Lead pastor who took leave over messages with woman is welcomed back to Texas church
A Texas megachurch is celebrating the return of their lead pastor after he took a leave of absence over his frequent, inappropriate messages with a woman who was not his wife.
Pastor Matt Chandler’s leave began in August, after he and elders of The Village Church addressed the congregation over his online messages with the woman.
“While the messages were not romantic or sexual in nature, the frequency and familiarity of the messages crossed a line,” The Village Church said in an Aug. 28 statement. “They revealed that (he) did not use language appropriate for a pastor, and he did not model a behavior that we expect from him.”
Chandler admitted he “fell short,” and that his messages were “unwise,” McClatchy News previously reported. He agreed with the elders that a “disciplinary and developmental” leave of absence was necessary.
The church did not layout a timeline for when Chandler might return, as it depended on Chandler’s “development” during his leave.
In a letter to the church on Dec. 1, which was obtained by The Roys Report, the elders said “Matt has completed everything asked of him with submissiveness, steadfastness, and humility.”
They announced he would return to preaching on Sunday, Dec. 4 — just two days after his 20th anniversary of becoming lead pastor.
“Although we did not work toward this date as a target for Matt’s return, we did not think it was appropriate to delay Matt’s return to avoid it falling on the anniversary,” the elders wrote. “We decided to stay true to the plan for Matt to return when the goals were met, and we embrace the beautiful coincidence of the timing.”
When Chandler returned to the church stage, he received resounding cheers and a standing ovation, as seen in a recording of the sermon livestream shared to YouTube.
“I very much know that the Christian life’s a marathon, and there are times in that run where you’re uphill in the snow and not sure if you’re going to make it,” he said when first addressing his congregation. “And then there are other times you’re running downhill in the sun and it feels like nothing could ever hinder your love for Jesus and your bold witness.”
“And if in my foolishness, I created any more weight on you or made this any more difficult on you, please forgive me,” he continued.
During his leave, he said he participated in “intensives” — counseling sessions with professionals who specialize in Christian leadership — and a neurological exam, according to the New York Times. Chandler had brain cancer in 2009 and had his right frontal lobe taken out, he said.
A church spokesperson told the Times there’s no evidence his cancer returned, according to the newspaper.
In his message to the church, Chandler said he ensured his brain is OK, though he doesn’t have any big takeaways from his leave just yet.
“I honestly feel like I’m fresh out of surgery or something,” he said. “It’s a little too tender, I’m not sure how it moves just yet. But I think in time all that the Lord has done and accomplished, I’ll be able to vocalize if the Lord wants me to.”
The church elders then joined Chandler in prayer and restoring him to church leadership.
In comparing his return to an athlete who might have needed knee surgery, the elders said he is now “good to go.” And he doesn’t need to be timid, wondering if his “knee” is good.
“We are saying as elders with the affirmation of others who have looked in, brother the knee’s good ... we want you to run free.”
The Village Church is a Baptist church in Flower Mound, part of the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area. McClatchy News reached out to the church for statement on Dec. 5 and did not immediately hear back.
Chandler began following Jesus when he turned 17, and he said he plans to stay with the church for a long time. He is married and has three children.
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