Author: Andy Rowell

I pasted above a lot of reactions so that Minneapolis people can see that there are people I like who are disturbed about this all over the nation. And I also want those people to know that the story checks out here in Minneapolis.
Also, I am "introducing" people to one another.

Minneapolis Star Tribune Reporter:

Washington Post Editorial Board:
washingtonpost.com/opinions/anoth…

Grew up in Minneapolis:

Police seem to have little problem handcuffing him. The one who kneeled on his neck arrived later.

Organized demonstration was from 5-7 pm: facebook.com/events/s/i-can…?

Thread on violence afterward (first tweet 7:16 pm) until now (past midnight).

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Church Discipline Restoring pastors

On restoring pastors who lose their position because of a moral failing

Post author By Andy Rowell
Post date May 25, 2020

Thread below on restoring pastors who lose their position because of a moral failing.
— Andy Rowell (@AndyRowell) May 26, 2020

Whole thread: https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1265095639756492800.html

First tweet of thread: https://twitter.com/AndyRowell/status/1265095625260937216

Last tweet of thread: https://twitter.com/AndyRowell/status/1265095639756492800

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Download On restoring pastors who lose their position because of a moral failing

Pasted below:

Thread below on restoring pastors who lose their position because of a moral failing.

The apostle Paul urges people to follow his example.
A theme in the classic books on pastoral ministry is that pastors must be a moral example (Gregory the Great, Richard Baxter).
Moral lapses diminish the trust people have in the church leader.

For pastors who are fired because of a moral failing, it is not often just one mistake, but a series of questionable decisions. Sometimes all these are present: inappropriate relationships, financial corruption, deception, and angry threats.

However, like any organization or business, sometimes a pastor loses their position because of personality differences or disagreements about performance issues or conflict with the board or a “bad fit.”
Many good pastors do get fired. They can thrive in a new church.

Pastors often feel that there is nothing else they can do if they do not pastor but this is not true. There are many other fulfilling and challenging jobs. At first they may pay less because they are new and starting at the bottom but pastors often have management potential.

Virtually all of the former pastors I know have thrived in other professions. They have good writing and speaking and reading and computer skills, can motivate and supervise, know finances, and are good with people. They are often less stressed out.

It is easier to lead a lot of other groups than a church. Church people are peers. They are volunteers. They need to be motivated. You can’t force them to do anything. You have no carrots or sticks. If you have led in the church, you likely have some leadership ability.

There are New Testament examples of restoration.

Peter denied Jesus three times. He regretted it greatly.

John Mark deserted Paul and Barnabas. Barnabas wanted to give him another chance. Paul didn’t. It was painful (Acts 15:37-41). Mark appears later in the NT positively.

Many famous pastors start a church again after a year or two, or a friend hires them.
1. Some emphasize grace to themselves and others.
2. Others deny everything.
3. Others stress how they been radically transformed and enlightened.
Most market themselves extensively.

But it is very difficult for people in power to change. Therefore, patterns of thinking and behavior that led to the moral lapses often are still present as the “restored” pastor leads in the new setting.

In summary, I would urge pastors who have had a moral failure to assume they will never return to church leadership. Instead, do something else. Do good. Write. Get healthy. Apologize. Read. Go to school. Serve. Make amends. Explore.

If a pastor tries to make a comeback and be “restored” to ministry, they should know that they are likely still susceptible to the same problems they experienced the first time. It will take a huge amount of therapy, listening, and apologies to be able to function differently.

A restored pastor will likely need to have tried their best to make amends in writing, over the phone, and in person with those they have harmed. Without this, they cannot expect that their past actions will not follow them through online critics to future employers.

The press, public outcry online, and organizational structures provide accountability for pastors’ misbehavior. Being defensive and nitpicking slight errors when they have the story mostly accurate will not win trust or silence critics. Confession might. Or leave pastoring.

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NDA Non-disclosure agreements

Theological reflection on NDA non-disclosure agreements

Post author By Andy Rowell
Post date May 24, 2020

First tweet of thread Oct 2019

https://twitter.com/AndyRowell/status/1183800239356022785

Last tweet of thread May 2020

https://twitter.com/AndyRowell/status/1264720330729369600

First half of thread: https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1183800239356022785.html

Second half of thread: https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1264720330729369600.html

PDF:

Download NDA non-disclosure agreements part 1

Download NDA non-disclosure agreements part 2

Jumbled more below:

Solid reporting by @emlybelz
@World_Mag on the use of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) and non-compete clauses in churches.

Silence of the sheepChristian nonprofits and churches have adopted practices from the for-profit world of avoiding liability, sometimes leading to devastating outcomeshttps://world.wng.org/2019/10/silence_of_the_sheep

Me: Both are bad for the gospel. NDAs coerce those who have seen wrongdoing from speaking out. Non-compete clauses also bully.

Yes, employees should not disclose members' confidential information inappropriately while employed or afterward.

Yes, maybe it is best for severance to include a cooling off period where the parties do not speak ill of the other.

But an NDA that mandates secrecy about everything (including suspicious, criminal, abusive, negligent, and unethical behavior, and sexual harrassment), and threatens any who disclose with legal action and financial penalty will lead to a dehumanizing, abusive culture.

An NDA that demands the former employee deny that they have signed an NDA or that an NDA exists is a mandate to lie. This is evil.

If someone who signed an NDA thinks they have a moral obligation to disclose something, I would urge them to go to the state authorities if it is criminal; find a good lawyer because NDAs are often not enforced in court on whistleblowers; contact a journalist confidentially.