RESTORING THE FALLEN

My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins(James 5:19-20).

Restoration can be a long, difficult process but it is also at the very heart of the gospel and essential if we are to demonstrate the love, mercy, grace, holiness and redemptive nature of God. There is no place in Christ for holding onto bitterness and resentment over someone's past failures and sins.

Firstly, the fallen leader's credentials will be immediately placed in an inactive status and any churches/ministries that they are involved with notified in writing of the decision and the reasons for it. If they pastor a congregation then a member of the leadership of Renewal Ministries Fellowship will offer to, along with leadership from within that church, openly and redemptively inform the congregation of the situation "Those who sin are to be rebuked publicly, so that the others may take warning"(1 Tim 5:20) with time allowed in worship for people to bring their reactions and their own lives before God and lay them at the foot of the cross. Individuals and churches affected by the minister's sin will to be provided with the opportunity for counselling and support to enable healing and restoration in their lives and congregations (more details are provided in our Sexual Abuse Policy, Vilification, Harassment & Bullying Policy and Spiritual Abuse Policy).

While a fallen minister must be immediately removed from all ministerial duties until the process of Restoration is complete, it is not appropriate to have the repentant minister's membership of Renewal Ministries Fellowship terminated. "You ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him...in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes."(2 Cor. 2:7-11).

If the minister committed any illegal acts they are to be supported in confessing these to the appropriate civil authorities and throughout any civil disciplinary processes.

The minister shall be offered a member of Renewal Ministries Fellowship (Pastoral Restoration Coordinator) to journey with them in their restoration as shall the individual(s) and congregation(s) effected by their sin (Congregational Restoration Coordinator).

It is generally beneficial for the minister to remain in their church, without position, during the restoration process. "Staying within the church enables the church to process its own hurt and pain as well as any anger that may have been stirred up within the congregation" (Pastor-in-Residence, Especially for Pastors, A Guide to Pastors Serving Exited Pastors, pp24). However, if the minister is going to stay in their church an absence of six to eight weeks is advised to allow emotions to die down and the congregation time to begin their process of restoration. During this six to eight weeks a retreat for the minister and their family is recommended (eg at Hope Valley) and continued fellowship with the wider body of Christ is essential.

The Pastoral Restoration Coordinator shall maintain close contact with the fallen minister and their family (unless their family were the direct victims of the minister's abuse in which case the Congregational Restoration Coordinator shall facilitate their protection, healing and restoration) and assist in accessing appropriate counselling and other supports for them throughout this time.

The Congregational Restoration Coordinator shall offer to facilitate congregational meetings and small groups to assist the congregation in dealing with what has happened and work towards a Christ like response to the situation. They shall also assist in accessing appropriate counselling and other supports for individuals and the congregation.

Restoration is a function of the Body of Christ. Once the congregation and the minister have had time to deal with the initial emotions arising out of the sin and exit from ministry the Pastoral Restoration Coordinator and Congregational Restoration Coordinator shall work together to establish the in-church restoration process using such resources as the Pastor-in-Residence program. If the minister is not returning to their church then the Pastoral Restoration Coordinator shall offer to work with the new church that the minister attends to establish an in-church restoration process, making available the resources of the Pastor-in-Residence program.

Once the Minister has completed a restoration process, such as the Pastor in Residence program, they may apply for their credentials to be reactivated and the leadership Renewal Ministries Fellowship of will prayerfully consider the testimony of each member of the minister's accountability group, along with the minister's own account of what God has been doing in their life, in considering the application. The aim is full, but not premature, restoration to ministry - the criteria is the guiding of the Holy Spirit and evidence of the redemptive work of God in the minister's life.

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RESTORING PASTORS WHO HAVE BEEN
PRESSURED OUT OF THE MINISTRY

Statistics suggest that 17% of active pastors feel burned out and at any moment one out of eight pastors is thinking about resigning, even without any place to go. 52% of all pastors express an unmet need to talk with others about their personal concerns. 70% say they have no one they consider a close friend. 80% of pastors believe that pastoral ministry affects their family negatively and 70% say their self-esteem is lower than it was when they first entered ministry. 40% of all pastors have a serious conflict with a parishioner at least once a month and this is the chief cause of pastoral exit from ministry. 23% of pastors experience a forced exit at some time in their ministry, often leaving them feeling depressed, lonely, abandoned by former colleagues and unable to fully trust church leadership. (Pastor-in-Residence, General Guide pp5). The relationships base of Renewal Ministries Fellowship aims to address many of these issues by being a community of believers who support, encourage, challenge and nurture one another in fulfilling the call of God upon our lives.

Renewal Ministries Fellowship aims to provide support and facilitate healing and restoration of pastors negatively affected, and those removed, by the pressures of their ministry. To accomplish this we are developing a spiritual retreat at Hope Valley and offer the Pastor-in-Residence program both within our churches and in co-operation with other churches willing to become a Refuge Church for terminated pastors. This offer of support extends to all pastors/ministers of all denominations as Renewal Ministries Fellowship seeks to foster Christian unity and to reinforce the whole Christian community world-wide.

Any current, or exiled, pastor/minister who desired this support can contact us to discuss how we can best meet their need.

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