Willow Creek Chicago pastor resigns over 'sexual impurity'

Willow Creek Community Church's Senior Pastor Bill Hybels has announced the resignation of the head of the church's Chicago campus because of "sexual impurity."

The Rev. Steve Wu has left as campus pastor of the Chicago branch of the South Barrington megachurch. He's "taken full responsibility for his sin," according to a church statement.

Hybels, who founded Willow Creek, hired Wu in 2006 to lead and help establish Willow Creek Chicago, which held its first service that year.

A church elder read a statement on Jan. 25 during services at the Chicago congregation announcing Wu's resignation. Church spokesman Ted Allen Miller said the church's staff was told of Wu's departure the next day, while Hybels told the South Barrington campus the news earlier this month.

Willow Creek, with its 20,000 members, is routinely listed as one of the most influential Evangelical churches in the country.

The church's statement also read that Wu wants to participate in a restoration process. Miller didn't have details of what that would entail.

"Our desire is we reconcile and restore," Miller said.

Miller would not provide further details.

According to Willow Creek's Web site Wu worked for years in California's Silicon Valley and also started his own church in California. He also served as pastor Crosswinds Church near San Francisco.

Willow Creek Chicago convenes inside the city's historic Auditorium Theater. Todd Katter is serving as interim campus pastor while church officials search for Wu's replacement.

"We would ask you to pray diligently for Steve in these difficult days," the church's statement concludes.