Willow Creek Chicago pastor admits to 'sexual impurity'

A pastor at one of the largest and most influential megachurches in the US has resigned from his leadership position after admitting to "sexual impurity", according to a statement Tuesday by church officials.

The Rev Steve Wu, who led Willow Creek Community Church's regional campus in Chicago, left his post last month. The congregation was informed of Wu's resignation during service on January 25, according to the Chicago Tribune.

No specifics have been revealed about what actually took place but church officials stated that Wu has "taken full responsibility for his sin".

The former campus pastor has also "expressed a desire to participate in a restoration process", as reported by the local newspaper.

"We would ask you to pray diligently for Steve in these difficult days," according to Tuesday's statement, reported the Tribune.

Wu, 43, began pastoring Willow Chicago in 2006. It was the fifth campus of Willow Creek Community Church – the fourth largest megachurch in the country with 22,500 attendees, according to Outreach magazine's 2008 list. The megachurch, founded by the Rev Bill Hybels, currently has six locations throughout Illinois.

Before his move to Chicago, Wu served as a pastor at Crosswinds Church in the San Francisco Bay Area and also provided leadership at Genesis Technology and Twin Peaks Software.

While Willow Chicago searches for a new campus pastor, Todd Katter will be serving as interim campus pastor, according to the Tribune. Meanwhile, Wu has been removed from the church's web page.