Wheel began his statement about Evans’ restoration by saying, “Today, we come to you, not just as leaders, but as fellow believers who love this church and want to share where we’ve been and where we’re going.”
“Just over one year ago, the elder board of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship determined that Dr. Tony Evans needed to step down from all pastoral responsibilities and enter a period of spiritual restoration due to sin,” said Wheel. “We recognize that this has been a deeply emotional and challenging time for many in our church family.”
Wheel went on to explain the church’s “biblically grounded process” to discipline members as practiced for the past 48 years. “The heart of biblical discipline is never punishment for its own sake, but rather restoration through accountability, humility, and grace,” he said. “Galatians 6:1 outlines the spirit in which correction must occur.”
Wheel said that the elder board has followed OCBF’s “long established process”’ for church discipline, and the board’s discretion in what it has or has not revealed about Evans’ restoration process was not to “conceal wrongdoing but rather to uphold the integrity of the process, to protect the dignity of all involved, and prevent unnecessary speculation or sensationalism.”
When Wheel announced that Evans had been successfully restored, Evans came on stage as the congregation cheered and applauded. “While he will not be returning in a staff nor leadership role at OCBF,” Wheel said, “we joyfully look forward to seeing how God uses Dr. Evans’ gifts and calling to proclaim the truth of Scripture with clarity and conviction for the strengthening of the body of Christ.”
“We rejoice in how God will continue to use him to advance the kingdom agenda,” said Wheel. “And we invite the OCBF family to join the elders in rejoicing and praising God for his restoration and his future kingdom impact.”
Wheel also announced that Jonathan Evans, formerly an associate pastor at OCBF, “has been appointed as an elder, and our expectation is that he will formally be installed as the lead pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship.” Jonathan is currently listed as lead pastor on the OCBF website.
“While hindsight has brought clarity to areas where communication and decision-making could have been stronger,” Wheel said, “we are deeply grateful for your prayers and patience as we have walked this journey together.” The elders gathered around Evans, and the church as a whole prayed for their former pastor.
Jonathan led communion, and then he and his father sat on stage while Jonathan posed a series of questions to Evans. Before Jonathan started, he told Evans, “I’m proud of you.”
“It’s one thing to watch you preach the Word,” said Jonathan. “It’s another thing to watch you live under its authority even when it hurts.”
