I Stand by Catherine Rohr
The news hit recently that Catherine Rohr, the founder and CEO of Prison Entrepreneurship Program (PEP), had stepped down as CEO due to mistakes in her personal life. You may remember that I had the chance to do an Off the Record Interview with Catherine back in May of this year. Catherine is one of the most respected female leaders of our day, and this news was devastating to myself and to others who heard it.
Sadly, she isn’t the only high profile Christian leader that we’ve seen make mistakes like this. My friend Richard wrote a great blog addressing that. But as I’ve thought about this I keep coming back to a simple comparison with Catherine and the example of Ted Haggard.
Ted was a Christian leader who taught those around him to hate others (whether he would acknowledge that or not). He taught them to hold onto truth only and at the cost of grace. He spent much of his time spent on things that he was against, only later to find out that those were his very own personal struggles. After the news broke of his mistakes, people turned on him viciously. While that was also sad, it really isn’t surprising to see how he was treated. He shaped those very people to treat people like him the way that they ultimately did. In the end he directly suffered from his own poor leadership.
Now contrast Catherine. She spent her time and energy spent on offering people grace. She believed in people that nobody else did. She led in ways that others shook their heads at in surprise (a woman leading convicts in prison?). Now comes the moment where we see how she will be treated. I pray that she has shaped people to extend her as much grace as she has extended to countless others.
It is time for the Church to stand up and offer Catherine grace and forgiveness as she goes back to the basics and allows God to heal her brokenness and restore her. No, I don’t condone what she did or think that there shouldn’t be consequences. But I think this is a crucial time for the Church to treat people like Jesus did.
So I officially stand by Catherine Rohr and extend grace to her and pray that she finds the healing that she needs during this extremely different time. I don’t know if she’ll ever read this, but if she does, I hope she knows that there are those of us in the Church that are ready to show how God brings restoration as we stand united together, even in moments of brokenness. So if you choose to offer grace and forgiveness, please leave a comment stating that you stand by Catherine as well. It is time to show the world a different side of the Church than they often see.
Tags: Catherine Rohr, Church
October 22nd, 2009 at 10:01 AM
Thanks for the challenging thoughts and I agree with you whole-heartedly. The kind of grace you are referring to is radical and difficult for us to understand, but when we get real honest about it, it is the same grace that God gives us daily. Nobody in a position of leadership and influence deserves to be there as we are all naturally broken people. It is a privilege to be used by God.
There is a person who is extremely close to me that also had moral failures in their ministry. Through grace and years of healing, that person is now ministering again in amazing ways. Imagine the hole that would be left, the people that wouldn’t be loved, the experiences that would never be shared and learned from, if we as a church fail to extend that same grace that God gives us to others.
“Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.” Colossians 3:12-13 (NLT)
October 22nd, 2009 at 10:55 AM
Thanks for the shout-out, and you definitely make a good point. She has spent her last few years showing an incredible amount of grace, and we can only hope and pray that she receives even a small measure of that grace back.
I’m standing behind Catherine as well, and praying for the day that she is able to continue using her incredible gifts and showing love and grace to the downtrodden. In fact, I pray that God uses this experience to increase her capacity for grace and credibility among the hurting.
Richard´s last blog… Philosophy of Worship Ministry
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:06 AM
I stand by Catherine as well. There is nothing better than the grace of God. I just hope we as a church will rise up around her and support as well. None of us are perfect and that is why God’s grace is so important.
The biggest piece of encouragement I can give to Catherine and others is that we serve a God who loves to restore! “He prays to God and finds favor with him, he see God’s fce and shouts for joy; he is restored by God to is righteous state.” Job 33:26
Our prayers go out to Catherine!
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:18 AM
Let’s be fast to forgive. Refuse to be judgmental. Which of us doesn’t need a second chance?
I’m praying for Catherine Rohr and the immense blow this must be to her life.
Jeff Gibson´s last blog… Project Streetlight
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:18 AM
I agree,
I was witness to a small group discussion recently that had similar themes, but a different kind of subject. Somehow the question was asked ‘would people respond differently to something like 911, now, than they did years ago.’ This led into ‘what if’ and ‘if only’… but it landed on the group wondering what things would have been like if the US had, while denouncing the violence, responded in grace for the violators families, the same as the victims, and mourned with all of the majority groups who opposed the terror stuff . And not gone to war.I didn’t know that answer. Anger and vengeance are interesting beasts, but bad engines as far as Im concerned. And we know grace is stronger, right?
Now Im no poly-sci guy, nor a a hot-blooded patriot, but the discipline of grace, either macro or micro. seems to be supremely needed these days, and ever-so elusive as well.. Out right radical grace is a great thing. And we know that Gods grace is no less applicable to certain sins than others.
So there is your connection: Grace is something we all need to practice more.
Good stuff
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:21 AM
I just read the statesman article and some of the hateful comments from the readers. I am not surprised, but still very sad because of the comments.
I agree with everything you said. I am one who has seen the bottom because of decisions I have made in my life. Divorce, jail, lost careers, most importantly, lost fellowship with God’s people. Those are all consequences from incorrect decisions.
But, praise God that not everyone I came in contact with had that same negative, hurtful, ungrace-filled reaction to me as a fellow sinner saved by that same grace they were saved in. Oh, I got that. But not from every one.
I pray Catherine has a circle of grace around her as she learns what God has in store for her. Her passion for God is as strong as David. And like David, may the speed bumps in her life not derail her and, in time, she finds a way to channel that passion towards ministry again. Consequences, though real and painfil, are never stronger than God’s forgiveness and grace.
Greg M´s last blog… Reminders From The Past
October 22nd, 2009 at 1:30 PM
I could not agree more Greg and everyone else. I attended the Leadership Sumit last yr when Catherine was a speaker. I was in awe of how God was using her. I am thankful that she has others who will continue running what God has started there. I too have seen first hand how one act from one person can impact so many others. We ALL have fallen short, and are in need of the same forgivness from God and others. Church, let us lift up those who have fallen, so that when we fall, they will be there to pick us up. If we cannot love others, we cannot love God.
October 22nd, 2009 at 2:09 PM
The computer ate my last post. I will be embarrassed if this doubles up. Last year when she shared at the summit, Catherine mentioned she had good family support and a group to help keep her accountable. For reasons I should not need to know, the marriage ended. And I wonder what happened to the accountability group. The point I see here is that we do need both. Especially in a position of leadership. We do need that group that will kick our tails into accountability when we get out of line. Tail kicking in love is a gift.
Going back to Jeremy’s original thought, I agree that sometimes the sins we call out in other people are the ones we need to work on ourself.
Greg M´s last blog… Reminders From The Past
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:14 PM
My heart hurts for Catherine and all that she must be experiencing at this time. But I know without a doubt God is moving and working in and through this situation and from the ashes He’ll bring forth blessing. And I, like the rest of you, am choosing to stand by her without judgment and condemnation. She’s flawed and just as human as any of us. I’ve belived in this woman and will continue to do so…she’s still my hero and someone I aspire to be!! This is NOT the last we’ve heard of Catherine Rohr (“roar”!). She’s a force of nature, with a rare combination of vision and skills, and God designed her that way for a special purpose. We won’t know what that will look like for Catherine after all of this, but we can trust it’ll be amazing. Keeping her in my thoughts and prayers!
Also thought of another way we can stand by Catherine…go on her FB page and let her know we’re standing by her. And maybe making this statement on each of our own FB pages as well.
Romi´s last blog… Creative peeps
October 23rd, 2009 at 1:28 PM
PS: I recently read that a major donor to PEP says he’ll only give if Catherine continues to be involved. What a catch 22…awesome people are behind her like that, but it obviously has major implications on the future of PEP. From what I’ve read to date, it doesn’t sound like Catherine actually violated any laws (not saying I agree with her choices). Because of that, I so hope there’s some way her status with PEP and with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice can be restored. I’d like to see TDCJ building on PEP’s successes, not contributing to its demise.
Romi´s last blog… Creative peeps
October 23rd, 2009 at 4:33 PM
When you are doing great things for God, satan places a giant target on you. My heart breaks for Catherine. I wonder if we will ever have an authentic body of belivers if we continue to stone each other. There needs to be loving correction available to all of us, not condemnation.
October 23rd, 2009 at 11:45 PM
Jeremy, I just stumbled upon your blog, and the tragic article about Catherine Rohr. I must say, when I saw the video of her PEP story in church, I was struck by her appearance, thinking, how are a bunch of incarcerated men going to get past her looks and think good thoughts instead of dwelling upon her beauty. It would seem that physical beauty is a double edged sword.
I was also struck by the vicious comments following the Statesman.com article. We will pray for her healing in our small group Bible Study.
October 24th, 2009 at 3:41 PM
In a world that can be very judgmental, we are called to be understanding; In a world that can be unforgiving, we are called to forgive; In a world that loves to see good people fall, we are called to help the fallen back up; In a world is often hateful, we are called to love.
Jeremy, thanks for creating this blog! I am so encouraged by what everyone has written. We are ALL called to forgive others, just has Christ has forgiven us! Those who have been FORGIVEN much, tend to LOVE much!
I am delighted to join Jeremy’s “Campaign of Compassion,” for Catherine Rohr. Please considering committing (with me) at least 10 minutes of prayer each day for 1 month for the following people: Catherine, the current class members at PEP, the PEP Staff, Volunteers, Stakeholders, and Anyone that Has Been or IS currently associated with PEP. God honors the prayers of his children, especially when these prayers are directed for the Good of Others!
Again, thanks to Jeremy for this blog…and to everyone who has written on it! Your words have been unbelievably encouraging to me! Hopefully, Catherine will have an opportunity to read some of these blogs, so that she will realize the incredible impact she has had on the lives of so many people. Catherine Rohr, you are well loved!!!!
December 5th, 2009 at 3:49 PM
I saw Catherine today at GLS, in Romania, in a interview from last year. She was so inspiring. She still is, and I am not condemning her for what happened in her life. It is so easy to fall, and we should all be careful. What I learned from her story is that we all fall short from God’s glory, even after being saved, weather what we do is public or not. Our God is the one who restores, everybody who is willing to repent and ask for His mercy. So, step up Catherine! I think you resemble with your ministry now more than ever! May God heal you, and give you a fresh start!
December 17th, 2009 at 10:14 AM
If Rohr is really repentant of her actions and is just not sad and embarrassed about getting “caught”, she would come clean and admit the WHOLE TRUTH about what has been going on for a long time. The facts are that this inappropriate behavior happened with more than just 4 men. There are men who were PEP grads who had inappropriate relations with her several years before her divorce. She hasn’t been honest in her Resign letter about the ex-inmates that she didn’t get caught with years prior to her divorce. So it wasn’t just during her divorce that she made some bad decisions (which I understand if that was the case and would be way more prone to show her a lot more grace, but she is still lying about it, even in her resign letter). She also hasn’t been honest about PEP money that she used to stay in hotel rooms with some of these guys during PEP trips to do testimonies in other cities and states. Expensive designer clothes and accessories she bought them using ministry money. She hasn’t been honest about persuading these men to fabricate their testimonies in order to gain more sympathy with donors. She hasn’t been honest about shunning some of these guys when they refused to go along with it anymore. After all, who would PEP believe? Her or them. That’s why some of them didn’t come out before the 4 that did.
This post isn’t meant to not show grace to her. As I am no better or worse than her. I am a born Sinner thru and thru and one paycheck away and capable of sinning greatly. This is just meant to tell the truth.
December 28th, 2009 at 2:51 PM
I am aquainted with Cat through the PEP program, as my son graduated from it around the time the bad news came out. She really believed in giving these guys another chance and made them feel like they could be something other than losers. She believed in them when others had given up on them. Yes she is on the other side now, needing forgiveness. My son holds no anger against her`, nor do we as a family. We all need God`s mercy and grace every day and I pray for Cat and I do believe she will come back with a way to help more inmates because that is her God given ministry.