Another Pastor Falls

I just caught wind of this story from Andrew Sullivan's blog. Apparently, as is being reported in the local Englewood, CO paper, D. Paul Barnes, pastor of the 2000 plus member Grace Chapel, has resigned for sexual misconduct. More specifically, for engaging in a homosexual relationship. I don't know anything about him and he doesn't have the exposure of Ted Haggard, but this underlines the need to have an honest and open conversation.

The article quotes Barnes, who had pastored the church for 28 years, as saying:

“I have struggled with homosexuality since I was a 5-year-old boy,” Barnes,
54, said in the videotaped message. “... I can’t tell you the number of nights I
have cried myself to sleep, begging God to take this away.”

Again, it's time to have this conversation before we hear of more revelations. Since I know little about him, I don't know his stand on homosexuality. That he is married and has struggled with homosexual impulses since childhood suggests that his theology made it difficult to be open about who he is. I'm sure more will come out as the days go by. So, I guess I'll recommend reading my SoMA Review essay on Ted Haggard.

Comments

Popular Posts