Regarding Pastors....

[bobinfaith]

Ok... so...... Where are we at as far as figuring out WHAT sins of a pastor would REVOKE their position????

I am reading that IF a pastor receives proper counselling AFTER having an affair... ( intensive counselling )... it is permissible for him to return to pastoring.

Is there ANY sin that would cause a pastor to LOSE his position??

Obviously sexual abuse of a child is one... but I am thinking beyond this... as that one is indeed a no BRAINER.

Hello In Awe of Him;

We're all receiving excellent posts to your thread, Regarding Pastors...

Most Christian Churches are autonomous, self governing and adhere to their bylaws section regarding the standards expected by their Pastor(s).

One local prominent Pastor committed infidelity. He confessed to his wife of almost 50 years of his adulterous affair. He immediately stepped down as the Senior Pastor. It brought humiliation and shame to the Church and it's surrounding community.

He sought counseling with a group of seasoned and licenced Christian marriage therapists. It lasted one full year. He was ratified back into the Pastoral Ministry and called into a new Church plant - new people, new community and new area.

Other Churches have fired Pastors or individual Pastors chose to step down indefinitely. Most will take time in prayer before God calls them to another ministry like teaching, executive Pastor, music ministry, missionary work, attend as a member, etc...

This doesn't just apply to adultery, but other sins such as secret dependency on alcohol / drugs, physically abusive, embezzling, acrimonious divorce, etc...

Again, there is no cookie cutter rule for all Churches to follow. The autonomy of each Church has their own bylaws in place (voted on) regarding the standard expected by their Pastor.

God bless you, sister.

Bob

 

[In Awe of Him]

One local prominent Pastor committed infidelity. He confessed to his wife of almost 50 years of his adulterous affair. He immediately stepped down as the Senior Pastor. It brought humiliation and shame to the Church and it's surrounding community.

He sought counseling with a group of seasoned and licenced Christian marriage therapists. It lasted one full year. He was ratified back into the Pastoral Ministry and called into a new Church plant - new people, new community and new area.

My heart has a real problem with this Bob....but my heart is not the determiner of Church rules.

Suffice to say that these matters always bring deep shame upon the church.

 

[BibleLover]

My heart has a real problem with this Bob....but my heart is not the determiner of Church rules.

Suffice to say that these matters always bring deep shame upon the church.

A pastor who grievously disgraces Christ, the church, his family, and himself should be man enough to permanently renounce his ordination and leave the church he disgraced. He should probably also find an appropriate penance for the harm he did to his family as well.

 

[bobinfaith]

My heart has a real problem with this Bob....but my heart is not the determiner of Church rules. Suffice to say that these matters always bring deep shame upon the church.

In Awe of Him;

I tell you the truth. Christians who attend Church weekly, yearly for many years and some all their lives feel a crushing, heartbroken break down when their Shepherd whom they loved and trusted commits these acts of sin.

The ones who worship at home or other means of fellowship can also feel the same pain.

This is why it's so vital for all of us, to pray for all Pastors. It's a hard, lonely, frustrating ministry including battling with temptation; but at the end of the day the blessings are abundant for Pastors who truly love people, hold on to the noble task and why they're called Shepherds.

All of us have a real heart problem with this, In Awe of Him. Meantime, Cheer up! We can still give thanksgiving to God for His most trusted, hard working Pastors who are steadfast in strength and remain obedient to our Lord.

Bob

 

[forgiven61]

we certainly seem to have a out of control with mega church pastors having affairs... i still stand by if it was just a one time thing. he has demonstrated repentance. along with a stand down from preaching period for at least a year.. along with godly counsel. even at that he still bears the scar on his ministry . but they could return .

 

[In Awe of Him]

I tell you the truth. Christians who attend Church weekly, yearly for many years and some all their lives feel a crushing, heartbroken break down when their Shepherd whom they loved and trusted commits these acts of sin.

I love what you said Bob.... and I have felt the sting of this myself when the Ravi Zacharias scandal broke out. I was GUTTED.... in SHOCK... SADDENED beyond belief... and in BEWILDERMENT on how this could have happened. I guess that was my first ( what I will call personal ) taste of being affected by a church leader's SIN.

Tragically... he went to his grave with his "dark secrets"... leaving a huge mess for his family and ministry.

I spoke via email to the lawyer who EXPOSED him. I was that upset about the whole thing that I felt it necessary to thank this man for doing what the CHURCH SHOULD have done. There were many red flags here.... and NO accountability.

Anyways.... Perhaps it might be nice to open up a new thread with prayers for pastors. I will think about this. I find that my hands are full with the Cabin.... so maybe... someone can start a new thread ( if the Spirit leads ).

God bless you Bob.

we certainly seem to have a out of control with mega church pastors having affairs... i still stand by if it was just a one time thing. he has demonstrated repentance. along with a stand down from preaching period for at least a year.. along with godly counsel. even at that he still bears the scar on his ministry . but they could return .

I absolutely understand the process of which you have explained.... You are talking about the man who has fallen... and who is heart-fully broken over his sins. Some of the most effective teachers are those who have a TAINTED past with experience in very sinful things. Their testimony of victory over sin carries strong.

To that man I would say.... find a way to get a hold of married couples in trouble... and counsel them... but I still say NO to regaining their position as a pastor. I think this is a personal belief.... so there is NO wrong or right.

Thank you for your thoughts.

 

[YeshuaFan]

I love what you said Bob.... and I have felt the sting of this myself when the Ravi Zacharias scandal broke out. I was GUTTED.... in SHOCK... SADDENED beyond belief... and in BEWILDERMENT on how this could have happened. I guess that was my first ( what I will call personal ) taste of being affected by a church leader's SIN.

Tragically... he went to his grave with his "dark secrets"... leaving a huge mess for his family and ministry.

I spoke via email to the lawyer who EXPOSED him. I was that upset about the whole thing that I felt it necessary to thank this man for doing what the CHURCH SHOULD have done. There were many red flags here.... and NO accountability.

Anyways.... Perhaps it might be nice to open up a new thread with prayers for pastors. I will think about this. I find that my hands are full with the Cabin.... so maybe... someone can start a new thread ( if the Spirit leads ).

God bless you Bob.


I absolutely understand the process of which you have explained.... You are talking about the man who has fallen... and who is heart-fully broken over his sins. Some of the most effective teachers are those who have a TAINTED past with experience in very sinful things. Their testimony of victory over sin carries strong.

To that man I would say.... find a way to get a hold of married couples in trouble... and counsel them... but I still say NO to regaining their position as a pastor. I think this is a personal belief.... so there is NO wrong or right.

Thank you for your thoughts.

The other real problem in all of these bad situations involving pasors would be that many times they had no authority over them, as the elder boards were either family members or "yes men", and also that those speaking out were accused of being gossips, bring disunity, daring to speak against 'the annoited of the Lord"

 

[YeshuaFan]

I love what you said Bob.... and I have felt the sting of this myself when the Ravi Zacharias scandal broke out. I was GUTTED.... in SHOCK... SADDENED beyond belief... and in BEWILDERMENT on how this could have happened. I guess that was my first ( what I will call personal ) taste of being affected by a church leader's SIN.

Tragically... he went to his grave with his "dark secrets"... leaving a huge mess for his family and ministry.

I spoke via email to the lawyer who EXPOSED him. I was that upset about the whole thing that I felt it necessary to thank this man for doing what the CHURCH SHOULD have done. There were many red flags here.... and NO accountability.

Anyways.... Perhaps it might be nice to open up a new thread with prayers for pastors. I will think about this. I find that my hands are full with the Cabin.... so maybe... someone can start a new thread ( if the Spirit leads ).

God bless you Bob.


I absolutely understand the process of which you have explained.... You are talking about the man who has fallen... and who is heart-fully broken over his sins. Some of the most effective teachers are those who have a TAINTED past with experience in very sinful things. Their testimony of victory over sin carries strong.

To that man I would say.... find a way to get a hold of married couples in trouble... and counsel them... but I still say NO to regaining their position as a pastor. I think this is a personal belief.... so there is NO wrong or right.

Thank you for your thoughts.

Similar views I had when found out Ray Boltz had forsaken his wife of 33 years and 4 kids for the Gay lifestyle, and who divorced her and and remarried a man, and while he sang Gospel, won many Christian music awards, in the end showed his true colors

 

[bobinfaith]

The other real problem in all of these bad situations involving pasors would be that many times they had no authority over them, as the elder boards were either family members or "yes men", and also that those speaking out were accused of being gossips, bring disunity, daring to speak against 'the annoited of the Lord"

Good morning, YeshuaFan;

That is so true. For a pastor not to be accountable is not healthy in the Church. It's very important a Pastor have 2, 3 or more seasoned Pastors, Elders to mentor and hold them accountable, to encourage and refute them when necessary.