When a leader falls, his local church feels the collateral damage. They’re like a crowd standing too close to the curb on a rainy day. The crisis drives by and splashes everyone. It drenches the elders who stood close to the leader, and it sprays shame across the whole community (1 Cor. 12:26). Judgments often follow the embarrassment. Some church members instinctively sympathize with the leaders and staff who remain after a crisis. Others, stung by betrayal, express self-righteous suspicion or angry cynicism: “You hypocrites preach community and accountability, but you clearly don’t practice it!” They see the leaders as fully culpable for sin in areas where accurately assigning blame sometimes requires more time and examination. How does a remaining elder team respond to this rock and hard place? How do they rebuild? I’ve spent years helping churches work through crises, and I’ve encountered an array of complex situations. Some I handled well. In others, I added to the problems. But in God’s providence, failure can be the best tutor. Here are some lessons I’ve learned about how a church’s leadership team can rebuild trust with one another and with the congregation after the crisis.
When people write these articles they should be required to demonstrate how they actually did what they are suggesting. And most certainly, they have actually assisted churches to fulfill the stated ideas. Nice thoughts but untried by the author. Also if the church and elders refuse to reconcile with the repented, fallen leaders, how should we view them? More questions after reading it.
Jeff Hillman
2w
Always spot-on. This article is very good.
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2wWell, if a leader falls due to the weakness of the flesh or lust, leading to other sins, elders, who are strong in the Lord should prayerfully restore him back to the faith with a good sense of judgement, discipline so that Satan will not destroy the victim. The church brethren, having heard the story, shouldn't go about gossiping and being judgmental but must go on praying in the spirit of unity for the restoration of the person. The elders should build the people's confidence in the Lord's Word that says, " I will build My Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Remember, the leaders who falls are still part of the body of Christ whom Satan desires to sift away like chaffs, but Jesus told Peter, " I have prayed for you." Finally, the leaders who falls should humbly withdraw from the pulpit for sometime until the Lord restore them again while they go through their moments of true repentance, remorse, pleading for mercy. The elders in faith and spirit of God would know when to lift the discipline measures over them, having corrected them in love, and restore them to the church. MARANATHA!