He was exposed.
A well-known Texas pastor, recognized for his passionate preaching and frequent collaborations with John MacArthur, has been removed from his position following an alleged “inappropriate relationship” with an unnamed woman.
Steve Lawson, the 73-year-old senior pastor at Trinity Bible Church of Dallas and president of OnePassion Ministries, disclosed the relationship to the church’s elders, as noted in a statement released by the church.
“The elders have met with Steve and will continue to support him in prayer, with the aim of leading him toward personal repentance,” the statement reads. “Steve will no longer receive compensation from Trinity Bible Church of Dallas.” The church’s statement also highlighted the broader message of grace, stating, “Let this be a reminder that we are all sinners, and Jesus Christ came to save sinners. The church is Christ’s, and His work continues beyond any fallen individual. The Lord was building this church before Steve’s leadership, and He will continue to do so long after.”
Lawson, who holds advanced theological degrees from Dallas Theological Seminary and Reformed Theological Seminary, has been removed from the leadership page on the church’s website. He has also resigned from all roles at OnePassion Ministries, with the organization releasing a statement acknowledging his “sin that has disqualified him from ministry.”
In the statement from OnePassion, Lawson expressed remorse, confessing to the harm he caused his family, the church, and the reputation of OnePassion Ministries, as well as to Jesus Christ. “We are deeply saddened for the glory of Christ in this situation. However, the gospel will continue to be spread, driven by the Holy Spirit, not by men. This serves as a reminder of the enemy’s craftiness,” the statement read, concluding with a verse from 1 Peter 5:8, warning to remain vigilant against the devil’s schemes.
Lawson has been a prominent figure in Reformed and Calvinist Evangelicalism for over four decades. He previously held roles at Ligonier Ministries and The Master’s Seminary but has since been removed from their respective websites. Despite this, his page on the Grace Community Church website remained active as of Friday.
Lawson, who has authored more than 30 books, including It Will Cost You Everything: What it Takes to Follow Jesus and Foundations of Grace: A Long Line of Godly Men, has been married to his wife Anne for over 40 years, and they share four adult children.
His resignation is one of several scandals involving pastors in the Dallas-Fort Worth area this year. In June, Tony Evans of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas stepped down, citing personal sin, while Robert Morris of Gateway Church resigned after allegations of sexual misconduct. This summer, Josiah Anthony, lead pastor of Cross Timbers Church, resigned after inappropriate interactions with women, leading to further resignations from other leaders. Earlier this month, Scott Crenshaw of Lake Country Church in Fort Worth was fired following accusations of viewing inappropriate images, a claim he denied, marking the second such allegation against him since 2016.