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Megachurch ‘Elder Emeritus’ Todd Wagner Removed from Church Site Despite Statement to Congregants

A Dallas-based megachurch pastor that temporarily stepped down from the 11,000 member church he pastored for 20 years over the allegation he was being too prideful, then resigned with the understanding that he would remain an “Elder Emeritus” within the congregation, has been wiped clean from the Elder Emeritus team.

Pastor Todd Wagner took a leave of absence due to his elders calling out the sin of pride in his life and telling him he needs a break and time to deal with it so he can better serve his flock in the future. Shortly thereafter he resigned from his church, along with one of the pastors who was instrumental in seeing him leave, David Levanethol. At the time Wagner explained, “We are fully convinced that today, in the interest of Christ, for me and for my family, and for Watermark in this next season, it would be best served by me ending my season in serving as pastoral elder of Watermark Community Church.”

In a public letter to the church, the elder team explained that while both Levanthal and Wagner were resigning, they would both continue to serve the church as members of the body and Elders Emeritus.

Despite a challenging season, David and Todd are at peace with one another and will serve together on the Elder Emeritus team. We are currently processing how each person can best serve the mission in the days ahead.

Now, it looks like that is not the case. Leventhal is shown, but not Wagner.

In fact, on the staff directory page, there are 220 people mentioned, along with job descriptions and titles within the church. Todd Wagner is apparently persona non-grata, as he is the only one whose position is unlisted and blank.

For the time being, his sermons have not been taken down and all 877 are still there.

We have reached out to Watermark Church for comment on whether this is accidental, or intentional, and will update this post accordingly.

h/t to @EdenElsewhereNo for the story.

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Evangelical Stuff Featured News

Texas Megachurch Pastor who Stepped Back From Pulpit over Sin of ‘Pride’ has Resigned

A Dallas-based megachurch pastor that temporarily stepped down from the 11,000 member church he pastored for 20 years, taking a leave of absence due to his elders calling out the sin of pride in his life and telling him he needs a break and time to deal with it so he can better serve his flock in the future, has resigned from his Church.

8 months ago, Todd Wagner, senior pastor and co-founder of Watermark Community Church in Dallas, Texas, told his congregants on Sunday:

I’ve heard too many times lately that I’m burning up leadership capital, due to more numerous and I would say noticeable expressions of my flesh, and the bible has a word for that: it’s called sin.

It’s with a good conscience, and by God’s grace that I can tell you there is no hidden or disqualifying sin. There’s no sexual immorality. There’s no financial issues that are going on. There’s no physical altercation, there’s no foul language, there’s no holes in the wall. My marriage is as good as it’s ever been…but..and this is a big but… this sin of pride is enough for me to say it’s enough.

I have not been asked to step down. I am not by God’s grace needing to step down but I have been asked and I agree I need to step back, step away and I’m glad. We all agree this is what’s best for me and for you and I think for us.

In a statement to the congregation, the elders explain that longtime elder and staff member David Leventhal resigned his position due to an inability to support Wagner continuing as senior pastor. Leventhal described it as “a loss of trust in Todd’s ability to lead in the role of pastoral elder/senior pastor, which was the direction the elders were wanting to move to.”

Three weeks later, Wagner himself would come to that same conclusion, saying:

We are fully convinced that today, in the interest of Christ, for me and for my family, and for Watermark in this next season, it would be best served by me ending my season in serving as pastoral elder of Watermark Community Church.

In an unusual set of circumstances, however, Levanethal explains that he is still friends with Wagner, and that “Todd and I are good. There is no anger, no wrath.” This is confirmed by Wagner, who even rubbed his back while they delivered the news to their congregation.

Both Levanthal and Wagner, while resigning, aren’t abandoning the church. They still plan on attending and serving the church as members of the body and elders emeritus.

[Editor’s note: there is a reason that pastors leave a church when they resign or retire, and it has to do with letting the new guy actually take charge of the church without the inevitable backbiting that will occur because they can go to the old guys…this is a bad idea…]

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Church Featured News

Texas Megachurch Pastor Stepping Back From Pulpit, Confesses Sin of ‘Pride’

A Dallas-based megachurch pastor is temporarily stepping down from the 11,000 member church he’s pastored for 20 years, taking a leave of absence due to his elders calling out the sin of pride in his life, telling him he needs a break and time to deal with it so he can better serve his flock in the future.

Todd Wagner, senior pastor and co-founder of Watermark Community Church in Dallas, Texas, told his congregants on Sunday:

I’ve heard too many times lately that I’m burning up leadership capital, due to more numerous and I would say noticeable expressions of my flesh, and the bible has a word for that: it’s called sin.

It’s with a good conscience, and by God’s grace that I can tell you there is no hidden or disqualifying sin. There’s no sexual immorality. There’s no financial issues that are going on. There’s no physical altercation, there’s no foul language, there’s no holes in the wall. My marriage is as good as it’s ever been…but..and this is a big but… this sin of pride is enough for me to say it’s enough.

Wagner recounts that he was beginning to become irritable, short, impatient, and unloving towards his staff, forcing his elders intervene for the edification of his soul.

It’s not paid leave so I can read and write and relax as a reward for 20 years of service. What it is is a temporary rest from teaching and leading and anything else in the way of my letting the Lord strengthen me, restore me, and lead me to daily greater repentance.

This is enough for me to say ‘enough,’ to sharpen the axe more and cut less. I have not been asked to step down. I am not by God’s grace needing to step down but I have been asked and I agree I need to step back, step away and I’m glad. We all agree this is what’s best for me and for you and I think for us.”

The pastor concludes that as a result of this intervention, for the first time in 20 years he’s stepping back so he can do the “the hard work of hard (or heart) work.”

I thank God I have friends to help me. Pride kills. And I would call what I’ve heard my friends describing and telling me, pride. That’s the sin.”

“So don’t be looking for some scandal. Don’t even think this is scandalous. What is scandalous is when a Christian plays with, overlooks or welcomes sin, respectable or not. And I refuse to do that, and my friends love me enough to remind me of that.”