The exodus of pastors from embattled Cross Timbers Church in Argyle, Texas, continued this week with the resignation of founders Brian and Jamie Hackney.
En una reciente statement to members, obtenido por El Informe Roys (TRR), the church announced that the Hackney’s last day on staff would be August 31, and their last Sunday would be Aug. 25.
The couple founded the church in 2000 and “were instrumental in building and growing our church family,” the statement added. But “in recent months, Brian and Jamie have sensed their season as staff members was coming to a close and have decided that now is the time to make their departure,” the statement continues.
According to the church’s website, Brian Hackney was founding pastor and Director of the Healing Place and Jamie served as a female care coach.
“Brian loves sharing the insight and wisdom he has gained in his own 34-year marriage journey, as well as working with over 3000 couples over the last 30 years of ministry,” the website states.
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The Hackney’s resignation comes after former Lead Pastor Josiah Anthony resigned from the church in July, after elders learned he had engaged in “inappropriate and hurtful” actions. Later, the elders revealed that Anthony had a “concerning pattern of behavior communicating inappropriately with women,” which was “sexual” and “excessively personal.”
This was followed by the resignation of former executive pastor Byron Copeland earlier this month.
Before coming to Cross Timbers, Copeland had worked for 20 years as a pastor at the embattled Gateway Church in the Dallas area.
Additionally, Copeland was accused of ignoring sexual harassment complaints in a 2023 civil lawsuit filed by Rachel Childress against Gateway.
Childress’ lawsuit was settled for an undisclosed amount on June 21—less than a week after Cindy Clemishire accused Gateway founder Robert Morris of sexually abusing her beginning when she was 12 years old.
Despite the turnover, Cross Timbers elders wrote in their statement, “(W)e want you to know that our Elders and Leadership team have a renewed energy, and our staff has a forward-facing posture. We look forward to all the Lord has in store for our church.”
Sheila Stogsdill is a freelance print journalist and digital reporter, primarily covering crime issues for KSN/KODE.
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Cross Timbers elders wrote in their statement, “(W)e want you to know that our Elders and Leadership team have a renewed energy, and our staff has a forward-facing posture. …”
One could understand this to mean that the Elders and Leadership team are happy and relieved to be rid of the Hackneys and want to forget the Hackneys, and the others who have left, ever existed. There are some clergy at my church whose departure would leave the lay volunteers feeling “renewed energy,” if not “giddy with glee.”