Pastoral background checks

[JacobHall86]

I didn't miss it, but I did wonder - are you sure? You never know - we're a pretty eclectic bunch.

Im the only one open about it, atleast so far.

After Stories I hear man, Im glad they do background checks. Heres one that a professer at school told.

He knew a guy in seminary who was somewaht off. While they were in seminary the guy (we will call him John) visited a prostitute. While in Seminary.

After they graduated John put my professer down as a reference. Believing in Grace and that people can change my Prof gave him a good refernce. Bad Idea.

The man had several affairs with women in the church, the last with a girl who was mentally handicapped and payed her to have an abortion. He was fired. If the next church doesnt check out his abckground and do a little snooping that is something that could be overlooked or even swept under the rug.

Do Background Checks. They can save your church.

 

[edie19]

Im the only one open about it, atleast so far.

Praise God for His mercy and grace in your life - He is truly sovereign in all things and has a perfect purpose and plan.

I agree with the background checks BTW - at my father's church the past 2 pastors have both had affairs with church members. The most recent pastor (now retired - all this came to light after his retirement) is now divorced and planning on marrying the woman he has been involved with. Both episodes have been pretty devastating for the church - they've lost a number of members over it. It's very sad.

 

[JacobHall86]

It breaks my heart to hear ithat. And it angers me at the same time.

For the rest of my life people will second guess me because of other Pastors actions.

 

[Erinwilcox]

It breaks my heart to hear ithat. And it angers me at the same time.

For the rest of my life people will second guess me because of other Pastors actions.

Ecc 7:1 A good name [is] better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth.

Just remember that you and you alone are responsible for your own character and reputation. You can either make it or break it. As long as you are keeping your own conscience clean and are striving after holiness and sanctification, do not worry about the actions of others. God will look after His own.

 

[Daisysqueaks]

i'm going to say the second reason most likely. we have pastors that are embezzling from the church offerings baskets...
ones who are more concerned with filling seats than preaching a message with meat.
or you have people like Dennis Raider (aka BTK) who are church deacons. he was a serial killer.
i'd prefer the background check to know that my pastor hadn't beaten, raped, and killed a slew of women before coming to teach me about God and his word.

The problem with people like Dennis Rader though is many go 'undected' for years unfortunately.
But I believe background checks go a great deal to preventing unqualified pastors and church leaders from coming to power.
1 John 4

Testing the Spirits

1(A)Beloved, do not believe every (B)spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because (C)many false prophets have gone out into the world.

1 Timothy 3:10 (New International Version)

10They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.

 

[RED that's ME]

This should be a reminder that we totally need to constantly pray for our pastors. If Satan can take a pastor down, he does much more harm than taking a church member down. It doesn't just effect the pastor and his family but a whole congregation, community and the cause of Christ.
Many pastors/evangelist constantly has to look for ways to protect themselves against anything happening with other people trying to take them them or cast down on their behavior.
I know we've talked about Billy Graham in a thread here and one thing I read that he would never ride in a car/travel alone with other female co-worker who wasn't his wife/daughter to protect his reputation.
My pastor doesn't touch the offering but we have a counting team for accountibility. My church also does audits a couple of times a year. My church pastor staff makes sure they have a 2nd person with them when they visit someone. My pastor also has a large glass window in his office that his secretary can see him at all times when he is counseling especially females. He also tells them that his secretary can see any/all things happening in his office, for his protection. His secretary is an older Godly lady. My pastor tries to be an open book in his life.

If you haven't prayed for your pastor/pastor staff lately stop right now and do it.

 

[edie19]

This should be a reminder that we totally need to constantly pray for our pastors. . . . .

One of our church members preaches about once every 6-8 weeks to give our pastors a break. He opens every sermon with the admonishment to pray for our pastors. We always kind of chuckle because he's trying to find different ways to word the instruction - but it remains the same. We need to do this - you're right, Satan wants the pastors to fail - he attacks them first.

edie

 

[RajunCajun86]

Satan wants the pastors to fail - he attacks them first.

and his family too...take my word for it

 

[edie19]

and his family too...take my word for it

Absolutely - that's why PK's have the reputation they do.

edie

 

[RajunCajun86]

Absolutely - that's why PK's have the reputation they do.

tell me about it

 

[RED that's ME]

Absolutely - that's why PK's have the reputation they do.

edie

Sadly when it comes to PKs and MKs people forget that they are just like everyone else who are born sinners and have the choice to accept/reject God. They put them on pedastals behind clear glass under a BIG microscope expecting them to be a christian & live a certain way just cause they live in a pastors/missionary home. That has caused more PKs/Mks to rebel. PKs needs to be prayed for and allowed to make mistakes without extra judgement.

 

[RajunCajun86]

Sadly when it comes to PKs and MKs people forget that they are just like everyone else

well not exactly...we are better

That has caused more PKs/Mks to rebel.

the number i alone know of is staggering

PKs needs to be prayed for and allowed to make mistakes without extra judgement.

 

[edie19]

Sadly when it comes to PKs and MKs people forget that they are just like everyone else who are born sinners and have the choice to accept/reject God. They put them on pedastals behind clear glass under a BIG microscope expecting them to be a christian & live a certain way just cause they live in a pastors/missionary home. That has caused more PKs/Mks to rebel. PKs needs to be prayed for and allowed to make mistakes without extra judgement.

No argument from me - I hope I didn't make it sound like I have greater expectations of them than I have of anyone else. I recognize that by regardless of their parents they are born unregenerate just like the rest of us.

 

[RajunCajun86]

they are born unregenerate just like the rest of us.

no way!!!

[ ]

 

[Erinwilcox]

I recognize that by regardless of their parents they are born unregenerate just like the rest of us.

Guess you haven't heard about the Presbies. . .


( I know that isn't quite what they believe, but I couldn't resist! )

 

[edie19]

Guess you haven't heard about the Presbies. . .


( I know that isn't quite what they believe, but I couldn't resist! )

I grew up Presbyterian - I always heard that my first pastor's youngest daughter was pretty wild. Of course, we were PCUSA, so . . . .

edie

 

[JPPT1974]

I grew up Presbyterian - I always heard that my first pastor's youngest daughter was pretty wild. Of course, we were PCUSA, so . . . .

edie

Sorry don't mean to laugh at all
But that is so funny to me!
That is an understatement!

 

[JacobHall86]

Absolutely - that's why PK's have the reputation they do.

edie

No Kidding, my best friend is a PK, you wouldnt believe some of the stuff... JK Rajun.

 

[Dmckay]

On another forum, there was a thread about a pastoral search committee, and someone mentioned that it was becoming pretty common to do a background and credit history check on prospective pastors.

That just didn't seem to sit right.

Is the problem that we want too high an expectation on a human that was called to be a shephard?

Or that there is a large number of pastors who have no right to be in that position because of personal irresponsibility?

Or is the church becoming too much like the world in wanting their church run like a business?

At one time, I felt just like you do. A man of G-d should be above reproach. Unfortunately, too many have seen the ministry as an easy way to make money and have control of peoples lives. I think that before someone is called as a Pastor they need to be thoroughly looked into. You'll note, that in the early church the pastors came from within the body of the local church. Unfortunately, today, most Pastors aren't doing the job that they should do preparing the members of the local church for the work of the ministry. Elders and Pastors should be selected from those in the body whose lives have shown that they know and live for Christ. Since most churches aren't following the Biblical example we are left with Pastoral searches, and those searches better be sure of the man that they are calling to be their Spiritual leader.

I personally know of a Pastor who was forced to leave his pastorate between the morning and Sunday evening services. After the morning service, the Pastor and the deacons were confronted by a mother whose daughter had been sexually assaulted by the pastor while he was driving her home from a church camp. The deacons decided to keep the reason for the Pastor's departure secret from the rest of the congregation. Several months later they received a letter stating that their former pastor was applying for a position as the youth pastor of their church and they wanted them to provide a letter of recommendation of the pastor's gifts and experience. I never did hear how they answered that letter.

 

[mlqurgw]

At one time, I felt just like you do. A man of G-d should be above reproach. Unfortunately, too many have seen the ministry as an easy way to make money and have control of peoples lives. I think that before someone is called as a Pastor they need to be thoroughly looked into. You'll note, that in the early church the pastors came from within the body of the local church. Unfortunately, today, most Pastors aren't doing the job that they should do preparing the members of the local church for the work of the ministry. Elders and Pastors should be selected from those in the body whose lives have shown that they know and live for Christ. Since most churches aren't following the Biblical example we are left with Pastoral searches, and those searches better be sure of the man that they are calling to be their Spiritual leader.

I personally know of a Pastor who was forced to leave his pastorate between the morning and Sunday evening services. After the morning service, the Pastor and the deacons were confronted by a mother whose daughter had been sexually assaulted by the pastor while he was driving her home from a church camp. The deacons decided to keep the reason for the Pastor's departure secret from the rest of the congregation. Several months later they received a letter stating that their former pastor was applying for a position as the youth pastor of their church and they wanted them to provide a letter of recommendation of the pastor's gifts and experience. I never did hear how they answered that letter.

I definately agree with you on this. I had stated before that I believe a man should be checked out as thouroughly as is honestly possible in an earlier post. I hope no one got the idea I was against checking up on him from what I have said in later posts.

Your story caused me to have a question. How were they able to so quickly confirm that he was guilty? The child may have been mad at him for something and accused him because of it. Did he admit to it? Pastors have been falsely accused many times.