John Piper Takes Leave

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What a cogent statement WD.

 

Most leaders would never be this transparent. I am thankful for John Piper and his ministry.

 

This is also a lesson for churches and their leaders to keep and eye on their pastor for burnout. And don't just wait for him to bring it up.

 

Piper is a dear man I've met on many occasions.

I do not feel this is appropriate for this forum. I am moving it to the general discussion forum. If you want to talk about pastoral sabbatical implications, that's germane to the pastoral ministry forum.

 

This moves him up in my estimation of him. Knowing that alot of people will think the worst, he determines that his marriage and his walk with the Lord are more important than his ministry.

I thinnk it is a step of courage.

 

I read the article and I agree with you.

 

As is yours. Why even respond? I had a question, found the answer...then deleted my question.

 

I agree...except for him taking his salary. I realize he had requested the leave to be unpaid, but even at the elders' urging to pay him, he should have declined.

 

For all we know he did decline. I have done so many times and the church votes to do it anyway.

 

The point of pay is none of our business. It shouldn't be further discussed in a public forum by non-members of his church.

 

I'm not a fan of him or his theology, but I pray all works out well for him. I feel God has used him in many a good way. But when you are out in the lime light in your field, what you do and get is going to be on the minds of many, because you are a witness to what you are preaching or selling or what ever.

I recall folks being upset about what many a preacher has been paid, not so much theirs but someone else's.

So many believed it was ashame of how little H. A. Ironsides was living on at his end on this earth. When I was in school we were taught a pastor should not be paid more than the average of his male members, taking out the top and bottom 10 per cent.

What you do or he does, one is a witness to believers as well as the lost. If I hear it 20 times a week I hear it 200 times a week preacher so and so is in it just for the money and that is from church members, it grows much more with the lost. So I disagree with you. As a believer we are a witness for Christ, so we need to watch our step.

 

I guess his books are now free as well? I think the issue of a pastor's pay can be discussed in an open forum, and has before, particularly when the pastor posts it to his public website.

 

Our church has done the same...but never for that length of time. I think 2 - 4 weeks is acceptable, but almost a year?

While I am sure he spends much of his time in the church, if we are going to bring up the secular system of "overtime", there are not a lot of secular employers who would allow a person to take 8 months off with pay, particularly when it is for self reflection.

 

They would if the employee was deemed valuable enough to the company and/or they want to reward the employee for many years of service. Apparently, Piper's church deems him to be valuable (coupled with his years of service) to the point that they would offer this to him.

Frankly, I don't know why this troubles you. Well, I have an idea, but nevertheless.

 

The only thing that troubles me is the fact this sabbatical is taken for self reflection due to some apparent issues he is having, and he is not exactly hurting for money. All I know is if I had the money and did not need the salary, and I'm taking a voluntary leave from leading a flock, I would not take a salary during this time. Frankly, It has nothing to do with your "idea", and it's troubling that his actions are above reproach in some people's eyes.

I have no problem with him taking a sabbatical, in fact I admire him for doing so. It's not an easy thing to do what he is doing, and even less to swallow the pride involved by going public with it. He is to be commended for doing what he is doing. My problem is with the logistics of it.