Posted on 04/10/2005 6:14:38 PM PDT by nickcarraway
During his morning sermon last Sunday, Senior Pastor Dave Johnston of the Calvary Chapel in Santa Cruz preached redemption. He mentioned Mary Magdalene, the prostitute chosen by Christ to be the first witness to his resurrection, as a powerful example of faith changing someone's life.
But when he began to talk about someone ``closer to home,'' Johnston choked back tears.
One of his own assistant pastors, Johnston disclosed to 250 members of the congregation, is a registered sex offender who has spent time in prison.
Church members know Bill Bjorkman as the kindly Pastor Bill, an ordained pastor for the past three years for a congregation that is part of a worldwide network of more than 2,000 non-denominational churches founded by Chuck Smith. Smith is the originator of ``the Jesus Movement,'' which more than three decades ago in Southern California began ministering to flower children, gang-bangers, heroin addicts and many of society's rejects.
When Johnston talked about Bjorkman's past, no one gasped. And many church members broke into applause to praise the work God had done to redeem Bjorkman's life.
``It's a faith-tester,'' Bjorkman, 37, said as congregation members offered him hugs and reassurances. Several men had tears in their eyes, telling Bjorkman they felt they had been carrying around their own dark secrets for far too long.
Everyone from religious leaders to prison guards understands that true change comes from deep within. Whether it is through Jesus or hours of intense clinical therapy, sex offenders learn to understand and control the forces that led them to commit their sordid crimes. Still, powerful questions remain -- religious as well as secular.
Do those with troubled pasts -- like Mary Magdalene -- become especially vigilant Christians because they remain aware of past sins? And where does all of this leave victims?
(Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...
I believe in redemption, in fact very strongly but there are some things which I would think would disqualify one from being a pastor.
"Trust but verify" comes to mind.
I agree, especially in a place where there are a lot of kids.
Sex offender here does not signify what kind--kids, females, homosexual?
vaudine
Redemption is OK, but castrate him just to be sure.
If a pilot of a major airline was found to be intoxicated, you could FORGIVE him, but NOT allow him the public trust that he once enjoyed, because it was violated. Forgiveness, yes, TRUST, let him lead a clean, simple honest life, and carefully restore him to his position.
Like maybe scriptural qualifications?
That was a long time ago.
"This man needs to find a less high profile position.."
Part of the problem here is that well-meaning believers in leadership are often oblivious to the severe impact of sexual sin on a person, and push these types into leadership even when the troubled person wants to say "No, thanks."
Not sure if that's the case here, but there is much coercion in the church and it takes a modicum of self-identity to withstand the force of well-meaning leaders (i.e. the guilt that one feels from refusing "authority").
....he fits right in!!!!
"One of his own assistant pastors, Johnston disclosed to 250 members of the congregation, is a registered sex offender who has spent time in prison."
OPINION: A person is a REGISTERED sex offender for a reason. Maybe his parole officer (if he is still on parole) and/or the local police department can review Mr. Johnston's situation with the senior pastor.
Also, if the pastorate staff and the congregation did not know Johnston was a sex registrant; then he should be outta there pronto.
Inasmuch as God requires elders (and thus pastors) to be "above reproach, the husband of one wife" (1 Tim.3:2, emphasis added), a discerning board should draw the line at sex convictions.
Agreed.
I believe Jesus can transform anyone.
And what do we do with someone who has truly repented?; what if this person has repented, been transformed and is called by God to the ministry?
It's a difficult question, because it is impossible for us to know another's heart.
Mary Magdalene was not a prostitute. I wish people would stop this myth.
Whether this is alright or not depends wholly on when he was convicted. If his conviction was before he was a pastor and/or a Christian, the past has little bearing on the present. God certainly can change lives.
However, If his conviction and actions were after he was a pastor/Christian, he should be out of there today. A pastor is under a different standard than a member of a church.
I went to a church where one of the teachers admitted a discretion while he was in that position. They booted him immediately, but continued some salary and benefits for several months so his family would be taken care of. He was an excellent teacher, but he lost all right to his public ministry as a result of his actions. Totally against I Timothy and Titus attributes of a church leader.
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