Sex Offender Restored to Pastoral Ministry
In 1996 Jeff Hannah, a married youth pastor at Crossroads Church (SBC) in Libertyville, IL, committed adultery with four teenage girls between the ages of 15 and 17 and received a sentence of nine years in prison.
In 2001, after serving five years, he was released on parole, remarried, and began attending First Baptist Church of Romeoville.
Soon after, the pastor moved on, and church members—aware of Hannah’s crimes—asked him to step into the pulpit until a replacement was hired, according to church members, Hannah and others.
Hannah served in that role for three years and ever since has been a fill-in preacher, teacher and music minister at the church.
Media attention concerning Hannah’s involvement in the church has recently led to his revoking his membership.
Del Kirkpatrick, a deacon in the church, defended Hannah’s being restored to pastoral ministry by saying, “In our church, we believe in forgiveness.”
But as Jim West comments, stupidity is not the same as forgiveness. If Jeff Hannah has repented of his sin, the church must receive him back into fellowship. However, they must exercise wisdom and caution—both for the safety of the church and for his own safety.
In addition to the biblical teaching on forgiveness and wisdom, Paul’s words must also be factored in: “an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach” (Tit 1:7).
What are your thoughts? Should Jeff Hannah have been back in the pulpit? Should he or any sex offender ever be restored to pastoral ministry?
Coverage:
- Sun Times: Sex offender back in pulpit
- USA Today: Church puts sex offender in the pulpit
- Jim West: Stupidity Is Not the Same As Forgiveness
HT: Christian Research Network
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Nick Gill
1st Baptist of Romeoville sounds suspiciously like the church in Corinth. They “believed in forgiveness” too! And Paul had some stunningly harsh words for the nature of their forgiveness.
I believe every question listed above must be handled on a case-by-case basis, bathed in prayer and Biblical wisdom. Godly sorrow (2 Cor 7:10) MUST be displayed, and even then, I think restoration to “official” or “public” ministry brings greater danger to the church.
in HIS love,
Nick Gill
Frankfort, KY
Aug 22nd, 2007 9:46 am
Phil Gons
Thanks for the thoughts, Nick.
Aug 22nd, 2007 9:52 am
Bob Wagner
Serving a jail term is a punishment, it does not mean that he has been delivered or healed of the sexual problem. Of course we forgive, of course we should restore, but only after we have tested the spirits to be sure that the individual has truly been set free from the hold the enemy has on them.
Besides repentance and sorrowful attitude that has obviously been displayed, what test did the elders of the church put the pastor through? Without that knowledge no one can make any Godly decision on whether or not he should be placed in leadership once again. Don’t assume, don’t judge without facts, just follow the word.
Aug 26th, 2007 10:39 am