Monday Morning Insights

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    The $6000 Disney Vacation and $1736 Cell Phone Bill

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    Take, for example, a recent article I read this week from a regional newspaper.  To save some embarrassment, I'll not disclose the location, the church, or the people involved; but what happened is chilling; and in my opinion, sickening.  (Please note that these details come from newspaper reports on what is alleged to have happened in this instance.)

    Let's set the stage.  A pastor is at a church of around 250 people.  And he's been there for a significant period of time.  But he leads a secret life.  And no one at his church knows about what's really going on in the life of their pastor. 

    In 2003, the pastor uses church funds to pay $600 of his son's college tuition; $100 to a hairdresser; and even doubled his paycheck one month.  No one noticed.  Oh, and he took his family to Disneyland on a $6,000 vacation. Still, no one was the wiser.

    Everyone in the congregation was unaware that their pastor filed for bankruptcy in 2004 to protect himself from 160 creditors. (that's one hundred and sixty creditors!)

    Through this whole period of time; this pastor continues to pastor the flock, visit the sick, teach the Word... you know, the things church leaders do every day. And no one has a clue.

    Still after all this, the pastor paid $20,000 of church funds for a wedding.  Still, no red lights for anyone in the congregation.

    Remember, this all happened in a church of 250 people.

    The alleged misuse of money surfaced only when a new church secretary began getting calls from collection agencies about unpaid church bills. Upon checking the details, up to $100,000  is missing and unaccounted for.

    How could this happen?  How could one pastor be left so unaccountable? 

    It was really very simple:  He had sole access to the bank account. 

    The pastor was immediately fired (although regional denominational officials wanted to put him on administrative leave.  They still pay his rent, utilities, and health insurance).  Why did this happen?  Three real reasons, I think:

    1.  The Ignorance of the Church's Governing Board
    You know... I don't think ignorance is a strong enough word here.  The newspaper report said, "Because [the pastor] had sole control of church accounts, officials didn't know how he was spending the money."  There was NO accountability.  He was paying his own salary; church bills; and doing a little here and there on the side because he didn't think he'd get caught.  Again, according to the news report, the pastor never even turned in any bank statements.  The church's co-treasurer (I assume this was a figurehead position) didn't want to comment much.

    Another example:  The church's co-treasurer said that the church board did agree to pay the pastor's phone bill; but was appalled to find out that the bill was for $1700+ dollars.  According to the board member, he had no idea it had gotten that high.  Huh?!

    So the leadership of this local body totally botched this one.  The lesson learned:  " A future pastor will no longer have total control of church accounts. Instead, checks will be signed by himself, the other co-treasurer and another church official."

    2.  The Calloused Heart of a Pastor
    Sin has a strange way of slowly working it's way in to your life until (if left unchecked) it will control you.  The small $100 payments to hairdressers lead to a $6,000 vacation, followed by a $20,00 wedding.  I'm sure that this pastor would never have guessed a few years ago that he would become so involved in this one sin.  But he did.  He hid it; and continued to feed it.  Before long it was out of control.  Eventually someone had to find out.

    3.  An Apathetic/Unknowing Congregation
    Unfortunately, there was no one close enough to this pastor (whether on the church board or just a friend in the congregation) who knew of his plight.  No one was there to see the cracks in the armour.  No one was a close enough friend to see that he was living beyond his means.  And if they were there, they remained silent.  The co-treasurer of the church said he was suspicious of the pastor's spending a few years ago, but said it isn't easy to suspect a preacher of wrongdoing. No, it's not.  And evidently it was too hard for anyone who had any concerns to approach the subject.

    So, why does this make me so upset?

    Because this happens over and over again.  And it happens in small churches and large churches.  And because I've lived through a situation just like this in a church (probably a couple of them in my lifetime).

    You see, this happens with all kinds of sin... money, sexual sins, integrity issues, etc.  And it happens over and over again.

    I write this so that this doesn't happen to you.

    I write this so that this doesn't happen to your church.

    Set up parameters.  Protect yourself before any problems happen.  Do it today.  I mean, right now.

    If you have total control of the church checkbook; get someone else into the loop.

    If you have total control of the church's internet and computers, install some accountability software.

    If you do counseling with the opposite sex, make sure all protection is taken... open doors, another person in the building, etc.

    That way, you can not be accused of something that you didn't do.  And you'll safeguard yourself against the temptations that grabbed this pastor by the neck.

    Sorry to rant; but this seems so logical to me.  Protect yourself and your church.  Keep your staff members accountable.  And submit to the accountability of your board.  It can save your job, your marriage, and your future.  It's that important.

    I'm sorry, but I just get really tired of reading stories like this from all over the country every week.

    Today's deep thought:  Don't be Stupid.

    FOR DISCUSSION:  Wow... I'd like to hear your comments on any aspect of this article.  Could this have happened in your church?  What kind of things are you unprotected from right now?  What will you do to change it?  Is your board too controling or too lenient?  How do you think this church's/pastor's problems could have been avoided.

    Todd

    We often hear about mega-church pastors that fall from grace.  Sexual affairs; pornography; financial and integrity issues are all major reasons that many influential church leaders have fallen over the years.  Many times we feel think that it’s easier for the large and powerful to fall; but that’s just not true…

    Comments

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    1. Phil Gerbyshak on Sun, September 11, 2005

      Wow, this is truly amazing. 250 people and not one person cared enough about the pastor to find out what was going on. Truly sad.

      And truly sadder that a shepherd turned into a wolf because he wanted more than God was providing for him. It could happen anywhere, but these are some good tips to prevent it from happening at your church.


      Thank you for sharing.

       

    2. bernie dehler on Sun, September 11, 2005

      I’m finding that Christians are too weak to confront others, even though one of the primary use for the Scriptures, according to the Scriptures, is for rebuking and correcting.  This is because of the role-modeling of many of the mega-ministers (both church, internet, and TV) who take vows to never say anything negative about another ministry (I think the biggest reason why is so they won’t have a chance to alientae a donor and his cash).


      2 Timothy 3:16-17  


      16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

      ...Bernie


      http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/247/

       

    3. Todd Rhoades on Sun, September 11, 2005

      “This is because of the role-modeling of many of the mega-ministers (both church, internet, and TV) who take vows to never say anything negative about another ministry (I think the biggest reason why is so they won’t have a chance to alientae a donor and his cash).”


      Come on… don’t blame this on the megapastors.  This one’s not about mega-ministers or mega-churches, Bernie; or donors for that matter.  I tried to make that very clear.  Size doesn’t matter (at least here).

      It happens everywhere.  All sizes. All shapes.  All varieties.  That’s what’s so bothering.


      Todd

       

    4. matt on Sun, September 11, 2005

      You’re a piece of work, Bernie…do you just go looking for things that will piss you off?  You obviously hate growing churches and leaders of those churches…why do you keep coming back to a forum of people who are eager to make as big an impact in the world as possible?  Do you think that you’re going to convert one of us to your perspective of bitterness?  I just don’t get it!  How do you turn this posting about integrity into a B & M session about mega-ministers?

    5. Chris on Sun, September 11, 2005

      The congregants should have cared more about the pastor, and the board members should have been more wise in the establishing of a risk management policy for the church. But this is the pastor’s sin.


      I’ve done a considerable amount of work in the area of risk management for the churches I’ve been a part of. At one point, my long term ministry goal was to work as a consultant to smaller churches in these areas to help them draft checks and balances to protect both the pastor and the congregation from these types of issues.


      Unfortunately, if I worked as a part of that type ministry right now, my family would starve to death. The churches who are most at risk for financial mis-management, sexual misconduct, and various types of liability are the smaller churches. But most small churches are apathetic about putting those types of policies in place because they feel like they would be admitting they can’t trust their church family, and aren’t willing to go there, when in fact this type of policy would ensure beyond a shadow of doubt that the members _could_ be trusted.


      What’s sad in this particular situation is that the sin could have been caught or even avoided altogether by a church who had the foresight to implement some type of guidlines for the financial integrity of the church that would prevent a single person from ever having sole access to the church budget.

      In fact, the pastor should have demanded that type of policy before he ever went on staff. It’s too easy to fall into temptation with that many assets going through your hands. I make it my personal policy to never handle money period. Even if Sister Bertha hands me her offering check that’s made out to the church already, and asks me to put it in the offering plate for her, I won’t take it. It protects me from ever being accused, and protects the church from ever having to wonder.

       

    6. James Farrer on Mon, September 12, 2005

      I think this just highlights the problems with the single pastor mentality. Leadership should definitely be done in team (it’s biblical as well)

    7. Peter Hamm on Mon, September 12, 2005

      “I think this just highlights the problems with the single pastor mentality. Leadership should definitely be done in team (it’s biblical as well)”

      I totally agree, James! However, in my experience, the smaller the congregation, the harder this is to accomplish. Which means that perhaps if we knew more details, we might find out that smaller churches are more susceptible to problems like this than bigger ones! Sure they have fewer funds, but they may be easier to steal.


      And, Bernie, with all due repect… Christians in my experience have no more problem confronting others than the rest of society. How many complain about the music, the preaching, the decorations, et cetera. Once they get an idea in their heads, Christians are very likely to go ahead and complain.

       

    8. Anne on Mon, September 12, 2005

      Most people would be shocked and outraged after reading your article on spiritual wayward pastors who fleece the flock unbeknownst to the flock. My sisterinlaw and her husband belonged to a large church in our city.  She was the pastor’s secretary and her husband was a deacon.  The people loved this pastor, so much that he was put on the throne rather than our Lord.  This pastor would take up collections for ceiling fans to save on electricity.  The money was given, but no ceiling fans were ever installed.  The pastor would have Missionary Month where you were expected to give over and above your tithes and offerings during this month. Funny, the money never made it to the missionaries.  My sisterinlaw would open up letter after letter from puzzled and sometimes frantic missionaries wondering where there money was….The pastor and his close circle of friends would go to Las Vegas on vacation using the Church’s credit card for the whole visit.  They gambled, went to mud wrestling events, and many more things he preached against.  Well you would think the deacons would get up in arms when they found out…..My brotherinlaw had a private meeting with the pastor and told him he was aware of what he was doing and that it was wrong. The pastor laughed in his face and sent him away. My brotherinlaw then went to the board of Deacons at the church, citing all the things that the pastor was doing that was hurting the church and bringing embarrassment on the church.  The deacons stood by the pastor and would not make him step down.  They fired my sisterinlaw and she and her family slinked away from the church, broken and disillusioned.

      This is what happens when “man” is put on the throne, replacing our Lord and Savior. The very people who were the gate keepers looked the other way while the pastor took advantage of the trust given him. Some of the deacons were taking the vacations with the pastor at the church’s expense, so why upset the gravy train? 


      I have been in churches where the men idolize the pastor, who can do no wrong. I believe the “core” of the church had knowledge of what the pastor you spoke of was doing. They chose to look the other way, lest the pastor would lose favor in them. I certainly would be much more afraid of losing God’s favor, wouldn’t you?  But you see this scenario over and over again in churches, big and small. These Hirelings fleecing the flock, and no Shepherd at the helm…I believe that is why we now see so many churches “For Sale”.  The money, spirit, trust, love, Joy, Peace, has been sucked out by a greedy few. They leave a scattered flock, disillusioned, broken, abandoned. But, I blame the church structure for allowing this to happen. That is why I do not attend an organized church structure any more. It just is too painful.  I still fellowship with other Christians and we have Bible Studies and reach out to those hurting in our community. “Wherever two or three are gathered together in my name”....You know the rest… It is a sad situation, but it didn’t happen overnight.  Someone with a spiritual backbone armed with God’s Word could have set that pastor straight and put him out. Real simple….Jesus said, “ if you have done it unto the least of my brethern, you have done it unto me…” God will deal with all the hirelings and those who put them on the throne, but in His time…Not to worry….

       

      Anne

       

    9. Jim Pritchard on Mon, September 12, 2005

      Amen on your thoughts and parameters.

    10. Don Solin on Mon, September 12, 2005

      Sad—very sad!  I know though, first hand about how some churches are apathetic enough to just let the pastor “do his thing” that is right, as long as you keep us fat and sassy, keep the status quo, do what you have done… all is well.  That is a problem.  Second, when a pastor can just coast through his job, doing all kinds of wierdness—wow!  But lets not kid ourselves, I’m just as vulnerable to all that money desire—- its just that, too much of the “good life” is now expected in ministry.

      Well—too bad for all!  Sad, and yet right around the corner for all the apethetic people out there, and for the pastor in it for all the wrong reasons.


      Don

       

    11. Roberto Colatruglio on Mon, September 12, 2005

      Todd,


      I’m in Argentina, and we’re experiencing in many baptist churches a phenomenon called “Renewal”, and part of the system is to increase the number of members of a local church to become a mega-church, then eliminate the control of the congregation - explaining that only certain pastors have the anointing of the H. Spirit to take decisions - and manipulate people emotionally. So the old brothers in the faith leave those churches and only the new in the faith stay there, which never are awared of the congregational government. Thank you for your articles.

    12. friend on Mon, September 12, 2005

      All of us are this guy if we’re not careful! it’s time for people to be more honest about what their temptations are get a few people in the loop tio know it too and help them watch out. It’s true a few simple guidelines and sticking to them will make the difference. Little grey areas get ya…i know i was one of those leaders that blew it with the opposite sex. never thought it would happen, i always thought the worst when it did happen to others.


      but when the dream opportunity came up and the most beautiful woman said she was in love with me, it triggered something inside of me tha was powerful, real and almost irresistable. But God gave me some way of escapes like He promises and I just didn’t take them. Fast forward to 3 years later, it all came out even though i had stopped this short affair and a letter was read after i was fired saying i bvlew it…in front of thousands of people! in front of big influencing people….i didn’t set out years before to be humiliated and to leave town and have to start over…but never took the simple steps of doing the simple things…


      1. never be alone with the opposite sex


      2. Dont have secrets with the opposite sex

      3. check myself and see if there are any women that i look forward to seeing.


      4. Be honest with some men that have struggles too that i can be brutally honest with.


      don’t blab every temptation to your wife, that burdens her and that’s immature of you! We’re horny creatures made to honor God yet we naturally wanna pro create….it’s real and all men have the same isssues…


      by the way mastrubation is feeding your lust and problem and it’s setting you up to fall…it’s the pre cursor to an affair for sure. Ask God every time you feel like giving in to masturbation or to getting involved with someone in the wrong way to give you a way of escape, call a trusted friend right then…run men run…

       

      ......lots at stake!

       

    13. Bud on Mon, September 12, 2005

      These are sad events which are all too common, and they happen with treasurers, deacons, secretaries & a host of others, not just pastors. Spiritually, I believe they begin with the sin of arrogance which is more common than the thefts. When people believe that they are unaccountable, & put their own desires above the church, destruction happens, not necessarily just in financial matters.


      On the practical side, my church lets me spend whatever I want. I have never been questioned, the treasurer just pays the bill or the reimbursement receipt. But, I have no banking authority, that’s my choice. And, every month a detailed financial statement is posted for all to see—that makes everyone in authority accountable, & protects the pastor from responsibility of any errors or thefts.

      In my view, a church that rest all authority in one person is a church with a marginal involvement in the critical affairs of their congregation. It’s an unhealthy structure.

       

    14. Jeff on Mon, September 12, 2005

      People are sinners.  Pastors are people.

    15. chp on Mon, September 12, 2005

      This situation can occur even when the appropriate checks and balances are in place.  As the church treasurer, I became aware that the new pastor was trying to divert funds for his personal use, and asked him to provide documentation.  After he changed his story several times and denied anything inappropriate, I spoke with the leaders of the finance committee and the church board.  In spite of proof and trying to follow proper procedures, I was the one attacked because people didn’t want to believe that their pastor could do anything wrong.  Over time we learned that he had done this at two previous churches and the denomination had simply moved him to another church each time without warning the new church.  This issue eventually ripped the church apart (I no longer worship there), and he was finally moved on to another church with no actual admission of guilt.  I’m sure you’ll be shocked to learn that two years later he was in exactly the same situation at the new church.  He’s finally been put on leave, but I’m sure the denomination is paying his expenses while they try to “reconcile” him once more.  I hold the denominational leaders responsible for continuing to assign a sick individual to church after church.

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