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More on Pastors and Secret-Telling
Yesterday we had the story of the Naperville, IL pastor who did not disclose to police when one of his church members said her husband killed his previous wife. That church member is now missing; and the main suspect is the husband. Today, reports out of Colorado of three pastors who have pleaded guilty to failing to report sexual abuse by a church member.
James Rice, Thad Gunderson and Eric Mowen received 1-year deferred sentences after pleading guilty in November. The convictions will be removed from their records in a year if they stay out of trouble.
Fort Collins police had accused Paul John Lavertu of fondling children during functions of Gateway Baptist Church of Loveland. They said the pastors didn’t tell authorities.
Rice says the pastors didn’t know what Lavertu had done until this year, and that when they knew, they told him to turn himself in.
Lavertu has been sentenced to 35 days in jail and 15 years of probation with sex offender treatment.
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This post has been viewed 316 times and was added on December 18, 2007 by Todd Rhoades. Filed under: Engaging Culture Current Events and the Church Share this post with a friend right now! View reactions to this post at other blogs... You can really help us out by subscribing to our free RSS feed with your favorite feed reader, or here at Bloglines. Also, you can add us to your favorites at Technorati.
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I'm Todd Rhoades... the MMI guy. I'm also on the team at Leadership Network (although that doesn't mean that they endorse everything I write here). In my past life, I was the founder and developer of a website named ChurchStaffing.com.
MondayMorningInsight.com | PO Box 446 | Bryan, OH 43506 |
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Posted by
Tuesday, December 18, 2007 at 10:48 PM
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Posted by
Thursday, December 20, 2007 at 11:56 AM
Post Your Comments:I have been in ministry for a long time and here is a lesson that I learned that keeps me out of trouble. NEVER offer confidentiality to ANYONE for any REASON when counseling. I start my counseling sessions by stating that I will handle the information they are about to share with great sensitivy but I will share it with those who I deem necessary if and when I feel it needs to be shared. I tell them that if they dont trust my judgement in handling the information then don’t tell me. This policy has never resulted in anyone not telling me something or ending the counseling session. This keeps me from having to carry the burden of someone elses problem or guilt and gives me the freedom to actually seek appropriate help.
very well said todd, a person cannot bear the burdens of other people, jesus did that,it is no wonder some pastors get burn out, some of them have to listen to peoples sin stories day after day, i have listen to people tell me their woes and sin untill i felt the next day i had a sin hang over, i felt drug down and beaten, and i am not a pastor. but i do try to help people, but most people want to hear what they want to hear instead of the truth, because jesus has the real freedem for sin answers, i have had people say to me , i do not want to know what god says about it , i want to know what you think about it, and on and on it goes,
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