Pastors and misconduct in the EMC: how do we respond? By Layton Friesen
F
or God so loved his church that he gave some to be pastors. A Spirit-filled pastor is surely one of God’s most potent gifts in leading us to a deeper walk with Jesus. Following the example of a good pastor is a key path to conversion and becoming like Jesus according to 1 Timothy 4:12–16.
Could this happen to anyone?
Facing the hard questions
How do we continue to enthusiastically call, support and follow the shepherds God gives us, while being wise as serpents to deal with hirelings who show themselves unworthy of the office? It takes a whole spiritual culture in our conference that raises, trains, holds accountable and supports pastors. Pastors need schooling, healthy relationships, ample financial support and, yes, church discipline, to stay healthy. It takes a village to raise a healthy pastor. But even a healthy village needs to know what to do when one of its own pastors is accused of breaking trust and abusing someone.
JAIME LOEWEN
But a depressing recurrence in church news recently has been the report of some pastor somewhere accused of abuse or misuse of power. No church or denomination seems exempt. The bewildered Christian begins to wonder, could this really happen to anyone? To my pastor? What Christian leader who inspired me to follow Jesus 20 years ago will be in the newspaper tomorrow? These are hard questions. The EMC has been led for two centuries by a host of godly, humble
pastors whose service was and continues to be above reproach. But we have also had pastors who were not trustworthy and who took advantage of people under their care.
The Ministerial meeting on June 10, 2022, held times of worship, learning and discussion.
16 The Messenger • July/August 2022
