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NASB | 1 Timothy 3:2 An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 Timothy 3:2 Now an overseer must be blameless and beyond reproach, the husband of one wife, self-controlled, sensible, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, |
Subject: A divorced pastor in ministry? |
Bible Note: Thank you. As far as serving as a pastor, this is to some extent a congregational matter. If the majority of my congregation, or even a significant minority, were to object to me serving in that role I would not serve anyway, in spite of anything I might personally believe on the matter. But that does not, and will not, stop me from performing the tasks of a pastor anyway since these are things that all Christians should aspire to and do anyway. Amen? In the absence of elders or pastors in our congregation we have a group of concerned Christians who are trying to fill the role of the eldership and deaconate in an unofficial way. As it stands at the moment the group is open to any who desire to attend and this group handles preaching and teaching schedules, worship, benevolence, visitation etc. Our preacher said once, "we won't have elders and deacons until we have them." Elders or pastors are appointed because they are already doing the work. It is something that is deeply ingrained in their personalities perhaps. They have a strong desire to serve God and do it anyway, recognised or not. Of a congregation of 150 there are 8 men and 4 women who are in this group. This is regretably not the biblical pattern and we are working actively toward that ideal but in the mean time we have to do what we have to do. We are not self appointed guardians of the church, we are just the only ones who turn up for these meetings. Do I qualify? As to being the husband of one wife, that I am. As to the other requirements that is a matter for my brethren and congregation to determine and judge. Whether my having been divorced means I am not 'above reproach' or not is also something the congregation is to decide, I believe. I strive for those ideals and pray God, by His grace, brings me there one day. I will continue to serve Him to the best of my ability anyway. To Him be the glory. In Christ Tim Sheasby |