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Originally Posted by schoolboi
I must admit that I have been used and abused over and over again by ministers. The abuse was never physical. It was always mental and emotional. Very little of it had anything to do with my sexual orientation. I’ve seen others experience far worse things then I have. Most of what I experienced all accrued before I was 21 years old. It has been a long and difficult journey trying to find healing from those wounds. I’m still in the process of healing.
That being said I have also had a couple of wonderful experiences with ministers too. My current pastor is so kind and trustworthy. He has helped me learn to trust again, and has truly been a gift from God.
I have always wanted to be a minister. I know it is my “calling”. I think what I have learned most from my experiences is what I do not want to become.
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your mention of mental/emotional abuse at the hands of pastors brought to mind some things that I have really tried to forget. I grew up in an Assembly of God church, and even tried to work as a music minister there after college graduation. I can remember being humiliated at a wed. evening service because the minister thought I should be participating more in the service...he called me up front to pray for me, and told everyone that I didn't seem to have much to pray for that evening. Another pastor ripped me a new one because he didn't like the song I played for the offering. And with another, I witnessed such a difference from the person in the office before and after the service, to the person in the pulpit during the service; I nearly lost my faith. All that was before I even began to deal with my orientation.