There has been some discussion about the qualifications of a pastor. So I have come up with this poll...
Disqualification is based on (your interpretation of) scripture
Note: you may vote as many items as you deem necessary
Salty
PS, opps, forgot to indicate "none of the above" if that is the case, that just select "other" and indicate "NOTA"
This would disqualify a man from being a pastor
Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by Salty, Oct 29, 2009.
?
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Being Single (never married)
5 vote(s)13.2% -
Being a widower
1 vote(s)2.6% -
Having his marriage annuled
11 vote(s)28.9% -
Being divorced before salvation
6 vote(s)15.8% -
being divorced after salvation
14 vote(s)36.8% -
being married to a divorced woman
9 vote(s)23.7% -
having been found guility of a felony
11 vote(s)28.9% -
having no children
0 vote(s)0.0% -
Not sure
3 vote(s)7.9% -
Other
12 vote(s)31.6%
Multiple votes are allowed.
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I opted for felony, since his reputation/report both in and out of the church would be shot. And felony doesn't disappear like some stigmas after years of living a good life; it is there for your entire life. No public office, no voting, no hunting, etc.
In MOST cases of sexual sin (adultery/fornication/incest) whether it led to a divorce or not would also disqualify. But divorce per se, perhaps because the wife left him, would not permanently disqualify. For a while for sure, but after 10-20 years . . .
We have a fellow on another forum who was a pastor, had a full-blown adultery and lies and cover-up for nearly a year, was caught and fled to another state (without any apology) to "heal", and friends think after a year or two he should pastor again.
I cannot imagine loosing such a "pastor" on ANY congregation. Very sad. -
Revmitchell Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
I cannot take part in the poll because of the lack of clarity. whatever can be prove to be past and repented is not a disqualifier.
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But the very FIRST qualification/description of an elder is "above reproach" (within the congregation). Later it is "of good report" (by the unsaved community).
A man might sin and repent and be right with God and STILL be disqualified for a time because of these (nothing to do with forgiveness and repentance).
One side has a list and says if Pastor does xyz he is disqualified
Other side has a list and says even if Pastor does xyz, if he repents he is NOT disqualified
BOTH sides need to see the testimony/reputation of the Lord and His Church is at stake. When an elder sins, he is held to a high standard by the church and even by the world.
Interesting thread already! -
I voted for only "Having his marriage annulled", because there is no such thing, and because this is the only instance in which the Pastor is said to be the instigator of the divorce. A man who post salvation effected a divorce (rather than his wife leaving him) would also be disqualified.
Since a believer is "not bound" by a departing unbeliever, marrying a divorced person would not disqualify the man from pastor. Nor would a pre salvation felony: many of the first century pastors and preachers were pre salvation felons! Paul was a murderer. His reputation was horrible. -
Revmitchell Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
I would also add that we need to include in this conversation those sins that are pre-conversion. -
I concur with Revmitchell here. Paul was once a murderer, and he became an apostle (I don't buy the claim that he wasn't a pastor).
I knew a man who was once a hardcore criminal, ended up in prison, and repented compeltely. He's now a pastor who has a prison ministry, bringing lots of criminals to Christ. The man is not more excluded from the pastorate than Paul. -
Revmitchell Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
I do not hold to the notion that Paul was a pastor in any sense of the word but I also do not hold to the notion that a pastor was held to a "higher" standard than he was.
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Crabtownboy Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
I do not feel we can make a blanket rule on so little information on a person. Each case must be taken into consideration and the facts of that particular case carefully examined.
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Where's the box for "Taking soap and shampoo from a motel room?"
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Sometimes I wonder how anyone became a pastor.
We had a man in our organization in Canada, who cared for his ailing wife to her dying day...and that took many years.
After she died, this pastor had an affair with his long time secretary (she was single). He confessed his sin to his church. His church then invited the Fellowship to form a council and advise on the situation. Knowing the man, his work and his life, we advised the church and the pastor that he sit out for a few months and then make a decision about future ministry. In other words, allow the incident to fade away. At the church's insistence, the pastor returned to ministry and eventually retired from ministry after pastoring that church for another fifteen years. The church grew and expanded under his ministry, and yes, he did marry his secretary.
I think decisions require more than a list of requirements. I think common sense should also prevail.
We gain nothing by self-righteous judgement and the destruction of an individual for one indiscretion.
Cheers,
Jim -
Have an adulterous affair, then wait a few months and hope everyone forgets it and the incident blows over.
Jim, in our US circles if ifbX'ers, it's called "sweeping it under the rug". -
Actually, I was going to put that in, but the poll only allows 10 choices. I know a poll, where you can get more choices, if interested, Mex, send me a pm
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My good friends, Lee and Cindy Condran wrote and recorded a song entilted "Sweep Our Sins" if you would like a copy, let me know, and I wil send you one. Yes, it is Southern Gospel!
Salty -
We can argue all day long about the interpretations Paul gives for the qualifications of Pastor. In real life, the bottom line is a Pastor is qualified if the local church deems him to be qualified.
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As you can see from the above posts, what you think makes it right, and what I think makes it right can easily differ after reading the same Scripture. Above, we have two Pastors that disagree. -
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...and the hands down winner is : being married to a divorced woman
That my friends is what will keep you out of the ministry and I assume also from holding offices (deacon/elder). Never mind living together outside of marriage before marriage, homicide, bank robbery, being disobedient to parents. -
I remember once putting up a poll, and being told that the popularity of a position does not make that position scripturally correct. That would most definitetely apply here. Simply put, scripture does not in and of itself disqualify a person from the pastorate simply because he has been divorced. It takes a bit if a hurdle to get scripture to jump through that hoop.
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