Date
4-2022
Department
Rawlings School of Divinity
Degree
Doctor of Ministry (DMin)
Chair
Robert A. Gowins
Keywords
Pastoral Qualifications, Prodigal Children, Church Leadership, Pastor's Family, Pastor's Home
Disciplines
Christianity | Leadership Studies | Practical Theology | Religion
Recommended Citation
Garber, P. Kevin, "To Stay or Step Down: Assessing the Pastoral Qualifications of Pastors with Prodigal Children" (2022). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 3578.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/3578
Abstract
The pastor’s home life is a reflection of his ability to effectively lead Christ’s church. Two seminal New Testament passages (I Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9) address, among other qualifications, the behavior and testimony of the pastor’s children. This vital aspect of a pastor’s leadership within the home must be given important emphasis and due consideration. With an examination of the nuances of these two seminal passages, exploration of published literature relevant to this topic, and an in-depth investigation of three pastoral case studies, the writer will offer a resource for pastors and parishioners who are facing the dilemma of whether a pastor should stay or step down—when the testimony of their children is legitimately called into question, and thus their ability to lead the church.
