The Red Collar Scandal Series relies on public news stories for its content. If you read a story about an Evangelical preacher who can’t keep his pants zipped up, please send it to Bruce Gerencser.
Steve Lawson, Calvinistic pastor of Trinity Bible Church in Dallas, Texas, dean at The Master’s Seminary, and founder of One Passion Ministries, “dedicated his life to helping biblical expositors bring about a new reformation in the church.” His “passion” also included having a five-year relationship with a non-church member female in her twenties. Allegedly, this relationship did not slide into home, with no intercourse taking place. All we know is that Lawson had an “inappropriate relationship” with a woman young enough to be great-granddaughter.
“Inappropriate relationship” is a term used by Evangelical churches and preachers to cover up the true nature of sexual misconduct. Did they just have an emotional relationship? Hold hands? Kissing and hugging? Mutual masturbation? Oral sex? Anal sex? Yes, anal sex. In some corners of Evangelicalism, only vaginal sex is considered sexual intercourse. Regardless, Phil Johnson, an elder at Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, and a friend of Lawson’s, said in a since-deleted tweet:
Rick Pidcock, a former Fundamentalist Christian, had this to say about the vague phrase “inappropriate relationship”:
What does “inappropriate” mean? Has there been an ongoing sexual relationship? Is it texting? Is the woman a church member? Is she a legal adult?
The problem with vague statements like this is that it makes it impossible for us to have any kind of deeply informed discussion about how to solve these problems or hold people accountable without filling in blanks and throwing out hypotheticals. Then when we do, the church can call us gossips for speculating about details.
By withholding specifics, they seem to want to stifle any conversation about it. And thus, they control the narrative and protect themselves. And perhaps protecting themselves has less to do with doing the right thing and more to do with protecting themselves against legal trouble or making sure they can continue moving forward with their building plans.
I am sure more details will become known in the days ahead. For now, another Evangelical preacher is sidelined because of sexual infidelity. Will he resurrect from the dead after a time of repentance and restoration? We shall see. At Lawson’s age, it might be best for him to retire and spend what time he has left fixing his relationship with his family.
Bruce Gerencser, 67, lives in rural Northwest Ohio with his wife of 46 years. He and his wife have six grown children and thirteen grandchildren. Bruce pastored Evangelical churches for twenty-five years in Ohio, Texas, and Michigan. Bruce left the ministry in 2005, and in 2008 he left Christianity. Bruce is now a humanist and an atheist.
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