It’s Getting Ugly at Coral Ridge. D. James Kennedy Rolls Over in His Grave…
- Posted by: Todd
- Posted on: Tue, August 11, 2009
- Viewed 317
- (37) comments so far
According to the Miami Herald: Six members of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church -- including the daughter of founding pastor D. James Kennedy -- have been banned from the premises and all functions of the Fort Lauderdale church.
The action, announced in a letter mailed to Coral Ridge members over the weekend, is the latest round in a brewing dispute between recently appointed Pastor W. Tullian Tchividjian, who is a grandson of evangelist Billy Graham, and a group of members spearheading an effort to fire him...
Besides Jennifer Kennedy Cassidy, Kennedy’s daughter, the people banned are Lorna Bryan, Kaye Carlson, Romeo DeMarco, and Jim and Jeanne Filosa. They have been ordered to stay off church property and out of church programs, and ``to stop writing accusatory letters to the congregation.’’
The events have rocked the church, which under Kennedy was a nationally recognized stronghold of Christian conservative activism.
In recent weeks, the dissidents have circulated two letters and a petition to call a congregational meeting with the goal of putting an end to Tchividjian’s fledgling pastorate.
Tchividjian fired back in his letter to the congregation: ``No church government can tolerate such an insurrection from those who will not listen to admonition, refuse all counsel, and will stop at nothing until they have overthrown legitimate authority and replaced it with their own.’’
Seriously, people…
Todd
Comments
if you want a Globally Recognized Avatar (the images next to your profile) get them here. Once you sign up, they will displayed on any website that supports them.
bishopdave on Thu, August 13, 2009
Bernard: Ummm, no, I don’t see Matthew 18:17 saying anything of the sort. Just my reading, not being dogmatic.
Not sure I understand completely what you mean. I agree, can’t stop them from writing letters, etc.; but stopping the letters can be a term of reinstatement or whatever.
I can’t see Matthew 18:17 meaning anything less than, “have nothing to do with them.” Don’t accept their calls, do delete their emails, etc. Loss of the privilege of the community and fellowship. Neither Jesus or Paul take unity in the body lightly (see John 17), and unrepentant dissenters are called out some even by name (3John 9-10).
This “shunning” (watch Charlie the Unicorn) becomes the responsibility of the membership in order to enforce the discipline. It means to treat that one as the pharisees wanted Jesus to treat Zaccheus or the woman at the well. And this banning looks very harsh to the outside world; but at some point we take the risk in order to obey Christ. And some church’s taking action before the whole congregation have been challenged in court; to my knowledge, I think the church’s right is upheld.
Admittedly, once this gets in the newspaper the mud is slung and nobody looks good. But these battles are going on in so many megachurches when the longtime (often celebrity) pastor goes on:
Bellvue in Memphis, First Bapt. in Dallas, ad nauseum. Is this a phenomena or a pattern for the future of the famous churches?
Rev. K on Thu, August 13, 2009
why are we limiting solving church matters to Matthew 18? What happened to Paul’s letters to Timothy and Titus? They hold value on how we’re to handle disputes within the church…
many are treating the pastos as though he’s in the wrong and are treating the individuals who’s causing chaos as though they’re in the right…
Bernard Shuford on Thu, August 13, 2009
I wish to Pete that I had never commented in this blasted comment stream in the first place. Holy cow.
I wish Tullian the best with Coral Ridge. I wish all the rest of you the best at whatever it is you do. (Since most of you have “Rev” or something similar in your screen name, it’s not too hard to guess. Maybe I should be NonrevB or something…)
Rev. K on Thu, August 13, 2009
Bro. Bernard,
We wish to cause no harm or bad feelings…by all means voice your opinions… our titles doesn’t qualify our positions or beliefs…
However we can’t sit back and allow folks to divide congregations because of displeasure with worship styles… God has given us instructions on how to handle disputes within our local congregations… and we have to rid the congregations of chaos for the sake of her spiritual growth. I know this sound strange in our Westernized Church when Christians are to always be loving and tolerate anything…
The phrase, “One rotten apple spoils the bunch” comes true even in this situation. If we find ourselves to be the rotten apple it’s best for the sake of the bunch for us to remove ourselves… In this case the pastor didn’t allow the rotten apples to harm the congregation… that’s what a shepherd is supposed to do… protect the sheep from the wolves…
I don’t believe this pastor was power hungry, money hungry or caught up in arrogance… Nothing is said about his lifestyle or doctrines taught… but the descendents are mad because he changed something their daddy put in place… you have to agree that’s not Christian-like. I do believe the pastor gave them chance to repent and I do believe the pastor followed biblical guidance in handling this situation. When folks seek to push their own agenda, they have little or no concern for the congregation as a whole. They sought to send out letters, emails, phone calls, etc… to overthrow the leadership of the congregation…
Jan on Fri, August 14, 2009
Umm did you have a comment about what I wrote? as quoted above. Just wondering if you agree or what?
I have seen so many disgruntled people in ministry that come and go. I think this is just more of the unfortunate same.
What would be the actual reason for insisting on duke-ing it out for such flimsy reasons?
I have seen good pastors and bad pastors. But I’ve seen an awful lot of church members who just decided to hate the pastor. One just this week.
It’s the sorry state of the church I believe.
Pastors are supposed to perform and do what the consumers want or pay.
And these kind of people don’t care how many people they take down with them.
I think that this church has every right to ask them not to come onto the property and cause more trouble.
Jan on Fri, August 14, 2009
Just one last thing… Bernard, this is a discussion. I’m not sure what you are upset about, that someone disagrees with you?
It’s not a personal thing I assure you.
Blessings,
Jan
Bernard Shuford on Fri, August 14, 2009
I don’t really feel “upset”; I just genuinely wish I hadn’t opened my big mouth. I tire of disagreeable discussions pretty quickly these days. That said, I’m not leaving mad, just don’t have anything else to say about it.
Page 3 of 3 pages < 1 2 3
Post a Comment