This week in Christian history: Charles Stanley and wife divorce, first council in China
Charles Stanley, wife divorce – May 11, 2000
This week marks the anniversary of the finalizing of the divorce between prominent pastor, author and In Touch Ministries founder Charles Stanley and his wife, Anna Stanley.
During the 1990s, the couple experienced marital issues. Anna Stanley filed for divorce in 1995, but later withdrew to advance reconciliation efforts.
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Neither party alleged infidelity on the part of the other, with Charles Stanley at one point reportedly saying that “childhood difficulties” played a factor in the end of the 44-year marriage.
Controversially, Charles Stanley decided to remain pastor of First Baptist Church of Atlanta, Georgia, which prompted some staff to resign, among them his son, Andy Stanley.
In a 2022 interview with TBN, Charles Stanley recounted telling critics, “God hadn’t told me to do anything but what I’m doing, so I intend to do that until He tells me to do something else.”
“I never felt like I really even divorced her. She asked for it. I responded to it. What else could I do?” he added. “I felt like I had obeyed God by responding and I knew that He would take care of me.”
