FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (WTVR) — The founder and pastor of a Florida mega-church has resigned after confessing to cheating on his wife.
One churchgoer WPLG talked to was brought to tears after learning pastor Bob Coy had suddenly stepped down.
“I’m very sad, but you know we are all sinners,” said one parishioner.
The 58-year-old reportedly admitted to cheating on his wife, who he founded Calvary Chapel Church with nearly 30 years ago.
Parishioners realized something was amiss
after church elders called a special meeting.
Thousands attended the Sunday service at the church’s main campus in Fort Lauderdale.
Church elders said in a statement that Coy would be focusing on his family while away from the church.
“Pastor Bob will be focusing his full attention on his personal relationship with God and his family,” the church said in a statement. “The church is providing counselors and ministers who will help guide him through the process of full repentance, cleansing and restoration.”
Churchgoers are still coming to terms with what impact Coy’s loss will have on the church.
“He was our leader, but we’re still a strong church, so we have other pastors that are gonna step up,” said church member Patricia Urquiaga.
Joseph LaFontaine, who recorded the resignation letter that was read at Sunday’s meeting, told WFORthat the crowd was very quiet as the resignation letter was read.
“It was very cold-ish feeling,” said LaFontaine, who has attended Calvary Chapel on and off for seven years.
“There should have been more accountability at Calvary Chapel,” he said. “He shouldn’t have been put on such a high pedestal and he should have never had so much power. Whenever that…that’s a formula for disaster.”
The popular church has over 20,000 members with 10 campuses and 1,000 employees.
