Charles Stanley and Anna Stanley got divorced in 2000, which caused a lot of commotion among Charles’ followers. People were upset because Charles was a well-known religious leader, and they thought his divorce went against his beliefs. Charles talked publicly about the divorce, which some people thought was inappropriate. Many of their followers are curious about what happened to them after the breakup.
Let’s begin with Anna Stanley. Who is she and what happened to her?
Who is Anna Stanley?
The theologian Charles Stanley got married in 1955. He married Anna Stanley after a church deacon introduced them. Charles has often said that she was not the typical person he would usually be interested in.
Anna was beautiful, intelligent, and creative. Most importantly, she had a strong love for God. After the wedding, she went to work while the minister completed his studies at the seminary.
The couple has two kids, Andy Stanley and Becky Stanley. Andy is the creator and leader of the North Point Community Church in Alpharetta, Georgia.
Becky Stanley has kept her life private but is married and has two children.
Charles Stanley and Anna Stanley’s Marriage Ended
Charles and Stanley appeared to have a happy marriage, but things were not as they seemed. In his 1991 book, “How to Deal with Challenges,” the pastor shares how he kept himself occupied when they relocated to Atlanta.
He admits that he married the ministry and started neglecting his family. According to him, this caused immense hurt and rejection to Anna. It took him several years to realize the damage he had caused. Although the intimate details of that season are not publicly known, the couple’s children have made attempts to share.
This move was difficult for the couple as it required them to start afresh in a new city, away from friends and family. The pastor’s decision to focus on his ministerial duties and not prioritize his family caused Anna to feel neglected and rejected.
Years later, the pastor realized that he had made a grave mistake, and it caused a deep rift in their marriage.
In his book “Deep and Wide,” Andy Stanley provides insights into his parents’ marriage, revealing that the union had long lost its vitality before they eventually decided to proceed with their divorce.
Andy describes long periods of marital counseling with trained therapists and physicians.
While he is also stating that even with the prevalent issues, his parents oppose divorce and neither of them would want to initiate a divorce in spite of the prevailing issues.
Divorce
It was in 1993 that Anna Stanley decided to begin the divorce process. However, after filing for divorce, she amended her petition to request “separate maintenance,” which is legal separation.
Stanley and Anna couldn’t agree on the terms. So, she filed again in 1995, asking for a jury trial. There’s been no sign of reconciliation between the two.
Anna Stanley and her husband have been unable to resolve their differences and have lived separate lives. As a result, they are going through an unresolved divorce, and Stanley hasn’t achieved her desired outcome through the courts.
The separation caused much tension within the Christian community and, more so, Stanley’s local church.
None of them revealed the details of what led them there, but there was seemingly no other way to go.
The divorce process was long and tedious and affected the First Baptist Church, where he was serving then.
After finalizing the divorce proceedings, Stanley made a commitment to resign. However, his church members overwhelmingly voted to retain him as their pastor as long as he did not remarry.
Charles Stanley stepped down after the divorce process was officially announced in 2000.
Despite the calls from some clergy, Stanley continued with his ministry despite the need to get his life back in order.
FAQ’s about Anna Stanley
What happened to Anna Stanley?
Unfortunately, Anna Stanley passed away in November 2014 at 83 years old after an undisclosed illness. She and Charles rarely spoke after the termination of the marriage.
Recent publications do not mention Anna as much as his previous work. Anna’s two children, six grandchildren, one great-grandchild, and two sisters survive her.
After two decades, the debate continues to rage over Charles Stanley’s divorce. The religious fundamentalist has chosen to remain silent about his marital issues while faithfully serving in his church.
What are the reasons for dr. Charles Stanley and anna Stanley’s divorce?
According to his former wife, Dr. Charles Stanley’s divorce from his wife in 2000 resulted from many years of marital disappointments and conflict.
Andy’s talent as a preacher became apparent when he took over one of his dad’s satellite churches. Soon enough, he had to turn away congregants because the church had no space for them to sit.
In some ways, Charles and Andy looked like a father-son duo working together, but at other times, they looked like competitors.
Almost 20 years later, when asked in an interview with CNN whether he was competing with his father, Andy said, “Not intentionally, but I felt like what we were doing was better.”
After Charles stepped aside, people perceived Andy as the heir to his father’s throne. Many expected Charles to resign due to his divorce, but he had no intention of doing so.
Andy didn’t want his father to resign, but Charles thought that Andy supported his resignation thanks to a misunderstanding. Andy chose to leave Charles’ church after his father confronted him for siding with his enemies.
“It was really bad,” Andy told CNN. “It was horrible. But you know what? I had perfect peace. I’ve never been so sure of a decision even when the whole world blew up around us.“
Charles and Andy rebuilt their relationship by spending time together and by seeking counseling. Eventually, they restored the bond that they had erroneously broken.
In 1995, Andy formed North Point Community Church with a group of friends. When Charles heard the news, he interrupted his regular order of service one Sunday morning to tell his congregation, “And he has my blessing,” he said.
