We have all heard the stories - a pastor has an affair, abuses a child, is caught with pornography or mishandles money. Removed from ministry, they experience shame, guilt, anger, hurt. What is termed discipline is usually punishment. Few are restored to ministry (some should not be) and most are forgotten. They and their families are then isolated from the church community. They are often left to mend on their own.
Their “fall from leadership” was due to choices they made and there are and should be consequences to those actions.
Today I talked with three men who have been removed from ministry. There has been no moral failure; no lack of performance and not character flaw that would merit dismissal. In two cases, the issue was primarily that they were a threat to someone in power over them. The third had to do with a difference in philosophy of ministry.
I have seen dismisals in the secular world handled better. These men have been wounded deeply.
The first group fell because of their own decisions. The second group are down because of “friendly fire.” It was the church or another leader in the church that wounded them.
As a child I loved to watch the old westerns - the “oaters” - or horse operas as some called them. Battles between cowboys and Indians, marshalls and bandits were exciting. The Indians were always trying to get general and the cavalry tried to get the chief. Knock out the leadership and the battle is won.
I believe there is an enemy fighting against the church. He is going after the leaders. Some he tempts to moral failure. Others he wounds through the church. For some the wounds are so deep they have no desire to be in the church again - they still want to serve God but not in the church.
I pray the church will be a place of healing for fallen leaders and that even those who have been wounded will find a church that is safe.
