Texas Pastor Resigns After ‘Inappropriate and Hurtful’ Behavior; Longtime Gateway Church Pastor To Serve as Interim Leader

Cross Timbers Church
Pictured: Josiah Anthony, formerly senior pastor of Cross Timbers Church (screengrab via WFAA)

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Another North Texas pastor has stepped down amid “events and circumstances.” Cross Timbers Church announced the resignation of senior pastor Josiah Anthony on Sunday. 

Cross Timbers Church is located in Argyle, Texas, roughly 30 miles north of Fort Worth. The church’s executive pastor, Byron Copeland, will step in as the church’s interim lead pastor. 

According to his LinkedIn profile, Copeland was on staff at Texas megachurch Gateway Church in various executive level pastoral positions from 2003 to 2023. 

Anthony had worked as a pastor at Cross Timbers Church since 2014, according to his LinkedIn profile, starting out as a youth pastor and eventually moving through the ranks to become senior pastor in March 2022. 

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According to Anthony, the congregation has a weekly attendance of more than 5,000 and employs more than 60 staff members with a $6 million budget. 

According to WFAA, Anthony’s resignation was announced by church elder John Chalk during service on Sunday. The livestreamed video of the sermon has since been removed from the church’s Facebook page and YouTube channel. 

The staff page on the church’s website has also been archived. 

In a statement emailed to ChurchLeaders on Monday, Cross Timbers Church said, “We understand the statement shared yesterday left room for more questions and speculation. As always, we are committed to sharing the truth, and being honest to our congregation.”

“We would like to emphasize that the inappropriate, and hurtful actions of Josiah does not (sic) include any children, physical or sexual interactions or any illegal activity to our knowledge,” the church said.

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During the announcement, as captured by WFAA, Chalk said that “Josiah has been in a prolonged and sustained season of struggle with his emotional and mental health, which has been very painful for him and those around him.”

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Dale Chamberlain
Dale Chamberlain (M.Div) is Content Manager for ChurchLeaders. With experience in pastoral ministry as well as the corporate marketing world, he is also an author and podcaster who is passionate about helping people tackle ancient truths in everyday settings. Dale lives in Southern California with his wife Tamara and their three sons.

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