Lead Pastor Steve Lawson has been removed from the pulpit after allegations of having an inappropriate relationship with a woman.
DALLAS — Another North Texas pastor has been fired after admitting to “inappropriate” actions, church elders claim.
Trinity Bible Church of Dallas announced the indefinite removal of Lead Pastor Steven J. Lawson. According to a statement from the church, elders “were informed by Steve Lawson of an inappropriate relationship that he has had with a woman.”
“Lawson has been removed indefinitely from all ministry activities,” a church statement reads. “The elders have met with Steve and will continue to come alongside him and pray for him with the ultimate goal of his personal repentance. Steve will no longer be compensated by Trinity Bible Church of Dallas.”
According to Lawson’s bio on the church’s website, he is a graduate of Texas Tech, Dallas Theological Seminary and Reformed Theological Seminary. Prior to his stint in Dallas, Lawson served as a pastor for 34 years in Arkansas and Alabama.
According to the church website, he has also been a Teaching Fellow with Ligonier Ministries, Professor of Preaching and Dean of the Doctor of Ministry program at The Master’s Seminary. According to the church’s Facebook, located near SMU, Lawson has been working there since 2018.
Full statement from Trinity Bible Church:
“The elders at Trinity Bible Church of Dallas regretfully announce that effective immediately, Steven J. Lawson has been removed indefinitely from all ministry activities at Trinity Bible Church of Dallas. Several days ago, the elders at Trinity Bible Church of Dallas were informed by Steve Lawson of an inappropriate relationship that he has had with a woman. The elders have met with Steve and will continue to come alongside him and pray for him with the ultimate goal of his personal repentance. Steve will no longer be compensated by Trinity Bible Church of Dallas.
In light of this, may we be reminded that we are ALL sinners, and Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners – and Christ remains Head of His Church, which is bigger than any fallen man. In fact, Jesus Christ will continue to lead His Church, including Trinity Bible Church here in Dallas, just like He has from the start of this work on January 5, 2018. Since that time, the elders have focused on the primacy of biblical exposition knit together by various men filling the pulpit each week. The Lord was building Trinity Bible Church of Dallas well before Steve became our Lead Preacher, and He will continue to build this church long after Steve Lawson, or any other man for that matter. We would ask for your prayers for the elders, for our Body, and for Steve and his family. Let us always be mindful of the words of 1 Corinthians 10:12, “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.”
Lawson’s removal comes amid a long list of controversies for North Texas pastors. At least a dozen pastors or staff members have been terminated or stepped down amid controversy this year.
The biggest name among them was Robert Morris, who resigned after admitting to sexually abusing a girl in the 1980s. According to the woman, Cindy Clemshire, she was 12 years old at the time of the abuse.