Willow Creek branch pastor resigns, admits to 'sexual impurity'

[leekohler]

Down goes another one. :rolleyes: Some day, this will be over and not such a big deal. I'm guessing this guy was caught with another guy, but it could have been extra-marital too, I suppose. Either way, it's silly.

The pastor of Willow Creek Chicago -- the city campus of the evangelical megachurch known as Willow Creek Community Church -- has resigned and admitted to "sexual impurity," according to a church spokesman.

Rev. Steve Wu moved from California's Silicon Valley in early 2006, hired by senior pastor Rev. Bill Hybels to lead Willow Creek Chicago, the urban branch of the South Barrington-based church.
Under Wu, Willow Creek Chicago began holding Sunday services at the historic Auditorium Theatre in October 2006, becoming Willow Creek's fifth campus. Willow Creek Community Church is one of the most influential evangelical churches in the nation with more than 20,000 members.

A church elder read a statement to the Willow Chicago congregation on Jan. 25 announcing Wu's resignation, saying the pastor "admitted to sexual impurity and has taken full responsibility for his sin. He has expressed a desire to participate in a restoration process."

The statement also said that Todd Katter has agreed to serve as interim campus pastor while the church searches for Wu's replacement, according to Willow's director of communication Ted Allen Miller.

"We would ask you to pray diligently for Steve in these difficult days," the statement said.

When asked for further information, Miller said the statement was the extent of what the church is able to communicate at this time.

http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/02/willow-creek-branch-pastor-resigns-admits-to-sexual-impurity.html

[Dont Hurt Me]

20,000 member = lots of $$$. Religion is a big business and I wont say much more except maybe I should start selling some too.:cool:

[floyde]

I'm guessing this guy was caught with another guy, but it could have been extra-marital too, I suppose. Either way, it's silly.

Or he just masturbated. That would make it even sillier.

[kainjow]

Another one bites the dust.

[tobefirst]

What is sad about this, in my opinion, is that he felt the need, or was pressured, to be perfect. Sadly, sexual sin is not something that one can admit to inside of the church. At least not if you're in any kind of leadership role. There should be more authenticity and transparency encouraged and accepted from the leaders in a religious organization.

[leekohler]

"And another one gone, and another one gone, another on bites the dust!"

WOW- they're dropping like flies.

http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid73069.asp

The son of homophobic Dallas megachurch pastor T.D. Jakes faces charges of indecent exposure after he was arrested in a gay sex sting in a public park last month, according to the Dallas Voice.

Twenty-nine-year-old Jermaine Donnell Jakes is accused of exposing himself in front of two male undercover detectives on January 3 at Keist Park.

Jakes was detained at the scene and then released, according to The Dallas Morning News. He turned himself in on Thursday and posted $1,000 bail.

T.D. Jakes heads Potters House, a 28,000-member church in south Dallas. He opposes marriage equality and has said he would never hire a sexually active gay person. While Jakes is an advocate for HIV/AIDS prevention and care, he backhandedly balks at criticism from other religious people who are put off by the disease's association with gays.

"Our focus right now is saving lives," he said to the Associated Press in 2007. "Tomorrow we can save souls."