rom the moment Donald Trump launched his political career, evangelicals have been divided in their support. That tension surfaced again when Brooklyn megachurch pastor A.R. Bernard stepped down from the president’s Evangelical Advisory Board.
Bernard’s Statement of Resignation
On August 15, 2017, Bernard submitted his formal resignation and later posted his statement on Twitter.
“It became obvious that there was a deepening conflict in values between myself and the administration,” Bernard wrote. “I quietly stepped away from my involvement with the Board several months ago, and submitted my letter of formal resignation as of Tuesday.”
Bernard said he initially joined in hopes of influencing the president on issues of faith and urban ministry but no longer felt he could stay.
Board Called a “Photo Op”
In a CNN interview, Bernard described the advisory board as largely symbolic.
“During the campaign and right up to the present moment, there were meetings and there were group photos after that, but nothing substantive moving forward,” he explained.
His comments echo frustrations voiced by others who felt the group lacked real influence.
Evangelical Leaders Who Remain Supportive
Not all board members shared Bernard’s view. Some high-profile evangelical leaders have doubled down in their support for Trump:
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Jerry Falwell Jr. praised Trump’s candid approach, saying he speaks from the heart.
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Robert Jeffress applauded the president’s handling of the Charlottesville controversy.
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Paula White argued that Christians are mandated to support Trump, saying, “It is God who raises up a king…when you fight against the plan of God, you are fighting against the hand of God.”
Other members, like Richard Land, president of Southern Evangelical Seminary, acknowledged disagreements with Trump’s rhetoric but said they would continue serving in hopes of influencing him positively.
Why Bernard Chose to Leave
For Bernard, the issue was not strategy but moral standards.
“My moral standards are above any agenda that I have,” he said. “If pushing an agenda is going to violate my moral standards…then I don’t have any moral standards. Moral standards create boundaries in which you work.”
He warned that clergy engaged in politics must set clear limits before entering the arena, or risk compromising their integrity.
A Growing Divide Among Evangelicals
Bernard’s resignation underscored the deepening divide within American evangelicalism—between those willing to overlook Trump’s controversies for the sake of influence and those unwilling to sacrifice moral conviction for political access.
