Pastor Dr. Tony Evans has completed his church’s required one-year restoration process. And, while, he has been restored to ministry in general, he will not be returning to a leadership position at Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship, the Dallas megachurch he founded nearly fifty years ago. Evans stepped down last year after determining an “undisclosed sin” required him to undergo church discipline. “The foundation of our ministry has always been our commitment to the Word of God as the absolute supreme standard of truth to which we are to conform our lives. When we fall short of that standard due to sin, we are required to repent and restore our relationship with God,” Dr. Evans said in a statement at the time. “While I have committed no crime, I did not use righteous judgement in my actions.”

OCBF Associate Pastor of Outreach, Chris Wheel, made the announcement of Dr. Evans’s restoration on Sunday during the church’s Restoration service. “In alignment with biblical principles and unanimous affirmation of the elder board, Dr. Evans has successfully completed this restoration journey. While he will not be returning in a staff nor leadership role at OCBF, we joyfully look forward to seeing how God uses Dr. Evans’ gifts and calling to proclaim the truth of scripture with clarity and conviction for the strengthening of the body of Christ,” he said. The process included “ individual counseling with outside non-staff professionals and pastoral mentoring.”

Addressing attendees, Dr. Evans apologized for any confusion his absence may have caused. “To the flock, to the congregation, for the consternation I may have caused you with questions and wondering and uncertainty, I’m sorry. I apologize, sincerely, for any instability that this season has caused you because you are my treasure.” In a separate video following the service, Dr. Evans called the past year of restoration “challenging.” “This last year has been an extremely challenging time. A time of being separated from what I love most, and that is the proclamation of God’s word,” he said. “A lot of that was due to my own fault and I had to go through a period of repentance and restoration so that healing could take place. I know a lot of you know what that’s like.” Speaking to Fox News, Dr. Evans’s son, Jonathan, who is listed as OCBF’s lead pastor, said he was proud of his father. “It’s one thing to watch you preach the Word. It’s another thing to watch you live under its authority even when it hurts.”