In a troubling development for the North Texas religious community, another prominent Dallas-area pastor has resigned following allegations of “inappropriate and hurtful” behavior. This marks the latest in a series of high-profile departures from local megachurches amid accusations of personal misconduct.
Josiah Anthony, the lead pastor at Cross Timbers Church, stepped down after church elders determined his recent actions were disqualifying. Church elder John Chalk cited “unexplained events and circumstances” over the past few years as factors leading to Anthony’s ouster, although specific details about the allegations have not yet been disclosed.
In a sermon broadcast on Sunday and since removed from Cross Timbers’ Facebook page, Chalk revealed that Anthony had been struggling with emotional and mental health issues, which had negatively impacted his conduct towards current and former members of the church and its staff.
Efforts to reach Anthony for comment were unsuccessful, and Chalk did not respond to media inquiries.
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Cross Timbers founding pastor Toby Slough urged the congregation to remain steadfast in their faith, expressing gratitude for the “Lord’s” support during this challenging time. The church, which has approximately 5,000 members, is currently led by interim pastor Byron Copeland.
Copeland, who previously served for two decades at Gateway Church, has stepped in as the temporary lead pastor. Gateway Church recently faced scrutiny after its founder, Robert Morris, admitted to “inappropriate sexual behavior” with a 12-year-old, which lasted for five years. Following this revelation, Morris’ son and daughter-in-law, both high-ranking pastors at Gateway, also resigned.
Complicating matters, Copeland himself was previously accused of sexual harassment complaints while at Gateway. A lawsuit alleges that Copeland confronted a former administrative assistant, who was battling cancer, and threatened her when she reported harassment by another pastor. Copeland later issued an apology via Slack.
As of Monday morning, all of Josiah Anthony’s sermons have been removed from the Cross Timbers YouTube page. His resignation is part of a broader trend this year, with at least six pastors in the Dallas-Fort Worth area facing removal over serious allegations.
