How to Respond When Your Pastor Fails

When news breaks that a pastor or church leader has fallen into serious sin, the ripple effects travel far beyond the individual. People who once felt spiritually safe may suddenly feel confused, angry, or grieved. Questions surface quickly: How could this happen? Did I miss the warning signs? What does this mean for my faith?

In this thoughtful installment of our ongoing series, How to Handle Life, Lynn Roush, LPC, and Shay Roush, M.Div., discuss the responsibilities of pastoral ministry, the complicated dynamics that many pastors face as they gain success and notoriety, and how Christian leaders can benefit from personal therapy and soul work. 

They’ll also talk about 5 ways to respond when your pastor fails, including acknowledging your feelings and seeking support, exercising discernment about who you follow, and remembering that God’s work through the church cannot be thwarted even through imperfect people.

Lynn brings the unique perspective of being both a pastor’s daughter and a pastor’s wife, along with insights from her counseling research on the “splitting” that can happen when leaders present a façade of spirituality while concealing unhealed pain and ongoing sin. Shay, having served in Christian ministry for more than 30 years, speaks from the pastor’s side of the table, sharing openly about the real challenges of life and leadership in ministry.

If you’ve ever wrestled with the fact that spiritual leaders are capable of great good but also serious failure, you’ll want to listen in as Lynn and Shay acknowledge the pain of pastoral failure while helping you re-center your faith on Christ.

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