by Gene Scarborough » Wed Jul 13, 2011 4:18 am
Thanks for the spelling correction and it is right now, I believe. I just checked the article again this morning and responses have doubled quickly.
I know very little outside what several blogs and comments say. At this point there appear to be some allegations of mostly power and control of people and money with a little hint of possible misconduct. The story I conveighed was known and real life. The confessions of sexual misconduct happened during a revival when the preacher and one of his paramores came forward to confess their sinful relationship.
Of course, the church folks were not in a forgiving mood and, like most dedicated followers of Baptists, shot their wounded! The man had obvious control and morality issues. My problem is that he was a known womanizer back where he came from, yet because of his conservative links and theology---he got the personal recommendation of W.A. Criswell. I advised the Pulpit Committee it would be wise to call the DOM there along with several other Pastors in his Association to get a better picture. They simply trusted Criswell only and that was as far as they researched.
The power of influence got them a royal scandal. The man immediately put his name on the church sign as, "Pastor / Teacher / Counselor." His first move was to close over the little window in his Study door saying he needed privacy and confidentiality with the women he counseled. He invited any who needed help to come and it all ended with 3-4 women involved with him before his "confession" from his own lips in front of the church. Even worse, his wife knew all about his ways and was willing to keep quiet and let it go as "that's the way he is."
It sounds like a fantasy, but I can assure you it was not and that church took a great hit---because of their conservative presentation, it strangely went away and no one brought charges against Criswell for recommending a womanizer who was living some 4 states away from his ultimate "outing." I see similarities with the Priests who molested children just getting a move to another place far away to do it again.
Gene Scarborough