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Bishop Steven Arnold (pictured), a prominent pastor in Little Rock, Ark., resigned this week, after admitting to an affair with a female in his congregation. He was the pastor at St. Mark Baptist Church, where he's had the post for 21 years.
Arnold's revelation to his congregation led to the church's board of elders accepting his letter of resignation swiftly and issuing a statement:
"It is with a heavy heard that we accept the resignation of our pastor. Under his leadership, we have experienced tremendous growth, both spiritually and numerically. We love and deeply appreciate all that he has done for us through God's enablement these past 21 years. In our efforts to curtail speculation and gossip, the Board of Elders made the decision to be more specific about what led to Bishop Arnold's resignation. But out of respect and sensitivity to the families and all that are involved, we will not release any more information other than this. We prayerfully hope that the public will show the same respect and be considerate of the feelings of family members and our church during this difficult time."
Arnold's resignation obviously calls to mind the sex scandal of another prominent bishop down in Atlanta by the name of Eddie Long. There's one obvious difference in the two scandals: One pastor was accused of sleeping with a woman and the other with men.
I can't help but wonder if there's a difference in how the scandals are perceived by members of the church. I've seen quite a few cases in which pastoral promiscuity is the hidden secret in the church, but being a gay pastor would be simply unacceptable. Also, Long is known throughout the world. Stevens isn't quite as popular. Neither of these men are small fries, however, as Bishop Stevens had his sermons broadcast on television.
One must give Stevens respect for admitting to his congregation that he's done something wrong and gracefully stepping away from the pulpit. Now, one can't say what pressures might have led him to do this, but I can't imagine that pressure being much greater than that being laid upon Long.
Long's insistence on fighting the allegations and using the support of his followers to challenge his sex scandal either says that he is an innocent man being framed or that he is far more devious, manipulative and sinister than anyone could have ever imagined. A true man of God would not lie to millions of people in order to save face. I hope this is not the real Eddie Long.
Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and a Scholarship in Action resident of the Institute for Black Public Policy. To have Dr. Boyce's commentary delivered to your e-mail, please click here. 
Comments: (25)
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By: MK on 10/06/2010 1:48PM
Unfortunately, I disagree. Dating outside of your marriage is wrong whether it be with another man or another woman. Its things like this that have people in frames of mind where they do NOT want to attend church. Not saying that he was a bad preacher and didnt preach the "WORD"...however; you must also follow the "WORD"...In addition, usually, how you got your man, is how you lose your man! And those of us who know, know what I am talking about.
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By: westfall on 10/06/2010 8:06PM
You're missing one very important point in this piece. God knows and adultry, prosmicuity, fornication and whatever else is offensive to Him. It doesn't matter what the sex of the outside person is. This is a true mess. But God did say in His word that in the last days there would be a great falling away from the church. Looking on the bright side, Arnold had the decency to quit the pulpit. Every Christian seeing and hearing all this that is happening has to be really strong and pray.
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By: Shellfish789 on 10/06/2010 8:54PM
You know this has gotten out of hand......and I know it's the truth.....I had a priest calling my house, trying to make a date...I know he was young and had study theological studies, but "He told me if he found the right woman, he would not continue his priest hood and he would become a pastor" he will still server God, but he wanted a wife!.......then another man of the church call me...and hinted that he takes Viagra or something in that sort.....I thought that was strange for him to talk this way......NOW don't get me wrong....I'm flatter, I carry myself as a respectable lady.....I have class etc....., but I SAID NO THANK YOU TO BOTH..........I don't want to be a FIRST LADY....NO THANK YOU.............
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By: jewishways on 10/06/2010 10:54PM
At least he manned up. No arrogance. Humbled himself before the Lord. Showed who is really in charge?
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By: BG on 10/06/2010 11:20PM
I am yet to learn where these putrid acts is happening at the muslim mosques between the Imams and the congregants.
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By: Kalynn on 10/07/2010 9:30AM
...and your point is BG? Sin is everywhere, don't be an ostrich just because you're Muslim!!! I am so tired of folk exalting men, their religion, themselves. Give it a rest.
Hats off to this pastor for stepping down and letting go of arrogance!
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By: BG on 10/07/2010 3:13PM
@ KALYNN.
That's one of the problems. You critique the killings in chicago and crimes in our black neighborhoods, you are white. You critique all these pimps that call themselves the men of God, violating what is regarded as sacred, then you are a Muslim.
No wonder our morales is on the iow.
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By: tanzyp on 10/07/2010 2:06AM
This Bishop did the right thing by stepping down. Don't know if he was pressured to do so or not but he failed to uphold the moral standards of the "church." Interesting with this case that the followers weren't chanting "we'll just pray for him,..Lets pray for his forgiveness, repentance, and here is my favorite, "touch not my annointed,"... that seems to be the chant for Long, why not this guy? Aren't they a christian church too? Are there two sets of rules one for big celebrity churches and another for the small fry?
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By: c man on 10/10/2010 9:34PM
tanzy, we always pray for our leaders. we never stopped. although he is no longer the pastor, we have not, i repeat, have not loving him. he is still God's child. and yes we must pray for all who involved, even the ones who are against us. what God wants is unity not division.
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By: Joe T. Gates on 10/16/2010 7:19AM
All of these comments really lose the focus of the scandal.
According to scripture, if there is a calling on your life from God, there is no way you can "step away" from it so gallantly or nonchalantly. It's not a job you retire from. It's a calling from God that goes to the end of your life here on earth. The gifts and calling of God are without repentance. Rom. 11:29. There is not one biblical character or scriptural precedent that anyone here on earth that demonstrates that God allowed retirement or quit (giving up for any reason).
Remember the book of Jonah and his disobedience? Jonah tried to "step away" from his calling, but what did God do? He caused Jonah to fulfill that calling using the fear of God and His sovereign power over all flesh and creation. Jonah 1:17
Therefore, if all of these "so-called" pastors and preachers in this day can simply "step away" from their supposed calling, it becomes painfully obvious they were never called to that particular office in the first place (whether it be pastor, prophet or minister). They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out (quit, resigned, retired, stepped aside), that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us (not called to be pastors, etc.). I John 2:19
Watch for your souls and know the Word of God for yourself!
Amen and amen.
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