Baptist Pastor

[JMRE5150]

Can a divorced man become a baptist Pastor? I know Baptists don't allow a Pastor to keep his position if they get divorced, right?

 

[unimportantbuthisnameis]

Can a divorced man become a baptist Pastor? I know Baptists don't allow a Pastor to keep his position if they get divorced, right?

It really depends on the church, some will some will not, and some churches it's ok as long as he isn't remarried.

 

[arunma]

Well, there are 31 flavors of Baptists, as you know. So this really depends on what type of Baptist church you're talking about. I do know that my pastor refuses to perform second marriages.

Anyway, I think this issue needs to be looked at on a case-by-case basis. After all, if a pastor's wife commits habitual adultry, then surely he can't be blamed for divorcing her. But in my opinion, if any pastor who divorces his wife except for adultry or abandonment (the only two Biblically sanctioned reasons), he has no business leading Christ's church.

 

[JMRE5150]

Hmmm, I divorced my wife because she committed adultery (hurts to type that sometimes), and am remarried to a wonderful, godly woman. Would the SBC consider that an exception?

Not sure if it matters, but I was saved well after I divorced my wife for sleeping around.

Just curious.

JMRE5150

 

[unimportantbuthisnameis]

Hmmm, I divorced my wife because she committed adultery (hurts to type that sometimes), and am remarried to a wonderful, godly woman. Would the SBC consider that an exception?

Not sure if it matters, but I was saved well after I divorced my wife for sleeping around.

Just curious.

JMRE5150

like I said before it depends on the church, I have heard of some divorced and remarried men attending the seminary that I am at now. I don't know any personally, but I think it really should be handled on a case by case basis and I'm still praying for my exact position.

PS, I offer my heartfelt sympathy for what happened in your first marriage, and at the same time congratulations for your second marriage.

 

[arunma]

Hmmm, I divorced my wife because she committed adultery (hurts to type that sometimes), and am remarried to a wonderful, godly woman. Would the SBC consider that an exception?

I'm quite sorry to hear about that, but it's a blessing that you are now married to a god-fearing woman. Anyway, I certainly hope that the SBC would consider your case an exception. However, I'm not a Southern Baptist, so I wouldn't know for sure.

 

[ZiSunka]

Hmmm, I divorced my wife because she committed adultery (hurts to type that sometimes), and am remarried to a wonderful, godly woman. Would the SBC consider that an exception?

Not sure if it matters, but I was saved well after I divorced my wife for sleeping around.

Just curious.

JMRE5150

Adultery is a Biblical ground for divorce, but, the bigger question might not be if baptist churches would allow you to become a pastor, but whether or not God is even calling you to be a pastor.

What makes you think you should be a pastor? Outline for us the way that you came to the conclusion that you should be a pastor.

 

[FaithWeaver]

Hmmm, I divorced my wife because she committed adultery (hurts to type that sometimes), and am remarried to a wonderful, godly woman. Would the SBC consider that an exception?

Not sure if it matters, but I was saved well after I divorced my wife for sleeping around.

Just curious.

JMRE5150

The Bible says that when you become saved, the "old man" dies. He makes you a new creation. Your past no longer counts because your sins are gone, erased, vanished, ..... The Bible also says that the minute your wife commited adultery, then you were free to divorce her with blessing. Most Baptist churches say "No Way! You can not be a pastor, preacher, deacon, or even a church member if you have been married more than once." I think that is (a Southern term here) Hogwash ! The Bible states that one of the requirements of a pastor is that he is the husband of one wife. In technical terms, he can not have more than one wife at one time. If he commited adultery, then no he shouldn't be a pastor. God forgives sin. None of us are perfect, and everyone has baggage. That doesn't mean that God can not use us. If God calls you to preach, then preach and don't let anyone stop you. If God calls you and you accept, then he will make a way. God bless you and your new wife.

 

[aReformedPatriot]

You divorced her for commiting adultry? Well, my bible says there is no sin in that.

 

[MbiaJc]

Can a divorced man become a baptist Pastor? I know Baptists don't allow a Pastor to keep his position if they get divorced, right?

Why worry about what the Baptist teach about a Pastor?

Worry about what the Bible teaches it teaches that the Elders are to be the pastor of the Church. One of the qualifications for them are the husband of one wife. If you are devorced and married again, and your first wife is still alive, you are not the hustand of one wife. With the woman at the well Jesus counted all her marrages. It doesn't matter whether you were married\divorced before or after you were saved, they all count.

 

[arunma]

Why worry about what the Baptist teach about a Pastor?

Worry about what the Bible teaches it teaches that the Elders are to be the pastor of the Church. One of the qualifications for them are the husband of one wife. If you are devorced and married again, and your first wife is still alive, you are not the hustand of one wife. With the woman at the well Jesus counted all her marrages. It doesn't matter whether you were married\divorced before or after you were saved, they all count.

Yes, but remember that in this case, he divorced because of adultry. And Jesus says that this is acceptable.

 

[MbiaJc]

Yes, but remember that in this case, he divorced because of adultry. And Jesus says that this is acceptable.

Yes, and remarrage is acceptable, but he would still be the husband of two wives if he did, would he not? There is a reason for the rule. It is to not give the unbelievers any excuse against the Church.

 

[MbiaJc]

You divorced her for commiting adultry? Well, my bible says there is no sin in that.

Right, but whether it is sin is not the question.

 

[arunma]

Yes, and remarrage is acceptable, but he would still be the husband of two wives if he did, would he not? There is a reason for the rule. It is to not give the unbelievers any excuse against the Church.

You have a good point, and I don't want to diminish the validity of your argument. But when God had Paul lay down the rules for pastors, I don't think he intended to disqualify people who were divorced because of their wives' sins. After all, God only punishes the guilty parties, right? If so, then why would a person with an adulterous wife have to suffer by being disqualified from a pastoral position? Surely God is just.

 

[ZiSunka]

I don't think he intended to disqualify people who were divorced because of their wives' sins.

What passage in the Bible led you to this conclusion?

 

[Andyman_1970]

Technically the term "husband of one wife" in the Greek is more accurately phrased "one woman man" - also that "list" in 1 Timothy 3 in the Greek is all in the present tense rather than past tense - the point is from the Greek it would see is how are you living now. That said, if in fact we choose to regard this passage in the past tense, then I would argue very few if any pastors would pass not violating any of the requirements on that "list" - esspecially having children that never misbehave.

Also that same passage talks about being a leader of a congregation (rather than a preacher, which I would say is a different function) is a desire rather than a "call".

 

[MbiaJc]

Andyman_1970 vbmenu_register("postmenu_15257483", true);

Also that same passage talks about being a leader of a congregation (rather than a preacher, which I would say is a different function) is a desire rather than a "call".

Bingo! It is a desire not a call. God does not call a man to pastor a Church. The Churches should apoint all Elders, that qualify to that position, with them having equal authority. They are the God ordained and God anointed Pastors of the local Church. This one man professional pastoral authority we have these days is not bibical.

 

[arunma]

What passage in the Bible led you to this conclusion?

OK, I admit it, I can't back it up with Scripture. Just my personal opinion. But it doesn't contradict Scripture (at least I don't think it does...).

 

[Willo]

The interesting question is: Is it sin to remarry?

 

[ZiSunka]

I think the big issue I would have with a divorced man for a pastor is, if he wasn't able to keep his own home together, if marriage was disposable to him, if he wasn't able to persevere through extreme difficulties, how would he be able to preach about the sanctity of marriage, the value of the wedding vows, and how marriage is an image of Christ and the church? If the pastor is divorced, does that mean Christ might divorce the church?