Is a biblically divorced and remarried man qualified to be a pastor?

[Edward]

I can never remember the difference between the BGCT and the SBT.

Baptist General Convention of Texas are the old, established, mainliners. Big tent folks, to use political terminology. Supportive of Baylor as it is now. But they have limits, and I think they parted ways with the homosexual friendly church in Fort Worth.

Southern Baptists of Texas are newer, smaller, and more in line with the current SBC. Certainly more conservative.

And the Cooperatives are the liberals.

Of course, all of this being voluntary, a church can affiliate with more than one of the above.

 

[Notthemama1984]

I asked my pastor once who we were affiliated with. His response was, "Whoever can provide pulpit supply while I am on vacation."

The SBT split because of Baylor correct?

 

[Edward]

The SBT split because of Baylor correct?

One of the reasons, but not the primary one. My (dim) recollection was that it had to do with the conservative shift of the SBC and the adoption of the Baptist Faith and Message. Those that established SBT felt that they were more in line with the new direction of the SBC; the BGCT was more aligned with the old polity. Texas and North Carolina were among the more broad minded state conventions, and the SBTers thought that they were too tolerant. (BGCT was slow to move on Broadway, as I recall). To some extent, Baylor (and the on campus dance!!) was a symptom, not the problem.


Edit:

It looks like the SBT was chartered a couple of years before the Faith and Message was adopted, so my timeline was a little off, but I still think there was some relationship there.

 

[baron]

Not even close to accurate.
Ever hear of Charles Stanley (First Baptist Church, Atlanta, GA?)

You are right since each Baptist church is independent they can do what ever they want.

Yes I have heard of Charles Stanley. If my memory is right he was divorced around 2000-1. He served two terms as the president of the SBC in the 1980. I also think he even said if he was to divorce that he would step down as pastor of his church. I could be wrong my memory fails me at times. Also I think even his son said he should step down after his divorce. But as big name preacher's go and the money they bring in people will over look this. If you are not a big name preacher bringing in a lot of money well your in a diffrent boat. I have heard preachers make statements about divorce and when it happens they sure change their mind. As I stated I know godly divorced men who moved down south, they can't even teach Sunday school in SBC churches. Maybe they are not trying hard enough.

 

[Osage Bluestem]

The SBT split because of Baylor correct?

One of the reasons, but not the primary one. My (dim) recollection was that it had to do with the conservative shift of the SBC and the adoption of the Baptist Faith and Message. Those that established SBT felt that they were more in line with the new direction of the SBC; the BGCT was more aligned with the old polity. Texas and North Carolina were among the more broad minded state conventions, and the SBTers thought that they were too tolerant. (BGCT was slow to move on Broadway, as I recall). To some extent, Baylor (and the on campus dance!!) was a symptom, not the problem.

I will always be conservative. I will always believe in biblical inerrancy. That is a hill to die on for me. So, I will only be a member of a local church that shares those views. I will only support a denominaton that supports those views as well. I am vehemently opposed to liberalism in the church. I hate it. I think it's the work of the devil.

 

[Splinters]

You are absolutely right Tim. However, I tried to make it clear in my post that I was addressing Jesus' words found in Matthew 5:32; the whole council of God was not in view.

Right ... but you can't just rip them out of context either; everything that Christ said, even that was in light of what had been revealed. It is all His Word, so in what He said, the whole counsel of God would be in view.


...and now back to just

I agree 100%. Where exactly did I rip anything out of context? I was adjuring those who try and remove (ie "rip them out of context") a verse from the trajectory of the full counsel of God to put it back. Nowhere did I claim that this single verse proves or disproves anything. I made no claims regarding its didactic whatsoever. Rather, I was saying that you cannot take this single verse and exegete a teaching that qualifies divorce based on adultery.

Why do I feel like I'm having to defend myself against people who I agree with?

 

[James Swan]

This doesn't answer your question, but recently I've tried to discern what my own denomination holds on the issue of divorce and remarriage. I belong to the URC. I was instructed by a fairly well known URC person that if I wanted to understand the URC on divorce and remarriage, I needed to study the history of the CRC, which I then did:

Divorce and Remarriage in the United Reformed Church?

Each Reformed denomination has it's own baggage on this issue. It's best to sort through where your particular church / denomination has been and where they are now. With the URC, there's still an underlying CRC mindset operating, so even though the URC doesn't have a stated position, they still sort of have one based on the older CRC one.

Debating the Biblical materials concerning divorce & remarriage cross-denominationally may be interesting, but if I were you, I'd stick to discerning what your particular church / denomination holds on the issue, and use this to explore your possible call.

 

[he beholds]

A related question:
What would happen to an already-pastor who was cheated on and then divorced by his wife? Would most churches give him the boot?

 

[Osage Bluestem]

A related question:
What would happen to an already-pastor who was cheated on and then divorced by his wife? Would most churches give him the boot?

I believe a good number of them would indeed give him the boot. I think that it causes scandal in many churches even though the man is biblically divorced. So it is a difficult issue. Divorce isn't good. God hates it. So many congregations do not want a man leading them who has been exposed to it. Some believe that divorce regardless of reason is a sign from God that a man isn't qualified. That is why I'm trying to hash out that issue first before I advance in discerning a call. If that position is indeed true then I have no business trying to discern a call. If it isn't true and is just man made legalism then I will advance and move into another area of discernement.

I emailed my pastor he didn't respond but I spoke with him on Wednesday and he said to set up an appointment and he will speak with me about it. I called the church office and the lady that sets up his appointments was sick so I left a message. No one has called back yet. If I don't hear anything by this afternoon I'll try to call back. I'd like to meet with him soon because this is on my mind. He's very busy because our church is very large.

 

[Notthemama1984]

I emailed my pastor he didn't respond but I spoke with him on Wednesday and he said to set up an appointment and he will speak with me about it. I called the church office and the lady that sets up his appointments was sick so I left a message. No one has called back yet. If I don't hear anything by this afternoon I'll try to call back. I'd like to meet with him soon because this is on my mind. He's very busy because our church is very large.

This is just me, but even if you are called you will not be starting seminary next week or getting ordained in a month or anything else right away. I would take some time and pray about everything. If you can't get in to see your pastor for a few weeks, that is God providing more time for you to pray about everything prior to talking to your pastor.

 

[Edward]

So, I will only be a member of a local church that shares those views.

Your church seems a bit shy about its affiliations. I couldn't seem to locate that info on their website. They are shown on the conservative Southern Baptists of Texas Convention website. I couldn't get the directory on the BGCT site to work, so I don't know if they are dual.

---------- Post added at 07:10 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:08 PM ----------

What would happen to an already-pastor who was cheated on and then divorced by his wife? Would most churches give him the boot?

I would think most would. But I know of one who fits that category who retained his position and was later called to a significant pulpit in the PCA.

 

[James Swan]

However, he stressed I would need to graduate from seminary first and that would be expensive. I don't have a lot of money. If I went to seminary I would have to go at night and find a way to pay for it because I have a wife and three kids. She stays home to nurture the children and I am the provider. In my job I am in charge of a technical department for a security products manufacturer. My title is solutions engineer.

This is just to encourage you: I'm currently taking classes via a well-respected Reformed Seminary via distance, and they do not have a distance program. This came about after much prayer and discussion with my Pastor and the Seminary.

There are seminaries that have good distance programs in place, like RTS. Of course, the ideal is to attend seminary in person, but at least beginning via distance could get you started. You could always try one class, and see how it goes with your other responsibilites.

 

[Notthemama1984]

Some believe that divorce regardless of reason is a sign from God that a man isn't qualified.

Some people think that if you have not spoken in tongues, you are not qualified.

I would not worry about what certain churches do or do not think. I would worry more about what God's calling is.

 

[Damon Rambo]

Brother, I see that you are not only Baptist, but SBC. I must warn you that a large number of churches would consider you disqualified. Some even say that I am disqualified, because my wife is divorced (not only did the man cheat on her, this 25 year old man, who married her when she was 16, used to beat her severely), even though I never have been.

So just be ready for some very pointed (and often very RUDE) questions!

 

[KMK]

Bill and David, are you sure you want to post this kind of info on a public forum? If so, PM me and I will 'undelete'.

 

[Osage Bluestem]

Damon, Bill and David, are you sure you want to post this kind of info on a public forum? If so, PM me and I will 'undelete'.

How about we just ask this question.

Is a biblically divorced man who is married to a biblically divorced woman disqualified from serving in the pastorate based on that situation?

 

[Esther W.]

It is apparent to me that the WCF teaches that a man could seek the pulpit if he is heavenly called. Since, unrepentant adultery, is equal to the offending person being dead thus restoring the offended party to that of a widower?

Chapter 24:5 of the WCF

5. Adultery or fornication, committed after a contract, being detected before marriage, giveth just occasion to the innocent party to dissolve that contract.a In the case of adultery after marriage, it is lawful for the innocent party to sue out a divorce,b and after the divorce to marry another, as if the offending party were dead.c

a. Mat 1:18-20. • b. Mat 5:31-32. • c. Mat 19:9; Rom 7:2-3.