I had a book reviewer Tweet me and say something along the lines of, "I'm reading your book - it's both helpful and depressing."

He's right. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fallen-Pastor-Finding-Restoration-Broken/dp/0615567096/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1325370631&amp;sr=8-1">"Fallen Pastor: Finding Restoration in a Broken World,"</a> is not for the lighthearted. But it is for those who desire to see the church culture change so that the future can be brighter.

We live in a broken world. One where 1,500 pastors a month are leaving the church due to moral failure, conflict, or burnout. Something is broken, and it's more than just these pastors. It is a culture that is immersed in a pattern of failure.

<a href="http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/fp4.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-3503" style="margin-left: 6px; margin-right: 6px;" src="http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/fp4-194x300.jpg" alt="" width="194" height="300" /></a>In the book, I interviewed one fallen pastor who I call "Gary." He relayed the following story:

<em>"I heard about a pastor who committed adultery in August then killed himself in December. I wondered, "Did anyone reach out to him? Did anyone love him? Did anyone seek to restore him?' It brought back so many memories of when I wanted to die."</em>

Sadly, when a pastor falls into sin and is removed from the church, he finds himself alone and rejected. And why not? It's his own fault, right? He has placed himself into this situation. He has dug a hole and now must reside there.

Christ challenged this attitude all throughout Scripture. He came alongside the weak and condemned. In fact, He became condemned for our satisfaction.

Scripture challenges us in <a href="http://www.esvbible.org/search/gal+6/">Galatians 6:1</a> to restore those who are caught in a transgression. Too often, though, our response to those in leadership is harsh and unloving. <em>"How could he?"</em>

The path of the pastor to fallenness is a long one. Unrealistic expectations, isolation, a worsening relationship with his spouse all lead him to weakness. He may ultimately find himself in a position where he makes the final, sinful decision.

Fallen Pastor seeks out those who have fallen. But it seeks out those who want to prevent it from happening. It encourages people who desire to do one of the most difficult jobs - to walk alongside the fallen pastor. But it calls all of us to react in a compassionate manner toward those who sin and seek their restoration to the body of Christ.

It will keep anyone from having to ask the question, <em>"Did anyone love him?"</em> A question that should never be asked of someone within the community of Christ, regardless of their sin or how far they fall. Let us rise together to walk with those who need restoration, because one day it may be one of us who needs the grace of the community.

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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fallen-Pastor-Finding-Restoration-Broken/dp/0615567096/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1325370631&amp;sr=8-1">Fallen Pastor: Finding Restoration in a Broken World</a> by Ray Carroll (Civitas Press) is now available. You can also view his blog at <a href="http://www.fallenpastor.com">www.fallenpastor.com</a>.

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