Tullian Tchividjian

===Coral Ridge Presbyterian (Fort Lauderdale)===
====Merger and installation====
In 2009, a merger between the larger and widely known [[Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church]] in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and Tchividjian's New City Presbyterian was negotiated.<ref name = MorganCT150822/> Tchividjian noted at the time that "the denominations [of the merging churches] are both theologically conservative and [they] have maintained a good working relationship over the years."<ref name = CNWrelease/>

As described by Tchividjian and others to James D. Davis, Religion Editor of the ''South Florida Sun-Sentinel'', the process to decide leadership that resulted in the merger of the two congregations was a year-long process managed by "Coral Ridge's 15-member Pulpit Nominating Committee" (Dan Westphal, chair), who evaluated 150-175 candidates nationally and internationally.<ref name=DavisSFSS090130/> Coral Ridge is described as having approached Tchividjian three times during the process, beginning in May 2008, and his having stipulated the necessity of a church merger for him to consider that pastorate at Coral Ridge; the final discussion between Tchividjian and Coral Ridge began "just before Christmas [2008]."<ref name=DavisSFSS090130/>

Westphal announced the committee's selection of Tchividjian, pending congregational approval, to [[Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church|Coral Ridge]] congregants in a Sunday morning service on January 18, 2009, to "[g]asps, then applause" (as described by Davis of the ''Sun-Sentinel'').<ref name=DavisSFSS090130/> The merger of the two congregations was official on Easter Sunday, April 12, 2009.<ref name = CRPChistory/> Tchividjian was approved, with his installation on May 10, 2009 as senior pastor of Coral Ridge, formally succeeding its late founding pastor, [[D. James Kennedy]];<ref name=DavisSFSS090130/> the installation address was delivered by [[Evangelical Christian]] writer and social critic, [[Os Guinness]],<ref name = CRPChistory/> and more than 5,000 are reported to have attended the installation worship service.<ref name=YoungTCP090413>{{cite journal | author = Young, Eric | date=April 13, 2009 | title = Coral Ridge Church Installs Tchividjian as New Senior Pastor | journal  =[[The Christian Post]] | url= http://www.christianpost.com/article/20090413/coral-ridge-church-installs-tchividjian-as-new-senior-pastor/ |access-date= August 25, 2010}}</ref> <!--REMOVED UNTIL SUPPORTED: Although he is as conservative as Kennedy theologically,{{citation needed|date=July 2015}}-->Tchividjian brought with him a less formal worship style from New City, for instance, conducting services in a suit and tie rather than the [[vestments]] Kennedy had worn.{{citation needed|date=July 2015}}

====Challenge====
At one time drawing 7,000 worshipers, Kennedy's Coral Ridge "had been in decline" since the death of its famous first preacher in 2007; Tchividjian's presented vision, his relative youth (aged 36 at time of installation), and his association with the famous Graham family<ref>The following source speaks of his "famous name," which we believe is apparent in referring to his being a grandson of [[Billy Graham]]. See "Early life and education," above.</ref> and were seen by the [[church elder]]s as a way to "revive... the aging congregation."<ref name = MorganCT150822/> At the time of Tchividjian's installation, Coral Ridge was described as having a weekly attendance at 1,800,<ref name=DavisSFSS090130/> from a membership of 2,200 persons.<ref name = CNWrelease/> The combined weekly attendance of the merged congregations was anticipated to be on the order of 2,450 persons.<ref>This estimate is drawn from reports and the church news release at the time, specifically, from Coral Ridge being described as having a weekly attendance at 1,800 (see Davis, ''South Florida Sun-Sentinel,'' January 30, 2009), and New City's description as having 650 (see Devin & Rohman, ''ChristianNewsWire.com,'' March 16, 2009).</ref>

However, the response of the church to the difference in pastoral styles, and "Tchividjian's rejection of culture war politics" led to "chaos" in the church, and Tchividjian's recall was sought by a group led by Kennedy's daughter, Jennifer, within 6 months of his installation.<ref name = MorganCT150822/> In its description of the conflict, Bobby Ross Jr. of ''Christianity Today'' describes its outcome as "Tchividjian [having] survived an attempt… by… church members to remove him.<ref name = RossTchividjianCY090924>{{cite journal |author=Ross, Bobby Jr |author2=Tchividjian, Tullian | date = September 24, 2009 | title=Tullian Tchividjian: Allow Your Critics to Teach You | journal = [[Christianity Today]] | format = interview | url = http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2009/septemberweb-only/138-41.0.html | access-date = December 7, 2016 | quote = [Quote:] The new pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church talks about the effort to remove him from the pulpit. }}</ref>

Tchividjian was retained by a majority of the congregation in September 2009.{{citation needed|date=December 2016}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.crpc.org/publications/crpc_pastorvote_092009.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2009-10-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716202539/http://www.crpc.org/publications/crpc_pastorvote_092009.pdf |archive-date=2011-07-16 }}</ref><!-- REMOVED AS UNSOURCED: ", stating officially that "attendance had doubled in the past year, that 300 new members had been added since Tchividjian was installed, and that 192 people are registered for the next new members class, making it the largest new-members class in the church's 50-year history". FULL DEAD CITATION HERE: {{cite web|title=Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church Gives Its Pastor Overwhelming Vote of Confidence (news release)|date=September 20, 2009|publisher=Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church | url = http://www.crpc.org/publications/crpc_pastorvote_092009.pdf | access-date=October 6, 2009}}--> and the individuals bringing the removal action were described as being banned from the church.<ref name = MorganCT150822/>

====Congregation size====
At its peak, under Kennedy, as many as 7,000 worshipers attended Coral Ridge, although this number had declined between Kennedy's death in 2007, and 2009.<ref name = CNWrelease/><ref name = MorganCT150822/> In a Press Release from both churches just prior to the merger, Coral Ridge was described as having 2,200 members (with weekly attendance at 1,800<ref name=DavisSFSS090130/>), and New City as being "a church of 650 people."<ref name = CNWrelease/> More than 5000 were said to be in attendance on the Sunday of Tchividjian's installation as the church's new senior pastor in spring of 2009.<ref name=YoungTCP090413/> In September 2009 Coral Ridge was described by ''Christianity Today'' as having "2500-member[s]".<ref name = RossTchividjianCY090924/>

====Resignation====
On June 21, 2015, Tchividjian resigned as senior pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church after admitting to an [[adulterous|extramarital]] affair.<ref>{{cite news | author = Bailey, Sarah Pulliam  | date = June 21, 2015 | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2015/06/21/billy-grahams-grandson-steps-down-from-florida-megachurch-after-admitting-an-affair/|title=Billy Graham's Grandson Steps Down From Florida Megachurch After Admitting an Affair|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] | access-date=July 19, 2015}}</ref> On August 11, the South Florida Presbytery of the [[Presbyterian Church in America|PCA]] ruled him "unfit for Christian ministry" and deposed him from his call as teaching elder.<ref name = MorganCT150822>{{cite news|last1=Morgan|first1=Timothy C.|title=Tullian Tchividjian Files for Divorce|url=http://www.christianitytoday.com/gleanings/2015/august/tullian-tchividjian-files-for-divorce.html | access-date=August 30, 2015|work=[[Christianity Today]]|date=August 22, 2015}}</ref><ref>As described by Timothy Morgan of ''Christianity Today,'' The PCA's Book of Church Order requires that a Christian minister must display an extended period of "eminently exemplary, humble and edifying life and testimony" before he can be in ministry. See Morgan, ''Christianity Today,'' August 22, 2015, op. cit.</ref>
Description	What you type	What you get
Italic	''Italic text''	Italic text
Bold	'''Bold text'''	Bold text
Bold & italic	'''''Bold & italic text'''''	*Bold & italic text*
Description	What you type	What you get
Reference	Page text.<ref>[https://www.example.org/ Link text], additional text.</ref>	Page text.^[1]
Named reference	Page text.<ref name="test">[https://www.example.org/ Link text]</ref>	Page text.^[2]
Additional use of the same reference	Page text.<ref name="test" />	Page text.^[2]
Display references	<references />	↑ Link text, additional text. ↑ Link text