Stanley’s Wife Halts Divorce Plans

Anna J. Stanley, wife of Charles Stanley, one of the Southern Baptist Convention’s top leaders, quietly dismissed her divorce suit in an Atlanta suburb March 14, apparently securing the position of one of the country’s most popular television ministers.

The congregation of the 13,000-member First Baptist Church of Atlanta rejoiced at services March 17 when Stanley read a letter from his wife of 40 years. In it, Anna Stanley acknowledged that she and her husband are “not living together at this time,” but are “working toward that end.” She did not attend services.

Her move ends three years of nervous speculation about the fate of Stanley, 62. His books and tapes sell in the millions, and his autonomous In Touch television ministry is carried by 51 television stations and 500 radio stations in the United States, and is broadcast in 12 languages abroad.

Stanley’s church, which does not ordain women, has historically refused to allow divorced men to serve as deacons or pastors. Stanley had promised to resign if a divorce became final, but had repeatedly said he believed reconciliation would occur.

In a telephone interview the day the suit was dropped, Charles Stanley said, “Naturally, I’m pleased and grateful to God for answered prayer.”

Anna Stanley first filed for divorce in 1993, saying the couple had lived apart for a year. The only public hints of her reasons came in a letter to the congregation last year in which she said, “Long ago . . . Charles, in effect, abandoned our marriage. He chose his priorities, and I have not been one of them.”

The pending divorce caused turmoil in the church, including the resignation of several staff members who expressed dissatisfaction with Stanley’s continued leadership in light of his uncertain marital status. Among them was son Andy Stanley, who had served as associate pastor primarily responsible for the church’s satellite north suburban congregation. Andy Stanley is now pastoring North Point Community Church, a new Southern Baptist congregation that is drawing more than 2,000 worshipers to its biweekly meeting in a business center.

In January, First Baptist hired popular Fayetteville pastor Dwight “Ike” Reighard, a former Baptist state convention president, to be its senior associate minister and take over its satellite church. It also is drawing more than 2,000 worshipers.

Copyright © 1996 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Also in this issue

The CT archives are a rich treasure of biblical wisdom and insight from our past. Some things we would say differently today, and some stances we've changed. But overall, we're amazed at how relevant so much of this content is. We trust that you'll find it a helpful resource.

Cover Story

1996 Christianity Today Book Awards

When Crowds Gather, 'No Greater Love' Is There

CIA Use of Missionaries Revisited

RCA Pastor Refuses to Repent

Prepacked Communion Takes Off

Politics and Pulpit A Real Confession

Deposed Bishop Invents Online Diocese

Graham Son Subs for Dad Down Under

Anglican Province Created

Patriarchs Quarrel over Estonia

CHARLES COLSON: Christian v. America

'The Right to Parent': Should It Be Fundamental?

Graham Reaches Largest Television Audience

Jury Still Out on Homosexual Ordination

Muslim-Christian Conflicts May Destabilize East Africa

News

News Briefs: April 29, 1996

Where Is the Christian Men's Movement Headed?

Classic & Contemporary Excerpts from April 29, 1996

ARTICLE: Politics and Religion Do Mix

ARTICLE: Rehearsing Forgiveness

ARTICLE: The Jesus Seminar Unmasked

ARTICLE: The Case for Christian Kitsch

ARTICLE: Saint John Wayne and the Dragon

ARTICLE: Why Volunteers Won’t Save America

Editorial

EDITORIAL: Confessions of an Editor

Editorial

EDITORIAL: Our Extended, Persecuted Family

LETTERS: Jesus is the truth

Staff Assignments

News

Flash Cards from Heaven

View issue

Our Latest

The Holy Family and Mine

Nativity scenes show us the loving parents we all need—and remind me that my own parents estranged me over my faith.

News

The Door Is Now Open to Churches in Nepal

Seventeen years after the former Hindu kingdom became a secular state, Christians have a pathway to legal recognition.

The Russell Moore Show

My Favorite Books of 2024

Ashley Hales, CT’s editorial director for print, and Russell discuss this year’s reads.

China’s Churches Go Deep Rather than Wide at Christmas

In place of large evangelism outreaches, churches try to be more intentional in the face of religious restrictions and theological changes.

Why Christians Oppose Euthanasia

The immorality of killing the old and ill has never been in question for Christians. Nor is our duty to care for those the world devalues.

Wire Story

Study: Evangelical Churches Aren’t Particularly Political

Even if members are politically active and many leaders are often outspoken about issues and candidates they support, most congregations make great efforts to keep politics out of the church when they gather.

News

Investigation to Look at 82 Years of Missionary School Abuse

Adult alumni “commanded a seat at the table” to negotiate for full inquiry.

Have Yourself an Enchanted Little Advent

Angels are everywhere in the Bible. The Christmas season reminds us to take them seriously.

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube