Jude 2

Some of u might remember that I made a post that involved a friend of mine that was a pastor who was divorced for "X" number of years but last year got married. He was pastoring a COGOP church when he married again. The events that took were as followed: First the state that he pastored in suspended his license for review until further notice. Secondly, he was asked to step down from his pastorate but he could still remain a member of that local church and COGOP.

So after several meeting with the state overseer(and other leaders) of that state and with some hq folks, they reinstated his licenses this year and secondly, that overseer has moved on and a new one has arrived. The pastor that was assigned to the church has also moved on to another state and my friend was asked to take his old church back with his new bride! I just praise God for how he has worked this out!

End of story or is it?

No it is not the end of the story........

Dr. Ron wrote:No it is not the end of the story........

OooKay....?

okay so what is stopping Rambo????? (Rambo I am not meaning anything insulting here at all, i just know you want to pastor etc.) If this guy is allowed to pastor after being in double marriage (married more then once) why cant Rambo, is it all dependent on what the committee says????

I guess I am trying to understand is it a case by case basis and not accepted across the board? I really would not understand why they would allow some and not others but, that is my question.

Thanks

one love wrote:...after being in double marriage (married more then once) ...

I hate that expression, especially now that it's not a sin any more in these cases.

fezzik wrote:

one love wrote:...after being in double marriage (married more then once) ...

I hate that expression, especially now that it's not a sin any more in these cases.

yeah i was thinking the same thing...

The Licensing process takes some time, I believe they have just recently started licensing those with previous marriages. I believe there was some delay as US overseers discussed matters trying to keep consistent across states.

one love wrote:okay so what is stopping Rambo????? (Rambo I am not meaning anything insulting here at all, i just know you want to pastor etc.) ...

Semi-OT -
I have submitted the paperwork necessary (big ol' thread in the doctrine forum).

but yes, it comes down to local interpretations. My pastor knows what I believe my calling is, as I have expressed it many (too many?) times. our previous overseer knows as well. There is a lot of long story that I choose to skip here.

We have a new overseer. I have not directly expressed to him yet. However, when I filled out the paperwork and made copies of all the necessary information, I made a packet for my "application", including recommendations from many pastors, overseers and some folks in COGOP HQ.

I gave that packet to my pastor and asked that he give it to the new overseer for review (following the hierarchical "org-chart" approach). that was a week or two after the IA this year. I haven't heard back from my pastor or the overseer.

I have been praying whether or not to bring it up again.

fezzik wrote:

one love wrote:...after being in double marriage (married more then once) ...

I hate that expression, especially now that it's not a sin any more in these cases.

Any more?

I belive our state is having people who fall into this category start at the beginning (lay minister)...I know one person who used to be licensed/divorced (wife had an affair)/remarried years later...He is starting out as a lay minister again, not as a "liscensed evangelist".

As with most things in CoGoP each area will do it differently.

free wrote:I belive our state is having people who fall into this category start at the beginning (lay minister)...I know one person who used to be licensed/divorced (wife had an affair)/remarried years later...He is starting out as a lay minister again, not as a "liscensed evangelist".

As with most things in CoGoP each area will do it differently.

There are no "LICENSED EVANGELISTS" anymore. You are either a Lay Minister (pre-Ordination), an Ordained Minister, or a Bishop.

I have submitted the paperwork necessary (big ol' thread in the doctrine forum).

but yes, it comes down to local interpretations. My pastor knows what I believe my calling is, as I have expressed it many (too many?) times. our previous overseer knows as well. There is a lot of long story that I choose to skip here.

Now all that's missing are the funny hats!!!

Jinjer

OK...He will be a lay minister and not an "ordained minister"...Pastor G. how will you handle it in Hawaii? Would a person have to "start over" or could they pick up where they were if the divorce, etc were proven to not be their fault?

free wrote:OK...He will be a lay minister and not an "ordained minister"...Pastor G. how will you handle it in Hawaii? Would a person have to "start over" or could they pick up where they were if the divorce, etc were proven to not be their fault?

It has not come up (yet) under my leadership, but it will, I suspect, and it will be handled on a case by case basis.

I am not convinced that we can, or should, have a one-size-fits-all way of dealing with complex issues.

rough_rider wrote:

fezzik wrote:

one love wrote:...after being in double marriage (married more then once) ...

I hate that expression, especially now that it's not a sin any more in these cases.

Any more?

I was confused by that as well. I dont see how "double marriage" is offensive but it was not meant to be. I even started the post by saying as much.
I figured that is what the topic was (those that are licensed after being in "double marriage" or as I said " being married before or more then once" they both mean the same thing.

as far as "not a sin anymore" lost me there. By this you are indicating that it was a sin but somehow is no longer sin because of the committee's decision. Maybe I am reading this wrong, I apologize if I am, again I meant no disrespect. I was curious why someone else "in the same situation" is allowed to pastor yet I knew Rambo wants to pastor....Anyway I guess my question is answered... if I understand everyone correctly it is a "case by case" basis....

Thanks