Pentecostal mega pastor Ted Shuttlesworth, Jr. has stepped down after admitting to committing adultery and having “multiple inappropriate conversations” with other women. Shuttlesworth co-pastors Miracle Word Church in West Palm Beach, Florida with his wife, Carolyn and is a prolific author. He also founded Miracle Word Ministries and Miracle Word University. He comes from a long line of preachers, with his father working as a well-known televangelist.

Shuttlesworth’s ministries are known for their over-the-top healing services and “slain in the Spirit” style. Protestia described the church as the “new, savvier wing of the prosperity Gospel movement.” Shuttlesworth announced his departure to ministry partners though a letter obtained by Protestia, admitting he had “let my guard down.” “Needless to say, my actions opened the door, which I allowed, for sin to come in through loose and inappropriate conversations with the opposite sex,” he admitted. He said the letter “contains no excuses.” Shuttlesworth admitted the sin had crossed over into “sexual activity with a woman who was not my wife.” He declared he had repented to the Lord and his wife, whom he called “the greatest gift the Lord has given me.” He stated he was stepping down, though the letter seems to imply the move will be temporary while he pursues restoration.

Carolyn wrote her own letter, affirming their ministry’s legitimacy despite her husband’s moral failings. “Please know this from the depths of my heart: nothing you have prayed, given, or sown into this ministry has been false or in vain. God has faithfully moved, lives have been changed, and souls have been reached,” she wrote, adding, “While it can be deeply painful and disappointing when someone we respect falls into sin, I encourage you not to allow one man’s failure to diminish what God has done through your obedience and faithfulness.” She said she and Ted plan to work on their marriage and family, which includes three children. “The hand of God has been upon this ministry for the past 16 years, and I firmly believe that through Pastor Ted’s sincere repentance before the Lord and those he has hurt, God’s grace will continue to sustain Miracle Word Ministries,” she affirmed.

Extended members of Shuttleworth’s family had alluded to his adulterous relationship prior to the letters. His cousin, Jonathan Shuttlesworth, who runs Revival Today, released a video saying he had been “estranged” from a family member after discussing a moral failing. “When I confronted him, I was not told the truth. I was told part of the truth. I did not receive a complete account. I would be saying all these things exactly like this, if my family member, who I love, was sitting next to me,” he said. Whether or not a pastor should be considered permanently disqualified from ministry after committing adultery is hotly debated in Protestant circles. A Lifeway Research survey in 2020 found that 27% of Protestant pastors found adultery to be permanently disqualifying. Thirty-one percent were unsure. “Scripture doesn’t mince words about adultery,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research. “From the Ten Commandments, to the Apostle Paul’s lists of wicked things, to the qualifications for elders listed in 1 Timothy, adultery is not appropriate for a follower of Christ nor a leader of a local church.”