Because of my military background (being moved around) I have had several pastors. I have seen the good, the bad, and the ugly. Not necessarily in my church, but in a sister church or in a church across town, or even in another work in a neighboring state. Except in the rare case where a man was obviously in the pulpit only for money, or prestige, or power, or some other nefarious reason I have always grieved over a fallen pastor. I have seen some be lifted up far beyond what God's intent was ever meant to be (I know God has a pastor's crown, so God obviously holds them in high regard.), and they began to believe the press reports. And I have seen others so burdened with responsibility that the weight they bore almost crushed them. Some likely failed because of a lack of prayer support. (I wonder how many pastor's have even 50% of their members faithfully praying for them and their families- by name- on a consistent, daily basis?) I knew one great man who had to hold two jobs, and his wife had to work because the flock felt he should make a meager salary. (That one has a great ending, though there were some very distressing and trying times, and a vicious church split.) For me, I've always felt that I knew very little, was worth not much, had only a bit to offer, BUT I could pray, and love, and support my pastor. Granted, even in that I have failed a time or two. But pastor's are the primary torch bearers, and Christianity's over two thousand year propagation has been primarily carried out by pastors. So even the fallen should have the dignity of respect, and not be ravaged viciously by what resembles a pack of dogs. They should also be held accountable, and their sin not glossed over because they are a pastor. I am only a layman, and then not a very attractive, affluent, or influential one so thank you for allowing me to post. I hope I have added something to this thread. If not, forgive me. The story of Koree, and he and his family being swallowed up by the earth after he tried to usurp Moses' authority (I heard that story preached when I was a month old Christian) has always been at the forefront of my thoughts in regards to how I treat my pastor, wether in his company or in the company of others who were discussing him.

There is a verse in the bible,"..because iniquity shall abound the love of many shall wax cold." Whatever your faith, or lack of it, there is truth here. As we see crooked politicians enrich themselves, cronyism, repeat felons, hypocricy in the news media even the hearty can faint. But then I read about people being slaughtered in the Sudan or Somalia, about those who are imprisoned in China merely for being Christian, about the mob riots in Britain and Greece, about young prepubescent girls being forced to marry much older men in the Middle East, about the millions living in REAL, ABJECT poverty in India merely because they were not born in the right caste, and on and on, and I consider my America here even in Detroit, with the hellos and howdy doos, the warm smiles-I try to ignore the frowns-, the way people give and give when some tragedy occurs around the globe, our humanitarian efforts, the way we are the best place for immigrants to be in the world, legal or illegal, then I get warm all over, draw my family to me, and prayerfully thank God that I am an American:)