IGN!S
Senior Pastors Eric and Candace Johnson resigned from Bethel Church in Redding, California after 18 years of ministry.
The couple said in a statement:
“We are family, and we will always be a part of this movement. While this decision may feel odd and unexpected, there is a deep sense of peace. We are anchored in hope, and believe that the best is yet to come, both for us and for the future of Bethel,”
According to CBN News, they revealed there was no immoral actions or pressure to resign, the couple simply wanted to open a new chapter in life.
Eric’s father, Bill Johnson, who is also Bethel’s senior leader, said he agrees with the decision to move on.
Bill said in a statement:
“We know this was not an easy decision for Eric and Candace to make. And yet, know that as a Senior Leadership Team, we fully support them in their decision to resign as the Senior Pastors of Bethel Church here in Redding.
And while there is sadness in this transition, we remain expectant and full of hope for this next season: for them and for us,”
In a 7-minute Instagram video, Eric and Candace both explained their many reasons and also explained that it was not an easy decision.
They said in the video:
“This is a lot to unpack and it’s been quite a process for us if you can imagine. One thing that we do recognize – it feels like the Lord’s involved in it. This is the hardest decision we’ve ever had to make in our life and yet there’s an odd peace in it,”
Bethel Church was founded in 1952 by Robert Doherty. Since then the membership has grown to over 11,000 members with a weekly attendance of around 8,600. The church started the Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry, which grew from just 36 students in 1998, to campuses of 2,400 students a year.
Eric and Candace Johnson are founding a new church within the Bethel movement in Greenville, SC. Other churches within the movement are Bethel Atlanta, Bethel Austin, Bethel Cleveland, Bethel New Zealand, and Bethel Valparaiso (Indiana). Several hundred people from Bethel Redding have moved and are moving to Greenville to be part of this new congregation. The new church is meeting about monthly as a large group and is developing strong foundations before opening for weekly church meetings; probably in 2022. The website for the new church is https://www.studiogreenville.com/