Home Pastors Articles for Pastors 8 Dangerous Pastors Who Will Destroy Your Church

8 Dangerous Pastors Who Will Destroy Your Church

3. The predators

Jesus spoke of shepherds who watch the sheep, hirelings who do not stick around when the sheep are threatened, and wolves who are the enemies of all sheep.

Pastor search committees need to know how to tell one from the other. (John 10 is a good starting place for your study.)

A shepherd lays down his life for the sheep, Jesus said. A hireling has no appetite for conflict, looks out for number one, is not devoted to the flock and skips town (or locks himself in his study!) at the first threat of trouble. The wolves are the ones who make the trouble (see Acts 20:28-30).

As I sometimes get reminded on this blog—which we admit is directed toward pastors and church leadership—the church’s problem can be the preacher. Of course, this is true. Dangerous pastors can be a cancer, spreading disease throughout the flock, its lay leadership must rise up and take action. But, for our purposes here, we’re talking about a search committee trying to spot the trouble-making pastor in order to avoid bringing him in.

Ask references for the names of others whom you will want to call in order to have a full picture of this minister. Consider having a member of your committee who knows how to fly under the radar visit that pastor’s city and make discreet inquiries about him and his church.

Sexual predators are the worst kind.

If rumors persist about a particular minister you are interested in, don’t automatically assume the worst. Your committee should have as its advisors one or two ministers with vast experience—either a retired pastor or a denominational leader—who can give you his perspective and make recommendations, but will hold everything in the strictest confidence.

If, however, the rumors trail the minister from church to church where he has served, you will want to pay attention.