A Texas megachurch pastor, John McKinzie, has stepped down after admitting to “sexual sin,” which led to his dismissal from the Hopewell Fellowship he founded with his wife, Melissa, back in 2000.
The church announced his removal following his admission, stating that he recognized behaviors that rendered him unfit for his pastoral duties. In an email to the community, church leaders expressed their awareness of the mixed emotions surrounding the decision—feelings of sadness, confusion, and even anger were acknowledged.
While specifics about the situation remain private, it was significant enough to bar him from continuing as a pastor. McKinzie, a father of four, acknowledged his actions disqualified him from his leadership role in a letter shared by a local news outlet along with temporary substitute pastor Aaron Alexander.
Despite the scandal, McKinzie reassured congregants, saying the church is in capable hands and encouraged them to keep faith and support ongoing missions. He commented about the need for community engagement, urging everyone to pray and invest in their shared goals.
This incident adds to a troubling pattern for the church; a few months earlier, another pastor was let go amid accusations of inappropriate conduct involving a minor. The previous pastor reportedly admitted to this occurring years prior at a different church.
McKinzie had spoken about addressing issues of church abuse in the past, citing lessons learned from similar situations in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, and emphasizing the importance of maintaining integrity in the community.
Hopewell Fellowship, founded in Dallas, has expanded, currently serving around 8,000 to 9,000 attendees weekly across its campuses in Frisco, McKinney, and Prosper.
