Sam Allberry Resigns Over ‘Inappropriate Relationship’ With a Man

Allberry exits Immanuel Nashville, Keller Center after past relationship deemed ‘disqualifying’

(RNS) — Sam Allberry, an evangelical pastor and apologist who advocates for celibacy as the faithful path for Christians with same-sex attraction, has been “disqualified from gospel ministry” following an “inappropriate relationship with an adult man in 2022,” according to a statement from elders at Immanuel Nashville, a nondenominational church where he has served as an associate pastor since 2023.

Pastor Sam Allberry. Courtesy sallberry.com

The Nashville, Tennessee, church’s statement, first reported by Protestia, said church elders were first made aware of the relationship between Allberry and another man in spring 2024, and based on “information available at the time and the posture of Sam and the other party,” the church determined “Sam’s conduct was unwise, but it did not rise to the level of disqualification.” But after receiving new information this January, per the statement, the elders reopened an investigation into Allberry’s actions.

“(W)hile the relationship did not go as far as it could have, Sam’s conduct constituted a serious breach of trust and a failure to walk in a manner worthy of the gospel,” the statement said. “The Elders are unanimous in their decision that Sam is currently disqualified from gospel ministry. Sam agrees with this decision and has resigned from Immanuel Church.”

Neither the church nor Allberry responded to requests for comment in time for publication, and RNS could not independently verify the elders’ statement, but Allberry’s name has been removed from the church website.

Immanuel Nashville is led by evangelical Gospel Coalition council member T.J. Tims and three assistant pastors, including Barnabas Piper, son of evangelical heavyweight John Piper. Allberry also served as canon theologian (theological adviser) in the Anglican Diocese of the Western Gulf Coast until last month and remains ordained in the Anglican Church in North America.

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On Sunday (May 3), The Gospel Coalition’s board of directors released a statement saying that Allberry had resigned as a fellow at The Keller Center for Cultural Apologetics over concerns about “an inappropriate relationship with another man a few years ago.”

“Per TGC policy and procedures, we immediately began to remove all of Sam’s content from our website and other content channels, and we deferred this statement until the church membership was informed,” the statement said. “We are heartbroken over this news, and we continue to pray for Sam, Immanuel Church, and everyone affected.”

Immanuel Nashville was founded by Reformed evangelical theologian Ray Ortlund in 2008, who, along with his son Gavin Ortlund and Baptist minister Russell Moore, serves as leader in residence for the church. Immanuel is also part of the Acts 29 Network, a Reformed evangelical church planting network.

Allberry, who has written extensively for The Gospel Coalition and Desiring God, has described himself as “a Christian man who has experienced same-sex attraction,” but whose “sexual feelings and temptations” aren’t part of his identity in Christ. He is known for reframing singleness as a positive calling. His theology around human sexuality closely matches what has often been labeled a “Side B” sexual ethic, which teaches that same-sex attraction isn’t inherently sinful, while also teaching that God designs sex and marriage to occur exclusively between a man and a woman.

Living Out, a United Kingdom-based organization that aims to help “same-sex attracted individuals” to “flourish through faithfulness to biblical teaching on sexuality and identity,” posted Monday that it is praying for Allberry, one of its co-founders.

“We will be reaching out to Sam to better understand how we can support him, what has happened, and the implications,” the organization said in a statement. “In the meantime, we believe his many past contributions to this site retain their value, and they will not be taken down. … Living Out exists because of people like Sam, and for people like Sam. We continue to appreciate all that he has contributed to Living Out.”

Allberry is not currently facing any clergy misconduct proceedings in the Anglican Church in North America.

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