Pastors

Although this web site exists primarily to bring hope and healing to the survivors of pastoral sexual abuse, we realize there is a need to bring hope and healing to the pastor, his family, and the church body as well.

We hope that any church member affected by clergy abuse which occurred in his/her church will be able to more fully comprehend the dynamics of what has taken place and not be so quick to exonerate the pastor and blame the victim. There is always another side to the situation and if you, as a church member, have only heard one side of it, you cannot possibly know the truth.

Both parties (victim and perpetrator) need encouragement and strength. Not encouragement to continue in sin, but rather to turn from it, repent and seek forgiveness. It is our hope that the pastor (or whomever) reading these articles will be convicted by the Holy Spirit and forsake his sins and return to Christ—our only Savior.

How Does this Happen? 

“The abusive pastor or spiritual leader has allowed himself to go a long way down the track before he ever commits the crime of abuse. But until the crime is committed, he likely doesn’t realize just how far he has already strayed. When once the deed is done or the pattern begins to unfold, the huge distance from the Lord becomes readily apparent. And it can seem like too enormous a gulf to bridge to ever get back. So the abuser doesn’t try, at least not very hard. Rather he continues to medicate his spiritual pain with fleshly anesthetic which is addictive. And the Evil One laughs obscenely at his success over human weakness.

When the victim is trapped by this crime, she is often on her way, or trying to be on her way, back to wholeness from brokenness. Of course wholeness, including spiritual growth, is the last thing the devil wants. So he sets her up for abuse by the human she is seeking a path to wholeness from, sending her back into the abyss out of which she has started to climb. And again his laughter is loud and ugly.”—Tom Lemon, VP, General Conference

Words of Caution

As a pastor, or other spiritual leader or teacher, you must recognize that God holds you more accountable and responsible for keeping His standard, not only for your words, but for your whole manner of life.

 “Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment.”—James 3: 1 (NASB)

We encourage you to stand firm in the Lord, stand on His promises and truth.