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June 03, 2005

Plagiarism Is A Sin

I'm a little disappointed with Rick Warren right now. Not for the reasons you might expect though.

I actually met Rick Warren last November while I was in California for the Billy Graham Crusade at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. He hugged me—twice.

Anyway, besides the hugging, I got a chance to share an appeal with him that was on my heart—the damage being done by pastors who plagiarize. I shared with him the tragic story of one church in my community whose pastor was (and from all accounts, still is) plagiarizing other pastors/writers such as Warren, Bill Hybels, etc.

Pastor Rick thanked me for sharing this concern with him, and (I'm tempted to say "he promised me") well, he offered to write an article that would speak on this issue and urge pastors to have integrity and not do this. Well, he just published a new article entitled "Maintaining moral integrity in the ministry"—and there's not a single specific reference to plagiarism in it. In it he writes, "I think the most damaging sin a leader can commit is to betray the trust of his people." Amen, Rick. Preach it. I just wish you would confront the spiritual damage being done by pastors who plagiarize. Can I get a witness?!

Posted by Steve K. at June 3, 2005 07:54 AM

Comments

Actually, Steve, I was surprised to see the church you linked above was not the one whose pastor plagiarized so prominently in recent times, i.e., the large congregation on Pineville-Matthews Road.

Posted by: Rev. Mike [TypeKey Profile Page] at June 3, 2005 10:44 AM

Hey Mike,

Actually, if you click on "pastors who plagiarize," you'll read a previous blog post about that "other" church (i.e. Calvary Church -- there I said it!). The plagiarism issue that prompted my comments to Rick Warren actually comes out of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Gastonia -- where the Senior Pastor was confronted about plagiarism, denied it, then admitted it (in part), people left the church, but he didn't leave, and he still preaches and (according to one former church member who was "burned" by this) he still plagiarizes Warren, Hybels, etc.! So that's why the other link goes to the Bethlehem site. Just here in this Charlotte area you can see how prevalent plagiarism is -- and how damaging it is to our faith communities!

Shalom,
Steve K.

Posted by: Steve K. [TypeKey Profile Page] at June 3, 2005 11:32 AM

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