement.
Byron Copeland, currently executive pastor at Cross Timbers, will serve as interim lead pastor, Chalk announced. According to Copeland's LinkedIn, he worked for the recently embattled Gateway Church for nearly 20 years from 2003 to 2023.
Copeland was also named in a 2023 lawsuit against Gateway Church alleging civil rights violations. According to the lawsuit, "Pastor Copeland backed [the plaintiff] into a corner of the room they were in and threatened to fire her if she didn’t shut up and stop stirring up drama."
After Chalk read the statement, the church's founding pastor Toby Slough addressed the congregation asking them to stick with the church.
"As you process through the reality of this day, in the context of quite honestly what we’re hearing on the news... my prayer is that we would let unchanging truth be our guiding light, even when it doesn’t feel that way," Chalk said through tears.
He also thanked "the individuals who had the courage to speak to our elders about some challenges that they had had, with grace and integrity" and praised church elders for taking action.
"I'm grateful the Lord is near to the brokenhearted," Slough told the congregation.