HOME | CHURCH JOB OPENINGS | ABOUT MMI | CATEGORIES OF INTEREST | CONTACT US

Wild Church Split:  The World’s First Multi-Site in the Same Room!

Orginally published on Monday, April 03, 2006 at 10:57 AM
by Todd Rhoades

Oh my... this from WBKO, Bowling Green, KY:

Two services... Two pastors... One church.

"We're worshiping on this side and they worship inside," said former pastor Tim White.

Because this pastor along with many members of the congregation are not allowed in church.

"It's just not right... It's just not right," said Janice Ferguson, Calvary Christian church member.

"I've never been kicked out of a church.... and I've never had no trouble with any church I pastored," said White.

White has been the pastor of the church for 6 years. Now this restraining order is keeping him from crossing this road.

"The corporation board had fired their minister for not teaching church doctrine and he's refused to leave," said the lawyer for the church, Stephen Poindexter.

"I haven't preached nothin but the word," said White.

But he was voted out... by the elders of the church.

White says the constitution and bi laws of the church require a 3/4ths vote of the membership, not just the elders.

"That's the reason I'm still pastor of the congregation," said White.

"He refused to leave. He just keeps coming back every Sunday and wed. And attempting to run the service and interfering," said Poindexter.

So, White's service is here across the street, and the congregation is split.

"They wanted me in on this and I would not get in on this because I didn't think it was legal," said church elder Frank Denton.

"There was a few that decided they wanted to take over and rule above the govern of the church," said White.

Tension is rising as each side waits for a court to make the final determination.

"It's like everything has been taken away from you," said Ferguson.

"The bible says you gotta love them if you're going to heaven but sometimes my love is wearing real thin for these people," said Denton.

Three Kentucky State Police troopers were on the scene to keep the peace between the sides.


This post has been viewed 81 times so far.



 TRACKBACKS: (0) There are 9 Comments:

  • Posted by

    I am sooooooooooooo tired of hearing stuff like this.  Maybe that’s why I do what I do.  There is far to many churches that have lost their focus and battle over stupid things.  I for one wouldn’t stay at a church that the elders didn’t want me.  No matter why they voted him out.  GO!

  • Posted by

    How do you think this makes me feel? I live in Kentucky and this sort of thing goes on all the time here in Frankfort, Ky. I am SICK AND TIRED OF THIS…

    IT IS NOT ABOUT YOU, IT IS ALL ABOUT CHRIST.
    PERIOD END OF STORY…

    Shake the dust off your shoes and move on. They have not rejected him but Christ. This church will not last long.

    This is the number one reason why churches roll over and die.

  • Posted by Randy Ehle

    Followup news article:

    http://www.wbko.com/home/headlines/2560701.html

    “Tompkinsville Church Lawsuit Dismissed
    Katie Weber

    A group of Tompkinsville church members can now return to their congregation after a judge dismisses a lawsuit filed by other members.

    Members of Calvary Christian Church were in court earlier this week over a dispute concerning how the pastor preaches church doctrine.

    Now Circuit Judge Eddie Lovelace dismissed the lawsuit filed by some of the church elders.

    Last Sunday, Pastor Tim White and those in the congregation supporting him met for their services outside the church.

    The restraining order against Pastor White was also dissolved.”

    Pastors:  have you checked out your church’s governing documents lately?  Like the judge himself said, this case should not even be in court.  (Original article here: http://www.wbko.com/home/headlines/2551556.html )

  • Posted by

    Clairvoyent,

    I’ve heard a lot about the churches in your area and the struggles they are having.  I’d love to spend time with a number of the pastors of those churches and see if I can be of any help to them.

    Andy

  • Posted by

    Andy,

    We have spoke about this in the past. I am still trying to get in touch with John Heskett again and talk to him about this.

    If this does not work I am going to do WJD in John 2:13-17.

    I am getting fed up with things like this around here:

    *They eat there all the time and don’t invite the poor.

    *They act proud and pompus.

    *They make women and teenagers deacons.

    *They accept and approve of these people who have money.

    *They sell things and hold auctions inside the church.

    *Pastor’s, Deacons, & other leaders committ adultery with other church members.

    *People are jealous of others who are more talented than they are.

    *People from the street look to the church for help and they get turned away.

    *They treat the church as if it’s a social club.

    I am sorry Todd for being outspoken but this sort of thing is making me sick. I have held my tongue too long.

  • Posted by

    Once again, sounds too much like home… have you checked out your church’s governing documents lately? Sounds like a good idea to me. Esp. if you are a board run church (anti-biblical), A congregational church where one member gets one vote (democracy) sounds like a better deal to me. Being Baptist (independent) I always shun any board driven work, too much of a hindrance to the Gospel and Holy Spirit.

  • Posted by Randy Ehle

    Jay, may I suggest that if a “board run church” is “anti-biblical”, then so is congregational church/democracy.  I am intentionally borrowing your terminology, though I don’t agree with it.  Both have inherent problems - the first being that they require people, and sinners at that!  IMO, there is clearer evidence of the dangers of “democracy” in scripture than there is of a “board run church”; examples of the results of democracy - a golden calf, a river’s edge 10-2 vote that resulted in an extra 40 years in the wilderness....  Actually, since the disciples replaced Judas by lottery, one could probably argue (though weakly) that gambling is a more biblical governance structure.

    Now before I bite my tongue off, let me get it out of my cheek and share what I am more convinced of regarding governance:  the scriptures don’t give us a model for church governance, but they do give us a set of titles, qualifications, and some idea of the responsibilities.  Beyond that, I think God has left it up to us to figure out how to effectively (and graciously) manage the churches entrusted to our care.  Some have done that well using a congregational form (many of which also employ a board - sort of a “representative democracy”, if you will), others have used elders, still others vest pretty much the entire governing authority in the pastor.  Again, there are dangers inherent in all of these models, but any of them can, under the supreme authority of God and the direction of the Holy Spirit, function quite well.

  • Posted by

    Randy,

    Thanks for saying what I wanted to say.  There is a lot more biblical support for leaders of the church running it then a democracy.

  • Posted by phill

    I think i use to serve there…

    OH sorry that was in KS…

    http://pastorphill.typepad.com/phillip_longmire/

  • Page 1 of 1 pages

Post Your Comments:

Name:

Email:

Location:

URL:

Live Comment Preview:

Remember my personal information

Notify me of follow-up comments?

Please enter the word you see in the image below: