Fallen church leaders not uncommon

Lolita Harper

COSTA MESA -- Shock. Anger. Denial. Forgiveness.

All are emotions typical of those who have been affected by actions of

fallen church leaders, such as Keith Page’s resignation Saturday from

Rock Harbor Church because of an extramarital affair.

But disbelief? Maybe about the specific people involved but misconduct

by church officials has been so prevalent recently, the act itself is

hardly surprising.

Tim McCalmont, pastor at Presbyterian Church of the Covenantin Costa

Mesa, said the seductiveness of power, mixed with the deeply emotional

nature of preaching God’s word, is a breeding ground for “dangerous”

actions.

“Keith is my friend and he is a gifted leader, but he has fallen and

it’s very serious,” McCalmont said about the pastor he called “a brother

in ministry.”

People hold pastors in a different light and fail to realize church

leaders can stray from God’s path just as easily as others, McCalmont

said. In fact, McCalmont guards against the ever-present temptation of

current culture by surrounding himself with people who hold him

accountable for his actions, he said.

McCalmont participates in a support group with other pastors where

they talk about their weaknesses and their temptations. The group of four

pray for each other and address potentially damaging positions, he said.

“Thankfully, I’ve never fallen in that way, but if they see me in a

dangerous situation, they call me on it and make sure I get out of it,”

McCalmont said.

Today’s culture is so loaded with alluring sexual images it is

flat-out dangerous not to be involved in a support group to counter those

urges, McCalmont said. Especially for those in positions of leadership

and power, he said.

McCalmont admits it is very lifting to know his words as a pastor are

reaching hundreds of people and that those same people trust and respect

him. But he said he has to be careful with it.

A pastor is only a messenger. Although the words he may speak and the

emotions he may evoke are life-changing, he must remember it is not his

power that is being projected, McCalmontsaid.

“I go to God all the time to ask him to keep me powerful but only

through him. I have to leave myself out of it,” McCalmontsaid. “If you

don’t, you are asking for trouble.”

And trouble is what a handful of local church leaders have found

recently following admissions and allegations of sexual impropriety.

Last month, a popular Catholic priest was forced to resign from his

Dana Point parish after admitting to past affairs with women. Father John

Lenihan, 55, pastor of St. Edward Church, revealed he had participated in

several relationships.

In August, the Catholic Church paid $5.2 million to settle a lawsuit

alleging that a prominent Orange County priest and one-time high school

principal had molested one of his students. The alleged conduct by Msgr.

Michael A. Harris was the highest public payout to an individual in

church history, experts said.

Sexual misconduct among church officials has become so common,

insurance agents offer coverage for it. Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Co.

advertises “sexual acts” coverage on its Web site. The coverage provides

protection for claims against a ministry of alleged sexual misconduct or

harassment by a person not employed by the church, the Web site states.

The company also provides defense coverage for clergy who have been

falsely accused, provided they deny the involvement.

Spencer Burke, chairman of the Board of Elders at Rock Harbor Church,

said it is not surprising that people sin -- all people regardless of

position. One cannot read God’s holy word without turning the page and

reading about brokenness, he said. Everybody is broken and desiring to be

reconnected with God, he said.

“David was caught in adultery and murdering his best friend. Moses was

caught defying God out of pride and Peter denied Christ. We’re all in

really good company,” Burke said.

Burke said the church has not ruled out the possibility of Page one

day coming back to Rock Harbor. The key is Page’s personal restoration

before anything, he said.

Although Page was the vision behind Rock Harbor, having found and led

it, Christ is the true leader, Burke said. The church was built to speak

the truth and love, and Keith spoke that message boldly by confessing his

sins, he said. As long as the members stay true to God’s word, the church

will remain strong.

More than 10 years ago, the Newport-Mesa area was hit with news that

Tim Timmons, pastor of what was then South Coast Community Church, was

asked to resign after an inappropriate extramaritalaffair.

Timmons has since gone on to start another church in Irvine called New

Community Church. Timmons was unavailable for comment.

* Lolita Harper covers Costa Mesa. She may be reached at (949)

574-4275 or by e-mail at o7 lolita.harper@latimes.comf7 .