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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Jen and Brandon sought a highly visible social media driven ministry. This included building a local church and referencing this church in their books and posts.

As pastors of this church they dispensed countless moral teachings on how to live as a Christian. This was also done in their books and posts. Then they found themselves in a series of crises that they kept private. Even in their divorce, secrecy has been maintained. Much later Brandon makes an announcement about his new relationship and mentions his battle with addiction and suggests he was at fault for the divorce. Still very vague. Now all these people who loved, trusted, and received their teachings are not allowed to feel upset and curious as to the real story?

Generally when a Christian leader has a “moral failure” they get up in front of those they lead and confess to what they’ve done and ask for forgiveness. It’s cathartic for all involved because it stills the gossip, brings the dark actions into the light and allows for full forgiveness to be granted and received. This humbling act of repentance brings profound healing if done in a loving community. None of that happened here. Instead there has been shaming of those who have been confused and hurt by the situation. 
Should they be allowed to keep their privacy, when they have exploited their story for years to build a lucrative ministry. It feels like pride and control to keep salient facts hidden. Even worse it smacks of no accountability for leaders to preach one thing then live another then slink away and live completely on their own terms. How convenient.

Everyone understands marriages can fail from secret addictions, affairs and broken promises. It would garner no great hysteria for them to have simply stated as much in a joint statement. Even in real life that’s what is disclosed to your community in the case of of divorce. Instead this couple cashed in on their phony lives and now refuse to fess up to the full extent of their lying. [/quote]

Can you give an example of a high visibility Christian leader who has confessed before having been caught? This seems like a religious fantasy not grounded in reality.  I can recall some public apologies, but all that I can think of were because the guilty person had already been caught cheating, stealing, using, ect…[/quote]

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