I agree also about Linda’s question!!
It is a QUESTION pointed straight at the
integrity of at least the three leaders who were aware of this inappropriate and perverted behavior for years!!
It begs a number of vital questions to the leaders and the church.The Scriptures highlight crucial character qualifications for the earnest office of “elder”.
Were they written in vain for leaders to ignore?”An elder must be blameless, the husband of one wife...”
Titus 1:6
“
”The overseer then must be above reproach, the husband of one wife,...self-controlled, respectable”...
1Timothy 3:2
What a mockery of the office of Shepherd/Elder! Since his life is to be kept pure he is not to be slyly cornering women privately asking them sexually inappropriate questions and giving them inappropriate sexual body contact. Is there any question this is sexually perverse behavior toward multiple women in his church! The Word of God says the OVERSEER’s
job is to protect, not greedily and cunningly attack the sheep. Wolves are those who use and harm the sheep for their OWN BENEFIT. Watch OVER the flock means - take great care and
respect of them. And obviously, pull the warning alarm on any who bring harm to them so that no more may be hurt.
The Bible says how to handle a leader who is actually violating the qualifications and causing harm in the scriptures below:
”Don’t accept an accusation against an elder unless it is supported by two or three witnesses.
Publicly rebuke those who sin, so that the rest will also be afraid.
I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels to observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing out of favoritism.
Don’t be too quick to appoint anyone as an elder, and don’t share in the sins of others.
Keep yourself pure."
1Timothy 5:19- 22
1. How many witnesses are needed to accept an accusation against an elder?
Just a little reminder of how you handle a reproach brought against ungodly behavior of an elder (who chooses to share his identity in his post):”i met with Brent Knox about MD obsessive behavior and endearment to single young woman and some married women in the church and how i was treated..did not know what shunned meant...Brent asked if i wish to meet with him and MD together and talk about things..i said no..i feel it would not make a difference...I did meet with Brent and talked about things..kind of went no where...Brent said he would talk to MD and get back to me..the next week he said they both would like me to leave the church..”
1a. How many told any of you about reproaches of this elder? We have heard many reproaches expressed of this elder by those who are brave enough to post here. We have heard even those close to him admitted these. How many people were ignored? Likely even more than have voiced it here, since others saw the results of coming forward - attackers attempting to actually ruin their reputation and lives.
2. What does God say above to do about the elder? Does God expect leaders to take this responsibility seriously? Was that done at the time of this ungodly behavior?
3. Why does the Word say this purifying action might not be carried out?
4. How might an elder share in the sins of others elders?
5. What precedent does their inaction set?
And bonus questions:
I. Has or does the Board of Trustees appoint elders in your group?
Ii. Then, what responsibility does the Board of Trustees have according the Scriptures above?
What folly! What scathing of innocent people you taught and stirred up in all your pretense to clean up your image. What a smokescreen to pretend YOU ELDERS were not responsible YOURSELVES for publically rebuking the ungodly elder! What a charade to carry out this “investigation”! But, if you are empowering the “board of trustees” to action they should get rid of the three of you, because you did not protect the flock, showed ungodly favoritism, corrupt prejudice and shared in his sins by hiding them.
Oh, and by the way,
who does the word of God say to give an ample honorarium to in the scripture below?”The elders who are good leaders should be considered worthy of an ample honorarium...”1Timothy 5:17
What a dishonor to the innocent people involved here, your own tithing congregation, and God’s Word to financially reward such a reprehensible elder. It seems to follow the biblical pattern of the wolves fattening themselves on the innocent and naive sheep.