Ted Haggard and Disciplining Leaders

Several folks have already commented in various ways on the Ted Haggard article where it was revealed that he bought drugs and solicited a male prostitute. Cent rightly commented on the fact that we all should look at our own sin and the grace that we have in Christ, as well as the wrath that God has toward sin. Phil Johnson over at Pyromaniacs rightly focused the issue on reestablishing the priorities within the evangelical "movement."

I would like to take a different tack or angle on this story, however. For every Ted Haggard scandal, there are ten that you never hear about. (One more story that is not as national, but just as discouraging, is the one involving the church where my dad works, in Kentucky, where the pastor had an inappropriate relationship with another staff member) If this whole situation should teach the church anything, it should highlight once again that we are ALL sinners, elders or pastors included. One of the things that I lament about the current state of the evangelical church is its neglect of disciplining not only its members, but its leaders! How often have you heard of a church (or even attended one) where a pastor, elder or deacon simply resigned and the reasons for it were kept behind closed doors and then in the subsequent days, weeks and months, rumors violently swirled as to the reason?

Sin MUST be dealt with in the body of Christ, especially in our leaders--it is not for the purpose of public humiliation, but confrontation of it and ultimately restoration of the sinner with the Body.

Do we do any service to the body of Christ if simply shoo the person out the back door only to have that individual find employment at another church and do something similar, harming that local body and further sinning against God?

So, while this is a terrible situation--no one rejoices in the fall of a brother or sister, it can serve to wake us up. If the Body of Christ is to be strengthened, local church bodies MUST take this issue more seriously and not try to hide the problems or sins of their leaders. As the article about the Kentucky situation mentions, it is difficult for a church body to trust a leader if this type of thing is vetted out in the open. But I would argue that if this is done, true healing can be wrought from it--if it is not brought out, huge damage can be done to the cause of Christ.