Citizen Columns
Question
Ted Haggard, a former megachurch pastor who was involved in a sex and drug scandal two years ago, reappeared in a pulpit in November. Do you think clergy who have been compromised like this can ever lead a congregation again?
Answer
Churches are meant to be places of rehabilitation and second chances. Personal catastrophes, like the uncovering of Ted Haggard’s habits of drugs and gay sex, may be just the 2x4 a pastor needs to turn his life around with new-found honesty, humility and humanity. It could be a liberating relief from a double life. In those November talks at a friend’s church in Illinois, Haggard admitted as much and said that he had been struggling ever since he was abused at age seven by one of his father’s employees. But a return to pastoral leadership can only happen with a genuine change of heart and behaviour, or repentance to use the old-fashioned word. And readiness to return to ministry is something that will need to be left to others to determine. That alone will be difficult to accept for a pastor accustomed to influence and authority.
The Orthodox Archdiocese of Canada has well thought-out guidelines for how to handle cases of sexual misconduct, including the re-integration of pastors who fail in this way. Clergy could in principle be allowed to lead a congregation again, but only after meeting strict conditions that include initial removal from parish ministry, psychiatric assessment and completion of appropriate long-term treatment by a credentialed professional who will report regularly to the pastor’s church authority (normally his bishop) on his progress and the prognosis for a future return to service in the church. During this period of rehabilitation the individual is required to have a good work history outside the church, demonstrating his good character. He also needs to publicly acknowledge his misconduct and if possible make amends to all concerned.
So a “compromised” pastor can indeed return to church leadership. The more difficult question in Ted Haggard’s case, however, is not simply return to the pulpit, but how he and his church community understand the homo-sexual activity in which he was involved. And that is an issue that Christians will be debating for years to come.
With love in Christ,
Fr John
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