Morally, I feel he needs to leave our church. The sooner the better. Friendships in the church are being broken apart. Not talking with each other anymore. Alot of damage being done. I think he should leave town NOW, so we can repair the damage he caused. It is hard to listen to his sermons on Sundays, knowing what he has done. And he has no remorse for what he has done. Hasn't appologized at all. He did confess to the congregation, but pretty much put the blame on to those of us who caught him doing wrong!! What should we do? Where do we turn?
2007-07-01 16:45:09 · 19 answers · asked by Carolyn B 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Have the deacons/elders board to remove him from the office of pastor. This is common in the Baptist church I grew up with, it may be different from your church. You must stay with the church and help rebuild and move on from this trying time.
2007-07-01 16:52:08 · answer #1 · answered by william.shook 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The new testament says that you should get a group of church members to go before him and let them present the problem and find a way to solve it. If you have already done that and He still refuses to resign(which is what I think he should do) then you're to have an open meeting in the church and have a vote to decide among the congregation. Unfortunately, what happens a lot is that it does divide the church and one group usually breaks off and goes their own way. Just pray about it and keep God in your Heart. Hope all works out for you and the other members of the congregation. Have a great day!
2007-07-01 16:57:37 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm truly sorry. Our church has gone through the fire perty close to the same since last Fall. He will be back, but started another church and many have left to go there. I can only do as the Holy Spirit leads me to do. Stay where He put me.
Seems to me if this man doesn't submit to an authority, repent and get Godly counsel you need to pray and seek somewhere that is right with what God says about things.<><
2007-07-01 17:07:32 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To God... and to a new church. If this minister is still leading, he is clearly not keeping the best interests of his brothers and sisters in Christ a priority. He is also not thinking of the reputations of Christ followers as a whole. He needs to repent and take action on healing himself. He should step down and focus on just that.
I think you and your closest support system should all pray together about changing churches. You can visit different churches until you find one that's a good fit. I go to a Willow Creek Association church and I love it! Consider visiting one! Here's a link to find one in your area.
http://www.willowcreek.com/wca_info/find_a_church/ProfileSearch.asp
I'm sure that this is a really hard time for you. But I think that your faith in God will be stronger after this has all passed.
2007-07-01 17:02:36 · answer #4 · answered by talliemay 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Leave and go to a church that you enjoy the pastor. Part of the whole church thing is being with like minded friends, which isn't the case here. To the people above me, forgiveness is for people who admit their wrongdoing, which this person cleary cannnot. Pastors are human, and like all humans some are good and some are bad. This is clearly not the guy I would want preaching to my kids.
2007-07-01 16:57:54 · answer #5 · answered by blibityblabity 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In all honesty you should love him and forgive him. Just because he is a minister does not mean he can not be tempted and not fall into sin. God will judge him Himself. Remember what happened with Jimmy Swaggart? People lost confidence in his teaching because of what he was doing behind closed doors. His own actions hindered him. But also, think about all the church members who committ dark and hidden sins and they have not been exposed yet. What if God exposed everybody's hidden sins in that church? Some of the people who are saying kick him out would not say a word. If you are a Christian, then you have to approach it according to God's Word. I believe in Gal 6:1 it says, "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, you which are "spiritual" (or like Christ), restore such a one in the spirit of humbleness; considering yourself, unless you also be tempted". It says nothing about kicking him out, but situations come like this to test where people's love really is.
2007-07-01 17:29:36 · answer #6 · answered by super saiyan 3 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God, first and foremost...to direct and guide. The leadership of the church should be preparing the congregation to deal with the situation, and administration over the church should be contacted and if all things are done in order then it will transistion as it should...pray, pray and pray some more....
2007-07-01 16:53:31 · answer #7 · answered by deeprnll 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Clearly the Scriptures show this man as being unqualified to continue in ministry as a pastor or church leader. He now fails to meet the requirements of an Elder because of his "current lifestyle", [1 Timothy 3:2]:
"The overseer must be above reproach" -- He is no longer above reproach.
"the husband of but one wife" -- He is no longer a "one woman" man.
"self-controlled" -- He is no longer self-controlled.
"respectable" -- He is no longer respectable.
His sin has disqualified him, for his present lifestyle is sinful.
> Can that man ever go back into the ministry?
Maybe someday, after a true repentance, and a long time of demonstrated pure lifestyle. But not to the people he ministered to before, and maybe not in the same area of the country.
To have committed such a violation of trust, not only to his wife, but to his church is a very serious sin. Adultery is not something that is easily committed. "Each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death." [James 1:14-15] This is a process, and a man truly walking close to the Lord in holiness will see it coming and take action to avoid the sin, "A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it." [Proverbs 22:3] Then to continue in the adultery for three months reveals a heart that would not respond to the tremendous guilt and conviction of the Holy Spirit that would have been associated with the sin.
>What do you think should be the appropriate action by the deacons, the church etc.?
"Those [context is Elders] who sin are to be rebuked publicly, so that the others may take warning. I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism." [1 Timothy 5:20-21]
The deacons must give a public rebuke of the pastor before the congregation that they may see the seriousness of such a sin and that they too may take warning. There can be no favoritism shown to the pastor for whatever good he has done before, because God, Christ Jesus, and the elect angels are watching. Of course we do all things in love, but we don't try to hide the seriousness of such an offense by the "leader" (example) of the church. His sin will certainly become known in the community and will bring great shame upon the Church of Jesus and His people, therefore, a very public rebuke is necessary so everyone can see that God does discipline His people. An apology from the pastor to his former congregation is also in order, but no matter how sorrowful he is over his sin, there can be not restoration to his former position. If he is truly repentant and one who understands the Scriptures and the absolute holiness of God, then he would never even think about returning to the pulpit, unless many years of absolute faithfulness have passed and God would clearly lead in the matter.
This is such a tragic, tragic situation and demands immediate action to remove him from any position of leadership.
2007-07-01 16:55:16 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
Don't get involved at all. For the sake of your church family, simply do not engage in debate or share your thoughts. The leaders of your church should have a congregational meeting and allow the membership to decide if he should be dismissed. But, other than at that kind of meeting, don't share your opinion with others. Just be a loving presence and be supportive of your church.
2007-07-01 16:59:07 · answer #9 · answered by yarn whore 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Arrange for the congregation to meet somewhere else until he resigns, by the way arn't there elders or a board of directors in the church to fire him?
2007-07-01 17:38:34 · answer #10 · answered by DOE 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋