Three days after Argyle's Cross Timbers Church lost its executive pastor and weeks after its lead pastor resigned due to concerns of "miscommunication with women," two founding pastors are stepping down after serving the church for decades.
Brian Hackney and his wife, Jamie, two of the founding pastors of Cross Timbers Church, submitted their resignations on Thursday, Aug. 15, and said their last day would be Saturday, Aug. 31, according to a letter sent to church members and obtained by NBC 5.
"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 church wrote. "Although there have been a series of transitions, we want you to know that our elders and leadership team have a renewed energy, and our staff has a forward-facing posture."
The nondenominational church's website said Brian Hackney was a founding pastor who served on the church's leadership team and was a worship pastor for six years before becoming the campus pastor, focusing on pastoral care. Later, Hackney pursued a full-time career in one of the church's ministries, The Healing Place. His wife, Jamie Hackney, was also a founding pastor and identified herself on Facebook as a marriage and family pastor. Jaime also recently served as a care coach at The Healing Place.
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In the letter to members, church officials said Brian and Jamie played instrumental roles in helping plant the church in January 2000. Cross Timbers Church said Brian and Jamie's last day serving on the staff will be Sunday, Aug. 25, and they welcome church members to visit.
No other details were shared about the couple's departure.
The Hackney's announcement came a few days after Byron Copeland told the congregation he would resign as executive pastor on Aug. 12. The resignations from the Hackneys and Copeland follow the departure of former senior pastor Josiah Anthony, who was asked to step down by church elders after being accused of "inappropriate and hurtful actions."
The church initially said Anthony's leave did not involve any physical or sexual acts or illegal activities with children. However, a few days after he stepped down, the church issued another letter detailing the circumstances that led to their decision to ask the pastor to resign.
Multiple women have come forward, alleging that Anthony, who started at Cross Timbers Church as a student pastor in 2014 and rose to the position of senior pastor, had sent them sexually explicit messages via text and on social media.
After Anthony stepped away from his role, the church appointed founder Toby Slough as interim lead pastor until a permanent replacement could be found.
