Pastor Moral Integrity
We believe that a Pastor is to represent God to the congregation and community with the highest standard of integrity, and his actions should be blameless (1 Timothy 3:2) and such that he has a good report with people, both within and without the congregation (1 Timothy 3:7). We also believe that the Pastor is a Shepherd of the congregation, and his highest duty should be to care for, and protect the flock (1 Peter 5:2).
These dual Biblical requirements are to be demonstrated in our relations with the opposite sex, and in the area of sexuality in general. God demands purity of all believers, and Pastors are held to a higher standard (James 3:1), so as to not cause anyone to stumble.
- Counselling: A Pastor must guard against both the impression of impropriety, and human nature to bond emotionally with those receiving counselling. A Pastor should never counsel a member of the opposite sex alone. If the counselling cannot be done in the sight of other people, the Pastor should always have someone else in the room while counselling.
- Sexual communication: Any conversations or communications — written or electronic — should never involve flirtatious or sexual discussions or innuendos (Col 3:8). No counselling should involve sexual topics or discussions without another person present in the conversation.
- Sexual contact: Any form of sexual contact, or sexual touching of any person we are not married to, violates our Biblical standard of holiness (1 Cor 6:19-20), and immediately disqualifies us from Pastoral ministry.
If a Pastor falls into any form of sexual sin, or damages his testimony morally, he is liable for immediate removal from the ministry.
- He will have his Pastoral credentials immediately removed, and no longer qualifies to be a Pastor.
- His Pastor is to determine the facts and damage of the case to determine whether or not he should be put out of the church for a period of discipline.
- If there are any further moral violations, or any form of contact with a person they were sexually involved with, they will usually be put out of the church for a period of between 6 months and 1 year.
- At the end of the proscribed period of discipline, he must meet with his Pastor, who will make a determination concerning repentance and fitness to return to the congregation.
- He will not have any public ministry for a period of 2 years while he rebuilds his relationship with God, his marriage and public testimony.
- At the end of 2 years, if he seeks to return to Pastoral ministry, and his pastor is willing to speak for his repentance and character, he can request a restoration meeting that must include his Pastor, and 3 Leaders of the Fellowship.
- They can question him to determine his fitness to return to ministry, and make any recommendations of how/how soon/what capacity he is able to serve in.
- As the Bible holds up a Pastor's marriage as a basic requirement of ministry (1 Timothy 3:1-13), any violations by the Pastor's wife in the area of sexual communication or contact (as discussed above) will disqualify the couple from Pastoral ministry.
- The terms of discipline described above would then be in effect.
Conflict Resolution
For many years there has been a process whereby conflicts in our Fellowship can be resolved. These are summarised by an open letter from Pastor Mitchell to all Fellowship churches that should be displayed prominently on your Notice Board.
This letter is to set in place a structure whereby the issues of relationship conflict or abuse involving pastors and their congregations, pastors and their fellow pastors, and any conflict between pastors and leadership, in the British Fellowship, can be resolved. In the local church, if a member has a grievance to be heard against a pastor, Matt 18:15-20 would be the procedure:
- To meet alone with the pastor and seek a resolution.
- If there is no resolution, then they should request a hearing before the Church Council with the pastor present.
- If the issue is still not resolved, then a written request can be made to his mother church pastor or Pastor Brown.
- Pastor Brown and/or the mother church pastor or a delegated area leader will meet with the pastor, the Church Council and the party in conflict, to resolve the conflict.
In case of a problem with a pastor and another pastor, or a pastor and his mother church pastor, a written request can be made to Pastor Brown to delegate either one or two Area Leaders to meet with the pastors in conflict and resolve the issue and/or to meet with them himself to achieve resolution.
Pastor Brown remains in submission to his pastor's, Pastor Gregg Mitchell and Pastor Tom Payne, his local church council for local matters, and should the need arise on a higher level, a Board of Elders can be summoned to bring him any advice, correction or discipline. The board is comprised of Joe Campbell, Mark Aulson, Kevin Foley, Tom Payne, Harold Warner, Richard Rubi and Paul Stephens. These men have the authority to resolve any conflicts that may affect our Fellowship on an International level. They can convene a meeting with any of the International Leaders to resolve disputes, and set in order matters to ensure an ongoing flow of our ministry.
In the UK, under the direction Pastor Brown, an executive comprised of current British Leaders, has the authority to summon any UK Fellowship Pastor who is in doctrinal error, moral indiscretion, or whose conduct is disrupting the British Fellowship. Their decisions on the local British level will be binding and final.
It is important that you post this letter, as well as the letter from Pastor Mitchell, in your church where members of the congregation may see it and understand the issues.
Sincerely
Pastor Nigel Brown
21st February 2015