A Wolf in the Pulpit?: The Setup for Moral Failure and the Abuse of Power

The author addresses the epidemic of moral failure of solo and senior church pastors. Some of these scandals he has witnessed personally, and, as an elder, was charged with dealing with the painful aftermath. He delves beneath surface causes and past the usual admonitions to pastors to avoid temptation, and specifically challenges the structure of today’s churches—a structure which precipitates overload on the man at the top, and sets him up for overwhelming temptations. Swartley’s detailed New Testament analysis exposes the structure the apostles intended and established. He is a strong advocate of the path that the church can and should take—to turn the tide, and to protect our churches and Christ’s reputation.