Can a divorced man plant a church?

[Razorbuck]

What think ye?

I believe a divorced man cannot scripturally hold the office of bishop based on 1 Timothy 3:1-7...but...can a divorced man plant churches and turn them over to qualified pastors?

This is not a flip question, I wish to do this myself and have been counseled in both directions. Personally, I see nothing in the Word to prohibit it, but I would surely love to hear what y'all think.

Thanks and God Bless!

[Salsa_1960]

I'm familiar with 1 Timothy 3:1-7 but it doesn't say that divorced have no purpose in life. If they can help start a church, that's great.
Not everyone who is divorced is there by choice.

[ZiSunka]

Divorced and remarried? Divorced and single? Divorced because his unbelieving wife left him? Divorced because his wife was unfaithful?

Be more specific. A man who is divorced for Biblical reason or who never remarried is not sinning, so there is no reason he cannot plant churches. He's probably not qualified to be an overseers as you said, but he CAN plant churches and minister in many fields.

[Razorbuck]

You're right, I was kind of vague. Divorced from an unbelieving wife who left for another man, remarried to a wonderful Christian woman.

[aznboiice]

i acutally heard a pastor talk about this before
and i think that what he said is right

if a person is pushed into devorce....(knows his wife is cheating, or some other terrable case) then he should be alloud to participate as a church official

now....if the person was cheating on his wife....then most likely he should not work as church official

BUT REMENBER....BEFORE MAKING ANY DECISIONS, MAKE SURE YOU ASK GOD IN PRAYER AND ASK SOME OTHER PEOPLE WITH MORE KNOLEDGE :prayer:

REMENBER..WHAT YOU ARE DOING IN THE END SHOULD BE FOR GOD....NOT YOUR SELF

In Him~~
--Yu

[BT]

You're right, I was kind of vague. Divorced from an unbelieving wife who left for another man, remarried to a wonderful Christian woman.
If you were unsaved at the time...then that's one thing.

If you were saved at the time and your wife left for another man and committed fornication then that's another thing.

If you threw her out..that's another one.

LOL Ok I'm walking in circles now...

For the first reason...you're fine to do planting or hold office in the church (all things have become new)..

For the second one.... you're fine to do planting or hold office in the church (fornication is the acceptable means of divorce, remarriage is assumed).

For the third one ... a guy has to look at the details, but the Biblical model is reconciliation. Now since you've remarried reconciliation is out of the question.

I guess what I'm saying in a very obscure way is that I see no Biblical reason (from the limited details that I have) to advise against what it is that you want to do. I would say your next step is to approach your pastor and see what he thinks. You will likely have to meet with the deacons. Ultimately it only depends on what they think (as long as they are Biblically sound) because it is your home church that send you out into the mission field. You must have their backing first.

When I felt God's call in my life I called the Pastor the next day and set up a meeting with the deacons for later that week. Afterwards I felt that I had done the right thing, the deacons (of which I was not one at that time) and the pastor (of which I will be soon if the Lord wills) also thought this was the correct path to follow.

I'm able to clarify anything from this muddy response for you.. just let me know :doh:

[Andyman_1970]

That passage in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 is in the present tense in the Greek, and literally translates "one woman man".

I know many (including my own) churches who take this a "step further" with the "requirement" that a elder/deacon/pastor/bishop not be divorced. The Text however does not specify this, the requirements for the canidate are all in the present tense, none say "used to be addicted to wine" for example.

From what I have researched the passage in 1 Timothy, the requirement for "husband of one wife" does not indicate a divorced man cannot serve in the offices addressed by Paul in a church. The real quesiton is, is he currently a one woman man?

[Razorbuck]

For the second one.... you're fine to do planting or hold office in the church (fornication is the acceptable means of divorce, remarriage is assumed).


The second one is correct.




I guess what I'm saying in a very obscure way is that I see no Biblical reason (from the limited details that I have) to advise against what it is that you want to do. I would say your next step is to approach your pastor and see what he thinks. You will likely have to meet with the deacons. Ultimately it only depends on what they think (as long as they are Biblically sound) because it is your home church that send you out into the mission field. You must have their backing first.

I have spoken to my pastor on several occasions about this. He says I should stay where I am, i.e. youth pastor of my church. He says the church cannot send me because of the divorce, citing the aforementioned Timothy passage.

I really hate to say this (I LOVE my pastor), but it seems strange to me that I am fit for office in my church but not to plant another one. I think about it all the time-- I've got a plan and a burden for a certain area, but in light of my pastor's feelings I'm confused if this is truly a calling or simply my own desire.

I love our church members and they love me. I believe they would send me if they knew my burden, but I don't want to share my burden when I know the man of God disapproves. I have prayed and prayed, spent many nights searching the scriptures and I still have this burden. I have tried to put it out of my mind and throw myself into my present ministry, but it's still there.

I have truly never experienced confusion concerning God's will for myself and my family that prayer and study hasn't cleared up and given me peace about, until now.

I never thought I would be in this place.