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divorced ministers

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It really depends on the circumstances. I have an uncle that was a pastor of a church and was accused of infidelity by his wife at the time. There was no truth to the allegations, yet many people believed the false reports, which led him to be removed as from the church he was pastor. In fact he was forced to leave the denomination. He ultimately started his own "non-denominational" church, with many people who believed his side and remarried later on.
 
hi. interesting story. im not trying to be judgmental, but i do think discernment is called for, at all times. clearly, divorces are common in modern societies, especially the US. One can be divorced by the other spouse w/o being at fault, even if one wanted to stay married. Happens.

I think I'm just wondering about this because my dad liked this megachurch pastor. He got fired, now he's filed for divorce from his wife. He's also apparently filed whatever paper work one must file in order to start a new church or religious organization, here locally. I'm kind of concerned that my dad might end up going to his new place, should he go thru with creating it, and...

...again, not trying to be judgmental, but discernment is in order. ive never been married, but it seems that a pastor who gets divorced after getting saved, involved in ministry, etc., might want to consider another career. your uncle's story reminds me of a story my friend, verna, told me, about her brother's 1st wife. she married him after divorcing her first husband. he was a pastor, and she accused him of horrible things and got a divorce, back in the late 60s or 70s, when that kinda thing was frowned upon in the church. almost ruined his career in the ministry. he rebounded, and retired from a high level administrative position w/ the the church of god or some other pentecostal church.

i dunno. pastors are people, of course, but they're also called to be shepherds, so they're ideally held to a higher standard than your average, work-a-day christian...right?

thanks for your reply, btw.
 
Does this apply to all church leaders including pastors?
1 Timothy 3:1-13 NKJV
Qualifications for Overseers
This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Qualifications of Deacons
Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money, holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience. But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless. Likewise, their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things. Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
 
Does this apply to all church leaders including pastors?
1 Timothy 3:1-13 NKJV
Qualifications for Overseers
This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Qualifications of Deacons
Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money, holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience. But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless. Likewise, their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things. Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

hello WIP, dirtfarmer here

Can said preacher be an evangelist and not a pastor?
 
My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. James 3:1 KJV

hello Michael74, dirtfarmer here

I noticed that you have 1,394 post, so you are new here. Would you mind explaining your post, as to how it relates to the OP?
 
hello WIP, dirtfarmer here

Can said preacher be an evangelist and not a pastor?
I think what we have to be careful about is in today's society we marry and divorce at the drop of a hat, so-to-speak. Jesus gave us the legitimate grounds for divorce and I suspect anything beyond that would be inappropriate, especially for a church leader.

With regard to evangelists, I am not able to come to a conclusion.
 
hello Michael74, dirtfarmer here

I noticed that you have 1,394 post, so you are new here. Would you mind explaining your post, as to how it relates to the OP?

Perhaps a different translation would help. Sometimes saying things a different way brings clarity:

My friends, we should not all try to become teachers. In fact, teachers will be judged more strictly than others. James 3:1 CEV
 
Perhaps a different translation would help. Sometimes saying things a different way brings clarity:

My friends, we should not all try to become teachers. In fact, teachers will be judged more strictly than others. James 3:1 CEV

hello Michael, dirtfarmer here

My post should have read: "you are not new here.
Thanks for your explanation.
 
Ministers?
I see that as being someone who teaches in some way or another and is spiritual, possibly a spiritual leader of sorts.
Is it a substitute word for pastor?
In some churches it is, but pastor is best interpreted as "shepherd" whereas minister is not interpreted as shepherd.

I just wanted to point out this distinction.

I think you are talking about pastors.
And it depends on the situation.
I know a pastor whose wife left him and became a lesbian and divorced him.
He was fired from his church and has never been a pastor ever again, though he has never been with another woman and he would like to be a pastor.

I also know a pastor that cheated on his wife with the church secretary and got caught.
His wife divorced him.
But the church gave him a one year sabbatical with full pay, during which time he married his secretary, and they kept him on as pastor and have been hush hush about this ever since.

What's right, what's wrong, who am I to judge?
 
What if someone divorced then repented?.

What if the divorce was not there doing but there partner wanted the divorce and walked away or something?

What if the relationship was threatening and abusing and violent.? The other person had broken the oath by saying they would love them better or worse.

Can't judge a divorce.
 
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What if Paul wasn't counseling Timothy about legalism or judgement, but about picking a shepherd who has the skill set to properly care for the flock.

If someone's people skills are so low that they pick a wolf as their spouse, how will they be able to counsel youngsters on how to pick a future spouse? How will they be able to protect the sheep from wolves, if they don't even recognize wolves?

They should be accepted, loved, and helped to get to safety. That doesn't necessarily mean that they should take on a responsibility that they don't have the skills for. Could it be that Paul was telling Timothy that shepherds must be able to pick a reasonable person as a spouse, and know how to train their children up to obey the Lord. In addition to leading holy lives, being humble, and being spiritually mature.
 
What if Paul wasn't counseling Timothy about legalism or judgement, but about picking a shepherd who has the skill set to properly care for the flock.

If someone's people skills are so low that they pick a wolf as their spouse, how will they be able to counsel youngsters on how to pick a future spouse? How will they be able to protect the sheep from wolves, if they don't even recognize wolves?

They should be accepted, loved, and helped to get to safety. That doesn't necessarily mean that they should take on a responsibility that they don't have the skills for. Could it be that Paul was telling Timothy that shepherds must be able to pick a reasonable person as a spouse, and know how to train their children up to obey the Lord. In addition to leading holy lives, being humble, and being spiritually mature.
it's easy to say all that if you are not affected by it
plus not knowing the whole story
 
It's naive to assume that great marriage wont go south and divorce happens.one can't make any one serve God. My wife is lost imho and I can't make her love God.

If we divorce and I choose to remain single ,I should never be a pastor If so called and my wife won't recomcile.

Mt brother made a mistake and waa divorced,he remained a dad to his kids and couldn't reconcile. His first wife went off and married another and he later on married another.better husband now then before.his first wife has since married and divorced.
 
IMO , 1 Timothy 3 lays it out .. And any one divorced before salvation is a new man, how could a never married preacher council a family as well as a qualified man who has a family and how could a woman teach and council a man how to act or respond to matters as head of a family . I'm speaking of those who would assume authority over a church body and there's correct situations that keep you legal concerning divorce .. Anyone can minister just anyone should not be given authority .. Paul was not married but he was not settled down in one place which is a different situation .. I would never accept responsibility officially or even be a deacon, but I've ministered and done as much as any anyway .. Never had the desire or the time to do it right or get involved too deep in church business, already too many chiefs and not enough Indians imo
 
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