Goligher had ties to the Gospel Coalition, a Calvinist evangelical group, and was known for criticizing a popular doctrine called the “Eternal Subordination of the Son,” which claims that Jesus always submitted to the authority of God the Father, not just when he lived on earth. Goligher argued that the doctrine undermined the Trinity.
His resignation came as Tenth is dealing with the fallout from the arrest and conviction of former church elder Bruce Garner. Garner was sentenced this past summer to 21 to 48 months in prison after pleading guilty to taking more than 100 “upskirt” photos of girls while working as a school bus driver.
An investigation by GRACE, a nonprofit that helps Christian groups deal with abuse, found that church leaders immediately removed Garner from leadership after he informed the congregation of his arrest, and commissioned an investigation to see if there were victims at the church.
“These actions suggest a desire to care for and shepherd their flock, but sadly, were undercut by Tenth leaders’ public support of Bruce and requests for leniency,” the report, which was made public in November, concluded.
Goligher is the second influential PCA pastor to resign recently. Last month, author and speaker Scott Sauls resigned from a Nashville, Tennessee, megachurch after apologizing for creating an unhealthy leadership culture at the church.
The PCA, like other denominations, has struggled to deal with issues of abuse and misconduct involving powerful pastors, especially when that misconduct involves adults.
This article originally appeared here.
