Pastor fails

[Albion]

Well Albion, I have to report that the church has taken it in stride and I've heard no tittering groups of gossip. I don't know if people have known for a while and it's old knews, or they simply don't know (I didn't).

The factor that swings it for me is if a church is living out a true community lifestyle. In that close of relating the body should know. But if it's a rather large church then it's better to deal with things rather superficially.

It seems to me that "living out a true community lifestyle" doesn't require anyone to hold others up to scorn or embarrassment, especially not the victims of wrongdoing. To maintain your standards is, of course, right to do, but the question here seems to me to be more about how to insure that the right thing is done than to dramatize it.

The ex-pastor is out of the pulpit and the wronged family probably knows much more than some suspect...and as for the other members of the congregation, why do they have to be involved? This may be something that varies by denomination.

In that case, follow the letter of the church's constitution and by-laws. If they call for airing all dirty linen, do it; if there is no such obligation, what would be gained by doing it?

 

[Alithis]

Well Albion, I have to report that the church has taken it in stride and I've heard no tittering groups of gossip. I don't know if people have known for a while and it's old knews, or they simply don't know (I didn't).

The factor that swings it for me is if a church is living out a true community lifestyle. In that close of relating the body should know. But if it's a rather large church then it's better to deal with things rather superficially.

In a church i was in many years back..the pastor resigned to take up a new post in a church over seas.
it seemed sudden but he left and they sought a new pastor.
but nothing remains hidden. New youth got saved got filled with the spirit..started havibg dreams.they didnt know him hadnt met him..they told their dreams to the assistant pastors.they said that they saw this man and he was in adultory.more them one of the youth did this.they went to prayer about it as they felt the other church should know.but other then dreams they had no proof. After prayer a short time latter hurting and angry lady approached the church saying she could not sleep until things were cleared up .she had been in an adulterous relationship with the former pastor..and it all came out.god exposes..to heal.
the thing is ..far more pain hurt and fall out occured by the deception and cover up.folks were far mor effected by betrayel then the actual sin of adultury.

open and truth is better methinks

 

[iambren]

Neat story. We should always expect the better blessing when we are in community with God AND each other.

 

[A New Dawn]

Great responses but could anyone be a bit more specific toward the approach to the congregational member? I have learned that the pastor did not wish to make an apology/confession to the body.

Should this information be given freely to the body? Should it be held in confidence with the board (however,it usually gets leaked out anyway often distorted)? Would you have the fallen one confess? When? How? If repentant should they be encouraged to stay or leave?

I think my church did a great job but I just recently found the rest of the story and it is SO SAD. And messy;I suppose I'm searching protocols. At some point it would be neat to also discuss how we see this happening over and over. This pastor was burn-out in a weak marriage--recipe for disaster.

I thought I'd jump in with a similar, but different, situation that happened to the leader of a Bible study I was in. Back in 2005, I left the church I was in because I believed it to be in error and started attending a larger church in my area. I started going to a Bible study that was led by someone who had been a pastor elsewhere and had been on the elder's board at the church I was then attending. After a few years, he confessed to the elders of the church that he had been gambling and using online pornography. The elders stepped in and broke up the Bible study and gave us 2 weeks of counseling, promising more, and someone to take over the Bible study, but nothing further happened. The study leader started counseling with the church counselors for a few years, but they never re-evaluated the situation to see if they felt he could resume leading a Bible study.

I felt the church fell down in two areas during this situation. They did a disservice, IMO, to the leader of the Bible study, not allowing him to progress, even after such a long time, and for those of us who were in the study (and thinking of myself, since I was new to mainstream Christianity at the time) I felt that the rug had been pulled out from under me and they did nothing to help us get back on our feet. Their hearts might have been in the right place, initially, but it didn't go much past that.

 

[psalms 91]

I thought I'd jump in with a similar, but different, situation that happened to the leader of a Bible study I was in. Back in 2005, I left the church I was in because I believed it to be in error and started attending a larger church in my area. I started going to a Bible study that was led by someone who had been a pastor elsewhere and had been on the elder's board at the church I was then attending. After a few years, he confessed to the elders of the church that he had been gambling and using online pornography. The elders stepped in and broke up the Bible study and gave us 2 weeks of counseling, promising more, and someone to take over the Bible study, but nothing further happened. The study leader started counseling with the church counselors for a few years, but they never re-evaluated the situation to see if they felt he could resume leading a Bible study.

I felt the church fell down in two areas during this situation. They did a disservice, IMO, to the leader of the Bible study, not allowing him to progress, even after such a long time, and for those of us who were in the study (and thinking of myself, since I was new to mainstream Christianity at the time) I felt that the rug had been pulled out from under me and they did nothing to help us get back on our feet. Their hearts might have been in the right place, initially, but it didn't go much past that.

Restoration is the part most forget ordont want to do. A new leader should have been appointed very soon after and of course he should have been restored but to many long nose unforgetful and unforgiveable people make it almost impossible to restore in the same congregation. Many when they see Jesus will learn what their unforgiveness has cost them