Just over a year after stepping down from leading the 11,000-member Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas, Pastor Tony Evans has returned to the pulpit.
The 75-year-old spoke at the FAMiLY Leadership Summit in Iowa last month, hosted by the Christian advocacy organisation The FAMiLY Leader, which seeks to "empower the Church to lead transformation."
In his address, titled Principle Over Politics, Evans encouraged Christians to live out the principles of God’s Kingdom across society.
In June 2024, Evans revealed he had fallen short of biblical standards years prior, stepping away from ministry while affirming he had committed no secular crime.
"A number of years ago, I fell short of that standard. I am, therefore, required to apply the same biblical standard of repentance and restoration to myself that I have applied to others. I have shared this with my wife, my children, and our church elders, and they have lovingly placed their arms of grace around me."" he said in a statement on the church website.
It remains unclear whether Evans has been formally restored to ministry.
Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship and The FAMiLY Leader did not confirm his current pastoral status.
Bob Vander Plaats, president of The FAMiLY Leader, introduced Evans at the summit as a "champion of the Gospel" who exemplifies leadership by empowering the Church to serve communities and engage government for the advancement of God’s Kingdom.