Pastors Divorced- Are they disqualified?

[jimmudcatgrant]

Some churches think that a Pastor divorced can't handle his own family, so shouldn't be the Pastor of a church.  Others think that a Pastor divorced isn't disqualified if he doesn't marry again.  Still others find that if a Pastor didn't commit adultery, and was divorced, as Charles Stanly was, because his wife didn't want to be married to him any longer, or his wife committed adultery and he divorced her, then they are ok to be a Pastor.  I have known some Pastors that didn't differentiate as they said it would cause trouble, so they wouldn't let anyone preach in their pulpit, or be a deacon or choir director if they had been divorced.  This is a sticky subject, given the percentages of divorce today among Christians.  A well known preacher is a case in point:  his wife apparently accused him of adultery, but it wasn't proven or attested to by anyone else, including the supposed partner in adultery.  She divorced him and now he is Pastoring a church again.  Is this kosher?  Why or why not? 

 

[T-Bone]

I would say it depends on the circumstances...Dr Stanley's case would certainly be one where I would have no trouble with him continuing to pastor...because I happen to know the church was responsible to get all the information before making a decision.

The one you mentioned (who I don't know)...I would have trouble having that man continue in the ministry until everything was checked out by an impartial panel of Christian men.  If the adultery were found to be true then he would be disqualified...if there were other reasons that have been hidden, he would be disqualified.  It is up to the church to make sure that the pastor is above board and the information is thoroughly investigated.  It is not a small thing to put a disqualified pastor over the lives of God's people.

 

[OZZY]

This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. (1 Timothy 3:1-7 KJV

Self explanatory

 

[Bob]

Not self explanatory.

"Husband of one wife" is an interpretation.

It literally says "One woman man."

Whether that means only married once, or never committed adultery, or faithful to whatever woman he is currently with, or some other interpretation, is the question.

 

[OZZY]

Not really it states. Husband of one wife.
And that is what it literally means.

 

[Bob]

It does not say husband.  Unless you are KJVOnly and think that the English corrects the Greek.

 

[T-Bone]

But it doesn't say divorce disqualifies...and Paul was a scholar, if he had intended divorce to be a disqualifier in every case he could have said it.  He talked about divorce elsewhere.  Some even believe that Paul's wife left him when he became a follower of Jesus.

Can divorce disqualify, yes depending on the circumstance for the divorce.  Does divorce automatically disqualify one from pastoring, no.

 

[Bob]

But it doesn't say divorce disqualifies...and Paul was a scholar, if he had intended divorce to be a disqualifier in every case he could have said it.  He talked about divorce elsewhere.  Some even believe that Paul's wife left him when he became a follower of Jesus.

Can divorce disqualify, yes depending on the circumstance for the divorce.  Does divorce automatically disqualify one from pastoring, no.

True.

I wrote an exegetical paper on this in grad school.  That term is not easily interpreted, but in the most simple terms, it means you are a man who is committed to one woman.  Several people point to  1 Tim 5:9 where paul uses the oppoiste term to speak of widows who are the "woman of one man", and that can only be interpreted as married only one time and not remarried.

 

[FSSL]

But it doesn't say divorce disqualifies...and Paul was a scholar, if he had intended divorce to be a disqualifier in every case he could have said it.  He talked about divorce elsewhere.  Some even believe that Paul's wife left him when he became a follower of Jesus.

Can divorce disqualify, yes depending on the circumstance for the divorce.  Does divorce automatically disqualify one from pastoring, no.

True.

I wrote an exegetical paper on this in grad school.  That term is not easily interpreted, but in the most simple terms, it means you are a man who is committed to one woman.  Several people point to  1 Tim 5:9 where paul uses the oppoiste term to speak of widows who are the "woman of one man", and that can only be interpreted as married only one time and not remarried.

Here! Here! Stole the words right out of my mouth.
Perhaps Ozzy will deny the poor widow who remarries and loses the next husband a place on the church roles. At least that is what his interpretation would require.

 

[Bob]

But it doesn't say divorce disqualifies...and Paul was a scholar, if he had intended divorce to be a disqualifier in every case he could have said it.  He talked about divorce elsewhere.  Some even believe that Paul's wife left him when he became a follower of Jesus.

Can divorce disqualify, yes depending on the circumstance for the divorce.  Does divorce automatically disqualify one from pastoring, no.

True.

I wrote an exegetical paper on this in grad school.  That term is not easily interpreted, but in the most simple terms, it means you are a man who is committed to one woman.  Several people point to  1 Tim 5:9 where paul uses the oppoiste term to speak of widows who are the "woman of one man", and that can only be interpreted as married only one time and not remarried.

Here! Here! Stole the words right out of my mouth.
Perhaps Ozzy will deny the poor widow who remarries and loses the next husband a place on the church roles. At least that is what his interpretation would require.

Right. It is a radical interpretation, but I know someone who believes it. And he is not a fundamentalist.

 

[FSSL]

But it doesn't say divorce disqualifies...and Paul was a scholar, if he had intended divorce to be a disqualifier in every case he could have said it.  He talked about divorce elsewhere.  Some even believe that Paul's wife left him when he became a follower of Jesus.

Can divorce disqualify, yes depending on the circumstance for the divorce.  Does divorce automatically disqualify one from pastoring, no.

True.

I wrote an exegetical paper on this in grad school.  That term is not easily interpreted, but in the most simple terms, it means you are a man who is committed to one woman.  Several people point to  1 Tim 5:9 where paul uses the oppoiste term to speak of widows who are the "woman of one man", and that can only be interpreted as married only one time and not remarried.

Here! Here! Stole the words right out of my mouth.
Perhaps Ozzy will deny the poor widow who remarries and loses the next husband a place on the church roles. At least that is what his interpretation would require.

Right. It is a radical interpretation, but I know someone who believes it. And he is not a fundamentalist.

I learned this view at a fundamentalist seminary.

 

[Izdaari]

I agree with those who said it depends on the circumstances.

 

 

[Bob]

I agree with those who said it depends on the circumstances.

I agree. I think that the 1 Tim passage is written that way so that we have to take the time to pray, talk and apply it to each situation.

 

[Just me]

What I was taught in my x'er years was simple. 

First, as preached loud and hard, a preacher must be married to and remain married to his first wife, period.

Second, if you can dupe enough people into following you because number one no longer applies, then you can still be a pastor.

Third, if the "leaders" of the x'er movement like you... your back in the saddle and preaching away at their churches and conferences.

Forth, if you are a layperson, don't question it because it is not in your circle and you have sin in your life to deal with.  IE leave the "mannagod "alone!!!

Fourth, those men who blew number one above can be a missionary or evangelist.  No questions asked.

 

[jimmudcatgrant]

I would say it depends on the circumstances...Dr Stanley's case would certainly be one where I would have no trouble with him continuing to pastor...because I happen to know the church was responsible to get all the information before making a decision.

The one you mentioned (who I don't know)...I would have trouble having that man continue in the ministry until everything was checked out by an impartial panel of Christian men.  If the adultery were found to be true then he would be disqualified...if there were other reasons that have been hidden, he would be disqualified.  It is up to the church to make sure that the pastor is above board and the information is thoroughly investigated.  It is not a small thing to put a disqualified pastor over the lives of God's people.

Therein lies the problem.  His former church ran him off even though they got no confirmation of the adultery from anyone.  The woman who was supposed to be his alledged partner got upset and is not talking anymore (who could blame her).  So, unless he or the wife recants, it's her word against his.  That leads me to believe that there may have been something deemed to be inappropriate, but not an affair or adultery, but that is just speculation.  But mum's the word now.  After all, the church got what they wanted, so they could care less now if they mistakenly ruined some lives in the process.

 

[jimmudcatgrant]

This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. (1 Timothy 3:1-7 KJV

Self explanatory

Maybe to you.   But I am not so sure.  Let me ask you again:  Given the above scripture and your interpretation, should the preacher in the op be allowed to pastor a church?

 

[jimmudcatgrant]

It does not say husband.  Unless you are KJVOnly and think that the English corrects the Greek.

I am not KJVO, but the HCSB, the NASB and the ESV, which I use, all say husband of one wife.

1 Timothy 3:2 (ESV)
2 Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,


1 Timothy 3:2 (HCSB)
2 An overseer, therefore, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, self-controlled, sensible, respectable, hospitable, an able teacher,


1 Timothy 3:2 (NASB)
2 An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,

Now, was this just a commandment against polygamy, or against a pastor divorcing for any reason other than adultery and then getting married again?  Or does it mean you have to be married?  What if your wife dies, do you then retire until you can get married again?

 

[Bob]

It does not say husband.  Unless you are KJVOnly and think that the English corrects the Greek.

I am not KJVO, but the HCSB, the NASB and the ESV, which I use, all say husband of one wife.

1 Timothy 3:2 (ESV)
2 Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,


1 Timothy 3:2 (HCSB)
2 An overseer, therefore, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, self-controlled, sensible, respectable, hospitable, an able teacher,


1 Timothy 3:2 (NASB)
2 An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,

Now, was this just a commandment against polygamy, or against a pastor divorcing for any reason other than adultery and then getting married again?  Or does it mean you have to be married?  What if your wife dies, do you then retire until you can get married again?

I know what the translations say. I have read and translated the Greek. I have read almost every reliable commentary.  The phrase husband of one wife is how they translate the phrase.  But it is interpretive.

 

[T-Bone]

Jimmy...sounds like you have made up your mind..why did you even ask?  You dont know if this church is trying to destroy the pastors life...actually sounds like he and his wife are doing a good job of that by themselves.  The church that has called him without this being resolved and all the facts known is gambling with precious souls...not worth tbe gamble in my opinion.

 

[jimmudcatgrant]

It does not say husband.  Unless you are KJVOnly and think that the English corrects the Greek.

I am not KJVO, but the HCSB, the NASB and the ESV, which I use, all say husband of one wife.

1 Timothy 3:2 (ESV)
2 Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,


1 Timothy 3:2 (HCSB)
2 An overseer, therefore, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, self-controlled, sensible, respectable, hospitable, an able teacher,


1 Timothy 3:2 (NASB)
2 An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,

Now, was this just a commandment against polygamy, or against a pastor divorcing for any reason other than adultery and then getting married again?  Or does it mean you have to be married?  What if your wife dies, do you then retire until you can get married again?

I know what the translations say. I have read and translated the Greek. I have read almost every reliable commentary.  The phrase husband of one wife is how they translate the phrase.  But it is interpretive.

Fine. I just responded because your post alluded that only the KJV translated it "husband of one wife."  No worries. I see that now that was just a dig against the KJVO that didn't work.