Charles Stanley is an American televangelist, author, theologian, and the Pastor Emeritus of Atlanta’s First Baptist Church.
Charles Stanley Married Now?
Since divorcing his longtime wife, Anna Johnson, in 2000, Charles remains unmarried. Now, at the age of 88, it is improbable that Charles will ever marry again.
When Charles and Anna divorced, members of the Southern Baptist Convention were ready to remove him as a pastor. However, due to the overwhelming support Charles received, the members amended their decision to overthrow him. Consequently, Charles was voted to stay on as a pastor under the proviso that he never marries again.
Therefore, his career as a pastor depends on whether he ever marries or not.
Previously Married to Anna Johnson Stanley
Charles Stanley was married for 45 years to Anna Johnson Stanley. The couple were both devout servants of God and spent most of their marital life spreading the word of God in places like Georgia, Ohio, North Carolina, and Florida.
Charles and Anna had been on the precipice of separating since 1992. That was the year they initially filed separated. On June 22, 1993, Anna filed for divorce, but she later amended the filing as “legal separation” with room for reconciliation.
Subsequently, Anna filed for divorce for the second time on March 20, 1995. Their divorce was finalized on May 11, 2000.
When Charles and Anna divorced for good, it caused a minor uproar in the Southern Baptist Convention. Charles was so sure about his marriage that he stated on record that he would relinquish his position as a pastor if he ever divorced.
However, Stanley had accumulated so much goodwill in his decades of service that no one wanted to see him go. He received near-unanimous support from his church members, and he stayed on as pastor.
What Happened to Charles Stanley’s Wife, Anna Stanley?
Anna Stanley remained a devout Christian before, during, and after her marriage and subsequent divorce to Charles. Throughout her life, Anna was involved in spreading the word of God. She taught the Bible and indulged in music.
Anna Johnson Stanley passed away on November 10, 2014, at the age of 83. According to her obituary, Anna died of natural causes at her home and in the midst of her family.
Her remaining family members held a funeral service at North Point Community Church in Georgia on November 13, 2014.
Anna was in her late-60’s when she divorced Charles Stanley. She never remarried afterward and instead spent the rest of her life devoted to God and her two children, six grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
Children
Charles and his ex-wife Anna Stanley share two children among them: son Andy Stanley and daughter Becky Stanley.
Their son, Charles Andrew “Andy” Stanley, born on May 16, 1958, is a pastor and author. He founded and currently runs the nondenominational evangelical church, North Point Ministries. Andy has a wife named Sandra, with whom he shares three children.
Furthermore, Charles and Anna’s daughter, Becky Stanley, is a married mother of three adult children.