Philip Yancey admits lengthy affair, vanishes from social media

Christian author Philip Yancey confessed Tuesday to having an affair with a married woman for eight years. In an emailed statement to WORLD, Yancey said he will step down from ministry. Yancey was an editor-at-large at Christianity Today, which first reported on the statement. He has been married to his wife Janet for 55 years. The author’s books, which include What’s So Amazing About Grace and The Jesus I Never Knew, have sold more than 15 million copies.

The day after his announcement, the author appeared to have deleted his social media pages.

What did Yancey say in his statement? Yancey, 76, wrote in his statement that the affair was inconsistent with his faith and writings. He did not elaborate on the nature of the affair. He acknowledged moral and spiritual failures that he said would disillusion readers who have trusted his writings. Yancey said his sin had brought dishonor to God, and that he has nothing to stand on but God’s mercy and grace.

He is focused on restoring his marriage and is in professional counseling and an accountability program, he wrote. The author also shared a statement from his wife, Janet. While she is in a place of trauma and devastation, she said she plans to honor her marriage vow to Yancey.

Dig deeper: Read my report on Samul Renihan, a Christian pastor and author, who confessed to adultery in November.