10-Step Restoring Leaders Process— a Biblical Model

10 step restoring leaders

10 STEP RESTORING LEADERS. Last month I shared how 2 Corinthians 7:10-11 provides tests on how much a fallen leader has repented. Now I’d like to suggest a 10-step biblical model for restoring fallen leaders. Galatians 6:1 tells us: “if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness.” Although not comprehensive, I think this model does hit the basics from beginning to end. But if I missed something essential, let me know. (Please understand that “his” may refer to either sex.)

10 Steps

1 Be convicted, confess, and accept punishment given by his church/ministry. 2 Corinthians 2:4-8 gives an example of one who sinned and accepted punishment. At that point the process should aim at forgiveness and reaffirmation—of love, not yet of ministry.

2 Agree to a restoration team. It should have one accountability point person, with more in-depth interaction with the fallen leader. Then he can communicate the basics of that interaction to the team. “The purposes of a man’s heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out” (Prov. 20:5).

3 Tell the whole truth about what happened. Because if he omits something important, he should expect to start the process all over again. “For we can do nothing against the truth, but only for the truth” (2 Cor 13:8; see also Jn. 7:18).

4 Demonstrate he has godly sorrow, repentant attitude and earnestness about doing this process God’s way. Show eagerness to get clear of the sin, indignation against that sin, and longing to make things right. Most of all, show concern for those he harmed and readiness to take all the consequences (2 Cor. 7:10-11).

5 Decide how he should have thought, spoken and acted differently. Be ready to share those new thoughts, words and actions with any person harmed by his conduct. But only do so when appropriate and with guidance. Thus, “with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self…and…put on the new self” (Eph. 4:22-24).

Same situations, new man

6 Show that he’s thinking, speaking and acting differently in specific situations. Especially with people with whom he might commit the same sin. “They must first be tested…” (1 Tim. 3:10).

7 Show readiness to bring others to repentance who are tending to commit that sin. Also show “readiness to see justice done” in a redemptive way to those who have committed that sin. (Again, see 2 Cor. 7:11.)

8 Do supervised ministry to both perpetrators and victims of that same kind of sin. In this way, the supervisor will learn to “know those which labor among you” (1 Thess. 5:12, KJV).

9 Submit to evaluation of that and other ministry. Understand he must convince his restoration team and evaluators he’s ready for a specific ministry role. The “proper working of each individual part…causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.” (Especially see verse 16 in Eph. 4:11-16.)

10 Ensure the proper communication of that new ministry role to the rest of the body of Christ in his area. That will help others to “judge the body rightly” when they find out about his new role (1 Cor. 11:29). Otherwise, they might spread suspicion or confusion and cause unrighteous judgment. Show willingness to explain the basic process he went through to qualify for that ministry role.

After that, the restored leader should also submit to any further review that his team/leaders prescribe. Even then, some may choose not to receive his ministry and should not be forced to. He should understand that people with past traumas may never really forgive him. But if he keeps a clear conscience before God, God will give him opportunities to serve (2 Tim. 1:3).

Click here to see how to pray about this: