Q&A #248- Power dynamics within church relationships, sexual misconduct in the church, and more!
***Please note this episode discusses sensitive topics around sexual misconduct Please take care while listening***
Pastors Blake, and Kyle return as a team to discuss the following:
1. With everything happening with big church Pastors being found guilty of inappropriate behavior or affairs/ some with victims who were seeking care. Obviously if two adults are consenting is one thing compared to if not, but can anyone truly be consenting in such a power dynamic? Example the situation with Bruxy. Thanks and appreciate this is a difficult one, disappointing news lately that's for sure
2. Providing some backstory prior to my question. I am a married man in my 30's and have 2 children, I'm also straight, so I feel a bit out of my depth asking this one but was interested.. hope this is truly anonymous now LOL. A family member of mine recently came out as a member of the LGBTQ community. It's something we are wrestling with as we grow to accept/ support this journey. This is especially a confusing time though, as he is a pastor in a different province. He's been asked to step down, because he is in love with his partner and because he isn't in a "straight presenting" relationship. This brings me to my question, if we can't rely on even our heterosexual spiritual leaders to be monogamous, or to not engage in inappropriate relationships then why is it wrong for a pastor who is gay and in a loving relationship to be leading the church? I can't seem to reconcile this. Couldn't a gay loving relationship teach us to be more like Jesus? Even if it is something we are learning to accept? It saddens me that he's essentially being asked to end his relationship and stay hiding his truth to keep his job.
3. In any circumstance, is it okay for a pastor to begin a relationship (romantically) with a member of their church? At what point is the line blurry? is there a point where the line is blurred? Is it abusive? Is it always abusive?
Have a question you'd like to submit? Head to https://livingspringsairdrie.com/podcast