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Pastor Tony Evans restored to ministry more than a year after disclosing moral failure

By Giles Hudson

/ CBS Texas

Tony Evans, the founding pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship, has been restored to ministry over a year after confessing to an undisclosed moral failure.

The announcement was made during the Sunday service on Oct. 5. Evans will not be serving or leading at Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship, the church said.

Church affirms restoration process

"In alignment with biblical principles and unanimous affirmation of the elder board, Dr. Evans has successfully completed this restoration journey," said Chris Wheel, the church's associate pastor for outreach, during a service billed as "Restoration Sunday."

As the announcement was made, Evans walked onto the church's platform to a standing ovation and thunderous applause from the congregation.

Evans thanked those who supported him

In a post to his YouTube page, Evans thanked the leaders, congregants and supporters who have stood by him this past year.

"As you know, this last year has been an extremely challenging time - a time of being separated from what I love most - the proclamation of God's word," Evans said. "A lot of that was due to my own fault, and I had to go through a period of repentance and restoration so that healing could take place."

During the service on Sunday, church leaders praised Evans for how he handled his moral failure.

"Dr. Evans acknowledged in a public statement falling short of God's standard and a need to submit to the church's discipline and restoration process," Wheel said. "We are pleased to report that Dr. Evans has fully submitted to the church's discipline and restoration process."

Evans, a former chaplain for the Dallas Cowboys and the Dallas Mavericks, stepped down in June 2024. In his video statement, Evans said he was grateful for the support of his wife and children.

"The good news," Evans said, "is our God is a god of restoration."

The church announced that Evans' son, Jonathan, is expected to take over as the new lead pastor.

Context follows recent church scandal

The news about Evans comes just three days after Robert Morris, the founding pastor at Gateway Church in Southlake, entered a guilty plea in Oklahoma to child sexual abuse charges. 

Morris is currently serving six months of a 10-year sentence in the Osage County Jail.

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