Tullian Tchividjian's former church says he should not be in ministry

Kevin Labby, a senior pastor of Willow Creek Presbyterian Church, has issued a statement on Thursday saying Tullian Tchividjian is not ready to return to the ministry, and he should return to his former church "to pursue healing and renewal."

Tchividjian, a grandson of famed evangelist Billy Graham, stepped down from his position as a pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church last year after he admitted that he had an affair. Last March, he was fired from Willow Creek after he confessed to the church elders that he had an "inappropriate relationship."

Labby's statement came after a woman who allegedly had an affair with Tchividjian came forward and said that she was "groomed" by the former pastor, Christian Today reported.

"We would also like to state in the clearest possible terms that we do not believe that Mr. Tchividjian should be in any form of public or vocational ministry," said Labby in the statement.

"Rather, inasmuch as he is truly repentant and in accordance with his membership vows, we would urge him to immediately return to his church of membership, submit to its leadership, and pursue healing and renewal through repentance in the context of his local church to the glory of God and for the good of the broader Church and her witness to the world," he continued.

A woman identified only as Rachel claimed that she came to Tchividjian for help regarding her troubled marriage, but the former pastor lured her into having an affair with him. She alleged that Tchividjian urged her husband to divorce her without her knowledge.

Rachel also said that Tchividjian borrowed $11,000 from her and her husband so that he could investigate his now ex-wife Kim.

She said that her affair with Tchividjian was discovered by the I.T. department of Coral Ridge because the contents of his phone showed up on the church's public server. Rachel claimed that the former pastor asked the staff member to remove everything.

Labby said that he was "deeply grieved" about the latest allegations against Tchividjian, and he expressed his gratitude for the women who came forward to share their stories.

Tchividjian has since remarried and recently delivered a sermon on God's redemption at the Spring Hills Community Church in Santa Rosa, California.