Denominations that allow divorced pastors.

[cesmith78]

I'm looking for a church that would allow a divorced man to be a pastor. I currently go to an Independent Baptist church but in their bylaws I know they don't believe in divorced men should be pastors. I would say theologically I'm pretty close to a Southern Baptist but know most SBC churches wouldn't call a divorced man either. I know that Mainline denominations and Charismatic/Pentecostal churches do but I don't think I would feel theologically comfortable in either. Can anybody give me some advice?

 

[Presbyterian Continuist]

I'm looking for a church that would allow a divorced man to be a pastor. I currently go to an Independent Baptist church but in their bylaws I know they don't believe in divorced men should be pastors. I would say theologically I'm pretty close to a Southern Baptist but know most SBC churches wouldn't call a divorced man either. I know that Mainline denominations and Charismatic/Pentecostal churches do but I don't think I would feel theologically comfortable in either. Can anybody give me some advice?

I was divorced in 1982, after my wife deserted me. It took me seven years of struggle before I believe God allowed me to marry again, and now I have been happily remarried for the last 20 years.

I do not believe in the "one size fits all" in the area of how divorced people should be dealt with. There are many reasons, and not all of them are the divorced person's fault. Take for instance a wife who has had to cope with years of abuse and violence from an alcoholic husband. Should she be condemned for getting out of a marriage like that? Or should she continue even though she might lose her life just because of a church that might condemn her for being divorced?

Divorce is forgivable. It is not the unforgivable sin. All sin, except total rejection of Christ, is forgiven and cleansed by the blood of Christ, and once forgiven is buried in the deepest sea of God's forgetfulness. Even the person who gets divorced through his or her own fault is freely forgiven when they come to Christ and confess it to the Lord.

I do not believe that churches have the right to ban divorced people from having ministry. There is no sin worse than another. God does not distinguish between types of sin when He judges people. There are only two categories of people in His sight. Those who are in Christ, and those who are the children of disobedience outside of Christ. In His day of Judgment, the only issue will be that person's attitude to Christ. A church that bans divorced people from ministry, to be consistent, should ban every person who has sinned from ministry. So the man who walks down a windy street and an attractive young woman's mini skirt blows up and reveals her butt resulting in him having lustful thoughts, should in that church be banned from being a pastor because he has committed the sin of adultery in the view of Christ.

I am currently involved in a prophetic ministry where we have seen some wonderful moving of the Holy Spirit. The Lord has never restricted me from ministering for Him in spite of my divorce and remarriage. So, if the Lord does not condemn or restrict me, no one else has the right to do so. Any church that would ban me from ministry in it is putting themselves in a position where they think they are better than God, and I would not darken its door. My belief is that there is always a church down the road who does not unScripturally condemn people like that.

Paul says this in Romans: "Who shall lay any charge to God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? It is Christ who has died for us and ever lives to make intercession for us in the presence of God." (my paraphrase). So if a church condemns divorced people who have been forgiven, cleansed (if they were guilty of it), or reassured and comforted (if they were innocent), then that church is bereft of the Holy Spirit in it and is no better than a Jewish synagogue regardless of whether they are theologically correct or not, because they are in disobedience to the Scripture in the way they treat their divorced members. Who do they think they are? Are they the owners of the body of Christ? Because of their pride in thinking their judgment of divorced people are better than God's, they are just barren, fruitless trees, and the axe of God is laid at the root of their churches, ready to be cut down and thrown onto the spiritual rubbish heap.

My advice is for you to keep clear of those churches and find one that will not condemn you and will welcome your ministry to the body of Christ.

 

[cesmith78]

Thanks for your kind words Oscar. Still looking for an baptistic (ie believe in believer's baptism) evangelical, non Charismatic churches that wouldn't prohibit a divorced man from being a pastor. I know some SBC churches would (Charles Stanley is divorced, and he's probably the most famous Southern Baptist pastor) but I think they are in a distinct minority.

 

[Big Drew]

Probably nondenom is gonna be your best bet...I know several nondenom churches that are basically SBC in their beliefs, and aren't charismatic.

I would recommend my denomination, but it's Pentecostal.

God bless!

 

[cesmith78]

What denomination is that?

 

[ginabrut]

Ive Been Divorced Since 1994 Due To Abuse.i Left My Unbeliving Spouse.
I Have Known A Man For 6 Years And Dating And Seeking Marriage.we Are Pre-martial Counseling With Our Pastor.he And 2 Elders Will Not Be Doing The Ceremony Due To Their Convictions.what Do U Think On This Matter?

 

[1watchman]

Separation is one thing and divorce is something else, according to the Word of God for the Church. Actual dissolution of the marriage is not permitted by one unless there is adultery/fornication. One who marries a guilty divorcee is also guilty before God.

 

[Albion]

We're going on five years since the OP was written. Chances are, he's resolved the matter by now, and this is not a debate forum.

 

[cesmith78]

actually I havent. I moved to Florida and joined an SBC church but am not happy with that for reasons apart from divorce (They allow divorced deacons so I doubt they would have a problem with divorced pastors.) Have been considering the UMC since the ones in the south seem more conservative than up north but don't like that they don't seem very evangelistic.

 

[Albion]

actually I havent. I moved to Florida and joined an SBC church but am not happy with that for reasons apart from divorce (They allow divorced deacons so I doubt they would have a problem with divorced pastors.) Have been considering the UMC since the ones in the south seem more conservative than up north but don't like that they don't seem very evangelistic.

Well, welcome back! Since this is not a debate forum but one for giving answers, have you looked around and discovered which denominations are appropriately evangelistic and conservative but do allow divorced pastors? If you're still uncertain, give us a few more details about your theological orientation and preferences and we might be able to narrow the list.

 

[Unix]

I'd also like to know what Churches see life experience as valuable even at the highest level of hierarchy in the Church, and looks to what the persons are like now.