Santa Ana's Rev. Hocking Quits Pulpit After Affair Scandal: Renowned minister acknowledges `sexual sin' with married woman in congregation of his Calvary Church.: [Orange County Edition]

The Rev. David Hocking, a Protestant minister who has a national following through his taped radio sermons, resigned as pastor of Calvary Church after acknowledging an affair with a married woman in the congregation, a church official said Thursday.

Hocking, 51, who is married and has three grown children, could not be reached for comment.

During his 10 years as pastor, Hocking's nondenominational Calvary Church of Santa Ana has grown from 1,000 members to over 4,500. His taped radio sermons, distributed by the Orange-based Solid Rock Radio company, are broadcast daily on about 150 stations in the United States and Canada.

In a brief prepared statement Thursday, officials said Hocking resigned Wednesday after meeting with the church's 18-member board of elders.

"His resignation came after his admission to the elders of his moral failure in recent months, resulting in sexual...