In 2024, the fall of Steve Lawson was one of the biggest scandals of a year that had many pastoral falls. Lawson was engaged in an adulterous scandal involving a woman in her twenties, basically his version of Bill Belechick and Jordan Hudson, which lasted five years. Reportedly, he has repented and is a participant in the local church, but there is no report surrounding his relationship with his wife, Anne.
In recent months, Lawson has been trying to stage a comeback. Back in July, he was listed as a speaker for Contending for the Faith Conference, but subsequently delisted. Lawson was apparently unclear about turning down the speaking gig at a black, egalitarian conference, yet the miscommunication led to much scrutiny.
Then in September, Lawson released a book entitled Mercy in the Wilderness: How I Fell & What I Found to recap his repentance and further indulge his attempt to return in some capacity. Given the price of the book, it was not necessarily a monetization scheme, and for someone as old as Lawson, he probably remains financially well-off after decades of ministry.
However, Protestia disclosed a letter written by Stephens Valley Church written on behalf of Steve Lawson, written a year ago:
We, the Elders of Stephens Valley Church, a Biblical and Reformed congregation, have observed the life of Dr. Steven Lawson for the last 15 months. Several of us have met with him individually on a weekly basis. He has also attended our weekly Elder’s prayer meetings.
As a member in good standing of our church, he has been faithfully attending our adult Sunday School classes, worship services, and Wednesday night Bible studies. We have seen him make a positive contribution to the church and the lives of others.
Based upon our direct interaction with him and his own written statements, we believe him to be genuinely repentant and walking in close fellowship with the Lord.
Together we grieve his past sin, as he has and the consequences he has brought upon himself and others. Now however we rejoice in his present repentance and God’s work of grace in his life. In particular we applaud his pursuit of and patience toward his loving wife, Anne.
In light of Steve’s “broken and contrite heart” and all we have observed these past months we deem him spiritually fit for ministry opportunities that the Lord may open to him.
The Elder Counsel
Stephens Valley Church Nashville, TN Nov. 25, 2025
Stephens Valley Church stated that he was a member in good standing and even a participant in elder prayer meetings. It is unclear how integrated he is with the leadership of the church, but given his profile, he has more access to the elders than a normal laic. The “patience” Lawson has shown towards his wife implies that they have not been reconciled.
The controversial line in the letter is the church elders declaring him “spiritually fit for ministry opportunities.” This has a wide range of meaning. There have been many instances of pastors who, following adulterous scandals, have been “restored” to ministry. This would include Johny Hunt, Jim Bakker, Jimmy Swaggart, and others—typically in more charismatic circles. Carl Lentz, though not currently a pastor, has somewhat been restored by Mike Todd and has published a book about his adultery. Even in the realm of Christian YouTube, figures like Kris Williams have returned to content creation despite adultery scandals.
The church labeling him spiritually fit does not necessarily endorse Steve Lawson’s comeback efforts. This letter is a declaration that he is a faithful member of the church, which regardless of his scandal, can apply to anyone. The ministries they could be speaking of might entirely be within the context of the local church, unrelated to ordination to either a deacon or pastor. That said, Lawson’s actions are somewhat indicative of one trying to mount a comeback, however limited in scope, which this letter can be used as a pretext to justify.
Steve Lawson is seventy-five years old. The man needs to just stay in retirement and be a faithful member of his local church. There is no restoration for him in ministry outside of that context. Whether he teaches again depends on whether such a church permits laic members to teach, but he should in no way return to the speaking circuit, publish books, or continue his passive efforts at a comeback.
