The lead pastor at Gilbert’s Mission Community Church, which draws around 6,000 people to its worship services, has resigned after engaging in multiple extramarital affairs, church officials confirmed.
Church leaders asked for and accepted the resignation of Pastor Mark Connelly on Dec. 30 after the married man confessed to the affairs, according to an announcement from the church. Church members received the news at worship services this past Saturday and Sunday.
Executive Pastor of Ministries Gary Sutliff has been named interim lead pastor, and the congregation will choose a permanent replacement from among the leadership.
The church called a special prayer service at 7 p.m. on Tuesday inviting “all followers of Jesus to join with us in praying for wisdom and healing.”
Church officials declined to confirm for the Republic whether any of the women involved in the affairs were members of the congregation.
Even in the face of Connelly’s resignation, Mission Community Church “has not lost focus on its vision to do justice, love mercy and walk humbly,” Kaufman said.
“In the same way an orthopedic surgeon may break a bone, reset and heal properly, so too has Mission been broken,” Kaufman said. “I have no doubt the church will endure, heal, and grow stronger despite ourselves.”
Spencer Brannan, a pastor at Mission, said the search for a permanent lead pastor will begin in the next few weeks but that for now, leaders remained focused on helping those involved get through a difficult time.