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A Texas megachurch pastor stepped down after confessing to "moral failures," which has led to church leaders prohibiting congregants from discussing the incident.
Tony Cammarota, who served as the pastor at the Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco, Texas, for 17 years, announced his resignation on July 7, revealing that he "confessed to church leadership of a moral failure" in a letter sent to congregants, which was obtained and shared by the church watchdog group watchkeep.org (h/t the New York Post).
“He is deeply remorseful but his sin disqualifies him from serving on our staff as a pastor,” the letter states. “After much prayer seeking God’s direction, discussion as leaders, and then talking to Tony we have terminated his employment effective immediately.”
No additional details on Cammarota's actions were included in the letter, which advised congregants to avoid discussions related to the issue.
“Please guard against giving the devil any foothold for more damage to our church through unnecessary speech and speculation,” the letter states. “This is a sad day and we don’t want the Devil making it worse through any one of us in the days.”
More than 11,000 congregants are served by Stonebriar Community Church. Several other megachurch pastors in the Dallas-Fort Worth area have stepped down in recent weeks.
Pastor Tony Evans resigned after nearly 50 years with the Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in June, vaguely explaining that he didn't commit a crime but failed to use "righteous judgment in my actions." Pastor Mike Buster resigned from his position at Prestonwood Baptist Church one week later, though denied any wrongdoing.
Gateway Church pastor Robert Morris stepped down four days later following accusations that he sexually assaulted a girl for several years, which she claimed initially took place when she was 12.