When a pastor falls, the damage reaches far beyond him.
A congregation is shaken. Trust is fractured. Leaders carry responsibilities they never anticipated. Relationships are strained. People grieve what has been lost. Quietly, everyone is asking: What do we do now?
Helping churches move forward after a pastor’s moral failure.
After The Fall comes alongside congregations and church leadership teams in the aftermath their pastor’s moral failure, helping them understand what has happened, process what has been lost, navigate difficult decisions, and move toward greater health, hope and renewed mission.
It does not mean pretending nothing happened, rushing back to normal, or looking for another pastor first. It begins by facing what happened honestly, making room for grief, caring well for people, and discerning together what comes next.
Understand what happened
Information often comes out in pieces, and each piece resets what people thought they knew.
Process what was lost
The obvious loss is the pastor. Underneath are trust, relationships, security, belonging and sometimes, faith.
Rebuild health
Health and recovery take time. Trust returns in small increments, and only when it is earned.
Move forward
Not back to normal. Forward is a church able to tell the truth about its own story.
One crisis. Different experiences.
“What is happening to us?”
You found out about this from a stage or an email, and have been carrying it ever since. You did not choose this, but are now living in the ripple effects of it—with so many thoughts and emotions that you have never had to deal with before. Now what?
After The Fall provides guidance and space for you to honestly process the injury, pain and anger, and find God in all the mess. No quick fixes.
For congregations
“How do we lead through this when we’re hurting too?”
Staff and elders are expected to stay steady, decide, communicate and shepherd, all while grieving the same betrayal, often more personally than anyone. Most have never done this before.
After The Fall provides wisdom and guidance with communication, pastoral care, procedures and a steady outside voice for decisions you never trained for.
For leadership teams
Help for the questions nobody wants to ask out loud.
Essays for those in the seats and the leaders, and a prevention self-assessment your board and staff answer separately and anonymously, then read together.
Everything is free, with no conversation required, so a church can begin on its own at two in the morning without asking anyone for permission.
Browse resourcesI’ve known Bob and Becky for years, and I’ve deeply appreciated the honesty, humility, and transparency with which Bob has walked through his past.
Brian BellSenior pastor · Calvary Murrieta Honest writing for hard seasons.
The Ripple Effects of Loss
“Many other losses ripple outward from his sudden departure.”
How We React To A Pastor’s Failure
Pressure has a unique way of exposing what is actually going on within us.
The Loss of a Shepherd
Part of the process you will go through after losing your pastor is grief over what you have lost. But, what have you lost?
Support the work.
After The Fall is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Gifts are tax deductible.
What After The Fall needs in the current phase: introductions to churches and denominational leaders, prayer partners, and founding financial supporters.