Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale Names New Pastor to Replace Bob Coy Who Resigned Over Moral Failure
A new lead pastor for Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale was announced Wednesday to replace founding pastor Bob Coy following his resignation after admitting to moral failure last month. However, Outreach Pastor Chet Lowe was more specific about Coy's demise, when he told the congregation during a worship service in April that the pastor had committed "adultery with more than one woman" and "sexual immorality, habitually, through pornography."
Pastor Doug Sauder, who has been a member of the Calvary Chapel staff for the last 14 years, will lead, direct, and schedule the teaching pastor team for the mega church's 10 campuses throughout Florida.
"By unanimous decision of CCFL's board of directors and senior leadership team, pastor Doug Sauder was asked to serve in the capacity of CCFL's lead pastor, a request that he has accepted. "… He has concurrently served in a variety of pastoral roles, including that of leading weekend and mid-week services as well as serving as the president of 4KIDS of South Florida," reads a statement on the church's website.
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The announcement was made during a mid-week service where officials said the "church body responded with unanimous support and enthusiasm."
According to Sauder's bio on the church's website, he has a passion for youth work, primarily for foster children. In addition, he oversees the church's family and NextGen ministries.
It is unclear when Sauder will assume his new responsibilities, however, the transition takes place nearly 30 years after Coy founded the church.
At the time of Coy's resignation, Calvary Chapel released a statement saying that he was going to focus on restoring his personal relationship with God and his family while adding, "… the staff of Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale will continue our mission to make disciples, through regular services at all campuses and through a myriad of other ministries the church has established over the years…"
During his sermon last month, Lowe also said, "Your pastors have wept. We have never felt a grief like this … Your sins will find you out. Jesus, because he loved him, exposed him publicly."
Coy, who used to manage a casino with exotic dancers in Las Vegas before committing his life to Christ, has also been open about using cocaine in the past when he was a musician in Detroit during his younger years.
His full testimony can be read on CBN.
