Surviving an abusive pastor

Why are we bumping this up? Shouldn't we let gossip die the death of time rather than encourage it? How does broadcasting alleged stories of "pastoral abuse" help anyone?

 

That is not how to deal with gossip according to the Bible. That is the reason why so many churches are encumbered with gossip because people refuse to confront it and hope it will die.

 

So that others that have gone through it can help others.
Also to enlighten some that may be in abusive situations that they are actually being abused...

Pastor abuse happens...
The OP asked for no names...

Case studies are not Gossip... And are edifying when we discuss them.

 

I'm not sure how to answer the original question. I was molested by my pastor when I was younger---yet I have no trouble letting go of the past and having full trust in my current pastor:godisgood: .

 

I'm sorry to hear that, moscott.
That is a horrible abuse.

I'm fortunate enough to not share in these stories.
Our Pastor is wonderful. 25 years ago, his daddy was
our Pastor, then left after. He grew to manhood, got married,
had a successful job managing people making some big
bucks, then God did a crazy thing: called him away from
the big bucks, into the ministry and into the church he'd
been in as a child. Wildest thing I've ever heard.

In our church government, the Pastor is a teacher and feeder
of the flock and nothing more. budget, building, planning, bill
paying, banking are all done by committee. No one man has
the ultimate say so and no one man can so much as touch
the money. The Pastor is NOT the head of our daycare.

One of my friends taught at a baptist church-ran elementary
school. According to her account, when she sent home a
batch of "your kids aren't doing their homework" letters,
the Pastor and his wife got letters about their own children.
Since the Pastor and his wife run the school, they decided
they didn't like my friend and let her go.

Second, down in Kentucky, across from us in Cincy, there
was a Pastor who gambled away at least a half MILLION!!!
dollars of church money at the horse races. That also
is abuse.

I believe that most Pastors are nice, decent, God-fearing folk.
However, it only takes one thief/pervert/control freak/liar
to put a bad taste in everyone's mouth.

 

But you can't confront it here because you have people telling stories that you have no way of knowing whether they are true, and even if they are true, you don't know who to confront, and if you did know who to confront, you have no authority to do it.

Maybe they aren't being abused, but being told they are will make them think they are.

Sure.

I have found nothign here edifying. I have no way to tell if it is true or not.

Let me tell you a story. From the time I was 4 until I was 17, my pastor abused me and four other young people in the church. We talked to our parents and deacons and nothing was done. We brought it up at a business meeting and nothing was done.

Is that edifying to you? It better no be because it isn't true. Is it possible here that people are simply having their emotions toyed with? I think so. And I think it is inappropriate. If you were abused, take it to the church and the authorities, not the Baptist Board. There is no biblical mandate to air your dirty laundry in this forum.