Divorce scriptures

[sdmsanjose]

I received a letter from my church and the Pastor is going to take a 3 month sabbatical. His wife has served him with divorce papers several weeks ago and the elders have examined this situation. They have found no biblical violations regarding our pastor.

However, they indicated that there may be changes in the Pastor's position after the sabbatical. One church member stated that "...if the pastor can not keep his wife and household in order then he does not need to pastor a church." He left the church.

My question is

What scriptures address the situation of when a pastor should not be a pastor or be demoted to a lesser position?

 

[rocklife]

I have seen some people discuss 1 Timothy chapter 3 for some of these issues. I think if the pastor gets re-married, that is even more cause for concern about going against these New Testament verses.

There was some of this same backlash against the televangelist Pastor Charles Stanley whose wife has left him after decades of marriage. Many public Christian leaders were calling for his resignation, I do not know what Scripture basis they were using, if you google him, you might learn more about it.

one other note, I believe many churchgoers actually don't follow those Scriptures very closely, which I don't know what to say about that either, but for me personally, I would encourage everyone to follow God's word and Spirit and the biblical Jesus.

for your personal situation, it would be good to also ask your leaders what verses THEY are using, and they could also be mistaken about using such verses, I have seen that happen in churches also, be prayerful for them.

 

[sdmsanjose]

Thank you Rock for your reply

I have sent an email to the elders of the church here in Arizona. However, I wanted to here other opinions here at CF. I will look into that Thimothy scripture.

I have a lot of respect for Charles Stanley and the fact that he is still a senior Pastor at his church and has not been demoted tells me a lot. Charles Stanley is very good at scripture in my opinion.

 

[dayhiker]

To me if they kick out your pastor over this they are being legalists and not loving. Your pastor is hurting and they as the local church should reach out in love and support for him. Its not the time to say this one scripture says since your wife isn't under your control then we must kick you out of the minister.

If the elders kicked out this pastor I'd go and support the pastor and have compassion on him. That's what I'd see Jesus as doing.

dayhiker

 

[dayhiker]

One more thing .... that verse about a man controling his wife ... is in a patriarchal society. If those elders kick out their pastor in this society that has tried to treat men and women as equals, then they better start to bring their wives into subjection and stop allowing them any control over their saleries and checkbooks. Otherwise I'd say they are hipocrites.

dayhiker

 

[HuntingMan]

I received a letter from my church and the Pastor is going to take a 3 month sabbatical. His wife has served him with divorce papers several weeks ago and the elders have examined this situation. They have found no biblical violations regarding our pastor.

However, they indicated that there may be changes in the Pastor's position after the sabbatical. One church member stated that "...if the pastor can not keep his wife and household in order then he does not need to pastor a church." He left the church.

My question is

What scriptures address the situation of when a pastor should not be a pastor or be demoted to a lesser position?

Id say that the situation needs to be investigated with both parties present, the man and his wife.
If he has proven himself in his position and his wife has no grounds, then by no means should the church take ANY action against him or reduce his position. Scripture in that area doesnt take EVERY possible contingency into account so we DO have to use our brains every once and a while.

If she does have a legitimate claim against him, then he seriously needs to consider stepping aside, at least for the time being.

Ive seen Pastors marriages fall apart, not because of sin or adultery, but because the man put so much effort into the church that his wife was little more than a maid / housekeeper.
If that is the case, she doesnt really have grounds for divorce, but this man may still want to consider stepping down in order to get his affairs in order.

If a man is in leadership AND married his IS to handle both of those positions accordingly. One is not to suffer for the other.