“By every account so far, it seems that Trinity Church in Portland has acted quickly, decisively and with integrity regarding this matter.”
(Pulpit & Pen) Dr. Arturo G. Azurdia III, the brilliant expositor and homiletics master at Trinity Church in Portland has fallen into sexual immorality and been released from his position as pastor. The statement of Art Azurdia’s fall was made on the church’s website by Thomas Terry, on of Trinity Church’s remaining elders.
On Sunday, June 24, the elders of Trinity Church of Portland received an accusation that Art Azurdia has been in a sexually immoral relationship with a woman from outside of Trinity Church. The elders of Trinity Church, after an initial investigation, confronted Art with the accusation. Art admitted to the immorality. He also admitted to a previous sexually immoral relationship. Based on these facts and the biblical qualifications required of an elder (1 Timothy 3, Titus 1), the elders have removed Art Azurdia as Senior Minister of Word and Worship at Trinity Church, as an elder, and from all pastoral ministry at Trinity Church. We grieve the shame this brings to the Gospel and the sorrow it brings to God’s people.
Many thousands have been blessed by the preaching of Art Azurdia, especially in circles that are considered to be more theologically sound. Along with his role of pastor at the church he planted, Trinity Church, Azurdia also served as a professor of theology at Western Seminary and taught homiletics.