Another Florida Megachurch Preacher, Billy Graham’s Grandson, Resigns After Affair

A high-profile pastor resigned over the weekend after admitting he had had an affair.

In general, I think the media shouldn’t criticize people for what they do in their private lives unless they were hypocrites, like pastors preaching Christian moral superiority or that gay marriage will destroy society. (That’s why Ted Haggard, who frequently spoke out against homosexuality, was fair game.)

But Tullian Tchividjian (above) is the grandson of Reverend Billy Graham and nephew of Franklin Graham. This is a family that has done more than most to make life harder for LGBT people. Even if Tchividjian (rhymes with “pigeon”) shied away from social issues, it’s not like he was openly supportive of civil rights for LGBT people. And silence from Christian leaders on this matter is nearly as bad as blatant homophobia. When your own family is best-known these days for peddling the notion that gay marriage will destroy society, you better believe you have an obligation to say they’re wrong.

It’s also worth noting that Tchividjian blamed his own actions on his wife’s affair. Because “she did it first” is the way Jesus taught him to take responsibility:

… As many of you know, I returned from a trip a few months back and discovered that my wife was having an affair. Heartbroken and devastated, I informed our church leadership and requested a sabbatical to focus exclusively on my marriage and family. As her affair continued, we separated. Sadly and embarrassingly, I subsequently sought comfort in a friend and developed an inappropriate relationship myself. Last week I was approached by our church leaders and they asked me about my own affair. I admitted to it and it was decided that the best course of action would be for me to resign…

He’s the fourth megachurch pastor from Florida to resign over affairs in the past few years.

Here’s hoping the three Tchividjian children can handle the media onslaught.

(Image via Wikipedia)