About two weeks ago, two celebrity pastoral couples suffered public crackups within days of each other. Randy and Paula White, pastors of Without Walls International Church in Tampa — reckoned in 2005 the second-largest church in America and the fastest-growing — announced they are going their separate ways. By all accounts, it is an amicable split, and Randy White will continue as pastor of Without Walls while Paula follows her star as a preacher, author and \u201clife coach.”<\/p>\n
About the same time, singer and evangelist Juanita Bynum had a rather more nasty breakup with her estranged husband, Thomas Weeks, pastor of Global Destiny Ministries in the Atlanta area. According to police, Weeks had to be restrained from choking and stomping on Bynum in a hotel parking lot. She went to the hospital, and he has been charged with assault and battery.<\/p>\n
No doubt, divorce is painful and tragic. I would even say in a few cases, it is necessary for the health of those involved. But when a pastor\u2019s marriage goes on the rocks, should it be no big deal? If either of the Whites marry again, it would be their third marriage. Does this matter? Should members of Without Walls mind that their pastor hasn\u2019t set a very good example?<\/p>\n
Some might say pastors are human, too, and that it is unfair to hold them to a different standard. Others might say that is the price of leadership — that leaders should be held to a higher standard.<\/p>\n