During Sunday service, a Cross Timbers Church elder elaborated on reports of 鈥渋nappropriate,鈥� 鈥渟exual鈥� and 鈥渘on-consensual鈥� communication from a now-former senior pastor Josiah Anthony.
Church leadership announced Anthony鈥檚 resignation in late July saying the former pastor had inappropriate communication on social media with a woman who was a former church member.
This communication was non-sexual, church leaders said. 鈥淲e were sharing what we knew to be true at the time,鈥� Elder Jon Sullivan .
Since his resignation, Sullivan said the elders learned some communications were sexual in nature.
鈥淯pon further investigation, we discovered that Josiah was not forthcoming or transparent and had a concerning pattern of communicating inappropriately with women.鈥�
On July 2, Sullivan said elders were informed of inappropriate communication that was not sexual in nature but 鈥渆xcessively personal鈥� and 鈥渙verly familiar鈥� with a former staff member.
The elders asked for his resignation, which Anthony submitted and the elders 鈥渋mmediately鈥� accepted.
On July 29, Sullivan said the elders learned about inappropriate comments Anthony made that were of a sexual nature in social media messages.
鈥淲e were not aware of those interactions when we asked him to resign or announced his resignation to you last Sunday,鈥� Sullivan told the congregation.
Church leaders did not receive any reports regarding Anthony of inappropriate interactions with minors, Sullivan said.
Sullivan said that while a staff member publicly used the term 鈥渁ffair鈥� to describe Anthony鈥檚 messages, the church does not consider the communication to be instances of emotional affairs.
鈥淎n affair, whether emotional or physical, requires consent,鈥� Sullivan said. 鈥淭hese interactions could not be consensual because of the unequal power dynamic created by Josiah鈥檚 position as a pastor in the church. This imbalance of power makes these interactions especially grievous for us and that behavior will not be tolerated in the church.鈥�
The Denton Record-Chronicle contacted Cross Timbers Church Monday to inquire whether the church also believed the messages were 鈥渘on-consensual鈥� in a legal sense.
The church responded with the statement that was previously sent to church members last week and a video of the recent Sunday service, but did not immediately respond to the specific inquiry.
The Argyle Police Department has not received any reports alleging criminal activity by Anthony and does not have any open investigations regarding the leadership change at Cross Timbers Church, Police Chief Emmitt Jackson said Monday afternoon.
Church leadership thanked the women for making 鈥渢he very difficult decision鈥� to come forward.
鈥淲e鈥檙e honored that they trusted us,鈥� Sullivan said.
Founder Toby Slough will serve as the interim lead pastor as the church searches for a permanent replacement.