“I say we completely disown his ministry!” Lucian banged his fist on the table and stared at the other pastors.
“Now, now, brother,” replied Kyle. “I am still the chair of this ministerial body and we agreed on the need to reach a consensus.”

“What is there still to discuss? What do you think we have been doing for the last hour and a half? The facts are clear: the man was a fraud and a charlatan and, just as the good book says, his sins found him out in the end.”

“I tend to agree with you, Lucian, but there’s no denying that he was successful. At one point he was drawing thousands of people to his revivals – easily the biggest church this city has ever seen. Nick, what you do think? You seem a bit more level headed about this business.”

“I really don’t know what to think. Certainly he was a gifted communicator; he showed me things in the Scriptures that I have never grasped in a lifetime of ministry. There were depths to him that none of us ever understood.”

“Nonsense!” shouted Simon, “The man was the most shallow person I have ever seen. It takes more than a few one-liners to be a good preacher. Consistency is what matters and that is one thing he clearly lacked. Sure, he drew the crowds, but the people quickly saw him for what he was.”

“That’s unfair.” Joseph’s tone was gentle but it carried authority. Unlike the others in the fraternal, he had independent wealth so he didn’t have to worry what people said about him. “I have no doubt that he was sincere, perhaps a little naïve at times, but he genuinely was a good man. And I for one will miss his presence not only in these meetings but in his wider ministry in the city.”

“Twaddle! He thought that he was God’s gift to humanity. But when people lost interest in him, he tried every trick in the book to regain his lost popularity.”

“That’s not true!”

“Certainly is.”

“Your problem is jealousy, pure and simple.”

“Gentlemen, gentlemen,” thundered Kyle. “I would ask you to show one another respect. This petty bickering is not getting us anywhere. Nick, you were interrupted. Was there anything you wanted to add?”

“Thanks. Only that we seem hesitant to discuss the ministry of the miraculous. I’m still not entirely comfortable with all the theology behind it, but I cannot deny that I witnessed the blind seeing and the deaf hearing.”

“Smoke and mirrors, Nick, you really should be more objective. Any of us could hire someone off the streets and shove them in a wheelchair. It was just his way of boosting the offerings.”

“I tend to agree with Simon.” added Lucian, “God looks for faithfulness and each one of us has worked long and hard in this city. Some of us might have smaller congregations than others but so what? If the Lord truly wanted to heal the sick, wouldn’t he have made use of all of us? Of course he would. It’s quite clear to me that these so-called signs and wonders were nothing of the sort.”

“Thank you, Lucian. I believe that God is pleased when we can be of one mind in these matters. Gentlemen, are there any other issues to be raised before we put this issue to a vote?”

There was a pause. Then with a smirk Simon raised his voice and began to speak. “There is the matter of his personal lifestyle. As you know, many denominations insist that their ministers be married so as to avoid, how shall we put it, ill-advised associations. Sadly, our dear brother was often seen among the, um, ladies of the night. He says he was turning them from sin, but frankly who knows what went on behind closed doors. I honestly believe that for this alone we should have washed our hands of him long ago.”

“How dare you?” retorted Nick. “That is a completely groundless accusation. You know perfectly well that he was careful not to be seen alone with any woman apart from his mother. And as for your malicious slander about his financial dealings, I never once saw him take up an offering in a meeting.”

“Gentlemen, please.” Kyle took out a handkerchief and wiped his brow, “Let us get back to the underlying issue. Our fellow pastor has been arrested by the authorities on very serious charges. The question is: do we stand by him or do we deliberately distance ourselves from his ministry? I for one have serious reservations about both his character and his methods.

Lucian?”
“We disown him.”

“Nick?”
“We stand by him. I would want you to do the same for me.”

“Noted. Joseph?”
“I’m not sure. I abstain.”

“Simon?”
“He’s a con artist. Hanging’s too good for him”

“Then it’s clear. I will send a message to Governor Pilate at once. We disassociate ourselves from everything that he stands for. Farewell Jesus, it’s entirely your own fault. Why did you have to be so different from the rest of us?”

Gregory Kane
(c) March 2006