When a pastor falls into sin and does something like break a marriage covenant, the path to redemption and restoration can be complex. Pastors, just like the rest of us, do still need to provide for their families, even after a very public fall from grace.
Perhaps only a pastor or a pastor’s wife will truly understand how difficult it is to be a pastor. Pastors have a responsibility like no other. Pastors are often expected to operate with the leadership of a CEO, the insights of a prophet and the sensitivity of a nurse. We also know that leaders are judged more strictly (James 3:1).
The life of a Christian pastor is on display for all to see. We expect them to always have their theology correctly aligned with our own understanding of biblical truth. As “lay-people” we are often happy to burden the responsibility of teaching, evangelism, pastoral care, theology and weekly inspiration to the pastor who’s “job it is” to do all these things. Pastor’s give us the freedom to focus on our own issues, our careers and hobbies and we can leave the heavy theological lifting and all the holy stuff to the paid clergy.
A pastor’s inner thoughts are often documented, recorded, podcast, scrutinised applauded or taken out of context and judged on social media. Who would want to take on such a massive responsibility? It reminds me of a line in a stand-up comedy segment by Brian Regan. He said something along the lines of, “Who would want to be the president!?… Can you image being woken up every morning by someone whispering in your ear “problems… problems… problems”.
The responsibility of being a pastor only escalates with the increase of your ministry’s impact. The bigger your ministry, the bigger the responsibility, the bigger the scrutiny and the bigger the temptation of ego and fame. We all have ups and downs in life. I know I go through times when I feel less inspired to pray, less inspired to seek intimacy with God and it mostly goes unnoticed by those around me because we are all busy working and I’m not forced to share my inner thoughts from a stage or pulpit on a weekly basis.
From a spiritual warfare perspective, the greater your influence and impact, the greater the target on your back becomes. This is why we MUST pray for pastors. We must pray for our leaders, our pastors, elders, deacons, teachers, and ministry leaders.
Often we might feel so encouraged, uplifted and inspired by the diligence of our spiritual leaders and pastors that we hold them up on a holy pedestal. We start to think that they are uniquely gifted with a supernatural power of abstinence, holiness and self-control. They are the mighty ones who get up early to study and spend time with God, they are the ones who fast and pray and share their faith with strangers. After all, it’s their calling. This is why it is particularly upsetting and confronting when one of our fathers in the faith has a public moral failing. We might feel like we have suddenly lost someone that we admire and look up to. It can rock our world and even our faith. If it does really rock your faith, then you might need to reflect and consider the possibility that you might have more faith invested in a man than you do in God.
Arguably, the most confronting cause of any pastor’s downfall would have to be sexual sin. I could list a bunch of names of high-profile pastors and ministry leaders from all over the world who have fallen due to marital unfaithfulness and sexual sin. It is the one sin that once revealed, must be addressed. If the sin is greed or pride, it can always be argued or dismissed (not rightly) or disbelieved, because generally they are sins that are less clearly defined. I mean we all want some level of prosperity and success and most of us would like to be just a little or a lot wealthier. We all care what those around us think of us, we want to have a good reputation and being admired is well deserved if we are admirable, surely?
The problem with sexual sin, and in particular, infidelity, is that it is undeniably a clear violation of a covenant, a marriage vow. Perhaps I am wrong, but I like to believe that most church-going believers actually do uphold their marriage vows for the entire duration of their marriage. I’m referring to the physical act of fidelity – let’s not even address the concept of virtual infidelity, lust and motives of the heart right now!
All this being said, what are the career options for a “fallen pastor”?
And what if he has published books and hundreds of sermons? Do they need to be “taken off the shelf”?
Every pastor who has been humbled by his own carnal sins or a sex scandal would no doubt take a lot of comfort in the story of King David. David committed adultery and even murdered the husband of his love interest! After King David’s sin was exposed by the prophet Nathan, David repented and God forgave him. Did God banish David from the palace and have all of his writings destroyed? No. God continued to allow David to retain his leadership position over Israel and God did not scrap David’s previous writings. Not only were David’s existing Psalms canonised in scripture, but David continued to write Spirit-inspired writings that were also canonised in scripture! Not only did God approve of David’s continued leadership and authorship of Scripture, but so has the modern Christian Church.
Before exploring the career options for a fallen pastor or ministry leader, let’s consider two important questions:
- Has the pastor taken responsibility for his sin (as opposed to hiding, denying & defending)?
- Has he repented?
If the answer to these 2 questions is yes, then by the sacrifice of Jesus and the grace of God, he has been instantly reinstated in right-standing with God. However, whilst his salvation and God’s forgiveness may be very secure, repentance does not instantly reinstate his reputation or his access to public ministry and leadership. It’s more complex than that!
Potential career options for a repentant Christian pastor seeking to assess career options:
After a large public ministry fall involving infidelity, it would be wise to step down from ministry for a time, to work on restoring a marriage if possible and to work on seeking God’s direction as you seek out a path forward. Your access to finances might dictate how much time you can take off and you may need to take on a menial tasks role for a time, something that will allow you to still bring in an income, but which will allow you the time to reflect and recalibrate with God and your family, without the high pressure of a demanding career.
There are countless career options for an ex-pastor who is looking to find a new career path and it depends on many factors, like their interests, passions, location, physical ability, physical and mental health and fitness levels and other skills that they might have. Below are just a few and there also some more in the above linked page.
1. Counselling and Mentorship:
After experiencing a personal crisis, a repentant Christian pastor might be able to find fulfilment in counselling and mentorship roles. Drawing from their own experiences of brokenness and restoration, they can offer guidance, support, and encouragement to others who are grappling with challenges. By sharing their journey of repentance and renewal, they can help others navigate the path to healing and restoration.
2. Ministry of Reconciliation:
A repentant Christian pastor who has experienced the pain of brokenness in their own life can find purpose in a ministry of reconciliation. This may involve facilitating reconciliation processes within congregations, families, or communities that have been fractured by sin, betrayal and conflict. By embodying the principles of forgiveness, restoration, and grace, they can serve as a catalyst for healing and unity among those who have been divided.
3. Outreach and Missions Work:
Engaging in outreach and missions work can provide a an ex-pastor with a renewed sense of purpose and mission. By serving marginalised communities, sharing the gospel and a message of redemption and hope, and demonstrating God’s love through tangible acts of compassion, they can make a meaningful impact on the lives of others. This work allows them to channel their experiences of brokenness into a source of strength and empathy for those in need.
4. Teacher or Lecturer:
At first glance, it might sound ironic that a fallen pastor should try to lecture anyone, but a repentant pastor may have a depth of experience, knowledge and learning about theology that they can share with students at a theological seminary or a university. The honest humility of a university professor who can preach theological truths laced with the gritty 1st-hand experience of receiving God’s grace and restoration could speak volumes about compassion, authenticity and God’s redemptive power.
5. Restored Pastoral Ministry:
While the road to restoration may be challenging, some repentant Christian pastors may feel called to return to pastoral ministry after a period of reflection, counselling, and accountability. By seeking reconciliation with those they have hurt, undergoing a process of restoration and healing, and demonstrating a renewed commitment to integrity and transparency, they can potentially resume their pastoral duties with humility and grace. This journey of restoration can serve as a powerful testimony to God’s redemptive work in their life.
6. Business and Philanthropy:
There are exceptions to the rule, but generally, to become a pastor, you need to have demonstrated an ability to study diligently, and you also need to be able to write and speak a persuasive case. These skills can be helpful in a number of careers and industries, although theological degrees and ministry experience are not valued by many employers. A pastor who has had a very public ministry and fall from grace will likely still have many supporters who sympathise and want to provide a second chance to, in any number of industries. Career options here can come down to who you know and what opportunities arise. An ex-pastor who is seeking to forge a new career in business might find great joy in having an opportunity to work in the marketplace, building a successful business and having an opportunity to bless other ministries financially.
7. Return to Ministry and Leadership:
Many Christians are shocked to learn that a pastor has sinned sexually and will struggle to ever trust that pastor again and will refuse to promote them to any leadership role again. But is that Biblical? Is that “forgive as you have been forgiven”? Would it have been more admirable for King David to shrink off into shame and obscurity after his sin was revealed, forfeiting his kingship over Israel and never again writing scripture? How many Psalms would we have missed out on? Consider Psalm 51 and how many people have been blessed by David’s public prayer of repentance. Perhaps you have been blessed. The prayer that David cried from his heart and documented in scripture has helped countless Christians to see what heartfelt, biblical repentance looks like. Consider how we have gained a better understanding of God’s heart and grace by the forgiveness and blessings that God still bestowed upon David and his descendants (including Jesus the Messiah!).
There is also a passage in 1 Timothy chapter 3 that needs to be considered: “Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.” (1 Timothy 3:1-7). And that passage might result in the writing of a whole other article for another day!
What Does this all Mean?
We know that bad things happen in life and sometimes they are a direct result of our own poor choices. Sometimes our sin and foolish actions can result in very real and painful consequences here on earth. Sometimes the people that we hurt the most are the ones we love. But the undeniable reality of God’s grace and nature is that He offers every repentant sinner forgiveness. We know that “in all things God works for good with those who love him, those whom he has called according to his purpose” (Rom 8:28).
The application of that verse in a situation like this would be that God in his mercy and love still uses a bad thing like infidelity to eventually bring about some good outcomes, even in the life and ministry of a repentant pastor or ministry leader. As we have seen with the recorded life of King David, it is possible for a leader (pastor or ministry leader) to emerge from their season of brokenness as a beacon of hope and healing, demonstrating God’s transformative power to restore and renew all who seek His grace. Pray for your pastors and leaders. Pray for those who are emerging, those who are standing and those who have fallen and need restoration and forgiveness.
There is also a passage in 1 Timothy chapter 3 that needs to be considered:
“Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.” (1 Timothy 3:1-7). And that passage might result in the writing of a whole other article for another day!
What Does this all Mean?
We know that bad things happen in life and sometimes they are a direct result of our own poor choices. Sometimes our sin and foolish actions can result in very real and painful consequences here on earth. Sometimes the people that we hurt the most are the ones we love. But the undeniable reality of God’s grace and nature is that He offers every repentant sinner forgiveness. We know that “in all things God works for good with those who love him, those whom he has called according to his purpose” (Rom 8:28).
The application of that verse in a situation like this would be that God in his mercy and love still uses a bad thing like infidelity to eventually bring about some good outcomes, even in the life and ministry of a repentant pastor or ministry leader. As we have seen with the recorded life of King David, it is possible for a leader (pastor or ministry leader) to emerge from their season of brokenness as a beacon of hope and healing, demonstrating God’s transformative power to restore and renew all who seek His grace. Pray for your pastors and leaders. Pray for those who are emerging, those who are standing and those who have fallen and need restoration and forgiveness.
