Reformed Baptist Pastor Confesses to Adultery, Resigns
Samuel Renihan, former pastor of Trinity Reformed Baptist Church, submitted himself to ‘judgment and discipline of the church’
Samuel Renihan has confessed to adultery and resigned from his position at Trinity Reformed Baptist Church in La Mirada, California. He was ordained by the church in 2012.
Samuel Renihan
“This past week it was discovered that I have committed adultery,” Renihan wrote in a blog post. “To my great shame, I did not bring it to light.”
Renihan did not elaborate on how his adultery was discovered. “The Lord, whose Spirit yearns jealously for his people (James 4:5), the Lord, who is an avenger in these things (1 Thess. 4:6), exposed my sin,” he said.
Renihan said the fault is entirely his and that it grieves his heart that many others will suffer for his sin, which will have “far-reaching” consequences and effects. The confession does not include further detail about the misconduct.
“I am deeply ashamed of my sin,” he wrote. “All sin deserves damnation, but some sins are far worse than others, and mine is exceedingly wicked. The only way that I can honor and glorify God, and the only way that I can do anything to help those whom I have hurt is through the grace of repentance.”
Renihan wrote that he has read a letter of confession to his church, resigned from the office of pastor, submitted himself to the judgment and discipline of the church, confessed his sin to various institutions and organizations with which he was affiliated, and unpublished his self published theological works.
“I must give to Jesus Christ an account of my ministry (Heb. 13:17). What a terrible account it is,” he writes. “By my unfaithfulness I have brought dishonor and disgrace upon my Master’s name, upon my office, upon my family, upon my church, and upon others. My one and only hope is the precious blood and perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ who loved me and gave his life for me (Gal. 2:20) and promises to forgive my iniquity and remember my transgression no more (Jer. 31:34).”
Throughout the blog post, Renihan referenced Scripture passages that call for responsible leadership in the church and admitted to failing those expectations.
“I thank God that my wife has graciously forgiven me,” he wrote. “I have humbled myself before God as a wicked sinner, praying that he would lift me up. And now I humble myself before a broader audience, asking only that you forgive me my hypocrisy and give glory to the Good Shepherd who will never leave or forsake his flock. By his grace, may my repentance be as notorious as my sin.”
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Renihan has written books on covenant theology, Baptist history, and the doctrine of God, including “God without Passions: The Majesty of God’s Unshakeable Perfection” and “Crux, Mors, Inferi: A Primer and Reader on Christ’s Descent.” Two websites, 316 Publishing and Founders Press, have taken down the listing for his book “The Mystery of Christ, His Covenant, and His Kingdom.”
Renihan earned a PhD from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and has taught as an adjunct professor at International Reformed Baptist Seminary. He has also written for online publications, including The Gospel Coalition and Reformed Baptist Blog.
MinistryWatch reached out to Trinity Reformed Baptist Church but has not received a response.
Renihan wrote, “Though I will never hear my Master say to me, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant’ as a minister, yet I pray that by his mercy and grace I will hear him say those words to me, as a repentant sheep.”
MAIN PHOTO: Sam Renihan on the Doctrine and Devotion podcast / Video screenshot
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