Christ First Forum

When does a pastor tainted by scandal deserve forgiveness?
By John Blake, CNN

(CNN) – “Who am I to judge?” “That’s between him and God.” “God has already forgiven him.”

When a church is hit by a pastor’s scandal, parishioners face a choice: Remain at the house or worship or move on. Those that stay often cite the reasons above - God has already forgiven the pastor so why shouldn’t I?

That’s the kind of thinking that annoyed a Missouri seminary professor so much that he wrote a blistering open letter in the online magazine Religion Dispatches last week attacking its rationale. Lerone A. Marti, an assistant professor of American religious history at Eden Theological Seminary in St. Louis, wrote that church folks who stick by unrepentant pastors have a lot to learn about forgiveness and accountability.

What set Martin off was the latest entry in the Bishop Eddie Long saga. Long, senior pastor of an Atlanta megachurch, was sued last year by four young men who claimed he pressured them into sexual relationships.

Long denied any wrongdoing and vowed to fight the lawsuits. He recently reached a confidential settlement out of the court with the lawyer for the men. Though nothing was ever proven in court, attendance has declined at Long’s New Birth Missionary Baptist Church.

Martin injected himself into the Long story after watching a video that’s been rocketing across the web. In the YouTube video, an Atlanta pastor defends Long and tells New Birth members they should stick by their pastor.

Creflo Dollar, senior pastor of World Changers Church International in suburban Atlanta, told his congregation that people expect forgiveness but don’t extend it to preachers who experience their own “wreck." Dollar, like Long, is an internationally known pastor who preaches the prosperity gospel. Dollar's church claims about 25,000 members.

Dollar said:

Then you become self-righteous and you become judgmental and you’re gonna leave the preacher for his wreck when you done had more wrecks… That preacher’s still anointed to do what he was called to do. He just had a wreck. The blood will take care of his issue just like it will take care of yours.

Dollar, told his congregation that he knows he has visitors from another church whose pastor is his “friend” and “brother in the Lord.” Dollar never utters Long’s name, but he and Long - two African-American pastors of Atlanta megachurches - have long been on good terms.

In the video, Dollar tells new “visitors” to his church that “I don’t want you to join here” and that “you need to go and join where you supposed to be.”

Dollar’s message triggered a response from Martin last week and the editor of Religion Dispatches says the letter is still attracting "huge" interest.

Long’s scandal wasn’t simply a “wreck,” Martin said in his letter. He said it was a “DUI: Driving/Pastoring under the influence of unchecked power and accountability.”

To quote Martin's letter:

Long’s move from adamant public denial to private settlement left no way for onlookers and members alike to obtain an account of what exactly happened. They have been left in the dark as to whether their shepherd indeed has an ongoing problem.

Martin said people aren’t leaving New Birth because they’re withholding forgiveness. He said they’re holding Long to the same level of accountability as other public servants who work with their children, like schoolteachers.

Martin then asked Dollar, who is a husband and father, several questions:

Would you send YOUR kids back to a summer camp where one of the key officials was shrouded in the “wreckage” of sexual abuse? Would you send YOUR kids back to a mentoring program where the leading mentor privately settled his sexual abuse “wreck” out of court …

Would YOU continue to unquestionably financially and otherwise support a non-profit organization where the power structure was clouded in a questionable history of inappropriate sexual contact with children? Or would you seek to place your family’s treasures, time, and talents elsewhere?

Does Martin have a point or not? At one point should congregants stick by pastors shrouded in scandal and when should they move on? Since Long denies any wrongdoing, is he justified in not addressing the scandal?

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We had a situation many years ago at a church where we attended. A trusted (though non-counseling) member of our staff had been caught sexually abusing his daughter. No other children had been involved. He confessed to his sin, truly repented (demonstrably turned away from his sin), and took the necessary steps he needed in counseling in addition to submitting to the civil penalties he deserved. A church-wide meeting was held to discuss what our responses should be Biblically to the situation and this brother who was much loved in the congregation.

I think one statement was made that summed the whole thing up beautifully. We were reminded by the pastor that this brother was repentant and that we needed to restore him to our fellowship when he had finished his civil obligations and when his counselor deemed him able to join our fellowship again without creating a dangerous situation for either himself or any others. The pastor said that certainly this brother could be restored to a ministry somewhere in our church body. But he also said, "You don't put a pedophile in charge of the nursery." The point he was making is that there are many areas to serve God within the church body. There is absolutely no need to place fallen brothers/sisters in a position that is a temptation to them nor a danger to others.

Now about Pastor Long, admittedly I do not know this man except what I have read in the newspapers. But I have not seen any signs of repentence in him. He seems to be guilty because he settled his lawsuit with the young men accusing him of sexual misconduct before any testimonies or evidence of wrongdoing could be presented publicly in court. He needs to stand before his congregation and be honest with them about this accusation. If he demonstrates true repentence, he should certainly be restored to fellowship. But he should not be placed back into the senior pastor position for a very long time, if ever. He now needs to deal with himself honestly before God and his family.

If he demonstrates true repentence, he should certainly be restored to fellowship. But he should not be placed back into the senior pastor position for a very long time, if ever. He now needs to deal with himself honestly before God and his family.