Q. I had to remove a worship band member for moral failure, but I have been accused of being judgmental. Some are saying, "We all sin and fall short of the glory of God." What should I do?

A. It is true that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. It is also true that we must be careful to guard well our integrity and reputation as we represent Christ and our church.

There are two biblical reasons to remove someone from ministry due to moral failure: (1) the loss of the right to lead due to the failure, and (2) the need to regroup and put a life back together again. Individuals in this situation need time to reflect and rebuild their lives.

Some examples of moral failure include gossip, pride, inappropriate emotional relationships, dishonesty, malicious dissention or stirring up trouble, adultery, and major family issues that need to be addressed. There are other reasons to sideline someone from ministry that have nothing to do with moral failure. For example, a need resulting ...