Christian author Philip Yancey confesses to affair, retires
Christian author Philip Yancey is retiring from writing and speaking after admitting to a long-term affair with a married woman.
The prolific writer, whose works include the Christian Book of the Year award winners “The Jesus I Never Knew” and “What’s So Amazing About Grace?” informed his former colleagues at Christianity Today that his career of more than 50 years was ending as he and his wife of 55 years worked toward reconciliation.
“To my great shame, I confess that for eight years I willingly engaged in a sinful affair with a married woman,” the 76-year-old scribe wrote to the religious newspaper.
Christianity Today, which has published Yancey’s articles for several decades, said his faith-focused books have sold more than 15 million copies.
The author admitted in an article published Tuesday that his conduct challenged his beliefs on marriage and contradicted his writings. He said his affair “caused deep pain” to his partner’s husband. His mea culpa included a statement from his own wife.
Janet Yancey, “speaking from a place of trauma and devastation that only people who have experienced betrayal can understand,” asserted that she still intended to honor the commitment she made to her husband when they married and asked her followers to pray for them both.
Yancey said he understood why his readers might feel disappointed by his actions and assured them he was seeking professional advice.
Christianity Today said the disgraced writer was scheduled to give a talk in Pasadena, California, on Wednesday, but was no longer listed as a guest speaker for that event.
