Philip Yancey, a respected Christian author, recently revealed that he had been involved in an extramarital affair spanning several years, leading him to step down from his ministry roles. In a statement to Christianity Today, Yancey candidly admitted to his moral failings.

Without attempting to justify his actions, Yancey expressed deep remorse for the affair, acknowledging its sinful nature and the profound impact it had on those around him.

“I am deeply ashamed to admit that for eight years, I engaged in a sinful relationship with a married woman,” he stated. “My actions contradicted my beliefs about marriage, clashed with my faith, and inflicted significant pain on her husband and both of our families. Out of respect for the other family involved, I will refrain from sharing further details,” he conveyed, as reported by the publication.

Yancey shared that he has sought forgiveness from both God and his wife, and has committed to a path of professional counseling and accountability. He expressed sorrow for the moral and spiritual failure, acknowledging the disappointment it may cause among his readers. Most painfully, he recognized that his actions brought shame to God. “I am filled with remorse and repentance, relying solely on God’s mercy and grace,” he added.

Focusing now on mending his 55-year marriage, Yancey announced his retirement from writing, public speaking, and social media, acknowledging his disqualification from ministry. “I intend to spend my remaining years embodying the values I’ve written about,” he wrote. “I seek divine forgiveness and yours, and I wish for healing for those I have hurt,” Yancey concluded in his statement to Christianity Today.

He also supplied the outlet with a statement from his wife. 

In the statement, Janet Yancey noted that in the face of this “trauma and devastation” she does not plan to break her “marriage vow,” and she asked for people to pray for her and her husband.

“I, Janet Yancey, am speaking from a place of trauma and devastation that only people who have lived through betrayal can understand. Yet I made a sacred and binding marriage vow 55½ years ago, and I will not break that promise.

“I accept and understand that God through Jesus has paid for and forgiven the sins of the world, including Philip’s. God grant me the grace to forgive also, despite my unfathomable trauma. Please pray for us,” she said in the statement, according to the outlet.

In a 2023 piece about being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, Yancey wrote, “I have an omnicompetent wife of 52 years who takes my health and well-being as a personal challenge.”

“Sixteen years ago, when I lay strapped to a backboard with a broken neck after an auto accident, Janet drove through a blizzard to retrieve me. Already she was mentally redesigning our house in case she needed to prepare for life with a paralytic. She shows that same selfless, fierce loyalty now, even as she faces the potentially demanding role of caregiving,” he wrote in the piece.