Pastor JD Hall Removed from Church, Ministry over Allegation of 'Serious Sin'

Hall has been a vocal critic of Christian leaders on his now-defunct website Pulpit & Pen and the site, Protestia, which has also been cut from FBC's ministries, The Christian Post reports.

"Earlier this week, the team at Protestia received allegations of serious sin committed by our brother JD Hall. After correspondence with leadership at Fellowship Baptist Church, we learned that JD was determined by the church to have disqualified himself from pastoral ministry, had resigned from the pastorate, and submitted himself to a process of church discipline," the statement said, according to Protestia. "Due to JD'sJD's removal from pastoral ministry, we likewise have removed him from ministry with Protestia."

The statement said the allegations against Hall were "credible," but they could not "determine the truth with certainty."

According to the Sidney Police Department, Hall was arrested on May 11 on multiple traffic violations while driving under the influence of alcohol/drugs and suspicion of carrying a concealed weapon.

The report says that when police approached Hall, he spoke slowly, his eyes were watery, and his speech was slurred. Police also said he stumbled and performed poorly on a field sobriety test.

A blood alcohol test did not reveal any alcohol in his system, but he did have a Smith & Wesson M&P 2.0 Shield handgun on his person.

Days after the arrest, Hall offered to resign, but the church rejected his resignation.

"Pastor Hall has suffered from documented vitamin D deficiency, which can result in poor coordination, slurred speech, word displacement, etc.," the church said in a May statement.

"This medical issue has been discussed openly for some time and has been the subject of our church's prayers. Nonetheless, Pastor Hall felt responsibility for bringing the stain of rumor upon the church and thus offered his resignation."

Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/Brian A. Jackson

Amanda Casanova is a writer living in Dallas, Texas. She has covered news for ChristianHeadlines.com since 2014. She has also contributed to The Houston Chronicle, U.S. News and World Report and IBelieve.com. She blogs at The Migraine Runner.