Good Boundaries make Good Ministers

To understand and investigate whether the ministry of Ralph Rutledge is an example of a wolf in sheep clothing I must investigate and define professional ethics and boundaries.  Unethical ministers misuse their position of professional responsibility to ravage the flock.

Unhealthy ministers display poor boundaries.  Unethical ministers misuse their position of professional responsibility to ravage the flock.  This discussion of healthy professional boundaries will help us to identify good ministers of the gospel and separate them from those who abuse professional position - the wolf in sheep clothing.


“Good fences make good neighbors” – Robert Frost.  Discernment of a healthy and holy man of God (minister) requires a look at how they handle boundary issues.

A successful relationship is composed of two individuals - each with a clearly defined sense of her or his own identity and personal boundaries. http://lifeesteem.org/wellness/wellness_boundaries.html
Personal boundaries are the limits we set in relationships that allow us to protect our selves.  Good boundaries protect us from abuse and pave the way to achieving true intimacy.   They allow us to get close to others when it is appropriate and to maintain our distance when we might be harmed by getting too close.

Wolves cross boundaries.  They invade people's space.  Sexual predators who are men of the cloth may  push the boundaries in a time of prayer ministry by getting too close (space invaders); by making and maintaining too much touch contact.  The wolf may take the role of the wounded one who needs sympathy and support from the parishioner.  (This kind of role reversal is a boundary violation.)

The code of ethics of the American Association of Pastoral Counselors (1994) in Principle III G provides explicit and comprehensive directives concerning what constitutes unethical sexual behavior: All forms of sexual behavior or harassment with clients are unethical, even when a client invites or consents to such behavior or involvement. Sexual behavior is defined as, but not limited to, all forms of overt and covert seductive speech, gestures, and behavior, as well as physical contact of a sexual nature; harassment is defined as but not limited to, repeated comments, gestures, or physical contacts of a sexual nature
Maintaining these boundaries safeguards the flock against sexual impropriety.  As many as 40% of pastors have had a situation in which some sexual indiscretion had occurred, be it related to pornography or inappropriate advances towards another person.

In any event, the responsibility for the nature of a pastoral relationship and for maintaining appropriate boundaries rests squarely with the minister.  He is the one who holds the balance in the power equation. 

A significant imbalance of power exists in relationships between people and their ministers in their role as spiritual leaders.  This power imbalance is defined by Peter Rutter as "a difference in degree of personal and social freedom between two people which permits one to impose his or her will on the other."  (Peter Rutter, M.D.,Sex in the Forbidden Zone, Los Angeles: Jeremy P. Tarcher, Inc., 1989). 
http://images.rca.org/docs/ministry/sexethicscode.rtf.

Financial boundaries-- ministry should be done with integrity; the minister must not compromise ethics by tolerating or encouraging poor or illegal church business financial practices. He should not use his position of power and influence to benefit financially at the expense of the members of the church.

Boundary issues are more likely when there are Dual Relationships.  When the minister engages church members in relationships beyond professional parameters, such as becoming business associates, employers, or Power of Care , they are engaging in unhealthy dual relationships with multiple agendas.

Former members of the Good Samaritan Church have alleged that Ralph Rutledge or his family members benefited when he used his power and influence to wrest Power of Care from family members and then benefited financially from this Power of Care situation.  if this proves to be true it is an allegation of poor boundaries and unprofessional conduct.

Assess any minister or professional by asking yourself if they maintain good personal, financial and sexual boundaries in their relationships as you have observed them and as they have been reported to you.  Very poor boundaries and repeated reports (allegations) of discrepancies should be an alert to the possibility of a wolf in sheep clothing.

George Hartwell M.Sc. Christian counsellor provides Christian counselling ( counseling / therapy ) through 90 minute in person sessions at his office in Mississauga.  As a professional Christian Marriage counsellor George provides Christian marriage counselling counseling for couples in Oakville, Mississauga, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Thesis, Method, Observations and Conclusions about Ralph Rutledge

Reporting facts is something like science.  There are methods to follow to establish the facts.  Science has levels of knowledge: observations are required to establish facts or laws,  theories are formulated to explain facts and laws and to predict interesting new questions to study.  Laws are compromised by observations that falsify the law, theories are compromised by failure to explain all the laws or failure of predictions from the theories.

I want to follow a systematic method in my reading of Mariam Bellamy's book -  "Demons in the Sanctuary." (Mariam Bellamy, Trafford, 2008, 978-1-4251-8582-4.)

I am wanting a description of the pastor in the book.  I want to establish a profile made of various character traits.  There may be broad conclusions that can be drawn.

In science a model or theory helps one to predict outcomes.  Based on the first 2/3rds of the book ( up to and including Chapter 19), I want to develop the profile and the model and then see what that would predict going forward in the account.

What are the facts.  Characteristics of the pastor are the facts.  We require that the book identify a characteristic  two or more times.  

Based on the facts we may develop a theory.  Theory represents general statements or conclusions about the pastor in the book.  Theories are helpful if they provide a clear explanation of a lot of facts.

Theories can be tested by the amount of truth or falsity they convey.  If they explain a lot of observations then they are helpful theories.

Theories in science should be able to be verified by testing the predictions based on the theory.  ONe makes predictions and then tests to see if they are false or true.

I will make predictions about the pastor's behavior in the final third of the book based on the observations and theories derived from the first two thirds of the book.  Call this playful science.

Books sometimes describe changes in character, personality and attitude in key persons.  A Christian may soften and repent and turn from his sinful ways.  The Holy Spirit can convict; hearts can soften; life transformation can happen.  Will Rafe Rutherford - the pastor in the book - soften, get real and repent?

With no change of character we may find further confirmation of the observations and conclusions drawn from the first two-thirds of the book.

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The facts established about the pastor in Demons in the Sanctuary may or may not match the facts of the life of Pastor Rutledge.  First hand witnesses must attest to these assertions before we can attribute them to Rutledge.  Records of the past and first hand witnesses will be providing confirming or disconfirming evidence.

I have, however, been told that Bellamy's book - Demons in the Sanctuary - is an accurate account of Rutledge's ministry at Good Samaritan Church when Bellamy was Secretary-Treasurer of the Board.  I have spoken to one Board member who said: "I am amazed.  She wrote it just like it happened."

Ralph Rutledge Defrocked

One of the details at the moment come from a web site: http://aworlddeceived.ca/articles/huntley.html

According to this source: In August of 1989 we all learned that Ralph Rutledge had been defrocked by the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada for homosexual incidents that involved ‘grown men’ and that were acknowledged by Mr. Rutledge himself (Mail Star, May 9, 1990).

We need to check the sources of this quote.  Can we access the Archives of the newspapers.  What is meant by "Mail Star?"  Is this Toronto Star or Globe and Mail?  


Second:  Ralph's discipline was carried out by the Western Ontario District office of the PAOC (Pentecostal Assemblies of God.)  

What do we know about Ralph Rutledge?

The topic of public interest is the person of Rev. Ralph Rutledge.  The public is interested because he has close connections to 100 Huntley Street; because not a lot is known about his ministry at Queensway Cathedral in Toronto or why the PAOC removed him from all ministry within this Pentecostal denomination.  The scandal - the rumours - suggest the abuse of the position of pastor to engage and confuse young men in sexual sin.  The full story was never revealed.  There was no public confession by Ralph Rutledge and no apology to a shocked and confused congregation.

In private confessions Ralph Rutledge pleads his case as a victim of abuse by the PAOC.  He minimizes his sin and his part in it.  He claims it was in the past.  He claims he was the victim.  He claims it was a minor one-time incident.  He claims he was hard done by by the PAOC.

The PAOC, for their part, feel bound for a variety of reasons not to expose the basis for their decision. This may be for legal reasons and may be the result of the settlement negotiated with Ralph Rutledge. My insider connections suggest that there were very real concerns and more than one report of sexual abuse of his position as pastor.

The Pentecostal Assemblies of God administrators that came to this tough decision were men of God who care and are careful with these kind of decisions.  The evidence suggests that they were not unfair; did not 'pick on' Rutledge or make a rash decision.

There may be good reason that the Bible says to "tell the church' when someone is removed from the church.  The community is informed and knows better than treat a sinner as a saint.

Rutledge's contends that there was a one time encounter initiated by another man and the whole thing is in the past. I believe it is much more likely that he is minimizing the evidence put before the elders of the PAOC. Biblical process requires two or more witnesses. To avoid legal liability the PAOC needs to have evidence that could go to court to show that this was not a decision biased against Rutledge.

On the contrary, my investigation adds new categories to the ways in which his behaviour as a professional minister of God has been irresponsible and out of control.  Ti now appears that he has manipulated congregations, followers, victims and church boards for his own selfish goals both sexual and financial.

The reports suggest that Rutledge uses and used every possible means to avoid confrontation. He would manipulate congregations, to control boards, and to harass victims who wanted to speak up.  I believe there is sufficient hard evidence to establish that in a court of law if necessary.  His phone call to me is just one example.

A Board member of Good Samaritan Church - an independent charismatic church associated before Rutledge with the name of Rev. Gordon Williams - wrote a book that is an accurate account in fictional guise describing one time period of his ministry.   I interviewed the author and members of the church board to verify that this book is an accurate and well documented account of Ralph Rutledge's ministry at the Good Samaritan Church.

The text is written by the Board Treasurer and supported by  the notes taken and minutes of the board meetings.

Information is verified by one or more independent witnesses to an event.  The Bible says that a fact should be established in the mouth of 2 or 3 witnesses.  I spoke to 4 or 5 board members who gave me their word that the book is quite accurate in it's account of the events in the church.

The book is 'Demons in the Sanctuary" by Miriam Bellamy.