Who in the Church is to Hold the Pastor accountable?

[givengrace]

I go to a contemporary SBC. We don't have Deacons or Sunday school for Adults. We have Elders who as one of there positions is to be accountability for the Pastor. We all in the church are Accountable to God but my Pastor has also written a discipleship program in which both leaders along with all group members keep each other accountable. (it does other things but this is one)

Anyway a friend was looking into a support group at another local SBC for substance abuse. But found out the leader of this group is on our local sex offender registry and it is legal for him to be in a leadership role of any kind at a church. This church is more traditional and had deacons but no elders should they be the ones who should hold this Pastor accountable? I am a friend of one of there deacons but I've not said anything to him. Do I have a right or should I just ignore it?My friend was told by law enforcement that not only this man but the pastor has been warned numerous times that this was not allowed. But it still continues. Is there something that should be done or someone with in the SBC that should be notified?

 

[Marcia]

It seems that someone at that church should know this, but I am stumped as to who should say something or what should be done. It seems the deacons should confront the pastor on this, but since the deacons don't know, I'm not sure what should happen.

I hope someone else has the answer for you!

 

[Salty]

You may want to consider speaking with the DOM

 

[Allan]

You may want to consider speaking with the DOM

Agreed.

If you took it to the deacons or a deacon, there is no real biblical issue there with the exception as to how it is perceived or even handled. It would be better to go to a nuetral outside sourse who is also a person well respected that can address this in a manner of information gathering and whatever is found out can be (at that point) determined what should be appropriet to do.

 

[MorganT]

I go to a contemporary SBC. We don't have Deacons or Sunday school for Adults. We have Elders who as one of there positions is to be accountability for the Pastor. We all in the church are Accountable to God but my Pastor has also written a discipleship program in which both leaders along with all group members keep each other accountable. (it does other things but this is one)

Anyway a friend was looking into a support group at another local SBC for substance abuse. But found out the leader of this group is on our local sex offender registry and it is legal for him to be in a leadership role of any kind at a church. This church is more traditional and had deacons but no elders should they be the ones who should hold this Pastor accountable? I am a friend of one of there deacons but I've not said anything to him. Do I have a right or should I just ignore it?My friend was told by law enforcement that not only this man but the pastor has been warned numerous times that this was not allowed. But it still continues. Is there something that should be done or someone with in the SBC that should be notified?

Is this guy THE LEADER of the group or is he just the one leading the group, makes a big difference. If he has repented and asked God to forgive him, then he can and should still be working were he can be effective especially if he is being supervised. I in no way condone sex offenders, however there whole life should not be centered around something that may have happened 30 yrs in the past. I think more information is needed to make a good sound judgement on this, I still have to many questions???

 

[SaggyWoman]

Maybe you should report it to the police, because the man is violating public law about leading in the church. Let the police handle it.

 

[Pastor Larry]

But found out the leader of this group is on our local sex offender registry and it is legal for him to be in a leadership role of any kind at a church.

I assume you mean "illegal" but I wonder what provisions of any state law would mandate that. Usually, the stipulation with sex offenders is that they can't be around children. I can't imagine a law that dictates a person's role in a church. Typically government has stayed out of church matters, as they should.

In any respect, the issue is a local church matter. Talk to your deacon friend if you wish, and then let them handle it. You have no standing in the church unless you are a member.

As to the question, everyone in the church should hold everyone else accountable.

 

[Jim1999]

If a person is spiritual at all, they will know who is accountable for their actions or inactions.

Politically, it is the Deacons Board in my association's establishment, who will keep the pastor up front and honest. Sharing time with other pastors also helps.

I always found a Godly man in my congregation with whom to share things, including prayer and church concerns........without naming names, of course.

Cheers,

Jim

 

[givengrace]

Is this guy THE LEADER of the group or is he just the one leading the group, makes a big difference. If he has repented and asked God to forgive him, then he can and should still be working were he can be effective especially if he is being supervised. I in no way condone sex offenders, however there whole life should not be centered around something that may have happened 30 yrs in the past. I think more information is needed to make a good sound judgement on this, I still have to many questions???

"IT" happened Oct. 2007 and "IT" was him thinking he was talking to a 14 year old but it was a Cop. And it is a LAW that he not be in the postion that he is in at this church and he has been told as well as the Pastor that he can not do it but it still continus. As well as him being involved with children activities. He was in the chior and was told this wasn't all right either and they have made him stop this maybe because the church service is on TV and you could see him/ I don't know. But you'd think if he wasn't allowed to sing he shouldn't be able to lead a support group. Where he is given personal information.

 

[givengrace]

Maybe you should report it to the police, because the man is violating public law about leading in the church. Let the police handle it.

They alrady know and and have said they were halling him in. We'll see IF it works. But that is only the guy NOT the Pastor who continus to allow it.

 

[givengrace]

I assume you mean "illegal" but I wonder what provisions of any state law would mandate that. Usually, the stipulation with sex offenders is that they can't be around children. I can't imagine a law that dictates a person's role in a church. Typically government has stayed out of church matters, as they should.

In any respect, the issue is a local church matter. Talk to your deacon friend if you wish, and then let them handle it. You have no standing in the church unless you are a member.

As to the question, everyone in the church should hold everyone else accountable.

It is Illegal as told by the police who have said they have told him and this pastor.

 

[gb93433]

My friend was told by law enforcement that not only this man but the pastor has been warned numerous times that this was not allowed. But it still continues. Is there something that should be done or someone with in the SBC that should be notified?

Why not allowed? A friend of mine had two men nominated as deacons who were involved in a homosexual relationship. Imagine that?

If the warnings are not heeded I would wonder why.

 

[Pastor Larry]

It is Illegal as told by the police who have said they have told him and this pastor.

As told to you as told to somebody else ... That might not be trustworthy. I don't know, but it would probably be better to actually find out the facts, and the BB is probably not the best place to do that.

In short, tell your deacon friend your concerns, and then go and make disciples.

 

[Salamander]

Depending on why he is on the sex-offenders list is whether he should pursue having legal action taken to get his name off of it. Otherwise this man is subject to police action for being in an area where children are present. Of course there are local ordinances dictating how many other adults need to be present that would intercede on the legalities of the situation. Officials are accountable to local ordinances as well.

If the pastor knows of his being on the "list", he should make the man accountable to the local authorities and deny him serving in a position.

The danger of letting the police in on it is what we're facing as the government is trying to take over the church.

This church should have already taken appropiate action to prevent police intervention within its walls.

 

[Aaron]

Here's what I would do. I would leave the church and make a public statement as to the reasons. And that would be that.

 

[SaggyWoman]

The sad thing is the church can be in for it legally if they knowingly allow such things to happen.

 

[gb93433]

I would wonder why the sex offender is involved in such a way that he is, considering that he knows he is violating the law. That seems strange especially considering the public outcry and defamation it might bring on the church and himself.

 

[MB]

I go to a contemporary SBC. We don't have Deacons or Sunday school for Adults. We have Elders who as one of there positions is to be accountability for the Pastor. We all in the church are Accountable to God but my Pastor has also written a discipleship program in which both leaders along with all group members keep each other accountable. (it does other things but this is one)

Anyway a friend was looking into a support group at another local SBC for substance abuse. But found out the leader of this group is on our local sex offender registry and it is legal for him to be in a leadership role of any kind at a church. This church is more traditional and had deacons but no elders should they be the ones who should hold this Pastor accountable? I am a friend of one of there deacons but I've not said anything to him. Do I have a right or should I just ignore it?My friend was told by law enforcement that not only this man but the pastor has been warned numerous times that this was not allowed. But it still continues. Is there something that should be done or someone with in the SBC that should be notified?

It's membership that selects a pastor and it's membership that should over see him.
MB

 

[ray Marshall]

It seems that someone at that church should know this, but I am stumped as to who should say something or what should be done. It seems the deacons should confront the pastor on this, but since the deacons don't know, I'm not sure what should happen.

I hope someone else has the answer for you!

I was always under the understanding of the whole church body was more or less responsable for their own church's business with the members making the request and then give their Deacons charge to talk or take it up with the Pastor. It may depend upon what it is that needs ruling attention. It can/could cause a split in the church and that for one thing is what can happen to a large growing church with a large membership. Just an opinion, though.

 

[Pastor Larry]

I would wonder why the sex offender is involved in such a way that he is, considering that he knows he is violating the law. That seems strange especially considering the public outcry and defamation it might bring on the church and himself.

He might not be involved in something illegal and he might not know it. Remember, it is declared illegal by someone with second or thirdhand information. I think we need a more solid source before we draw a conclusion on this.