Church Scandal and Financial Wrongdoing

Why do pastors fail in handling of church finances? Why risk a church scandal over financial wrongdoing.?

Christianity.ca reports: “There were only two stories (in Canada) about church scandals in 2009, and both dealt with financial wrongdoing.”

God requires faithfulness above all else. God says to us: “I will increase your responsibilities when you are faithful in little things.”

Let us remember that as our responsibilities increase, God will grant us grace and wisdom.

Grace is strength and courage given in compassion to those who desire to please God but have not the strength to do so. God smiles upon and gives grace to those in need and who know it; to those who are weak and ask for help.

God’s help (grace) may come as He sends His Word to our heart, His Word comes with faith, as faith increases we are bold to do what seemed impossible before. We need to be humble, that is in a receptive and listening state toward God.

Brother Lawrence is an example of this. In “The Practice of the Presence of God” it says: “Whenever he considered doing some good deed, he always consulted God about it, saying, “Lord, I will never be able to do that if You don’t help me.” Immediately he would be given more than enough strength.

If God requires faithfulness and supplies the grace to follow His commands then there is no excuse for not following good business practices with church finances. Pastors only need to be faithful in the small things to avoid church scandal around financial wrongdoing

In Demons in the Sanctuary there are many reports indicating that Pastor Rutherford bent the financial rules and was not diligent in avoiding the appearance of conflict of interest and nepotism. As I read the book it looks more and more that these moves are not just sloppiness; they are self-serving. Also, they are not just slip ups; they are his standard practice.

What God would see is a heart problem. Something is deeply wrong in the motivations of this pastor. Those who are willful and rebellious need God's forgiveness.

In chapter one, Dan talks angrily about the pastor’s “little private deals.” In chapter two there is “the check you may not like” that the Board Secretary-Treasurer is handed by the bookkeeper. In chapter three Mira tries to confront him about this invoice and some others and he responds with impatience rather than concern.

In chapter four he appears to lie to the Board meeting to cover up an inappropriate invoice. This seems to confirm Dan’s rant about lying and getting his way with ‘private deals.’

Mira (Board Treasurer) has been told by the bookkeeper that Pastor R. asked to see the tithing records so that he would know which people to target. Rutherford ‘targeted’ (that is pressured) wealthier congregants to give largely. Most pastors and most churches keep financial records out of the pastor’s hands to avoid bias or prejudice.

I don’t know if this is acceptable under Ministerial Codes of Ethics but Pastor Rutherford was in the practice of accepting large gifts to him personally from his people. This is not acceptable for politicians or Psychologists. Is it okay for pastors?

(As I remember it, I believe Pastor Ralph Rutledge accepted a gift of a car when he was at Queensway Cathedral with the PAOC.  I still do not know if this is ethical for pastors.)

Other posts in this series on Demons in the Sanctuary: 1. Masculine Tough and Feminine Soft, 2. Narcissistic Personality Pastor, 3. Nicolaitanism – triumph over the lay people, 4. Church Scandal and Financial Wrongdoing, 5. Attitude of a Good Pastor.

See also the blog on "What do we know about Ralph Rutledge?"   The wolf in Sheep Clothing,  Character Issues to Observe,  Good Boundaries make Good Ministers, Thesis, Method, Observations and Conclusions about Ralph Rutledge, Ralph Rutledge Defrocked