Tullian Tchividjian

William Graham Tullian Tchividjian (born July 13, 1972) is a pastor and author of more than a half dozen books about Christianity and current issues, including One Way Love and It is Finished (David C. Cook, 2013 and 2015).

He is a grandson of Christian evangelist Billy Graham.

William Graham Tullian Tchividjian, whose third given name is shortened from his namesake, the theologian of antiquity, Tertullian, was born on July 13, 1972, in Jacksonville, Florida.

He is the middle of seven children born to Stephan Tchividjian, a psychologist of Swiss and Armenian ancestry, and Gigi Graham, the eldest daughter of Billy Graham and Ruth Graham.

Through his mother, he is a nephew of evangelists Franklin Graham and Anne Graham Lotz.

Tchividjian's older brother, Basyle "Boz" Tchividjian, is a former Professor of Law at Liberty University School of Law in Lynchburg, Virginia, and the founder and former CEO of Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment (GRACE).

Tchividjian attended the Westminster Academy, an educational ministry of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for a time, but is described as having "dropped out during a period of rebellion - sinking into South Florida's 'pleasure-saturated culture' ... then [coming] to a personal faith in Jesus at the age of 21 and return[ing] to a Christian lifestyle."

In this same rough time frame, he attended and graduated from Columbia International University, in Columbia, South Carolina, with a B.A. in philosophy in 1997.

Tchividjian subsequently earned an M.Div.

degree at Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando in 2001, and was ordained in the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) denomination in 2001.

Before founding New City Presbyterian Church in Coconut Creek, Florida, an Evangelical Presbyterian Church congregation, Tchividjian spent "a short two-year stint at a Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee".

Tchividjian went on from that position to found and pastor New City in Coconut Creek - Margate, Florida, about 12 miles northwest of his earlier Westminster Academy school in Ft. Lauderdale, ca. 2003.

The church has been described as "a young church plant."

At one time drawing 7,000 worshipers, Kennedy's Coral Ridge "had been in decline" since the death of its famous first preacher in 2007; Tchividjian's presented vision, his relative youth (aged 36 at time of installation), and his association with the famous Graham family and were seen by the church elders as a way to "revive... the aging congregation."

At the time of Tchividjian's installation, Coral Ridge was described as having a weekly attendance at 1,800, from a membership of 2,200 persons.

The combined weekly attendance of the merged congregations was anticipated to be on the order of 2,450 persons.

However, the response of the church to the difference in pastoral styles, and "Tchividjian's rejection of culture war politics" led to "chaos" in the church, and Tchividjian's recall was sought by a group led by Kennedy's daughter, Jennifer, within 6 months of his installation.

In its description of the conflict, Bobby Ross Jr. of Christianity Today describes its outcome as "Tchividjian [having] survived an attempt… by… church members to remove him.

At its peak, under Kennedy, as many as 7,000 worshipers attended Coral Ridge, although this number had declined between Kennedy's death in 2007, and 2009.

In a Press Release from both churches just prior to the merger, Coral Ridge was described as having 2,200 members (with weekly attendance at 1,800 ), and New City as being "a church of 650 people."

More than 5000 were said to be in attendance on the Sunday of Tchividjian's installation as the church's new senior pastor in spring of 2009.

Coral Ridge is described as having approached Tchividjian three times during the process, beginning in May 2008, and his having stipulated the necessity of a church merger for him to consider that pastorate at Coral Ridge; the final discussion between Tchividjian and Coral Ridge began "just before Christmas [2008]."

In 2009 he was invited to merge churches and become the second senior pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida (after the church's late founder and longterm leader, D. James Kennedy).

As of 2009, New City Presbyterian had a congregation of ca. 650 persons.

In 2009, a merger between the larger and widely known Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and Tchividjian's New City Presbyterian was negotiated.

Tchividjian noted at the time that "the denominations [of the merging churches] are both theologically conservative and [they] have maintained a good working relationship over the years."

As described by Tchividjian and others to James D. Davis, Religion Editor of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, the process to decide leadership that resulted in the merger of the two congregations was a year-long process managed by "Coral Ridge's 15-member Pulpit Nominating Committee" (Dan Westphal, chair), who evaluated 150-175 candidates nationally and internationally.

Westphal announced the committee's selection of Tchividjian, pending congregational approval, to Coral Ridge congregants in a Sunday morning service on January 18, 2009, to "[g]asps, then applause" (as described by Davis of the Sun-Sentinel).

The merger of the two congregations was official on Easter Sunday, April 12, 2009.

Tchividjian was approved, with his installation on May 10, 2009 as senior pastor of Coral Ridge, formally succeeding its late founding pastor, D. James Kennedy; the installation address was delivered by Evangelical Christian writer and social critic, Os Guinness, and more than 5,000 are reported to have attended the installation worship service.

Tchividjian brought with him a less formal worship style from New City, for instance, conducting services in a suit and tie rather than the vestments Kennedy had worn.

Tchividjian was retained by a majority of the congregation in September 2009.

and the individuals bringing the removal action were described as being banned from the church.

In September 2009 Coral Ridge was described by Christianity Today as having "2500-member[s]".

Prior to 2015, Tchividjian blogged for some time for The Gospel Coalition, contributed to a variety of secular and Christian publications, and appeared on a variety of major televisions news programs.

Tchividjian founded an Evangelical Presbyterian Church congregation.

In 2015, Tchividjian resigned from Coral Ridge after admitting to an extramarital affair.

On June 21, 2015, Tchividjian resigned as senior pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church after admitting to an extramarital affair.

On August 11, the South Florida Presbytery of the PCA ruled him "unfit for Christian ministry" and deposed him from his call as teaching elder.

In 2019, Tullian Tchividjian planted a new church in Jupiter, Florida, called "The Sanctuary".