June 7, 2010 issue
Church forgives pastor for theft
By Celeste Kennel-Shank Mennonite Weekly ReviewChoosing to forgive doesn’t make forgiveness easy. Rose Bender observed that reality while serving as interim pastor of Stahl Mennonite Church in Johnstown, Pa.
When she arrived in August 2008, the congregation’s previous pastor, Thomas Croyle, had resigned after admitting to taking funds from the church. The church chose not to press charges.
Bender, now pastor at Whitehall (Pa.) Mennonite Church, has seen organizations respond poorly to crisis, she said. With Stahl, she saw healthy reactions from elders, council members and others in the congregation.
“All of those responded in a very biblical way,” she said. “Before I got there, they had made the choice that they were going to forgive.”
With the help of Allegheny Conference of Mennonite Church USA, Stahl Mennonite offered support to Croyle as they worked on healing. Croyle, of Davidsville, Pa., has even attended a few services at Stahl, including an Easter service.
As the congregation searches for a new pastor, members reflected on what they learned from their ordeal.
Donna Mast, interim conference minister for Allegheny Conference, has seen the congregation deal with tough questions.
“When people sin, how do we respond in Christlike ways?” she said. “This is a congregation that has focused on healing and moving on.”
Getting help
While Stahl Mennonite didn’t press charges against Croyle, local authorities decided to do so recently.
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