Texas megachurch founder ousted after confessing to sexual sin

A Texas megachurch founder has been ousted from his ministry after confessing to a sexual sin. John McKinzie, founder of Hope Fellowship, the Dallas-based non-denominational ministry he started in 2000 with his wife, Melissa, was removed from his leadership role following a confessional meeting with church leadership on Sunday, according to a statement the church shared with the Dallas Morning News on Tuesday.

"John admitted to sexual sin and to a pattern of consensual behavior that made him unfit to continue in his role as pastor," the email said. It noted that it would not share further details "out of respect for the privacy of those involved." The move also disqualified him from returning to the church as a pastor in the future.

McKinzie's interim replacement, Aaron Alexander, disclosed the development in his own statement to the Dallas Morning News. McKinzie said in a letter that his actions had disqualified him from spiritual leadership, and that there was no doubt about that fact. He added that the church was "in the best hands possible" and urged supporters to pray, to continue serving, and to invest so that the mission of Hope can continue "like never before." He also noted that he and his family remain connected to the ministry and that he lived in a home valued at about $1 million near the ministry.

The ouster follows months of controversy surrounding a separate matter at Hope Fellowship. The church previously disclosed that a student pastor was removed after an alleged inappropriate relationship with a minor. The terminated pastor reportedly confessed that the contact occurred about 10 years earlier at a previous church, where they had volunteered. In February, McKinzie spoke with the Dallas Morning News about abuse in the church, saying he aimed to be "as transparent as possible" and that he had learned from how other Dallas–Fort Worth churches had handled abuse and sexual scandals, underscoring the importance of honesty. "It matters to a world that’s watching," he said. McKinzie did not respond to requests for comment.

Hope Fellowship, founded in Dallas, today operates campuses in Frisco, McKinney, and Prosper, and it draws about 8,000 to 9,000 people on a typical weekly basis.

The leadership has said it will continue to move forward with its mission under the guidance of the remaining elders and the interim pastor, while honoring the privacy of those affected and maintaining accountability in the church. The statement did not specify any timeline for naming a permanent successor.