Board references inappropriate texts and questionable comments by lead pastor, Albert Tate
In a letter to the congregation of Fellowship Monrovia, board president George Saleh referenced inappropriate text messages and questionable comments as the reason the lead pastor, Albert Tate, has been put on a leave of absence.
The letter from Saleh and the board shared that the church is focused on accountability and restoration in the actions to place Tate on leave. “We believe in grace, accountability, and the redemptive power of Christ. Therefore, we see this leave of absence as a necessary time for Albert to engage in a period of reflection, spiritual guidance, and restoration.”
Tate now 46, and his family moved from Mississippi to Pasadena to serve at Lake Avenue Church, then feeling the call to church plant, started Fellowship Monrovia in 2012, growing to 3,500 by 2017. The Southern California church meets weekly at Monrovia High School, about 8 miles east of Pasadena, in Los Angeles County.
The church is clear that they are not throwing their pastor to the wayside, but rather following their own stated core values.
“Let us be clear, this is not an abandonment of our Senior Pastor but a manifestation of our church’s core values—values that underscore the importance of integrity, responsibility, and spiritual growth. It is our prayerful expectation that this period will be a God-led journey for both Pastor Tate and all of us that call Fellowship our church home.”
No further details were provided regarding the nature of the texts or comments at this time.
Tate is listed as a teaching pastor at Willow Creek Community Church outside of Chicago, IL, and up until August 2023, was listed as a board member at Azusa Pacific University in Azusa, CA.
The church maintained that its mission is steadfast in being a gospel-centered, multi-ethnic, intergenerational church where we exist to make disciples.” Fellowship Monrovia has been outspoken in its mission toward “confronting racism” with a center for racial reconciliation at the church.
Roy’s Report shared 3 key pastors resigned over the summer including, Fellowship Monrovia’s Chief of Staff Michael Field, who has been at the church since its founding in 2012, campus Pastor Brandan Spencer and his wife, worship leader and Teaching Pastor Tiana Spencer.
Tate is married to his wife LaRosa, is the father of 4 children, and is the author of 2 books, Disobedient God and How We Love Matters.
I have been a Christian for over 40 years, have attended Fellowship, and facilitated an Alpha group this year. I grieved upon reading Fellowship’s Board Chairman’s statement about Senior Pastor Albert Tate’s misconduct. I emailed to Fellowship at co*******@ma***************.com my extensive reply. Among other things, my reply said that the Chairman’s statement reflects that the Board believes Senior Pastor Albert Tate sinned. That being the case, I indicated that, as part of the Scriptural restoration of Senior Pastor Albert Tate, he should be “rebuke[d] before all” per 1 Timothy 5:20. The Board’s statement and my reply may be found at https://kerobersonsrltrtofellowshipchurch.blogspot.com/.