North Texas pastor fired after admitting ‘inappropriate relationship,’ church leaders say

A North Texas lead pastor has been removed from his position after admitting to “an inappropriate relationship.”

Leaders of Trinity Bible Church of Dallas announced the firing of Steve Lawson, effective immediately, in a statement Thursday. Lawson has been “removed indefinitely” from his ministry activities and will no longer be compensated by the church.

According to the statement, Lawson recently admitted to church elders that he’d had an inappropriate relationship with a woman.

“We would ask for your prayers for the elders, for our Body, and for Steve and his family,” the statement reads.

Lawson served as a pastor in Alabama and Arkansas for 34 years before coming to Dallas, according to his bio on the church’s website. He’s also authored 28 books.

Lawson’s removal from the pulpit is the latest in a string of scandals that have rocked North Texas churches over the past several months.

Around two weeks ago the senior pastor of Lake Country Church in Fort Worth was terminated after allegations surfaced that he’d been looking at inappropriate images. Scott Crenshaw’s attorney called the claims “baseless,” and said that Crenshaw was wrongfully let go from his position.

Robert Morris, the senior pastor and founder of Gateway Church in Southlake, resigned in June amid allegations of sexual abuse. Cindy Clemishire, who is now in her 50s, told the religious watchdog blog The Wartburg Watch that Morris abused her for four years in Oklahoma and Texas beginning when she was 12 and Morris was 21.

In August, Gateway Church campus pastor Kemtal Glasgow was terminated due to a “moral issue,” the church said.

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