Divorce and the pulpit...

[Blazin Bones]

What do you think? If a pastor of a church is divorced by his wife, should he be asked to leave his pulpit?

 

[Ajax 777]

Why should he do that? It's not as if he is also divorced from his flock, and remember that His people are the REAL bride. Jesus pointed out that the crowds who were following Him were "...(His) mother, (His) sister, (His) brother." Yes I know that divorce is not part of God's plan, but what if the wife in this scenario was unfaithful? God did say that a man could justifiably divorce his wife if she was unfaithful...

Bah. I feel disillusioned all of a sudden. :-?

 

[KnarfKS]

I would tend to agree with ajax that it does depend on the situation that caused the divorce.

 

[Blazin Bones]

I would tend to agree, especially if she leaves him. Does anyone feel their continuation in the pulpit is in contradiction of 1 Timothy chapter 3?

 

[Skipdawg]

1st I agree it depends on the situation first off. Did she leave him scripturally. If so and he is at fault there can be a situation.

2ed it depends on how the congregation/ denomination sees a Pastor or pastor. Is this person a Pastor in the since they are a Preaching Bishop/Elder or are they a pastor in the duty of a pastoral preacher who is not a Bishop/Elder of the flock.

If they are just a preacher in a pastors roll as long as they repent and confess the sin that caused this no problem. They should be allowed to stay on as pastor.

But if you look at 1 Tim chapter 3 then if a Pastor who is a preaching Bishop/Elder of the Church even if they repent and confess they should step down to being just that of a preacher for they no longer fit the biblical requirement to be Bishop/Elder (Pastor)

But there are several situations at play and it all hinges on why there was the divorce in the first place. If it was not scriptural then the wife would be fully at fault not the Pastor or pastor.

 

[von]

No, depending on the reason the wife divorced. Only if he was to remarry should he step down.

 

[cly]

We had a similar situation happen in my church a little over a year ago. The pastor's wife did leave him, for reasons that I won't discuss here. There were some things that happened that made me understand why my pastor stepped down from his post, but had some of those things not occured, I would have to say that I would have had no problem with him staying on as pastor.

The verses in First Timothy are quite clear as to what the requirements are to being a pastor or deacon. However, like what others have said, I think a lot of that depends on the situation. The pastor I was speaking of above actually quoted this verse on the day that he resigned. He used it to help explain his decision.

In the situation at my church, I do believe that our pastor needed to step down and sort things out with his family and, more importantly, with God. This pastor has since gotten his life back on track and now preaches at a small church in one of the outlying communities of town. I think it shows that God can still use a person even if that person has faltered. We may have to step back for a while, examine our lives, and come back to God, but, in the end, if He has a plan, it's going to happen.

 

[von]

Since the pastors are to be blameless, when they do fall and make mistakes, I have high regard for them when they take time out to get things back in order. Makes me think that they have a repentent haert.

 

[Lewis]

A lot of people act like a pastor, is above falling, that is crazy. They are imperfect humans, who are also capable of doing evil. Like cheating on their wives, or having homosexual relationships, drinking and so on. But if they truly repent from the heart God will forgive them, and so should we.

 

[von]

Yeah, Lewis you are right but I still think that they should take time and prove themselves. They are held to a higher standard. Not onlly that alot of us have children. Try explaining to your teenage daughter why it is okay for the preacher and his girlfriend to get pregnant andkeep on pastoring the church but it's not okay for her. Not to easy.

 

[Lewis]

von I agree with you, but all I am saying is that people get so bent out of shape when a pastor falls. I am not shocked by anything anymore.
Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

 

[von]

I don't get that shocked anymore either. I use to but I think God allowed me to see it so that I knew not to keep my eyes on any man as they will fail you but to keep my eyes on Jesus, who never fails.

 

[Lewis]

Jim Baker, Jerry Falwell, Jessie Jackson, just to name a few famous one's who fell. They are still humans, and I forgave them for it. Because I no how it is I have done the same thing in my past, a number of times. Our flesh is a killer, it is no good for nothing, but trouble, and if not monitored, and kept in it's place, your flesh will get you killed. Your flesh must be crucified. And don't think that you can wrestle with your flesh on your own, and win. Because you won't.

 

[Brother Ian]

The qualifications are clear in Timothy and Titus. Even if a pastor is scripturally divorced, he should step down.

 

[Delicate]

The qualifications are clear in Timothy and Titus. Even if a pastor is scripturally divorced, he should step down.

I tend to agree Bro. Ian. Stepping down doesn't necessarily mean out
of ministry all together. Secular positions are always in need of a sincere Godly witness. The divorced pastor could fill a vital role, and at the same time, allow the Lord to restore and heal.

I agree with Von, the divorced pastor most definately would need to remain unmarried, and work at reconciling his wife.

 

[follower of Christ]

The qualifications are clear in Timothy and Titus. Even if a pastor is scripturally divorced, he should step down.

I tend to agree Bro. Ian. Stepping down doesn't necessarily mean out
of ministry all together. Secular positions are always in need of a sincere Godly witness. The divorced pastor could fill a vital role, and at the same time, allow the Lord to restore and heal.

I agree with Von, the divorced pastor most definately would need to remain unmarried, and work at reconciling his wife.

"except for whoredom'' of course.

If his wife is commiting whoredom, he isnt wrong if he remarries at some point.