Pastor copies talks Plagiarism leads to resignation
Posted on September 7th, 2004 by Anthony K. Valley
Two years of depression and plagiarism lead to a Charlotte pastor’s resigning. Our prayers are with Rev. Wagner and his struggle with depression.
With Americanized Christianity, we tend to “shoot our wounded” instead of following the biblical example of Galatians 6:1-5 (Amplified):
Gal 6:1 BRETHREN, IF any person is overtaken in misconduct {or} sin of any sort, you who are spiritual [who are responsive to and controlled by the Spirit] should set him right {and} restore {and} reinstate him, without any sense of superiority {and} with all gentleness, keeping an attentive eye on yourself, lest you should be tempted also.
2. Bear (endure, carry) one another’s burdens {and} troublesome moral faults, and in this way fulfill {and} observe perfectly the law of Christ (the Messiah) {and} complete what is lacking [in your obedience to it].
3. For if any person thinks himself to be somebody [too important to condescend to shoulder another's load] when he is nobody [of superiority except in his own estimation], he deceives {and} deludes {and} cheats himself.
4. But let every person carefully scrutinize {and} examine {and} test his own conduct {and} his own work. He can then have the personal satisfaction {and} joy of doing something commendable [in itself alone] without [resorting to] boastful comparison with his neighbor.
5. For every person will have to bear (be equal to understanding and calmly receive) his own [little] load [of oppressive faults].
p. [ Full Story @ NewsObserver.com ]
p(small). Source: NewsObserver.com © 2004 The News & Observer Publishing Company
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With Americanized Christianity, we tend to “shoot our wounded” instead of following the biblical example of Galatians 6:1-5 (Amplified):
Gal 6:1 BRETHREN, IF any person is overtaken in misconduct {or} sin of any sort, you who are spiritual [who are responsive to and controlled by the Spirit] should set him right {and} restore {and} reinstate him, without any sense of superiority {and} with all gentleness, keeping an attentive eye on yourself, lest you should be tempted also.
2. Bear (endure, carry) one another’s burdens {and} troublesome moral faults, and in this way fulfill {and} observe perfectly the law of Christ (the Messiah) {and} complete what is lacking [in your obedience to it].
3. For if any person thinks himself to be somebody [too important to condescend to shoulder another's load] when he is nobody [of superiority except in his own estimation], he deceives {and} deludes {and} cheats himself.
4. But let every person carefully scrutinize {and} examine {and} test his own conduct {and} his own work. He can then have the personal satisfaction {and} joy of doing something commendable [in itself alone] without [resorting to] boastful comparison with his neighbor.
5. For every person will have to bear (be equal to understanding and calmly receive) his own [little] load [of oppressive faults].
CHARLOTTE – The senior pastor at one of Charlotte’s best-known churches resigned after admitting that parts of some of his sermons broadcast on Christian radio programs were stolen from others.
The Rev. E. Glenn Wagner of Calvary Church said that depression led him to plagiarize sermons the past two years, and he asked for forgiveness in a letter read Sunday in his absence at four worship services.
“On a number of occasions, when I felt literally empty and devoid of any creative ability, I used material from the sermons of some of my brother preachers,” Wagner’s letter said.
Gary Hubler, clerk of the lay leaders who oversee the church, said Wagner’s plagiarism was first detected two weeks ago. That’s when a church elder heard a radio sermon that sounded like something he had heard Wagner preach.
In his letter, Wagner, 51, cited “a downward spiral, emotionally and mentally, which left me very tired and discouraged and fighting a losing battle with depression.”
p. [ Full Story @ NewsObserver.com ]
p(small). Source: NewsObserver.com © 2004 The News & Observer Publishing Company
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Filed under: Ministries
I thought this was a common practice. There are books of sermon outlines published annually so that ministers everywhere are preaching the same or similar sermons.
If it is all from the same book sometimes it sounds like the same sermon. If he had just mentioned that he was using another source. This is not the end and doesn’t seem like grounds for resigning. We as Christians should learn to foregive, forget and go on;
This is absolutely not an adequate rason for resigning. Sermons are used interhangeably all the time by ministers. I have heard sermons by well known speakers which I recognized from my reading. The Word of God is for our edification. This man is to be commended for his reading and finding materials that relate to his message. Most ministers I know welcome the use of their sermons by others. They are suppose to be annointed thoughts and ideas and they are not owned by the preacher but come from God!
This is not an adequate reason for this action. A good minister will always be reading and researching new insights and fresh revelation from the body of Christ. It is a healthy practice to glean or even be inspired by others teaching and feed the congregation with the revelations that inspired you.. If the minister is not being feed by the body of Christ but from his own limited well he/she will soon burn out
Every Blessing
John
God help this Church. I really hope Bro. Wagner gets to read the comments here. Almost every preacher in America and perhaps Europe would have to resign. I hope the Church gets the “original” pastor they deserve!!!
First off, I believe that it is the absolute HEIGHT of arrogance to think that if GOD gave some particular insight of the Bible to you that you can copyright it and let no one else use it. IT IS COMPLETALLY AGAINST THE WHOLE CHRISTIAN FAITH. If anyone ever tried to say to you…”that’s mine” or “you can’t use that” well…give them the chewing out of their lives. How dare they try to take God’s lessons and keep them from other people. in Philipians 2:1-11 it says we are supposed to have the mindest of Christ, and HIS mindset was one of UNITY, SELFLESSNESS and HUMILITY.
So we not only should be humble with what God has given us
AKA - When God gives us a good lesson, all praise and honor should go to Him, we should accept no praise for that lesson.
After we humbly give praise to God, we should have such unity with other believers that we should share what we know/have learned so that our fellow brother’s and sister’s can be built up in the faith.
During all that we should be selfless enough so that when someone else ever says anything about it we should just be happy that peopel are groming. Not happy that people are using our lectures.
I am a current member of Calvary Church in Charlotte. I think it is important to understand that not everyone in the church body was in agreement with what the elders did!!! The way Pastor Wagner was handled was very wrong. I also think he was handled badly two years ago when he tried to resign then. I think everyone should show some Grace and Mercy as Christ does with us on a daily basis, and learn to forgive and not be in bitterness over this whole issue. Pastor Wagner has since moved on and started a new ministry in Charlotte called the Next Level - I hope that God blesses his ministry abundantly and that Calvary as a church can heal their wounds and move on and find a pastor that God would bless as well.
It is great that this Minister is listing to other men of God. I guest Jesus Himself should have resign as he quoted scriptures from the old testament. Peter would have not know who Jesus was if the spirit had not spoken to him.If the Church Elder would have heard what God had to say the first he heard the sermon - he proably would not have stummble upon the same sermon later. You do know there are people who need to hear some things over and over again.
This Pastoer excuse was Depression….he used that as an excuse for his behavior….No doubt Depression is a mental illness….but theft is theft. It’s like saying it’s ok to steal a car when your car got reposesed. He should seperated his depression from his sin. He continues to blame others for his problems….
There has been a huge void at Calvary Church since Pastor Wagner has left. One that will never again be filled. Pastor Wagner, with the help of God, put a breath of life into the church. It was the most wonderful time of my life to look forward to a sermon by Pastor Wagner. He was instrumental in leading both my husband and I to read the bible and what a difference that made in our lives. He is missed each and every day and I pray that the Lord will continue to guide him in helping others who went through similar problems. Oh what a wonderful thing it would be if he would show up one day in a church and preach to us again!