Sam Allberry’s sin doesn’t discount his teaching on same-sex relationships

The news that Sam Allberry has been removed from ministry in the light of revelations about “an inappropriate relationship with another man a few years ago” has come as a shock to many of us who minister in the area of sexual brokenness.

What is the impact and consequences of such a public failure of someone who many of us count as a friend?

I want to look at three things that we need to consider in the light of this news.

Gossip and hearsay

Firstly, Sam’s moral failings (whatever they are, and speculation doesn’t help us here) do not in and of themselves invalidate what he has taught in the past. Loads of pastors sin in loads of areas, but that does not mean their message is now redundant. If an evangelist withdrew because of a sinful failing, does that mean the whole gospel message of salvation is incorrect? In the same way, just because Sam has done things we wouldn’t want him to, that doesn’t mean what he has shared and preached is now invalid.

I’m disappointed that some organisations, such as The Gospel Coalition, have been so quick to remove his material from their websites. By contrast, Living Out, the organisation he helped to found, have not - and rightly so. Like many, I’ve found Sam’s insights into same-sex attraction and identity helpful.

Some have even taken the opportunity to engage in “I told you so” attacks on Sam personally. Typically, these have come from those who vehemently disagree that it’s OK for a Christian to be same-sex attracted or gay while also being very clear on biblical sexual and relationship boundaries (often known as Side B theology).

In some senses, that’s a debate for another time, but the idea that Sam’s position or sexuality has led to his ‘fall’ is a nonsense. Sinful failure is also something that the ex-gay movement (those who believe that people can be ‘cured’ of a gay identity) and similar theologies have plenty of experience with.

It’s simply incorrect to say that Sam’s position on singleness was a “gnostic denigration of marriage” as Aaron Edwards recently claimed on X. Dr Michael Clary had to issue an apology for for misrepresenting Sam’s theology, confirming that he “does NOT support someone making homosexuality part of their identity”. Rather than rushing to gossip and thus distorting his teaching,  it would be easier to actually check what he believed, if more of his material had stayed online.

Sin and grace

Secondly, Sam’s failings should prompt us to reflect on our own lives. Are we able to point a finger, when that leaves three pointing back at ourselves? In truth, we are all a complex blend of saint and sinner and we keep secret the things that only we and God know.

While pastors are held to a higher standard, both by their churches and God, we are all capable of moral failing. Indeed, we all sin every day; we just choose to ignore many of the faults in our own lives while being very aware of others’ failures.

My struggles might be different to Sam’s, but I suspect that every single person reading this will be able to identify one area of brokenness in their life that they are battling with. Your thorn in the flesh may be different to St Paul’s, but we all have them, and we all need help with them. Are we able to share our own areas of struggle with our church families? Do we know where to get support? Can we talk about the grace of God in our own sinful lives?

I’ve always had a heart for the most broken, whether working as a prison chaplain, receiving referrals for pastoral ministry from people with the most damaged lives or who had done things that might mean others would ostracise them. CS Lewis said that “to be a Christian is to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you” The Weight of Glory (Simon & Schuster).

Are we realistic about what our secret sins are, and do we seek to bring them to Jesus for healing and sanctification? Are we willing to love, not ostracise, those in our church who are real about their darkest parts?

Prayer and petition

Thirdly, this is a reminder to pray for your pastor. We know that Satan prowls around each of us, but he has a particular appetite for church leaders and they need our regular prayers and support. It’s hard to run a church, be a preacher, teacher or evangelist.

They are rightly held to a higher standard than others in the church but, as a result, often find themselves feeling isolated and alone - the one person in the church who doesn’t have someone else to turn to for pastoral support. So pray for your church leaders, and also think about ways you can support them and know they are loved.

When Christian leaders fall, we need to remember that Jesus died for all sinners, not just the ones who manage to keep a clean sheet. As Hebrews 10:14 reminds us: “He has made perfect forever those who are being made holy”. That journey towards holiness will for all of us have its ups and downs, but we can rest in the knowledge that it has a foundation of eternal perfection through Jesus’ sacrifice, which has wiped away all of our sins, past, present and future.