Cynthia Cummings-Walker, http://www.lifeandbibleblog.com
Let’s begin with definitions for the title of this Blog
Predator – Someone who systematically hunts and exploits vulnerable individuals for personal gain through coercion, rather than through mutual consent, often seeking power and control over victims.
Pimp – To use someone dishonorably for personal gain, even in non-sexual contexts. Living off of or receiving financial support from victims through manipulation.
Pedophile – An adult who is sexually attracted to children, criminally abuses and exploits them.
This Blog would be too lengthy to cite all of the research, investigations, guilty pleadings, convictions, and those serving prison terms when there are so many pastor predators, pimps and pedophiles using their pulpit as a grooming center. However, I have included researchers and statistics below.
True Stories
Over the years I have counselled women who have been abused by pastors in different ways. A lot of stories begins the same. A vulnerable woman gets a lot of attention from a so-called caring pastor, counselling and sexual abuse.
- A church that initially functioned as a Christian church, then devolved into a cult of pastor worship and blind obedience. I don’t know if that was the original intent of the pastor. Or, the corrupting influence of absolute power can corrupt absolutely when there is no accountability.
- I know personally of a young woman who was not only sexually abused in a Christian school, the Church pastor was aware and did nothing. The pastor wanted a winning girl’s basketball team.
- The Christian school hired a female coach who happened to be gay. The female coach sexually abused the girls and enjoyed seeing them form homosexual relationships with each other. I suppose winning a state championship was worth it for the pastor. Nothing for the girls accept a life of pain, struggle and anger with a God they believed had forsaken them.
The Predator Pastor
Pastors who are predators have different motivations, and ways to manipulate and control people. Spiritual abuse of authority is the basic foundation from which to demand obedience and submission as something God ordained.
Some predator pastors want wealth, so they fleece the flock by using tithing, or offerings, as a necessary component of Christianity and church membership.
Many promise health and wealth based on the amount of money a person gives. Some call it planting a seed. Others know it as fraud.
The sexual predator pastor can manipulate a person they desire by making them feel special, create guilt, or fear that God will punish them if they do not obey the pastor.
Any pastor’s self-exaltation, or enforcing dependency on themselves rather than on God should be a red flag.
Whether the pastor’s behavior is fraud, adultery, theft, sexual assault, homosexuality or pedophilia, there seems to be quiet coverups or the pastor going to another church or ministry.
The Pimping Pastor
The pastor who is a pimp lives off of the money he gets by requiring people to give their hard-earned money to the church through all types of schemes.
Pimp Pastors abuse their authority by claiming that financial blessing is tied to obedience to them. This forces their members to fund their lavish lifestyles. There are exorbitant pastor’s salaries, his anniversary, church anniversaries, birthdays, and special offerings,
Many congregants give sacrificially to support the pimp, receiving nothing for their services except empty handed promises that sacrificing and struggling here on earth will reap a greater reward in heaven.
Have you ever noticed that if the Pastor has a need, he can just ask the church to provide it? On the other hand if a member has a need, they are told to pray. If God doesn’t provide, the person is told to go to government agencies for assistance.
I’ve seen and heard of this happening so many times, especially in mega churches.
The Pedophile Pastor
Many years ago the Catholic Church was proven to have covered up a lot of pedophilia going on in parishes. It all appeared to be within the Catholic church until investigations were conducted and discovered that the Protestant churches have also been guilty of pedophilia for years.
Here are a few examples of actions that may signal a pedophile pastor’s attempt at grooming a child.
- Pedophile pastor having an unnatural, excessive interest in a child.
- Inappropriate boundaries (requiring hugs or kisses).
- Grooming behaviors like excessive gifts or special attention.
- Requiring a child’s isolation for counselling or other activities.
Of course, these are very general actions. I would encourage you to be educated on what to look for, and preventative measures so that our children will be protected.
What Can Be Done?
Know the Signs:
Any pastor who requires blind obedience, and submission to the pastor without question, should be questioned. If that is not allowed, exit.
Take Personal Responsibility:
False pastors do not encourage their congregants to read and study the bible for themselves. If Christians don’t know what the bible says, they will have to solely rely on what the pastor teaches, whether bible-inspired or the fulfilment of their desires.
Christians are responsible for developing a personal relationship with the Lord so that you will be able to discern good from evil and truth from error. Be a student of the Bible, read, study, memorize scripture and pray, pray and pray some more.
If you see something, say something, do something. If Church leadership is unresponsive or asks you to keep anything a secret, it would probably be wise to exit that ministry. Law enforcement probably needs to know if there is a criminal act being committed.
Church Leadership Responsibilities:
Churches should have strong governance and accountability, so that pastors cannot act without oversight.
This seems to be lacking in many churches. Even when misconduct by a pastor is disclosed, without accountability, the pastor simply goes to another church, or begins their own ministry.
Because there are widespread cover-ups, you may learn that it has happened or been happening in the church you are attending. If something seems suspicious, ask questions and be equipped to take things further if necessary.
Resources
Here are just a few organizations with invaluable information and tools to assist when vulnerable adults and children have been abused.
- Baylor University is a nationally recognized research and advocacy center on clergy abuse.
- Praesidium, Inc. are nationwide experts researching and providing tools for preventing the sexual abuse of children and vulnerable adults.
- Guidepost Solutions is a national association of Evangelicals providing resources, ethical codes, and promoting confidential reporting.
- Womenslaw.org specializes in Spiritual Abuses.
Questions to Ponder
Have you ever experienced Spiritual Abuse? What happened? How did you get free?
Have you ever been deceived by a promise of health and wealth if you gave lots of money in planting a financal seed?
Have you ever struggled financially after faithfully paying tithes, and received no assistance from Church the one time you needed it?
Have you had abuse, interactions, or knowledge of a Pedophile pastor? What was the outcome?
A Word to the Wise 