Organist and Traditional Worship Leader Leave Coral Ridge… Set Up Shop Down the Street
- Posted by: Todd
- Posted on: Fri, October 02, 2009
- Viewed 348
- (15) comments so far
The organist, the traditional worship leader, and two upset elders have left Coral Ridge. Could this be a bad thing?
According to the Miami Herald:
Divisions deepened at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church, the Fort Lauderdale mega-church, as two elders resigned Tuesday night following the first service of a breakaway congregation on Sunday.
The two have accused Pastor Tullian Tchividjian and his officers of retaliating against members who tried to have him fired, criticisms that Coral Ridge officials have denied.
``I'm not trying to fuel any fire. I just couldn't agree with the course of the leadership,'' said Dan Westphal, who resigned from the church's board of elders along with Roy Christie. ``We had a golden opportunity to reconcile rather than be punitive.''
The developments follow the exit last week of organist Samuel Metzger and John Wilson, director of the traditional worship service. Both men helped lead music at the Sunday service of 400 dissidents at Butterfly World in Coconut Creek.
Elder Bill Ashcraft said the dissident service did not surprise him. He said a church expert had told a Coral Ridge transition team that any new pastor would probably lose 300 to 400 members.
``We actually prayed for that church,'' Ashcraft said. ``It's better for the majority at Coral Ridge to get what they wanted, and for those people to get what they wanted.''
Last week, singers at a choir rehearsal were told they would have to recant their opposition to Tchividjian in order to stay in the group. Many took offense at that.
``They had a big stick over our heads and said, `If you don't like it, leave,' '' said Lorna Bryan, a past president of the choir and a Coral Ridge member for 13 years. ``No pastor should scatter the people. That is what this pastor has done.''
Ashcraft denied the church was trying to drive out members who petitioned against Tchividjian.
``Worship leaders, including every choir member, are expected to be on board,'' Ashcraft said. ``They can't praise God with their mouth but demean the pastor when they're off the platform.''
The split seems to be permanent. Organizers of the new congregation, tentatively called The Church, are applying for 501(c)3 tax-exempt status and searching for a permanent home. They plan a second service on Sunday, again at Butterfly World.
And from an article from the AP:
Former Coral Ridge elder Jim Filosa joined the new church. He and his wife were disciplined by Coral Ridge for taking part in a campaign to remove Tchividjian.
"A year from today, if you call me, you're going to say to me, 'It was an interesting place at one time, but it's now up for sale,'" he said of his former church.
Bill Aschraft, a Coral Ridge elder who is acting as a spokesman for Tchividjian, said the church was praying for those who left and that their the breakaway represents "a win-win situation."
"Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church is going to grow," Ashcraft said. "And the other church ... is going to grow also. And God will be glorified at both."
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Wow... the organist AND the director of traditional worship left? That's many a pastor's fantasy. Add to that, two elders who didn't support the leadership leaving. Priceless.
I'm always saddened when churches have a split. 400 people starting a new church becaused they're ticked at the pastor is not a good thing. Neither is losing 400 people from your church.
Having a former elder predicting that in a year people will say that the church was 'an interesting place at one time, but now it's up for sale' tells me much of that elder's maturity level.
These things happen every day at church you and I will never heard of. We just hear of this one because of the prominence of the church.
It's all just way too sad.
Todd
Your thoughts?
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Jeff T. on Fri, October 02, 2009
I’m pretty sure that after hearing that news, Tullian got the best night of sleep he’s had since taking the lead pastor position at Coral Ridge!
The only thing worse than having 400 stubborn and bitter church members leave… is having them stay.
The 2 churches will be different in style, they’re not even going to be in competition with each other. A definite win-win situation.
Chris St John on Fri, October 02, 2009
I read this the today, while I am uncertain of its source, I find that it dove tails well with both the situation with “dissidents” at Coral Ridge and the upheaval in so many churches today:
When the Greeks got the gospel, they turned it into a philosophy; when the Romans got it, they turned it into a government; when the Europeans got it, they turned it into a culture; and when the Americans got it, they turned it into a business.� -Unknown
Just my thoughts,
Chris
Don on Fri, October 02, 2009
I have to agree that the choir members need to support the new leadership. Jesus calls for unity in HIS church. If you can’t support current leadership, you should leave… quietly… peacefully… I’m excited to see what God has in store for this church.
bishopdave on Fri, October 02, 2009
So, now is it over and we’re done hearing about it?
tim on Fri, October 02, 2009
Good. Maybe now Tullian can lead the church to the mission God has called them to. Moses is dead - time to move on!
kc on Mon, October 05, 2009
Wow! Tullian has the makings of a great new book for pastors: “How To Get Rid Of The Elder/Deacons/Music Minister/Organist And Mean Old Church Members”.
The book should sell millions because we’ve all got ‘em in our churches. I told my wife this “marriage” at James Kennedy’s church wasn’t going to work. I hope Tullian will hang in there and do a great work. Church should be about reaching the unchurched and I think that is what Tullian is wanting to do.
don bryant on Mon, October 05, 2009
Is it the policy that anyone who in the choir has to agree that the man presently pastoring should be the pastor, shouldn’t want a different pastor? This is an impossible standard of unity to maintain and will create an atmosphere of intimidation. If choir members consent to the congregation’s decision to call the new pastor without working against the congregation’s will, it is enough. But the standard announced means support the pastor or leave. This standard will boomerang on the church and make the present leadership men of war and not of peace. Their policy is not wise. I speak as a Pastor who has been around long enough to see where these things go.
Wyeth Duncan on Mon, October 05, 2009
I think it’s regretable that the church “business” had to be put “out in the streets” because the dissenters are hell-bent on going to the media with their complaints. That’s just wrong. If you cannot live at peace with the decision of the majority of members who voted, then just leave quietly and peacefully. However, I think this can be a blessing in disguise for Coral Ridge Church, if those members who remain will now unite behind Pastor Tchividjian.
Nate on Mon, October 05, 2009
Interesting. Could be a win/win for both groups.
Jerry D. Hill on Mon, October 05, 2009
Peter and Paul had a verbal fight. Barnabas had to go a different direction than Paul. More churches have been created by convulsion than conversion any way. More and more Churches get created for more and more reasons. One sows, one waters God gives the increase. Strange way to run a farm.
Paul Percy on Mon, October 05, 2009
I not sure it’s necessary to favour one group over another. I agree with those church leaders who said starting another church is a win/win. It’s a matter of preference, one style over another. Abraham and Lot in Genesis 13 set the example here. One stays the other goes but they can still have a good relationship (this will happen give them a year or two). As for asking choir members for loyality David in 1 Chronicles 12:16 did the same thing. Our prayer should be that both churches thrive and bring glory to God.
Charley Blom on Mon, October 05, 2009
Interesting that in one article we talk of a church split and a new church forming down the road. in another we have an ex-pastor talking about starting a new church down the road from his old church. There are huge differences but in one sense a similarity. If you can’t play ball according to my rules I will take my ball and go play by myself!
Interesting at Coral Ridge since there are requirements to membership in a PCA church that the outgoing membership doesn’t seem to be following.
It is sad, and especially when we aren’t hearing all the information, just the good headlines that sell papers.
i pray for both churches to be blessed by God and flourish. I also pray that other churches will learn a lesson and find ways to work together for the spread of the Kingdom of God.
Tom on Mon, October 05, 2009
don bryant said, “Is it the policy that anyone who in the choir has to agree that the man presently pastoring should be the pastor, shouldn�t want a different pastor? This is an impossible standard of unity to maintain and will create an atmosphere of intimidation”.
Personally, I have seen in many cases, that the choir is usually the most �POLITICALLY� motivated group in any church, and usually the most verbal, (My mother comes to mind). Because of that, I can read between the lines, and see where the rebuke is directed, (A non-Christ like demeanor in the choir room before the service, and at rehearsals). BAD FORM PEOPLE, get behind the leader of choice from the majority of the congregation. One other thing to keep in mind, God Himself does the ordaining of any pastor called to preach the Good News, NOT the choir.
missional girl on Wed, October 07, 2009
A fine mess. Yet, perhaps a necessary one. It’s always hard for a new pastor following a long-tenured one. The problem I feel may be,on one hand, too many people got the mission and the man (Kennedy) confused and can’t move on without him. On the other hand, it’s not wise for new pastors to come into that type of pastoral situation and change too many things too quickly. I’m not saying Tully did that but certainly there were those who complained about it. Personally, I like the man and wish him nothing but God’s best and hope that all learn from this experience.
coconutsteve on Fri, October 23, 2009
This proves the point that when the devil fell, he fell into the choir loft.
I hope that Tullian will be able to get to the important job of reaching out to the lost. He is a breath of fresh air. The church is not called to attack culture but to reach out to the culture by loving and serving lost sinners.
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