Hormones and Ministry - and parochial predators (CLM 775)

From: Ken Davis

Fri, 5 Feb 1999

>Clergy/Leaders' Mail-list No. 775 > >Ministry Perspectives: # 32/42 (Longer) > >by Revd John Simpson, >(General Superintendent, Baptist Union of Victoria, Australia) > >---------------------------------- >Hormones and Ministry: A Good Mix? >---------------------------------- This was an excellent article. Well done. There was an issue intimately related to this that has been left untouched, but which pastors ignore to their peril. That is of the parochial predator. I'm sure that there is nothing that Satan loves more than to destroy a successful gospel ministry. One way he can do this is by anything from false claims to a full blown indiscretion. There may be pathological people in your parish who consciously or unconsciously set out to destroy a ministry through sexual manipulation. They seek to set up a situation that they can later use to bring down their target using the sexual misconduct guidelines, and "believe the victim" mentality of the present age. Whether it is pre-planned, or arises out of spite in reaction to the inevitable ultimate rejection I cannot say. Like most "indiscretions" they begin innocently, and often creep imperceptibly until the pastor has been well and truly trapped, often by a careless or innocent hug or kiss. Whatever case, in this day and age it does not take much to set the pastor up for a highly public fall, regardless of the truth of the allegations. These predators often move from place to place, creating the same scenario time and again, their godlessness unchallenged. They are legally and morally untouchable because of overreactions to church "coverups" of the past. It is sad, but true, that to ignore this danger is to place your ministry in peril. Hopefully the guidelines in the previous article will help. But it is not enough to be aware of the "natural" problems and dangers, because its a jungle out there, and there are hungry lions prowling, waiting to devour yet another man of God. ************************************************** Hi-I'm Ken Davis. I'm a 37 y/o Aussie. I'm an evangelical Christian musician and songwriter. New Album :"Never Give Up" out NOW!!! http://www1.tpgi.com.au/users/kcd/Album/Frame1.html CFS is not the end of living, it just feels that way :-) mailto:kcd@tpgi.com.au ************************************************* ____________________________ Clergy/Leaders' Mailing List (Moderated) This mailing list is open to all Christians via Internet e-mail. Submissions welcome: (in DOS ASCII Text format please if 'attached' or 'imported') To subscribe, e-mail to: clergy-request@pastornet.net.au with SUBJECT reading SUBSCRIBE To unsubscribe, e-mail to: clergy-request@pastornet.net.au with SUBJECT reading UNSUBSCRIBE Copyright: Postings may be re-sent ONLY with all copyright notifications intact.

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