Can A Pastor Still Pastor, After Committing Sexual Abuse?

Andy Savage is an outstanding pastor.  Just check out his web-page, and you'll discover an incredible bandwidth of gifts, passion, godliness, vulnerability, creativity and smarts.  http://www.andysavage.com  All for Jesus.

But 20 years ago, while serving as a youth pastor at a Texas church, Andy Savage committed sexual abuse.  The sordid details are not important, but the chronology is informative.  A member of Andy's youth group, Jules Woodson, needed a way home; and so, Andy offered to take her home. But rather than going straight home, Andy headed down to a different road, to a remote location.  And in that isolated place, Andy the youth pastor, and Jules, the youth group member engaged in sexual intimacy. .http://thewartburgwatch.com/2018/01/05/i-thought-he-was-taking-me-for-ice-cream-one-womans-metoo-story-of-molestation-by-her-former-youth-pastor-andy-savage/

Within 5 minutes, Andy knew it was a horrid mistake, telling Jules he was sorry -- and -- begging for her silence.  But it was too late.  The sin had occurred -- and -- the abuse.  

Now, the controversy:  Andy does confess it was sexual sin, e.g. sex, outside of wedlock. But it was not sexual abuse because it was consensual.  Translated: it was wrong, but it was not illegal or coercive since it was mutual; you know: two willing, consenting 'adults' pushed the passion pedal, together -- equally.   

Yes, together.  But, no, not equally.  For a 22-year-old pastor and a 17-year-old youth group member are not equal. 

It's hard to articulate the power a pastor possesses.  For years, I doubted it, until confronted with my professional identity in a seminar, as part of my doctoral program at Princeton Seminary.  Expressing doubts about my effectiveness, my professor 'got in my face.'  "...You don't have impact, you don't have influence?  Look at yourself, Paul!  You're white, male and clergy.  You have tremendous power and influence."  I was still not convinced, but from that day on, I did look at myself differently, as one with called-out impact, given by God, for the Glory of God.

For pastors are called out.  To be precise:  pastors are called-out of the flock, to shepherd the flock.  And thus, though we are members of the flock, we are more than the flock. Pastors are 'first among equals' (e.g. the priesthood of believers) -- set-apart, ordained -- with a distinct role, authority, and power, to minister to God's people.

God's people are very mindful they've called us. Thus, they respect us, and 'look up to us' in the best sense of the word, in keeping with God's Word:

"...We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work..." 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13  ESV

Jules respected Andy; in fact, Jules esteemed Andy not only highly, but very highly.  Thus, Andy was more than her peer, Andy was Jule's leader. And so when the leader didn't 'let up' on the passion pedal, she took his lead, and didn't let up either.

Andy failed in this instance, for Andy was called by his flock to a different role: to be Jule's shepherd, not her lover.

In other words, Andy Savage abused his calling, and thus abused a member of his flock.

And so this is more than sin, this is a gross mismanagement of one's role, authority, and power. Just as we would never excuse a medical doctor becoming sexually intimate with a patient -- we can never excuse a spiritual leader becoming sexually intimate with a parishioner (let alone a minor).

It's interesting:  as Andy Savage confessed his sin, and Chris Conlee, his lead pastor, supported him -- neither referenced abuse.  Rather, they stressed, that sin had been 'owned,' grace received, redemption, restoration, and healing achieved. And they invited Jules to do the same. http://www.highpointmemphis.com/watch-now#!/swx/pp/media_archives/109489/episode/71048

One problem: Jules was 'light years' away from redemption/restoration/healing. And so, after watching a video of Andy's 'confession,' Jules 'blew up.' https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/09/us/memphis-megachurch-sex-assault.html?  Why? Because for Jules -- at this juncture -- this was not a forgiveness issue, this was a justice issue.  For the injustice of Andy's actions had never been addressed.

Now, in fairness to Andy, he thought everything had been addressed, through the disciplinary process enacted by the Texas church he served.  But, in fairness to Jules, she contacted Andy in early December '17, in a private e-mail, strongly implying things hadn't been addressed. Jules reminded Andy of their encounter, imploring him to remember; as she did, her woundedness was raw, and her cry for justice, apparent. http://thewartburgwatch.com/2018/01/05/i-thought-he-was-taking-me-for-ice-cream-one-womans-metoo-story-of-molestation-by-her-former-youth-pastor-andy-savage/

But Andy ignored Jule's e-mail, and in turn, her woundedness and appeal for justice.

But you can't ignore wounds and cries for justice. For until all parties agree accountability has occurred, there is no reconciliation. And until reconciliation has occurred, there is no restoration.

Frankly, all this is very complex.  For sin and its aftermath are complex, making reconciliation and restoration very difficult and involved.  But as the upheaval around Andy Savage attests, it must occur.  There are no short-cuts.   Desmond Tutu guides.

"...True reconciliation exposes the awfulness, the abuse, the hurt, the truth. It could even sometimes make things worse. It is a risky undertaking but in the end, it is worthwhile, because in the end only an honest confrontation with reality can bring real healing.  Superficial reconciliation can only bring superficial healing..."  https://rachelheldevans.com/blog/forgiveness-abuse

The way forward:

1)  Always Err On The Side Of The Abused, Not The Abuser.  Given an abuser's position, power, influence and fame, it's easy to minimize the complaint of one sexually abused.  But scripture calls us to grant preferential treatment to all those who have suffered injustice.

“…Seek good, not evil, that you may live. Then the Lord God Almighty will be with you, just as you say he is. Hate evil, love good…But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!...” (Amos 5:14-15; 24)

Ed Stetzer concurs.

 "...When it comes to victimization, the victim should always be the center of our attention...When we compare the importance of protecting...institutions to our need to care for those who are abused, the latter should win every single time. Any institution...that fails to do this and...tries to protect abusive men at the cost of [the] ...women who have been victimized must not just be confronted, but either eliminated or given a complete overhaul..." http://www.christianitytoday.com/edstetzer/2018/january/andy-savages-standing-ovation-was-heard-round-world-because.html

2) Acknowledge:  Pastors Have A 'Called-Out' Role, With Accompanying Power, Thus, Called To A 'Higher Standard.' This has been highlighted.  But must be stressed, again.   For the sexual encounter between Jules and Andy was not an 'encounter of equals.'  Thus, as Ed Stetzer points out, it was not a sexual incident (as Andy claimed) it was sexual abuse.

"...A youth pastor does not have “incidents” with youth group members—he abuses them. On this point, the church needs to speak with absolute clarity: instances such as these are not an “incident”; it’s abuse.  All churches—and those in church leadership—must strive for clarity that says this: victims need to be received, listened to, and cared for by the church. Our churches should be safe havens for those who are victims of abuse—more so when it occurs at the hands of someone in church leadership...."https://www.christianitytoday.com/edstetzer/2018/january/andy-savages-standing-ovation-was-heard-round-world-because.html

3) Recognize: Forgiveness and Justice Are Not The Same. We are called to forgive all persons, whether they repent, whether trust is restored.  Period.  But forgiveness is not synonymous with being a 'doormat,' naive, or a pansy.  Rachel Held Evans instructs:

+ Forgiveness does not require staying in an abusive situation…If you are being bullied…abused in the name of religion…Jesus is calling you out of that life…into a new one... + Forgiveness does not require accepting empty apologies or trusting the bully/abuser…When Christians are told that Christ-like forgiveness means accepting every apology as sincere, we…perpetuate abuse. There is a difference…between an apology and repentance…Forgiveness isn’t earned, but trust is… + [Forgiveness] does not require remaining silent about bullying and abuse…[Sadly] “The greatest failure of the Church/Christian organizations…is institutional self-protection,” [e.g. covering up abuse]…[Thus, we] must find a way to teach radical forgiveness, undeserved grace, and restorative reconciliation without perpetuating and excusing bullying and abuse. https://rachelheldevans.com/blog/forgiveness-abuse 

4) Conclude: Though Forgiveness/Grace Is Amazing, Forgiveness/Grace Does Not 'Wipe-Away' All Consequences.  Please don't misunderstand.  Nothing can minimize Christ's Work on the Cross Nothing can minimize Christ's ability to restore us to the Father and to other people.  Thus, reconciliation and restoration is always an option as we forgive, as God's amazing grace flows.

But reconciliation and restoration are not synonymous with restoration back to a particular role.  For example, it's hard to fathom a medical doctor being restored to primary care practice, after abusing one of his/her patients. In like manner, it is hard to justify a pastor being restored to pastoral ministry after abusing one of his/her parishioners.

But, there is a redeeming path; there are multiple roles for doctors and pastors to continue to exercise their gifts (assuming there's not a serial/predatory psychiatric profile).  For example, doctors might serve in administrative/research roles in labs or research centers, not requiring the primary care of patients -- and pastors -- might serve in managerial/consulting roles in religious or not-for-profit agencies/institutions, not requiring pastoral ministry to individuals. Other examples could be shared; for redeeming, paths are varied and plentiful.  What's important:  they do exist, for accountability and redemption are both possible; they do not mutually exclude each other.

Please note:  all this takes time -- often a lot of time -- requiring an intentional process, led best, by an outside third party. To their credit, the church where Andy current serves is now opting for this approach.  http://www.highpointmemphis.com/important-updates/posts/update-third-party-audit  But over time, God's good time, we affirm: forgiveness/grace not only includes consequences -- it also multiplies options. For the 'blood of the Cross' covers everything -- eventually -- making all things new.

Please note: the specifics of redemption vary, not always to our liking.  Neither does redemption's outcome always conform to our first preferences or our wants (e.g. vs. our needs).   But over time -- God's good time -- the hell and fury of wrong-doing can be made new.  

And so, newness, in God's good time -- is our focus.  Not short-cuts, minimizing abuse. Not quick fixes, lessening accountability.  Not individualistic apologizes, bypassing justice.

The result: the road to obedience, as we turn full-face into our iniquity, sin, and abuse, totally, completely; as we accept consequences. But also, as we trust, that through God's mercy and redemption, God will, by His care and calendar, bring new creation. Prophet Isaiah says it best:

"...I will make rivers flow on barren heights, and springs within the valleys. I will turn the desert into pools of water, and the parched ground into springs. I will put in the desert the cedar and the acacia, the myrtle and the olive...so that people may see and know, may consider and understand, that the hand of the Lord has done this, that the Holy One of Israel has created it..."  Isaiah 41:18-20