The "Previous Pastor" won't leave..

You are God's man 'on the scene'. Follow His leadership. Praying for you!

 

This is precisely why the church should be led by multiple, equal-authority elders; instead of a sole-authority pastor. No-one has the courage to do what is right. The men of the church should have removed him from fellowship & ended his pension before you ever arrived. He is living in willful, open sin & the church is allowing it. His actions, according to your word, has been ungodly & sinful. Would you allow any other person to teach there while living in such clear sin? I doubt it. It is this respect of persons that is your greatest enemy in this situation.

 

Mojo, these are my thoughts as a pastor's wife.

First, you've already said you wanted this guy gone before you would come. If you turn around and let him stay a while in order to "befriend" him or get to know his viewpoint better, you're already sending a mixed signal to the church. If I were a member there, I would expect you to follow through with removing him now that you've taken the position. You've already drawn a line in the sand, so to speak, and they are watching to see if you back down. If you do, you may never gain their respect and they will continue to follow the former pastor, who they look to as the stronger leader.

Second, my dh and I have learned the hard way that "letting the pastor take care of it" really means the other men are too wimpy to take a stand, and when the pastor DOES take a stand, they will back off and let him take all the heat alone. It's quite possible the other pastors who have left, have done so because they felt they had no support from the elders/other men.

Third, the longer you wait and let this drag on, the harder it will get. This former pastor has already tried to prevent you from coming. He will continue to work behind the scenes to undermine you in a tug-of-war for control. The sooner you remove him, the quicker I believe the healing will be for all parties. Letting this fester until he really shows himself is not going to do any of you any good.

I'm just a pastor's wife and that's just my $.02.

 

Sounds to me that there are enough people in the church that want to take care of this, of course, we get more info as this story evolves and becomes more elusive just as one provides some advice.

I think it's high time the church showed this fellow love. Tough love, as in church discipline is in order.

He knows he's in the wrong, so do the members. How long did Paul tarry about an adulterous member in Corinth?

- Peace

 

I learned the hard way, that even if the former pastor does not get involved, the people will. It is wise for former pastors to leave the church, unless invited back by the new pastor for special occasions.

Cheers,

Jim

 

Jim, I agree. Why do you think some former pastors don't see this wisdom? Why do they want to stick around? Any insights?

 

In my opinion, some want to hang in there so their former wisdom continues to control events.

I attended my local Anglican Church. I never pastored there, but did conduct a weekly Bible study and preached often on a Sunday. When they got a new pastor, fresh out of seminary, sat in a back pew quietly.

The young lad and I talked one day over a cup of coffee, and that is when he opened up to me what some people would say about his teaching and compared that to what I had or would say. In plain English, my very presence hindered his ministry. I can't leave town; this is my home. I did stop taking funerals and weddings, and stopped attending services for awhile. At the Corner Store, coffee house, I answered questions, but always added, what does "your" pastor say? He appreciated it and became more confident in himself. Now I can sit in the back pew and not be a problem.

Cheers,

Jim

 

Well - left with only what you posted - I don't see a big issue, so long as he is not still trying to be the shepherd of the flock while retired.

But you indicate that there is "more"...so I wonder what that is.

I am blessed with a couple of retired/former pastors in the church I currently pastor, although none of them pastored this particular church. Still keeps me on my toes!

 

OK - I'm late to this dance and missed the "rest of the story" post.

OK - so what does God's Word say about the situation this former pastor is living in? If not legally married, then he is living with a woman out of wedlock.

Their given reason for not getting "legitimately married" is so his wife can continue to collect alimony? Has this former pastor been married before? What are those circumstances (widower/divorced/etc.)?

It sounds to me like he wants to continue to be a "leader" in the congregation, without the responsibility to live as a Christian example/witness, and without the title. Not a good situation.

 

I've stayed off this cause I'm not a pastor, but,

It seems the question comes down to: Is someone married in the eyes of God even if they aren't married in the eyes of the law?

We've had discussions on this subject in the past here on the BB. You could prob search the archives. (you because I can never get the search here to work for me) Or perhaps you could start a new thread just for opinions on that particular subject.

 

My Friends Vinny and Louie Can Help...

....I'll send them over as soon as you give me his name and address. They solve problems we can't solve; and I'm confident they can be of help with this pastor. :smilewinkgrin:

Actually, my first church had a similar situation, and the guy was nothing but a problem every time I turned around. He was forever calling special meetings to have the board talk to me about my sermon topics. He was the person people would call first when it came to sick folks needing a pastor visit, then he'd call me and tell me to drop what I was doing and get to the persons side.

He was the reason I left after one year. He was a micro manager before the word was even an acceptable term. :laugh:

I needed some breathing space, and felt so much better to be free of his constantly looking over my shoulders.

Too bad Vinny and Louie didn't really exist. I just may have called them up! :laugh:

 

David,
These are the reasons that I also would feel something had to be done.

I wonder how the Pastor Imeritus would feel about a young couple in the church living together without officially being married...would he claim their "feeling of being married" legit? I am just curious.

 

Not gonna happen unless God strikes him with an illness or death, and even if that happens, you still may have to deal with the "wife" wanting his pension!

 

Unfortunately, as a corporation, the church's board minutes are legally binding.