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Matt Chandler: Pastor returns after being accused of sending 'unguarded' DMs to woman who wasn't his wife

An inquiry found that while the Pastor's DMs were not 'romantic or sexual,' the frequency and familiarity of the messages 'crossed a line'

BY ROHIT UPADHYAY

PUBLISHED DEC 5, 2022

Pastor Matt Chandler and his wife Lauren Chandler (@mattchandler74/Instagram)

FLOWER MOUND, TEXAS: Matt Chandler who became a pastor at the age of 28, has now resumed his role after sending an inappropriate text message to a woman. The lead pastor at the Village Church in Flower Mound, Texas, was cheered by Pulpit as he took the stage after stepping away for three months amid the ongoing investigation, reports People. The TVC Elders earlier announced that Chandler will be reinstated after "diligently working through a development plan," that will comprise scripture reading, prayer, personal reflection, and "multiple intensives with trusted outside experts."

The email shared by The Roy's Report, read, "Matt has completed everything asked of him with submissiveness, steadfastness, and humility, and we have received positive feedback from all involved. The elders added, "We have been encouraged by his posture throughout, and we remain so." Chandler, 48, was on leave of absence during this period, and when he returned people cheered him on, were on from the congregation, and cried, “We love you, Matt!”, reported The New York Times and Christianity Today. The pastor apologized for his ‘foolishness’ before getting on with his role, "I'm sorry, I failed you," he addressed the congregation. "The Lord met us and he carried us through, and I don't want to lose sight of that."
The Elders said in August, “While the messages were not romantic or sexual in nature, the frequency and familiarity of the messages crossed a line."

Later Chandler had said to the congregation, "[The church's] concerns were not that our messaging was romantic or sexual, it was that our conversations were unguarded and unwise." On Friday, December 2, the pastor shared on Instagram and celebrated 20 years with the church, reported The Times, "I am at a loss for the invitation into this great journey the Lord put me on!" Chandler during his Sunday service appreciated the TVC elders for their "love and willingness to work" with him even after the scandal, and said, "What a gutsy, godly group of men."

Lead pastor Josh Patterson said that elders never questioned whether Chandler should ever be reinstated or not, after he had accepted their discipline of the elders and adopted their plans, reports Christianity Today. "He has faithfully worked that plan, genuinely worked that plan, authentically worked that plan. He's had a very full three months and he's been faithful to do what the elders have put before him, said Patterson as per the outlet.