Arkansas Pastor Resigns After Four Decades of Marriage Ends

Faith Facts

• David Hughey resigned from Geyer Springs First Baptist Church in Little Rock, Arkansas, after his wife filed for divorce following nearly 40 years of marriage
• The Southern Baptist Convention does not have a specific policy disqualifying pastors from leadership due to divorce
• Pastor Hughey chose to step down voluntarily from his position as lead pastor

A longtime Arkansas pastor has voluntarily resigned from his leadership position following the dissolution of his marriage. David Hughey, who served as lead pastor of Geyer Springs First Baptist Church in Little Rock, made the difficult decision to step down after his wife, Louanne, filed for divorce last month.

The couple had been married for nearly four decades before the separation. The divorce proceedings marked an unexpected turn for the pastoral family that had served the congregation for years.

While the Southern Baptist Convention maintains no official policy requiring pastors to resign when facing divorce, Hughey chose to relinquish his pastoral duties. His decision reflects a personal conviction about biblical leadership standards and the importance of family integrity in ministry.

The situation highlights ongoing discussions within evangelical churches about qualifications for pastoral leadership. Many conservative congregations look to 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1, which outline character requirements for church leaders, including being “the husband of one wife” and managing their households well.

Different denominations and individual churches interpret these passages in varying ways when it comes to divorce. Some maintain that divorce automatically disqualifies someone from pastoral ministry, while others evaluate circumstances on a case-by-case basis, particularly when the pastor was not at fault.

Geyer Springs First Baptist Church has not released detailed information about the circumstances surrounding the divorce or future leadership plans. The congregation now faces the task of healing and seeking new pastoral guidance during this transitional period.

The resignation underscores the high standards many pastors hold themselves to, even when official denominational policy might allow them to continue. It also serves as a reminder of the personal costs and challenges faced by those in ministry leadership.

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