Joshua Butler, co-lead pastor of Redemption Tempe, has announced his resignation in the wake of a recent controversy surrounding an excerpt from his forthcoming book, Beautiful Union. The excerpt, which was published on The Gospel Coalition’s website, generated strong criticism from both conservative and progressive Christians for its graphic and bizarre comparison of Jesus’s relationship with the Church to a man’s sexual relationship with his wife.

In his resignation letter, Butler expressed his love for Redemption Tempe and informed the congregation of the joint decision between him and the church elders. “I am resigning as co-lead pastor of Redemption Tempe. I have processed this with our elders and am writing this together with them, with a desire to share my reasons for resigning with you,” he wrote.

He cited the ongoing controversy’s toll on the staff and leaders of the church as one of his reasons for stepping down, adding that he does not want to drag Redemption into the public conversation. “The toll of this controversy on many of our staff and leaders this month has been intense, at both Redemption Tempe and other Redemption Arizona congregations. While they have borne that burden well, I am concerned that my continuing to step into this public conversation would generate distraction from the primary ministry God has called us to as a local church,” Butler explained.

The controversy began when The Gospel Coalition published an article written by Butler that contained a detailed and graphic comparison between Jesus’s relationship with the Church and a man’s sexual act with his wife. The article sparked outrage from both conservative and liberal groups, leading to its removal and withdrawal of endorsements for Butler’s book.

Despite this setback, Butler has continued to write on controversial topics. In a recent article on his personal website, he discussed the ethics of contraception, again using vivid and arguably fetishistic language.

In his resignation letter, Butler acknowledged the pain caused by the controversial excerpt, particularly to women with histories of sexual abuse. “For some of you, my lack of greater pastoral nuance in areas of the excerpt evoked pain, particularly for some women with histories of sexual abuse. I want to apologize for not showing greater consideration for how my words in this section could be heard from within your shoes. I’m truly sorry,” he wrote.

As part of the repair process, Butler has worked with the publisher to revise the excerpt based on feedback from sensitivity reviews by women, including sexual abuse survivors, counselors, and those who grew up in purity culture. These revisions will be incorporated into the next printing of the book.

Butler will remain available to those in the congregation who are hurt or confused by his writings, and he stated in his letter, “I care about your pain and your story and commit to simply listening, not seeking to explain, defend, or justify. I care about you.” He will also be updating his website and newsletter with interviews, articles, and projects in the future.