Home 
Pastors have a tough job. As a result, they sometimes lose their patience, their hair, their job, and even their families. More recently, there have been a few pastors that have actually lost their faith.
Waiting in the wings is The American Atheists…with a special program designed just for them.
Jerry DeWitt was the first “graduate” of The Clergy Project, an initiative underwritten by various atheist organizations that helps pastors “come out” as unbelievers to their friends, families, colleagues, and congregations. Since its founding in March of 2011, the organization has been helping pastors “transition from Sunday mornings in the pulpit to Sunday mornings in bed.”
For DeWitt, the downward spiral started when he gave up the notion of Hell. He could no longer rectify the idea of a loving God with the idea of eternal punishment. From there, he embraced the heresy of universalism. Eventually, he diluted God to being nothing more than an inner voice.
“I went from God loves everybody to God saves everybody to God is in everybody,” said the former pastor. “When you come from where I come from…it’s not too long before you are at the American Atheists convention.”
But DeWitt isn’t the only one.
Teresa MacBain, a former Christian and former ministry leader, is one of The Clergy Project’s latest grads. She now openly professes atheism and has lent her voice to The American Atheists.
But MacBain won’t be the last believer to matriculate from The Clergy Project. Dan Barker, a former pastor and the founder of The Clergy Project, claims the program currently has about 200 active members, from both Protestant and Catholic backgrounds, moving through the stages of unbelief.
In his final letter, the Apostle Paul warned Timothy about pastors who falter and encouraged the young minister to do as he did and keep the faith:
In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage – with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day – and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. (2 Timothy 4:1-8)
Click here and here for the online reports.
Topics Illustrated Include:
Atheism
Beliefs
Faith
Help
Lose
Pastor
Truth
(Resource cataloged by David R Smith)
