Pastors need to be FREE. Free to be honest with others, with themselves.

On the one hand, they need to be free to speak the truth to their congregation without fear of reprisal (e.g., from that elder who holds the purse strings). On the other hand, they need to be free to seek help and accountability when they struggle without fear of losing their livelihood.

Yet most pastors are not free. They start out fearless, but quickly find that they are fearful of what they could lose. Why? Because the longer you are in ministry, the more you have invested in it, and the fewer options you have for making a living, supporting your family, etc outside of it.

This fear, if not dealt with, can lead to a) soft-pedaling the message or b) hiding one’s own struggles ... No wonder that Paul tells Timothy to watch his “life and doctrine” closely.

This is a heart issue. But, like most issues, it is multifaceted - and finding some external support structures is always important if we take our fallen nature seriously (as the author of this post does). So I applaud the ideas presented here, as they make it easier for a pastor to easily find the help he needs.

Another suggestion is for pastors to retain their tentmaking abilities. Work 5-15 hours in a non-ministry job, or in some other way keep your tranferrable work skills sharp. If a pastor does this, he will be less fearful concerning his livelihood; and if the time comes that he needs to speak a hard truth, to others or to himself, he might have the guts to do it.

I just can’t help but think that Ted Haggard - and the many lower-profile fallen or falling pastors - had the enemy whispering in their ear, “You can’t AFFORD to be honest...”

OF COURSE this isn’t the only thing, or even the first thing, pastors need to do to promote holiness. I only bring this up because I think it has not been discussed as much.

Bottom line: Pastors (and I start with myself) should create structures that promote a godly freedom from ministry, so that ministry and honesty do not need to come into conflict.

Danny Daniels,

Todd - the owner of MMI did not use the pic of Jimmy. The writer of the article did. Perhaps you should use the link to his blog to post your comments to him specifically. Todd merely posted the article because he thought others might find it thought-provoking and helpful.  It was not to Jimmy bash in any way.

God’s grace to you and us all,
Camey

The church is weak when it comes to keeping its ministers gaurded.  I have served in staff postions for over 15 years in two different churches and very little from the church has been done to keep everyone above reproach.  I have personally placed procedures, (I don’t counsel ladies in my office without someone else present, I also make sure that our church network is strictly filtered).  Some folks are surprised of the need for this but I have counseled other ministers in their struggles to think that any minister is far from temptation.  I am also open about my weaknesses. I have shared with several men’s leadership groups that I do not travel alone simply because of the temptations that I faced on a trip to pittsburgh years ago.  I am also very open about my past before christ with pornography and I know that is an area in my life I have to be an gaurd about. Some men are shocked that I would have such a temptation and think some of my practices are silly but others agree with the need.  I believe a church should have the highest standards and procedures to help maintain integrity for its ministers and keep everything above reproach. Ministers are people who can and do sin. I found myself in a conflict over a related issue. I do a lot of pastoral counseling and I received a call from a counselor I confer with, the counselor wanted to refer one of her clients to me.  I spoke with the man and found out that he was a minister from another denomination a few cities away and had been struggling with pornography and wanted help to break his addiction.  My first thought was, he should tell his spiritual authority in his denomination but to do so would mean to loose his church.  Because of confidentiality I could not call his spiritual authority myself.  He chose not to confess to his spiritual authority.  He did confess to his wife and they went to marital counseling.  I met with him for the next year. Over a year later he is doing well, his marriage is 100% better and he is walking in the life Christ wants for him.  In most denominations if one confesses a problem with pornography they are out of a job.  Yet if we can deal with an addiction early, compared to where Haggard found himself, would that not be a better way to go?

In response to Camey:
Todd chose to include the pic in his reposting.  If you know anything about webpages and html code you know that he has the pic of Jimmy Swaggart included because he wanted to include it.
It would have been very simple to exclude it. 

Todd, I am in the awkward position of disagreeing with a choice you made concerning this website (MY FAVORITE BY THE WAY). I don’t mean to bust your chops. You are doing exactly what you are supposed to be.  This is definitely an amazing part of your calling. I simply wanted us all to examine our intents and motives in things like this.  It is not our job as Christians to drudge up a man’s very public and humiliating scandal over and over again.  It is as if we are taking pride in making sure that the world never forgets his failure.  I hope we can remember that we reap what we sow.  I hope that we are prepared to have our failures brought up again and again if we insist not not letting go of someone elses.

Bottom Line: I am grieved by this recurring theme of Christians shooting their wounded.

Thanks for letting me get that off my chest.  I appreciate everyone’s comments, even those I disagree with. It is good that we can disagree and and yet stay connected by the bond of love.

Danny Daniels

We live in an unsafe world as pastors and leaders.  With every scandal there is it becomes more unsafe.  How many struggling pastors were driven underground by Baker, Swaggart, Haggard and by Priests and all the local stories that do not make the national headlines?  It would be cool if we found a way to do a build a team Sunday, in which every pastor said we are going to build a team of support, announce this team Sunday the 21 of January, 2007.  This is the positive proactive statement of every pastor to regain confidence of the people we serve and to protect the faith and families of pastors everywhere.  How cool to actually lead instead of just wait for Satan crouching at our doorstep.

I wonder…

If Ted Haggard had been required to have some one travel with him.  Would he have had a massage by a male at the hotel he was staying in?

First...great article and take on this issue.  Why don’t more fail?  Good question.  Let me share my application.

I did not enter the ministry with my eyes closed to this issue.  (How can you avoid this issue?) Paul clearly gives instructions on the qualifications of pastors in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1.  He also use the word “flee” (fornication, immorality, idolatry) often which requires pastors and churches to be personally responsible for being proactive.  I read Billy Graham’s autobiography and noted that when he entered the evangelistic ministry as a young man, he asked friends what were the three major causes of failure among ministers and then he ensured accountability in place...like never traveling alone with a woman, receiving a salary, and fighting pride with prayer.  I liked his example and borrowed his ideas...or shamelessly stole ‘em.

One of the courses I took in seminary was pastoral ethics...and it addressed this issue and I kept the textbook.  We can discuss the various root causes but the bottom line is simply this...I was called to pastor and I am responsible to God and will take all actions to protect His work in progress that has been delegated to me [and I have prayer accountability partners and a wife who can interrupt me any time; I visit members with my wife or a male deacon - period].  That means I will work with people to ensure accountability within and without the church.  That means working with my wife, my family, my church, and my friends openly and honestly.  I cannot blame anyone else but me when I fail to be accountable because the moment I fail, I will suffer what follows and that will also impact who I am involved with - especially my Savior.