Senior Pastors Eric and Candace Johnson resigned from Bethel Church in Redding, California after 18 years of ministry.
“We are family, and we will always be a part of this movement. While this decision may feel odd and unexpected, there is a deep sense of peace. We are anchored in hope, and believe that the best is yet to come, both for us and for the future of Bethel,” the couple said in a statement.
According to CBN News, they revealed there was no immoral actions or pressure to resign, the couple simply wanted to open a new chapter in life.
Eric’s father, Bill Johnson, who is also Bethel’s senior leader, said he agrees with the decision to move on.
“We know this was not an easy decision for Eric and Candace to make. And yet, know that as a Senior Leadership Team, we fully support them in their decision to resign as the Senior Pastors of Bethel Church here in Redding. And while there is sadness in this transition, we remain expectant and full of hope for this next season: for them and for us,” Bill said in a statement.
In a 7-minute Instagram video, Eric and Candace both explained their many reasons and also explained that it was not an easy decision.
“This is a lot to unpack and it’s been quite a process for us if you can imagine. One thing that we do recognize – it feels like the Lord’s involved in it. This is the hardest decision we’ve ever had to make in our life and yet there’s an odd peace in it,” they said in the video.
Bethel Church was founded in 1952 by Robert Doherty. Since then the membership has grown to over 11,000 members with a weekly attendance of around 8,600. The church started the Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry, which grew from just 36 students in 1998, to campuses of 2,400 students a year.
Photo courtesy: Ben White/Unsplash
John Paluska has been a contributor for Christian Headlines since 2016 and is the founder of The Daily Fodder, a news outlet he relaunched in 2019 as a response to the constant distribution of fake news.
