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DIVORCED PREACHER ???

Discussion in '2003 Archive' started by JN1633, Jan 27, 2003.

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  1. JN1633

    JN1633 New Member

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    I need some help and a whole lot of scripture on this subject. I believe with all of my heart that the Lord has called me to Preach and have been used in that capacity. I recently was told that I was " out of the will of God" by an IFB Pastor as there is no way that I could have been called to Preach since I have been Divorced. I personally do not believe that I can be called to Pastor a Church as the bible states that a Pastor must be the Husband of One Wife. I have searched and search about being an evangelist or being part of a music ministry which i also am in. Please help me with SCRIPTURE on this area.
     
    #1 JN1633, Jan 27, 2003
  2. Daniel David

    Daniel David New Member

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    I am truly sorry to hear of the situation you are in. Seek God's glory in it though. He does have a purpose.

    I agree with your assessment that the role of Pastor is not something you can scripturally fulfill unless you and your wife got back together.

    The idea though that you cannot preach at all is ridiculous. You can preach, start churches, teach, etc. The only thing that you are restricted from is the office of an overseer.
     
    #2 Daniel David, Jan 27, 2003
  3. Don

    Don Well-Known Member
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    You need to ask that IFB preacher why he would tell anyone they can't tell people about Jesus Christ.

    That's what "preaching" is.

    Pastoring is a completely different thing.
     
    #3 Don, Jan 27, 2003
  4. Terry_Herrington

    Terry_Herrington New Member

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    Jn1633,
    Don't be so fast to listen to your preachers advice. If you have the desire to preach the gospel, do it. Do not let someone else determine your outcome. If you and your former wife are divorced, then it is in the past, forget it. If God has forgiven you, don't worry about what others say. To say that being divorced causes you to live in sin is to exalt divorce above all other sins. It causes divorce to be an unforgiveable sin.
     
    #4 Terry_Herrington, Jan 27, 2003
  5. Dr. Bob

    Dr. Bob Administrator
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    There are many ifb'ers (like me) who do not automatically rule out a man who has been divorced from pastoring.

    Most ifb seminaries will allow you to train, leaving it up to the local church (they ARE autonomous, right?) to decide whether to call a man who has been divorced.

    The gifts and calling of God are without repentance. Don't let the negative opinion of a PASTOR deter you from that gift/calling, if GOD has called you.

    BUT . . (word of caution) your pastor knows you and I don't. Ask him "why". If it is a theological position, agree to disagree. But the first qualification of a pastor is "blameless and above reproach", and I know few who have gone through a divorce who can stand that scrutiny.
     
    #5 Dr. Bob, Jan 28, 2003
  6. C.S. Murphy

    C.S. Murphy New Member

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    What is your current situation. Have you ever remarried? I think the bible speaks against a remarried person with a living wife entering the pastorate but if you are simply divorced and not remarried I see no disqualification on marital status.
    Murph
     
    #6 C.S. Murphy, Jan 28, 2003
  7. JN1633

    JN1633 New Member

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    Hey Murph,

    I am remarried and do personally believe that I am disqualified to be a Pastor (even though that is a subject that could be debated ) my question is how ( biblically ) am I disqualified from being an evangelist or Preacher (not Pastor). This Pastor who came up with this theory was not my own Pastor but a Pastor of a church that we had ministered in. Thanks for everyones input
     
    #7 JN1633, Jan 29, 2003
  8. C.S. Murphy

    C.S. Murphy New Member

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    You're not disqualified from the pulpit only the pastorate.
    Murph
     
    #8 C.S. Murphy, Jan 30, 2003
  9. Karen

    Karen Active Member

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    This thread is educational for me. In the SBC circles I run in, it doesn' t seem to me that there is such a separation between preaching and pastoring. The two have always been presented to me as synonymous in requirements. In the SBC churches I have seen, preaching is one of the main parts of pastoring. And the congregation votes and the pastor helps carry out what they voted on.
    (This is all separate from my views on your individual situation.)

    Karen
     
    #9 Karen, Jan 31, 2003
  10. Dr. Bob

    Dr. Bob Administrator
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    Karen - "preaching" is proclaiming the truth of God's Word. Women can. Men can. Don't have to be ordained, either.

    "Pastoring" is different. There are lists of qualifications (and DISqualifications) for someone who is to shepherd the church in the name of the Great Shepherd.

    Now granted, most pastors also "preach", but that is not the same office. But back to the question at hand - the gift of pastor is linked in Ephesians 4 with apostle (missionary), evangelist and teacher. So I would apply the same "qualifications" to all of these "professional" positions in the church.
     
    #10 Dr. Bob, Feb 1, 2003
  11. Karen

    Karen Active Member

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    When Anne Graham Lotz spoke at an SBC meeting, a number of pastors walked out because they said that she was "preaching" and not able to fulfill the requirements of a "pastor". I take it you would not have agreed with them?

    Karen
     
    #11 Karen, Feb 1, 2003
  12. Thankful

    Thankful <img src=/BettyE.gif>

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    I am interested in the answer to this also, Karen.

    I had a pastor once that said he would let a woman speak at the morning worship service, but if she started preaching, he would stop her.

    I was very uncomfortable during that service because even though her message was wonderful, I was afraid the pastor was going to stop her. He didn't so I guess she wasn't preaching. ;)
     
    #12 Thankful, Feb 1, 2003
  13. Dr. Bob

    Dr. Bob Administrator
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    Well, I don't know what passage a person could use to say that a woman COULDN'T "preach".

    I CAN, however, see why some would not want a woman to do so in a church service. That ought to be the role of the Pastor.

    I dislike women in authority over men. Perhaps that was the thinking with Ann Graham (I wouldn't have crossed the street to hear her, but that is another issue!) trying to "usurp authority" over Pastors.

    Just make certain the woman shows her submission to her male head (father, husband) when she preaches by following I Corinthians 11 and have her head AND hair "covered" (veiled).
     
    #13 Dr. Bob, Feb 2, 2003
  14. Baptist Preacher

    Baptist Preacher New Member

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    The thoughts that you have received on this matter are quite right. As you can't be in the position as the "Pastor" you are not held back for doing other types of preching. And to what has been said about the church having autonomy is totally correct, and in my judgement many a church are not very grounded. but thats a whole different issue.

    You will be able to minister to many a pastor and church that are having problems that you have already been thru. Have you been to school? Do you have any Bible training? Get all the training that you can under your belt!!
     
    #14 Baptist Preacher, Feb 2, 2003
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