Another prominent ministry leader was recently disciplined and has taken a leave of absence for inappropriate behavior. While I have not consulted personally on this situation, the reported incidents are very similar to other situations I have been involved in helping resolve. One of the commonalities in these situations is most ministry leaders do not fail suddenly, but gradually and incrementally as they drift toward the actions that ultimately lead to their downfall.

One of the reasons for this is some leaders, in an attempt to be edgy or hip or radical (or whatever the word is today), stretch the limits of appropriate behavior. They want to get as close to the edge of questionable behavior as possible without stepping over the edge. In doing this, they desensitize themselves to appropriate behavioral limits and eventually end up on the wrong side of the line.

A better choice is to move as far away from the edge as possible, without making the opposite mistake of being prudish, perfectionistic, or legalistic. Ministry leaders are supposed to be examples of ethical and moral conduct. We are supposed to be examples of the best behaviors—particularly in interpersonal relationships, conversations, and other communications. Some leaders chafe at this requirement to be an example, but it’s a biblical pattern they would do well to emulate (Phil. 3:17, 1 Tim. 4:12). We can do this in healthy ways—without being preachy, arrogant, or over-bearing about it.

Besides personal behavior, another aspect of leading effectively in this area is accountability and transparency with your team. When the situation referenced above was revealed, I convened a team meeting for re-training of the President’s Office employees at Gateway on appropriate interpersonal relationship and communication—particularly on social media and in direct messages among the team. We have clear standards, which we are currently meeting, on these matters. The training was to reinforce those standards and remind each other of them. It was also to underscore our need for mutual accountability, meaning we all speak up when something seems inappropriate and help each other stay away from any perilous edges.

Rather than judge other leaders for their mistakes, use these recent experiences to enhance your commitment to ethical and moral behavior as a leader. Beyond that, train or retrain your team to appropriate standards in these areas. And, if you are drifting the wrong direction, step back from the edge!


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Perspective: SBC 2023

Dr. Iorg discusses what unites the SBC in light of next week’s annual convention.

Jeff Iorg
President
Dr. Jeff Iorg is the president of Gateway Seminary. Prior to his service at the Seminary, Dr. Iorg was the Executive Director of the Northwest Baptist Convention for almost ten years. He was also the founding pastor of Greater Gresham Baptist Church in Gresham, Oregon, and has served as a pastor in Missouri and a staff pastor in Texas.

Intentionality

 The greatest problem in our world is lostness. The only solution to lostness is the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Jeff Iorg
President
Dr. Jeff Iorg is the president of Gateway Seminary. Prior to his service at the Seminary, Dr. Iorg was the Executive Director of the Northwest Baptist Convention for almost ten years. He was also the founding pastor of Greater Gresham Baptist Church in Gresham, Oregon, and has served as a pastor in Missouri and a staff pastor in Texas.

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Lead On Podcast
June 4, 2023

“Life is Curriculum”: How Leaders Grow after Seminary

Dr. Iorg encourages leaders to continue growing after Seminary. He identifies seven ways to cultivate and work towards spiritual maturity. 

Lead On Podcast
May 28, 2023

Dealing with Angry People

There is a lot of anger in the world right now and a lot of that anger is spilling over into the church. This week Dr. Iorg discusses different ways to engage with and disciple angry people in your ministry.


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Spirituality of Jonathan Edwards | JEC at Gateway Seminary

Dr. Chris Chun hosted a digital symposium with Dr. Michael Haykin and Dr. Robert Caldwell to discuss Edwards’ spirituality, devotional life and theological impact in American Christianity.

Chris Chun
Professor of Church History | Director, Jonathan Edwards Center
Dr. Chris Chun is the professor of Church History and the director of Jonathan Edwards Center at Gateway Seminary. Chris’ doctoral research at St. Andrews University was focused on the eighteenth-century Edwardsean Baptists in Britain. He also has served as president of The Evangelical Theological Society (Far West Region).

Faculty Dialogues: Dispensationalism or Not

In this episode of Faculty Dialogues, Dr. David Rathel and Dr. Paul Wegner held a live discussion on their views on dispensationalism.

David Rathel
Associate Professor of Christian Theology
Dr. Rathel is the associate professor of Chrisitian Theology at Gateway Seminary. Prior to Gateway, Dr. Rathel supplied pastoral care to churches in the United States and Scotland, served as an Adjunct Professor of Theology and Philosophy for the Baptist College of Florida, and provided teaching assistance for the University of St Andrews.

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