The hope for every fallen leader is full restoration. A restoration plan is essentially a written contract that establishes a clear process for a pastor to follow with the desire that they are restored to Christ, through Godly confession and repentance, to their spouse and family, to their church, and *possibly* to ministry.
It is important to note that one of the biggest errors we see in this arena is the failure to distinguish between restoration to VOCATIONAL ministry and restoration to Christ.
Restoration to Christ is always possible where there is Godly sorrow and repentance. Restoration to a pastoral position (employment position) may not be possible, even where Godly sorrow and repentance exist. So, how does a board know when a pastor is eligible for restoration to a pastoral position?
As with all misconduct issues, we must let legal factors drive the conversation. The board is often very familiar with the fallen leader. Our natural inclinations towards this leader, whether positive or negative, must be put to the side, and a proper process must take place. This is where it is important to bring legal counsel into the conversation. Inviting legal counsel into the restoration process protects the board, the church, and the fallen leader as they ensure that a complaint process takes place.
When the misconduct that has occurred is illegal, it is not up to the board to determine innocence or guilt. The members of the board may be mandatory reporters and MUST report all illegal activity to the state. It is important to note that there is no such thing as “affairs” between clergy & counselees in Texas, and many states have laws in place to protect congregants caught in complicated power dynamics.
Where a leader fails to live up to a moral standard but has not committed a crime, the board must determine if real repentance has taken place in order to be restored.
Repentance is a heart posture, but there are clear indicators of where someone is in the repentance process.
Confession: Is the fallen leader showing sincere regret and an acknowledgment of the magnitude of the sin and why it was wrong?
Change of attitude and behavior: Has there been a shift from blaming others to a willingness to bear the blame?
Submission to a plan: Is there a willingness to follow a written contract detailing steps for restoration?
Accountability: Is there a willingness to meet with one biblically grounded mature believer each week who will prepare a report of the leader’s progress?
If these identifying indicators of real repentance are not present, there may be little hope for restoration.
Each church may hold a different theological view on whether a pastor’s disqualification is permanent after misconduct. Either way, it will take TIME for the pastor to demonstrate:
• Genuine repentance;
• Godly sorrow;
• Submission to the oversight of seasoned ministry partners;
• Actively complying with the requirements of the restoration plan;
• Understands that such actions are a betrayal and have wounded families and the church deeply.
The way an organization deals with misconduct not only affects the directly involved parties but also has a ripple effect on the greater community. If your organization does not have a trusted legal counsel to help guide you through this time, please reach out to us.
The information provided in this article does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice or investment advice; instead, all information, content, and materials available in this article are for general informational purposes only. The information contained in this article may not constitute the most up-to-date legal or other information. This article contains links to other third-party websites. Such links are only for the convenience of the reader, user, or browser; the author does not recommend or endorse the contents of the third-party sites.
Readers of this article should contact their attorney to obtain advice with respect to any particular legal matter.
Anthony & Sparkman, PLLC is a law firm with attorneys located in both Dallas/Fort Worth and Kalispell, Montana, that provides legal counsel to both churches and nonprofits around the world. John Anthony & Michele Sparkman have spent over a decade providing general counsel to churches and nonprofits on issues ranging from incorporation, governance, employment, policies and procedures, taxes, succession planning, real estate development, and much more. For more information, visit our website at www.thenonprofitteam.com.
