Frank Page, the former president and CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention, revealed this week that he decided to resign his position over a “morally inappropriate relationship” he’d had with an unspecified person or persons.
Local news station WYFF 4 reports that Page initially announced that he was retiring from his post as head of the SBC on Monday — and then released a statement on Tuesday afternoon acknowledging that an “inappropriate relationship” was the real reason for his resignation.
Page now says he announced his retirement without giving the full reason to protect his family’s privacy.
“Out of a desire to protect my family and those I have hurt, I initially announced my retirement earlier today without a complete explanation,” he says. “However, after further wrestling with my personal indiscretion, it became apparent to me that this situation must be acknowledged in a more forthright manner. It is my most earnest desire in the days to come to rebuild the fabric of trust with my wife and daughters, those who know me best and love me most.”
In 2014, Page supported kicking the New Heart Community Church out of the SBCbecause its pastor, Danny Cortez, after he announced that he had changed his views on the acceptance of homosexuals in his congregation.
“When you love someone, you tell them the truth about their actions,” Page said at the time. “By its action on behalf of the convention, the Executive Committee is telling New Heart that its failure to condemn homosexuality breaks the heart of God.”