Should a pastor with an addiction be fired?

Posted on November 02, 2010
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This is the question that more and more churches are having to deal with these days. How do you deal with a pastor who has an addiction. Maybe it's an addiction to alcohol or drugs; maybe it's a sexual addiction like pornography. The question is... what should be done with a pastor that has an addiction of some kind when it is found out?

This scenario has actually happened this past week at Twin City Fellowship. Recently Bob Dewaay's health was deteriorating and they weren't sure what was wrong. After a bunch of tests, it was determined that Bob had Alcoholic Hepatitis. Bob had been a vocal part of the discernment movement (calling out those who he though here heretical) for the past years. As it turns out, the diagnosis was news to everyone in his church, including his elders. The reaction was quick. Termination.

You can hear how the church responded publicly here. (It's in the first ten minutes).

How should a church respond when their leader is caught in an addiction?

My thought is that the church acted properly in removing the man from leadership (although I think some of the words were rather harsh). The shepherd of a congregation is held to a high standard, and I think this was the right decision.

But what responsibility does the church have in the area of reconciliation? in the area of counseling and help? and in the area of financial support of this man and his family?

I think part of the answer to that question has to do with how the person caught reacts? Are they repentant? Are they making excuses? Are they defiant?

And if they are repentant, do you work out a restoration plan with them as a church? Are they restored to their senior pastor role?

And if you, for some reason, decide NOT to terminate, how do you proceed? Publicly? Privately? Seems dangerous to the life of the church either way.

As you can tell... I have few, if any answers.

Dare I say what happens most often? When this type of addiction is found in a staff person (especially a person in a senior role); many times the person if quietly fired (without giving a reason) and is simply moved on to another church. This is what should NEVER happen.

What are your thoughts? If your pastor (or you) were diagnosed with Alcoholic Hepatitis (and no one even knew you drank); should you be terminated, rehabilitated, or what?

Todd

Comments

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Leonard on Thu, November 04, 2010

CS, well said. I do think the distinction is as follows.

Sin is sin and for the most part, not many people become addicted to something without sin. This pastors sin is not his addiction but the acts that caused the addiction and even grater is the deception that allowed the addiction to remain unchecked.

I had a pastor who was an alcoholic, but he did not drink any longer. Why, he came clean and lived in the light.

What we struggle with is living in the light. Satan tells us that to live in the light destroys fellowship… If people knew they wouldn’t like you anymore.

The bible teaches that light brings fellowship. The failure to apply scripture to this whole situation is much greater than calling sin a sin or not. Do we believe in grace, restoration… For whatever reasons they were, this pastor let his life be lived in darkness and in doing so, addiction controlled him and this is a sin.

People remain slaves to their addictions not because they cannot help it but because they refuse to access the help available. Again, I know many addicts who also access the help available so they do not sin in their addiction. Should they stop accessing their help, they would most likely stumble into sin again.

what I believe about this pastor is that he is a victim of his own rhetoric and soil. In other word his harshness towards others (this is his mo for some time) created a prison of pride and shame that kept him from coming clean. He then got caught due to health. Lets see what he does with this opportunity to repent and be free. I pray he takes it and knows that the grace that saves also teaches us to say �No� to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age…

The mentality of the fundamentalist world (I grew up here) says that too much grace will make us say yes to sin… but in reality the more grace we know the more we say no to sin and yes to self control and lives of integrity and holiness. I hope Pastor Bob get more grace than he ever had… and in doing so he is free.

In the fundamentalist world we said grace and love was loving someone enough to tell them they suck… they are sinners… this turned evangelism into an announcement rather that an invitation. The corner of faith Bob comes from operates under this kind of thinking.
CS on Thu, November 04, 2010

Peter:

“I would URGE that we need to become knowledgeable about each, without sacrificing the other…”

I would agree to that and the other points you make.

Rev Roger Olsen:

“When you research the DSM-IV Criteria for addictions it will make you realize that people with addictions are not bad people but rather they are sick people who need help.”

I think this illustrates the difference between your perspectives on this matter and mine quite well. You focus on the psychology of addictions and treatment options for addressing them. You believe that those with addictions are not bad people, but sick people, and if we treat the illness, their goodness will shine.

I focus more on the biblical aspects of this matter. A person who is engaging in an ongoing lifestyle of sin needs forgiveness and repentance. I also believe that the Bible is quite clear that we are all bad people and it is only through Christ that we receive the righteousness and goodness that are pleasing before God.

—
CS

—
CS
Tom Thompson, Substance Abuse Specialist on Thu, November 04, 2010

I agree that addicted leaders should both, be removed from the pressures of church ministry, and given a grace-based plan for recovery in the context of loving, firm spiritual relationship.

But substance abuse falls in a very different catagory from troublesome habits. HOPE is available for chronic abusers, but substance abuse is not to be treated simply as “habitual sin” for which addicts need to be “held accountable”. “White knuckling”, “promise keeping” and threats simply are not productive in these cases.

The reality most in the church fail to understand, however is that alcoholism and drug addiction are progressive, predictable and ultimately, terminal diseases. (Not to relieve the addict of his responsibility, he must also face the realities of sinful aspects of his choices and behaviors.)

Alcoholism and drug addiction are “bio-psycho-social-spiritual” disorders and long-term treatment must address all four areas of the broken human condition.

The GOOD NEWS is that the disease can be put into remission when a quality, comprehensive program is followed as part of the restoration plan. Many new studies on the brain, physiology and predisposition factors validate the realities, and the church must be educated in order to adequately deal with the complexity of substance abuse.

Christ-centered specialists, interventionists (many who specialize in clergy restoration), and treatment centers in the field are readily available to help churches maneuver through the process of restoration.
CS on Thu, November 04, 2010

Leonard:

I agree with your entire post except for where you come down with your perceptions of Dewaay’s and fundamentalism’s, “harshness.”

Tom Thompson:

“The GOOD NEWS is that the disease can be put into remission when a quality, comprehensive program is followed as part of the restoration plan.”

Just curious, but what is your take on 1 Corinthians 6:11, where, after giving a litany of sins in which the Corinthian church was engaged, including drunkenness, Paul said, “And such were some of you,” indicating that they were not in remission of disease, so much as freed of these vices?

—
CS
Tom Thompson, Substance Abuse Specialist on Thu, November 04, 2010

Alcoholism and drug addiction, though successfully put into remission in many cases, are, like diabetes, or high blood pressure, chronic diseases.

When substance abuse is placed in remission, “drunkeness” is a usually a choice, and 1 Corinthians 6:11 would apply.

First, however, it is important that “recovery tools”* are established and applied in order to achieve the potential of abstenence. With these measures in practice, the addict has no remaining choice and, to indulge in “drunkeness” seems to me to be willingful sinfulness.

(*These may also include the treatment of biological/psychiatric disorders such as a bipolar condition or severe depression - which often prompt one to “self-medicate”. One of the fastest growing addictions among Christians is perscription addiction, often a result of improper, ongoing medication for depression, anxiety or chronic pain. Total abstenence where a medical or psychiatric condition is not addressed only insures relapse.)
Peter Hamm on Thu, November 04, 2010

CS,

One other thing. Perhaps a distinction needs to be made between an alcoholic and a drunkard. One doesn’t = the other. Drunkenness doesn’t = Alcoholism, and I don’t think the ancient world had the same kind of alcoholism we do now, having such watered down wine and beer at that time compared to what we have now.

In my experience (I am not worth of having a “clinical opinion”), there is a very real sickness called addiction. No question.

Is it sin? Sure.

Is it sickness that needs to be treated? Yes.
CS on Thu, November 04, 2010

Tom Thompson:

“Alcoholism and drug addiction, though successfully put into remission in many cases, are, like diabetes, or high blood pressure, chronic diseases.”

That’s kind of a bad comparison. The path to alcoholism starts with an individual choice. Nobody really chooses to have their pancreas fail on them.

“When substance abuse is placed in remission, “drunkeness” is a usually a choice, and 1 Corinthians 6:11 would apply.”

But how does a person become an alcoholic? As you answer in the following paragraph, it has to be through willful sinning. Ergo, Christ has the power to set someone free, just like he did in the First Century without all of the, “recovery tools,” available today.

Peter:

“One other thing. Perhaps a distinction needs to be made between an alcoholic and a drunkard. One doesn’t = the other. Drunkenness doesn’t = Alcoholism, and I don’t think the ancient world had the same kind of alcoholism we do now, having such watered down wine and beer at that time compared to what we have now.”

You just used three words in that concept that I think are worth defining:

drunkenness: the state of being drunk.

drunkard: a person who is habitually or frequently drunk; one suffering from or subject to acute or chronic alcoholism

alcoholism: continued excessive or compulsive use of alcoholic drinks.

In 1 Corinthians 5:11 & 6:10, the word that is used to describe this individual is, “drunkard (methysos).” A person who continually uses alcohol may develop a resistance to drunkenness, thereby allowing the consumption of large quantities of alcohol without the same degree of debilitating effects. But, that person would still qualify for the Bible’s definitions of the word. After all, if alcoholism weren’t a sin, we wouldn’t be concerned about pastors or Christians who are alcoholics.

—
CS
Peter Hamm on Thu, November 04, 2010

CS,

I know a thing or two about addiction. I strongly suggest you educate yourself fully on it. It’s a little different, okay, a lot different, than you are describing. Just sayin’...
Steve Cornell on Thu, November 04, 2010

Being a shepherd/elder is one of the best ways to be reminded that He put His �treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us� (II Corinthians 4:7). The challenge to embrace comes in recognizing that the rhythm of personal spiritual transformation and pastoral ministry is death and renewal: �We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus� sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you� (II Corinthains 4:10-12).

This is why we must practice the rhythm of spiritual activity our Lord followed. Trace his steps and you�ll find a pattern of engagement and withdrawal; of crowds and solitude. We need time to get perspective in the audience of One. �Come away� Jesus said, �to a secluded place and rest a while� (Mark 6:31).

Psalm 62:8 has been my lifeline in ministry: �Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.�
Tom Thompson, Substance Abuse Specialist on Thu, November 04, 2010

It may help to distinguish the difference between the behavior (“drunkeness”) and the condition of substance abuse. Sure, alcoholism and drug addiction are ignited by consumption, but usually there are pre-existing conditions that underly.

The behavior (“sin”) is only the tip of the iceburg. To refuse to work with the addict on the deeper levels, (though it requires far more commitment) is to burden the addict with more shame, helplessness and stigma. This sends the message that the church is “unsafe” for sick sinners whose restoration sometimes comes in short increments.
Leonard on Thu, November 04, 2010

CS, I think Bob needed to be dismissed and cared for. I think is sin is drunkenness. It is something he chose and is not a victim of some mysterious power called alcoholism. That said…

The sickness of alcoholism comes from sin and drunkenness. I have a friend who has been sober for 25 years but struggles daily. She attends meetings, lives in accountability and has a wonderful ministry to many people. She is not in sin for being an alcoholic. She would agree sin led her to be one. She does not sin with alcohol because she has taken steps to not sin with alcohol.

I could go drink a beer and not sin, she couldn’t drink one without sinning. I choose not to drink out of respect for my friends struggles.

Bob needs help and the help he needs will not be found only in the acknowledgement of his sin, but in a process of his learning why he hid his sin, in a process of why he chose to drink, in a process of making himself right with those around him he has wronged, in a process of personal inventory of the other places where he has lived in darkness.

If he has hidden this from his church, who else has he lied too? His wife? his kids? This kind of deception is not covered up without other kinds of baggage.
CS on Fri, November 05, 2010

Peter:

“I know a thing or two about addiction. I strongly suggest you educate yourself fully on it.”

Perhaps so. Do you have some Christian resources to which you could direct me? My own subjective experiences when it comes to, “addiction,” are likely influencing things here.

Tom Thompson:

“Sure, alcoholism and drug addiction are ignited by consumption, but usually there are pre-existing conditions that underly.”

I’d like to ask this question of you. Yes, or no: Is mankind innately good?

Leonard:

Your post makes sense, and I agree with you, and commend you for not wanting to make your sister stumble.

—
CS
Terry Treude on Fri, November 05, 2010

Chris Rosebrough of “Fighting for the Faith” on PIRATECHRISTIANRADIO has commentary based on a recent visit with his friend Bob DeWaay. I don’t know how to include links. The Bob DeWaay situation addressed on Chris’ show is Nov 1 under the heading:“Is Rick Warren Your Pastor’s Bishop?” I hope you all will go and listen.

CS: you seem to be the most Biblical in your approach to this situation. But, you left out the physical component in alchoholism in your definitions
Steve Long on Fri, November 05, 2010

CS,
I appreciate your comments aimed at calling the root problem here sin. I think you are right on target. The Psych field and it’s associated glossary of words that explain the human condition has been around, what, 150 years? and there is much about it that is humanistic and mechanistic. Sin was here a lot longer. Addiction certainly is a mechanism problem but God advises us to follow His will and we will avoid ‘mechanism’ problems. When we begin to describe addiction as a biological misfortune and not as the wages of sin then things like repentance and confession lose their power. How can one repent of something that is unfortunate but not a product of thier disobedient choosing. To draw the wages of anything one must work at it. By the time someone has achieved (drawn the wage of) addiction they have been working at sin for a while. Useful ideas about what to do with a church leader who has fallen into sin can only come after recognizing that sin has occured, not addiction. Thank-you for your observations.
Steve Long on Fri, November 05, 2010

CS
Thank-you for your comments reestablishing the problem here as Sin. Addiction is just some of the wages of sin and one generally has to work at something to get a wage for it. If the problem here is not sin then repentance and confession are not appropriate in this (or any other circumstance of) addiction. Psychology can be useful but it is heavily oriented toward humanistic mechanistic explanations of problems that are actually spiritual. It is not’addictions’ fault that this man is in trouble in his ministry.