Pastors Divorced- Are they disqualified?

[jimmudcatgrant]

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.

I ask because people I love are thinking about going to that church, and this is a real life situation.  What I think doesn't matter.  I don't know what to tell them, only what I think.

 

[T-Bone]

Well I have shared...do with it what you will

 

[jimmudcatgrant]

Well I have shared...do with it what you will

Thanks for your input.  I don't mean to sound combative.  It is easy to tell others what to do when you have no personal connection, but when you know the people, it is very different.  Thanks again, you advice was good, I was just playing devil's advocate.

 

[wheatpenny]

The new NIV translates it as "Faithful to his wife".

 

[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

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?

Nope

 

[Castor Muscular]

Kudos for coming up with an original topic we've never discussed.

 

[Tarheel Baptist]

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.

I didn't realize fundamentalists had a seminary.

 

[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.

I didn't realize fundamentalists had a seminary.

Great point

From what I see on this forum, offering higher education to findies here would be akin to offering caviar to a kid.

Good bonafide fundamentalist seminaries I know of include:
Detroit
Central, MN
Central, VA

 

[Bob]

Kudos for coming up with an original topic we've never discussed.

Ok. Well then you'll love my new topic.

http://www.fundamentalforums.org/index.php/topic,697.new.html#new

 

[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.

I learned this view at a fundamentalist seminary.

I didn't realize fundamentalists had a seminary.

They don't. As soon as they open, they are labeled as Neo-evangelical.  They all use the Critical text, thus neo.

 

[christundivided]

I've been divorced. My former wife left me for another man. At the time.... the guy was one of my best friends. A member in my church. I didn't remarry for more than 10 years. My new fiance at the time had a friend that was a pastor of a local church and see really liked him. She asked him to "marry" us and he refused. No questions. No explanations except to say he didn't want it to hurt his "reputation".

I told my wife some years later that this one thing we have in common with homosexual and lesbians..... if hard core fundamentalist had their way...... we couldn't have gotten married just like your common homosexual "partners".

I've personally known good men that left the ministry because their wife left them. I've personally known good men that never remarried because their wife left them. Such a waste over man made doctrine. I have a cousin that is one of the best men I know. He will never remarry because he considers himself a preacher. What a waste.

I've asked several men this and never gotten a response from any of them....

If we believe I Cor 7:15 is true...... then why do we create "bondage" for those who have suffered abandonment associated with divorce?

1Co 7:15  But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases:

How does one reconcile 1 Cor 7:15 with 1 Tim 3:2? Certainly..... one complements the other.....

 

[T-Bone]

I've been divorced. My former wife left me for another man. At the time.... the guy was one of my best friends. A member in my church. I didn't remarry for more than 10 years. My new fiance at the time had a friend that was a pastor of a local church and see really liked him. She asked him to "marry" us and he refused. No questions. No explanations except to say he didn't want it to hurt his "reputation".

I told my wife some years later that this one thing we have in common with homosexual and lesbians..... if hard core fundamentalist had their way...... we couldn't have gotten married just like your common homosexual "partners".

I've personally known good men that left the ministry because their wife left them. I've personally known good men that never remarried because their wife left them. Such a waste over man made doctrine. I have a cousin that is one of the best men I know. He will never remarry because he considers himself a preacher. What a waste.

I've asked several men this and never gotten a response from any of them....

If we believe I Cor 7:15 is true...... then why do we create "bondage" for those who have suffered abandonment associated with divorce?

1Co 7:15  But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases:

How does one reconcile 1 Cor 7:15 with 1 Tim 3:2? Certainly..... one complements the other.....

Which is the exact reason for my stand in this issue...it is too easy for a blanket statement, but it does not deal with real life issues that many have no control over.

 

[truthdetector]

Another question...IF a man is eligible to pastor again after divorce, should others ask for an explanation for the divorce every time they consider hearing a preacher or joining a church that has a divorced a pastor?  Or do we just assume the all churches have already done their background/testimony check?

 

[T-Bone]

I personally believe you shouldn't take anything for granted when joining a church... I tell people who are considering joining our church to ask any questions they have.

 

[themagneticfields]

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.

Did the husband who suspected his wife was involved in an affair hire a private investigator?

 

[rsc2a]

[quote author=jimmudcatgrant]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?
[/quote]

Not kosher.

Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses. As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear. In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels I charge you to keep these rules without prejudging, doing nothing from partiality. 1 Timothy 5:19-21

 

[Aviator]

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?

In wacko-fundy world, you can commit any sin imaginable, "repent," and stay in (or get back into) the ministry....














...except for, of course, divorce.

 

[Agent P]

I've been divorced. My former wife left me for another man. At the time.... the guy was one of my best friends. A member in my church. I didn't remarry for more than 10 years. My new fiance at the time had a friend that was a pastor of a local church and see really liked him. She asked him to "marry" us and he refused. No questions. No explanations except to say he didn't want it to hurt his "reputation".

I told my wife some years later that this one thing we have in common with homosexual and lesbians..... if hard core fundamentalist had their way...... we couldn't have gotten married just like your common homosexual "partners".

I've personally known good men that left the ministry because their wife left them. I've personally known good men that never remarried because their wife left them. Such a waste over man made doctrine. I have a cousin that is one of the best men I know. He will never remarry because he considers himself a preacher. What a waste.

I've asked several men this and never gotten a response from any of them....

If we believe I Cor 7:15 is true...... then why do we create "bondage" for those who have suffered abandonment associated with divorce?

1Co 7:15  But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases:

How does one reconcile 1 Cor 7:15 with 1 Tim 3:2? Certainly..... one complements the other.....

And that, kids, is why Agent P isn't Baptist any more.  The Baptists wouldn't even let me in the pulpit as a layman
any more. 
The Methodists merely took the stance that "sin happens" and gave me lay speaking credentials pending my
making it past their Sanhedrin.

 

[Torrent v.2]

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?

Depends on whether he truly repented and qwent through a long time of reconciliation and restoration.  If so, and he was publicly honest about it, and the people in the church know all the details, I think he can be a pastor.

 

[prophet]

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?

Depends on whether he truly repented and qwent through a long time of reconciliation and restoration.  If so, and he was publicly honest about it, and the people in the church know all the details, I think he can be a pastor.

If a man gets saved, who is divorced, and afterwards proves to be blameless, and meets all the requirements...he is a new creature, hello.
  If a woman leaves a man, after he gets saved, because she doesn't believe, and doesn't want to follow, so be it, we don't judge him by that.
  If a man is pastoring, and gets divorced, he sould resign, and find a new occupation.  He doesn't possess the leadership/steadfastness to oversee the family of God. 
  Problems arise, when novices that have no children, or have only been married a short time, desire the office reserved for the mature.

Anishinabe