Leadership Dichotomy
This simple discussion with Pete Paine illustrates the types of dilemmas that develop when leaders sacrifice their integrity
People often ask “Did Pete and Ed know what was going on (with LR Davis’s sexual activities)?
Back several years ago, a friend of mine posted the following on the Abusivechurches.com blog (now defunct):
"Look at it this way: if Pete and Ed really DIDN'T know or believe the homosexual activity was going on, or they were so blind they couldn't see it happening right under their noses, could they really be fit to lead people spiritually? Who wants a pastor who's that stupid and unaware of their surroundings?"
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I just wanted to piggy back on a what I consider to be a “seeing the forest from the trees” type of point that this quote brings up.
I think it’s important to step outside the personalities and sort of myths about how “great” these men are who have been leading CFCMI and try to apply simple logic. Re-read the quote above and consider the logic involved. It stands on its own.
In fact, this is essentially the exact question I put bluntly and directly to Pastor Paine on May 6th, 2001 as my wife and I sat before him in his office. It went something like this (keep in mind that while he never actually admitted LRD had committed the sexual acts he was accused of, but he did agree that it was a reasonable assumption at the very beginning of our meeting and it was the basis for much of what we discussed):
Me: “Pastor Paine, the way I see it, one of the two following situations is true; either,
(A) You are telling my wife and I the truth and you were completely unaware of LR Davis’ sexual activities until approximately 1996, or
(B) You are not telling the truth, and you were aware of them all along, or at least for many years and failed to take any action to stop them.
In my opinion, if Case (B) were true, you would be obviously unfit to lead a congregation. Do you agree?”
PFP: “Yes, of course.”
Me: “Well, then, let’s take you at your word and consider Case (A) to be the situation. I consider one of the pastorship’s primary responsibilities to be protecting the flock. That’s what Jeremiah 23 is talking about “Woe unto the pastors ….”. If Case (A) is true, then what you are telling us is that if for 20+ years Satan was as a wolf just ravaging the sheep, one after another, in the form of LRD’s sexual perversions, and you, living right next door to him and working around it all day in and day out, and you were completely unable to detect it. To me, that’s means that you simply are not equipped to protect the flock, which is the principle role of a pastor. You might be a nice, sincere Christian guy with certain talents, but you simply are not fit to be a pastor. That type of ignorance to such a serious incursion of satan, year after year, right under your nose simply HAS to be something you have the ability to see. In my opinion, by your own admission, you are not fit to be a pastor.”
“So, either way, Case (A) or (B), it seems to me that you are not fit to be a pastor.”
PFP: “Well, you make a good point and I am not saying I am perfect.”
That’s pretty much it. But please, stop and think about it. Even if you are the most optimistic CFCMI member, this has got to cause you to step back and take a look at things. Are your leaders “led of God”? How would you know? Try to demystify them and simply think of them as men. Be true to yourself and honest with yourself.
This is something that really hit me when I first thought about it and still is as convincing as ever to me now. I think the same basic principle applies to EJT.