Jan
11
2013

Church Hires Sex Offender as Pastor

An article by Matt Comments

Not entirely sure about how I feel on this one. A Texas church recently hired a new pastor, a registered sex offender. While part of me is all for extending grace to a man whose life has changed, there is a pragmatic part of me that wonders if this is a wise idea. In this edition of Ministry Briefing Todd and I share our thoughts… and would love to hear yours:

About the Author: Matt Steen

Over the last fifteen years I have been a Church Planter, Youth Pastor, Executive Pastor, and now I serve as a Church Concierge with churchsimple.net. I love Jesus, my wife, the Redskins and Capitals and am currently living on Long Island striving to properly pronounce the word G'island.

Daniel Rohats

While agree about forgiveness, second chances, and the like. Sex Offenders (of all makes and models) are VERY difficult to reform. Someone in that position has way to much influence IMHO. I would demand that he have 2 people with him at all times during any private meetings with anyone. There is also the “appearance of evil” in a case like this. I remember Pastor Stanley’s divorce in similar circumstances, and I would have sided with the “he needs to resign” camp on that one for the same reason. Whatever someone’s opinion is on this I would hope that we could all agree that this person should never be left alone with another individual.