Monday Morning Insights

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    Should a pastor with an addiction be fired?

    Should a pastor with an addiction be fired?

    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

     

     

     

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