A longtime Southern Baptist pastor has voluntarily stepped away from the pulpit following the breakdown of his nearly 40-year marriage, saying he believes remaining as lead pastor would have become a distraction to his church-even though no one asked him to resign.
David Hughey, who has served at Geyer Springs First Baptist Church in Little Rock, Arkansas, for more than three decades and as lead pastor since 2016, announced he is stepping down after his wife, Louanne, finalized their divorce last month.
The decision has sparked conversation because the Southern Baptist Convention has no formal policy automatically disqualifying divorced pastors from ministry. Nevertheless, Hughey said he felt personally convicted that stepping aside was the right course of action.
"I feel certain my decision is led by God and best for our body," he told his congregation.
Court records show Louanne Hughey filed for divorce in February after nearly 40 years of marriage. In her filing, she cited "general indignities," the most commonly used fault-based ground for divorce in Arkansas, alleging humiliation, intimidation, derogatory comments, and emotional neglect during the marriage.
David Hughey firmly denied the allegations, insisting they were "totally untrue" and maintaining that the couple experienced only ordinary marital disagreements throughout their relationship.
Despite contesting the accusations, Hughey acknowledged that reconciliation was no longer possible and informed church leaders that he intended to relinquish his role if the divorce became final.
According to Hughey, the decision was entirely his own.
"No one on our staff or lay leadership teams asked me to step down or suggested that I should," he explained. "I spent a lot of time in prayer, seeking the Lord."
Instead, he said the issue ultimately came down to protecting the church's witness.
"While I have been greatly supported and loved by this congregation, I feel certain I would have been a distraction for either some who are here or for some the Lord might bring our way in the future," he said. "Out of my desire to honor God and my love for His church, I believe this was the most loving decision in the long run."
Hughey also noted that other well-known Southern Baptist pastors-including Charles Stanley-continued serving after divorce, but said he never believed that path was right for him personally.
Although stepping down as lead pastor, Hughey will remain connected to the congregation in a different capacity. The church's website now lists him as director of pastoral care and ministry support.
His decision is already prompting renewed discussion among church leaders and congregations about pastoral accountability, marriage, and how churches should navigate leadership during deeply personal family crises.
For Hughey, however, the issue wasn't denominational policy-it was conscience. After months of prayer and the painful collapse of a marriage spanning nearly four decades, he concluded that laying down leadership was, in his words, the best way to honor both God and the church he has served for more than 30 years.
