Pastor gets standing ovation for sexual sin against a woman, she is appalled

[ThisIsMe123]

Saw this in the New York Times. You know how Christians come clean with their past and how they've been redeemed?

Memphis Pastor Admits ‘Sexual Incident’ With High School Student 20 Years Ago

Of course, the crowd in the church he admitted this to cheered and gave him praise, however, the woman he sinned against (sexual assault), although this is many years later, turn him into the authorities just now after seeing his video and his congregation on YouTube.

She was in tears when saw this, and this was caused her to take action.

The situation he admitted to happened years ago in Texas when she was 17. He was a youth pastor at the time. The statute of limitations has run out.

But what is your opinion on this?

As a Christian, should he be rejoiced and cheered or be jeered?

 

[JackRT]

I have very mixed feelings about this incident. There was no need for the pastor to bring the incident to light. In fact, it leads me to question his motivation for doing this. I am also appalled by the reaction of the congregation.

 

[brinny]

Saw this in the New York Times. You know how Christians come clean with their past and how they've been redeemed?

Memphis Pastor Admits ‘Sexual Incident’ With High School Student 20 Years Ago

Of course, the crowd in the church he admitted this to cheered and gave him praise, however, the woman he sinned against (sexual assault), although this is many years later, turn him into the authorities just now after seeing his video and his congregation on YouTube.

She was in tears when saw this, and this was caused her to take action.

The situation he admitted to happened years ago in Texas when she was 17. He was a youth pastor at the time. The statute of limitations has run out.

But what is your opinion on this?

As a Christian, should he be rejoiced and cheered or be jeered?

Are you saying that the congregation was cheering him, applauding, and giving him a standing ovation BECAUSE he "sinned"?

Would you be so kind as to clarify?

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

Men's reputations should never be put above a women's. At one time that was all that kept them in a respectable position while men's overt behaviour was applauded. So in a sense I believe coming clean should be applauded but not going as far as to reveal another person to their shame. Note it is shame that was dumped on her and it is his guilt he is confessing to. Huge difference. Jesus despised the shame dumped on Him and for good reason. But I don't believe that his intention was to get accolades so that is the response that is separate from the admission. I'm sure his motives were to get ahead of the bullet but he has won the prayers of many it would seem. Slick stewardship.

 

[Favourofone]

The relevant part

“The admission by the pastor, Andy Savage, came several days after a woman accused him of sexually assaulting her in 1998 when she was 17”

He didn’t like just repent and come out with it. He confessed after he got accused.

Of course people cheer, who cares he made 17 year old give him some oral in the woods as might happen to any youth pastor.

Probably some demon just momentarily possessed him before he regained his God given faculties and continued his humble career towards leading a mega church.

 

[Almost there]

Saw this in the New York Times. You know how Christians come clean with their past and how they've been redeemed?

Memphis Pastor Admits ‘Sexual Incident’ With High School Student 20 Years Ago

Of course, the crowd in the church he admitted this to cheered and gave him praise, however, the woman he sinned against (sexual assault), although this is many years later, turn him into the authorities just now after seeing his video and his congregation on YouTube.

She was in tears when saw this, and this was caused her to take action.

The situation he admitted to happened years ago in Texas when she was 17. He was a youth pastor at the time. The statute of limitations has run out.

But what is your opinion on this?

As a Christian, should he be rejoiced and cheered or be jeered?

David was a murderer. Paul applauded the killing of Christians. He and the woman were both young people with raging hormones. And the woman even admitted that in the middle of the act he repented.

And it happened 20 years ago. I'd applaud him too, unless it turns out he kept doing it with her or other women.

 

[Albion]

Are you saying that the congregation was cheering him, applauding, and giving him a standing ovation BECAUSE he "sinned"?

I would hope not, but there are a lot of Christians, mainly fundamentalist types from what I've observed, who are "big" on public confessions and admissions of guilt, so I can imagine that this congregation did applaud...but not because of the sin.

 

[Basil the Great]

A standing ovation for a confession of this type does not seem like a very good thing to me. Certainly it ignores the feelings of the one who was abused.

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

I would hope not, but there are a lot of Christians, mainly fundamentalist types from what I've observed, who are "big" on public confessions and admissions of guilt, so I can imagine that this congregation did applaud...but not because of the sin.

Yes others are much more in staying within the established non admittance.

 

[Albion]

Yes others are much more in staying within the established non admittance.

I don't think this discussion calls for sarcasm.

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

I don't think this discussion calls for sarcasm.

I don't think it calls for any definition other than what the topic is about.

 

[Almost there]

A standing ovation for a confession of this type does not seem like a very good thing to me. Certainly it ignores the feelings of the one who was abused.

Define "abused".

 

[Albion]

A standing ovation for a confession of this type does not seem like a very good thing to me. Certainly it ignores the feelings of the one who was abused.

Yes, that is an issue that needs to be considered, but as to the basic idea of making a public confession and the hearers applauding in reply, that is not an uncommon practice in some churches. It would not happen in yours or mine, but I'm hesitant to denounce this congregation for welcoming a confession. That it apparently occurred after the incident had become known does, I agree, bring in an additional consideration.

 

[Favourofone]

And the woman even admitted that in the middle of the act he repented.

Where did you get that part ? Quote or link.

Nm got the relevant part. However he begged her for her silence instead of confessing what happened. Sounds more like concealing a crime than repenting.

 

[Doug Melven]

I myself would not have done it the way he did it.
Once accused he should have met with church leaders in private to tell them what happened.
Then he should have gone to the girl he offended and tried to make amends.
Only after he did what he could to make amends with her, should he have gone public and then only with her permission.

 

[TerryWoodenpic]

Saw this in the New York Times. You know how Christians come clean with their past and how they've been redeemed?

Memphis Pastor Admits ‘Sexual Incident’ With High School Student 20 Years Ago

Of course, the crowd in the church he admitted this to cheered and gave him praise, however, the woman he sinned against (sexual assault), although this is many years later, turn him into the authorities just now after seeing his video and his congregation on YouTube.

She was in tears when saw this, and this was caused her to take action.

The situation he admitted to happened years ago in Texas when she was 17. He was a youth pastor at the time. The statute of limitations has run out.

But what is your opinion on this?

As a Christian, should he be rejoiced and cheered or be jeered?

He should thank his luck stars that he does not live in the UK ... there is no statute of limitations on sexual crimes. he is an admitted criminal.
Though it depends entirely what he did and what the law covering it was at the time.

 

[ThisIsMe123]

A standing ovation for a confession of this type does not seem like a very good thing to me. Certainly it ignores the feelings of the one who was abused.

Right, this is one of the many reasons people just stop going to church altogether and just worship on their own, among their families on a Sunday.

 

[WolfGate]

Very concerning. He was a person in a position of authority over her and someone she could reasonably have expected to treat her with the respect that authority required. He only brought it to light himself after she did in her blog. Those things are factual and not nuanced at all. This was a terribly bad act on his part.

What transpired after that is not as clear but there are too many concerning things that can be verified. She claims she emailed him more than a month ago and he ignored the email. If true, that would, IMHO, show a lack of repentance. Any inclination from her that things were not closed should have addressed before she felt the need to go public.

Can someone truly repent of this type of sin and be restored to the point they could be a church pastor? Sure they can. If I were one of his elders, I'd need to see a LOT of evidence right now to indicate that had happened.

 

[Albion]

I myself would not have done it the way he did it.
Once accused he should have met with church leaders in private to tell them what happened.
Then he should have gone to the girl he offended and tried to make amends.
Only after he did what he could to make amends with her, should he have gone public and then only with her permission.

Most pastors probably would have done something like you outlined, but IMHO the part of the matter that's not so easily assessed concerns the response given by the congregation.

 

[Albion]

Right, this is one of the many reasons people just stop going to church altogether and just worship on their own, among their families on a Sunday.

A handy excuse, you mean.

"Hey Marge, look at this news article about a pastor in a church in another state which is not of our denomination who did something shameful. Organized religion is all phony, just like I've been saying!"