(ChurchLeaders) Does having an affair disqualify a person from ministry? According to a new survey of 1,000 U.S. Protestant pastors, most say an extramarital affair warrants time away from ministry—but not necessarily a permanent exit.
“Pastors’ Views on Moral Failures,” conducted by Nashville-based LifeWay Research, provides “a good barometer for opinions across churches,” says executive director Scott McConnell. “There is widespread disagreement from pastors across denominations, church size, age, race, and education levels to quickly restoring pastors who commit adultery to public ministry positions.”