Tullian Tchividjian Files for Divorce

Timothy C. Morgan, columnist for Christianity Today, has the not so surprising story of the break-up of a marriage that came about because both the husband and the wife committed the sin of adultery:

Tullian on sin

Tullian Tchividjian, Billy Graham’s grandson, filed for divorce on Thursday in Broward County, Florida.

Tchividjian resigned as senior pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale earlier this summer after admitting an extramarital affair. He has since lost his ministerial credentials.

There was little public information available about the divorce filing. Under Florida law, one party must establish that the marriage is “irretrievably broken” in order for the union to be dissolved. Tullian and his wife, Kim, married in 1994 and have three children.

Tchividjian, who is the petitioner in the case, did not respond to a request for comment. Today [Aug. 26], author-pastor Paul Tripp, a friend and counselor to Tchividjian, said in a statement that for six months much effort was made in “hope of healing the marriage,” but he said it was too “deeply broken.”

On August 11, the South Florida Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) deposed Tchividjian, ruling him unfit for Christian ministry.

Tchividjian must display an “eminently exemplary, humble and edifying life and testimony” for an extended period of time before he can return to ministry, according PCA’s Book of Church Order.

The presbytery says it will continue to offer pastoral care to Tchividjian:

Our goal in doing this is to both protect the integrity of the church from which his credentials were given while, at the same time, wrapping Tullian in the grace offered by Jesus Christ to all those who confess sin, pursue repentance and desire restoration.

Coral Ridge also removed their former pastor’s sermons from the church website and shut down Liberate.org, Tchividjian’s ministry.

The church explained that decision in an online statement:

In order to continue to protect Pastor Tullian and his family, as well as the integrity of the message he preached, we have decided to pull his sermons for the foreseeable future. Unfortunately, we have already seen the misuse of his messages in the media and on the Internet. We will be prayerfully considering how and when they can be available again at an appropriate time so that they can be used to declare and demonstrate the liberating power of the Gospel. We appreciate your patience and prayers during this time.  Continue Reading

Related

Tullian Tchividjian: Christianity is about Good News for Bad People

Billy Graham’s grandson steps down from Florida megachurch after admitting an affair

Must read: Whey the ‘P’ word is apparently not Presbyterianism — by Carl Trueman

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One Response to Tullian Tchividjian Files for Divorce

  1. edwitness September 2, 2015 at 6:14 am #

    It seems they are listening to God’s voice in this matter. Unlike the Catholic church, who covers up the debauchery in it’s ranks. There is no power in Catholicism because they worship iodols and teach doctrines of devils. Those at Coral Ridge are doing the right and Christian thing.
    Blessings:-}

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