He says his depression led him to copy others' sermons. The senior pastor at one of Charlotte's largest churches admitted to plagiarism and resigned Sunday.

In a letter read in his absense at four worship services, The Rev. Glenn Wagner of Calvary Church told his congregation the plagiarism had been going on for two years.

The problem was detected two weeks ago when a church elder heard a radio sermon that sounded like one Wagner had preached.

The elders tried to keep Wagner on staff with other duties after his admission of guilt to them, but Wagner quit anyway.