An event like this is heartbreaking. It is not that we must make ourselves believe that your friend is in heaven; there is no valid reason to believe that he is not. In the words of our gracious Lord, Mark 3:28 “Verily I say unto you, all sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men and blasphemies, however they shall blaspheme…” The guilt and loss family and friends are feeling must be overwhelming. They too can take comfort in these words of our Lord.
We should also not forget that depression is a serious illness. There are professionals trained to deal with it, and, in many cases, very effective medicines. Certainly we should encourage and support such people, but we should know that such help is not likely to be effective in serious cases, and that if someone decides to take his life in spite of our efforts, it is not our failure.
Most of us have grown up in the faith, believing that after we shed this mortal body, we will be in a place of unspeakable joy. Yet when we face the reality of death, we mourn and wail as if something terrible has happened. For us our Lord said, John 11: “I am the resurrection and the Life. He that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live …” before He brought His friend Lazarus back from that place. And so He wept. He did not weep because Lazarus died, but because He had to bring him back from the place of infinite joy.

What heartbreak. Prayers ascending for this man’s dear family.

I noted Rev. Randy Asburry’s recent blog posts regarding clergy ‘burn out’ and sabbaticals – his own included – and wrote to him asking for any information he had so as to pass it on to my priest and other clergy I know. I compiled all the information Pastor Asburry made available and with his kind permission posted it on my blog here:
http://orrologion.blogspot.com/2008/12/information-on-clergy-burn-out-and.html
Please fee free to share these resources with clergy you know – if they don’t need it personally, they likely know other ministers that do.
Memory eternal to Pastor _________! May the Lord bless and save his congregation, wife and children.

May the Holy Spirit comfort those all who mourn and deliver us from evil. My condolences to you.
Good places to start the conversation for help with depression:
http://prkt.wordpress.com/
http://darkmyroad.org/

Thank you for this touching post. That quote from Luther on suicide is a treasure. It is easy for us Pastors to become isolated and to hide our pain. I grew up in a more pietistic version of Lutheranism and I remember in the catechetical material that was used teaching that suicides could not repent after their crime of self-murder and therefore were lost. I think Luther’s comment is a more realistic appraisel of the reality of depression in our lives. Luther’s view is certainly more compassionate. Suicide however can be contageous. I wonder if the special rules for suicides.i.e. no bells or even the unmarked grave in your first parrish are an attempt to contain the contagion of suicide. We all have seen how the media can drive copy cat suicides or even copycat school shootings because of the attention given them. I think the Church historically has tried to reduce the attention given to suicides in order to impede their contagious character.

Congregations may wish to invest time and finanical assistance into sending struggling pastors to The Lutheran source for spiritual care and counsel – Doxology. You can read more here;
http://www.doxology.us/

Pastor McCain, my condolences. I will not try to match others for eloquence.
What (Rev.? Dr.? Prof.?) George A. Marquart says about depression is spot on.
The only thing I would add is that what he says of depression is true of all psychiatric illnesses. I was surprised to learn recently that, among adolescents, the psychiatric condition which carries the highest risk of suicide is anorexia nervosa. They are all treatable, and if you suspect that someone may be at risk of suicide, ask. You will not “put the idea into their head” by asking. If they are not, they will say so. If they are, they will be grateful to you for asking.

Christ have mercy. I think that people tend to think that pastors are supermen who do not or can not suffer burnout, depression or other psychiatric illnesses . I am glad to know that there are places that pastors suffering from depression and other psychiatric illnesses can turn to such as doxology. My condolences to you and other friends, the family, and the parish of this pastor. I agree with you that is tragic that what Luther said on suicide got obscured.

My condolences to – and my prayers for – this man’s family and friends – including you, Pr. McCain. Strangely enough, just a couple of days ago one of my flock told me about a relative of hers who had committed suicide after Thanksgiving. I think I will share your post with her.

My condolences.

I’m also privileged to have counted this faithful Christian and brother pastor as a friend. If possible, I’ll be there for his funeral. Even if not, I’ll keep his family and those responsible for their spiritual care in my prayers.

Thank you for this post, and for the quotation from Luther, which I’d never read before. May God comfort all his family and friends.

My Christian condolences to you and this brother pastor’s family and friends.
Thank you for posting this. I pray that I never have to deal with a suicide at our congregation, but should I, this post will be a most welcome resource. God’s blessings.

Looking forward to the resurrection of the dead and eternal life with Jesus. No more injuries, ilnness or other infirmities.
“Therefore comfort one another with these words.”
I Thessalonians 4:13

Thanks for your words here, and thanks for reminding us all of Luther’s words on the subject. My prayers are with his family, congregation, and friends.

As a former pastor who knew and respected John as an excellent theologian and pastor, I know all too well about depression and how it affects one’s view of life and ministry. Please do not be deceived into thinking that pastors are above being affected by the very things you are. They are just like you. The only difference is that God has called them into a very special vocation.
What does this mean? While all Christians are a target for Satan, pastors are all the more so. “Get” the pastor and you get his family, congregation, and community by default. If he is well known, you might even get his denomination.
John’s death has affected so many people. They wonder how, if the stories surrounding his death are accurate–although to my knowledge an official report has not yet been released–a called servant of the Word could consider taking his own life. Speaking personally, although I did not have a desire to take my own life, there were many days when I wished the Lord would call me home to end the pain that I and my family experienced. It wasn’t logical. It wasn’t rational. It just was.
There were no offers of help from anyone who had the resources to help, and ultimately, it was this depression that led to my resignation from the Office of the Holy Ministry.
You must remember that there has never been a time quite like the present day. Many of our pastors are indeed hurting, and congregations, colleagues, family and friends often do not notice, do not act, or do not care. Please encourage your pastors by listening to them, praying for them daily, and loving them as they love you (even when they are looking rather sinful and human). It is what we are all called to do in God’s Word.
Also, if you know John’s family, reach out to them; and not just in these immediate days, but over time. His passing will not be forgotten by them as quickly as by the world.
Peace in Christ!