A renowned pastor at an Alabama megachurch who abruptly resigned and compared his ordeal to a biblical tale left his congregation scrambling for answers and spinning yarns about his true motives for quitting.
Rev. George Wright dramatically quit the Shades Mountain Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama on May 3, sparking chaos among his 7,800-member megachurch followers.
In his final sermon, Wright said he had a leadership dispute with the church and compared his exit to a dispute between the biblical characters of Paul and Barnabas in the Book of Acts.
But Wright did not elaborate on why he was leaving, sparking rumors of impropriety among his flock.
The church attempted to quickly tamp down talk of a scandal, bringing nine leaders including executive staff, committee leaders and deacons on stage on Wednesday night to insist that Wright only left the role because of a vague disagreement.
According to AL.com, conflicts between leaders at the huge megachurch have lingered for years before it blew into the spotlight this month.
While praising Wright as a 'great preacher', insiders told the outlet that the reverend frustrated many of his 76-person staff at the church, creating allegations of a hostile environment.
At least 15 deacons reportedly resigned in protest of Wright before he eventually quit.
Rev. George Wright, a renowned pastor at the Shades Mountain Baptist Church megachurch in Alabama, left his congregation scrambling for answers after he abruptly resigned and compared his ordeal to a biblical tale
Wright, pictured delivering his final sermon, said he had a leadership dispute with the church and compared his exit to a dispute between the biblical characters of Paul and Barnabas in the Book of Acts as he left the church abruptly
Church leaders were quick to deny any bad behavior on the part of the religious leader, amid swirling rumors of impropriety from Wright sparked by members of his congregation.
Church treasurer Randy Pittman said Wright's vague explanations for leaving opened the door for speculation of misconduct, but he said there was no criminal or sexual wrongdoing on his part.
'He didn't steal anything, there was no marital infidelity,' Pittman told AL.com.
'They're not true,' he warned. 'Don't go there.'
In a release to congregants this week, the church added: 'This situation did not involve marital infidelity, criminal behavior, or doctrinal concerns.'
Wright joined the megachurch in 2021, and had gained a following for his sermons about religious teachings.
But Pittman, a member of the megachurch's Personnel Advisory Committee that reviewed Wright's performance and compensation, said issues between Wright and church leaders arose as early as 2023.
He said he had tried to fix the situation for years, but 'at the end of the day, he had lost the trust of his team.'
'He chose to resign himself and I applaud him for that decision because it took a great deal of maturity to stand up and say, ‘I’m really not fitting in this role as well as I need to,'' Pittman said.
Wright, seen with his wife Megan, allegedly frustrated staff at his megachurch which led at least 15 deacons to resign
Insiders at the church described Wright as a 'great pastor', but said he did not get along with many of his staff and deacons in recent years which left him feeling 'like a square peg in a round hole'
Another pastor at the megachurch who worked under Wright, Lisa Davis, added that she came to believe there were issues soon after Wright began, alleging that she did not approve of his leadership.
Davis said he would conclude staff meetings by declaring that 'the executive staff has approved', even if she knew that they had not done so.
'That's where my concerns began,' she said.
Davis said she soon came to understand that 'you don't question' Wright, saying that she vocally disagreed one time but 'clammed up after that... it was clear that you didn't question.'
Deacon Greg Morrison said that behind-the-scenes arguments intensified in January 2024 when his fellow deacons came up with a plan for Wright to instruct him on improving relations, which he said failed to help the situation.
'These were matters that became a pattern of behavior,' he said.
Around that time, 15 deacons resigned from the megachurch, and Morrison said he recalled Wright complaining that he 'felt like a square peg in a round hole.'
'No church wants to be in this position,' Morrison said of Wright leaving.
'In the history of this church, I am not aware of anything happening like this,' Pittman concluded. 'If I learned anything, it’s to be flexible and to trust in the Lord.'
The Daily Mail has contacted Wright via social media, and has reached out to Shades Mountain Baptist Church for comment.