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Compassion And Candor At St. James

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 18, 2007

The Rev. Brian James' confession of being a porn addict certainly was traumatic for this respected pastor and his congregation at the St. James United Methodist Church in New Tampa.

But the church was admirably direct in acknowledging James' lapses and deciding he could no longer lead the church.

The Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church, which oversees some 750 churches, dealt with the pastor's transgressions firmly by removing him from his post at the New Tampa church.

The church hierarchy also showed compassion, sending James to get help and leaving open the possibility of a return to the ministry.

The 45-year-old father of four had developed an online pornography habit, which apparently had been detected by church staffers. No matter how beloved by his church members, he could no longer effectively serve.

The Methodist church has long opposed pornography, arguing that it demeans women and does not uphold Christian values.

James is not the first man of the cloth to fall from grace, nor will he be the last. But in choosing to neither cast James out nor soft-pedal this violation of Methodist beliefs, the church took an appropriate and dignified stand. It has set a good example for institutions that find themselves in such embarrassing and challenging situations.

The Methodist church and the congregation of St. James United Methodist Church can hold their heads high. They have given James an opportunity to deal with his troubles and rejoin a church that practices what it preaches.

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