Pastor Mark Connelly, the former pastor at Mission Community Church, resigned in shame over extramarital affairs.
In a statement the church said this past week, we received information that Mark Connelly had engaged in extramarital, physical affairs with women. Mark has confessed to the affairs.
On December 30th, the pastor was asked to resign from Mission Community Church.
This church near Elliot and Power roads in Gilbert is one of the largest in the state with more than 6,000 people attending.
Source:Church pastor resigns; admits to having affairs
I love the this comment. I think it captures the outrage.
"I don't know about you, but when I first heard this news, I felt like I have been hit in the gut," said Randy Thomas. "I have to confess that I started getting really angry and there is this sense of betrayal that I was starting to feel and this sense of despair and then this sense of compassion."
This is what the church had to say:
This past week, we received information that Mark Connelly had engaged in extramarital, physical affairs with women. Mark has confessed to the affairs. In following the Biblical teaching in 1 Timothy 3:2-7, on Monday December 30th, 2013, the Board of Servant Leaders asked for, received and accepted Mark's resignation as Lead Pastor of MISSION.
Effective immediately, former Board member and current Executive Pastor of Ministries, Gary Sutliff, will be Interim Lead Pastor.
As a church whose vision is to do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with God, we have offered counseling and mercy ministry resources to Mark, his family and the other individuals involved. We ask during this time that you respect Mark's privacy and give him and his family time to heal.
During this time, we are calling on the people of MISSION and all followers of Jesus to join with us in praying for wisdom and healing. All are welcome to join us this Tuesday, January 7, at 7p in the Worship Center for a time of prayer.
I’m filing this one under the Morals - extramarital affairs category.
