Close Topic Options

Voted Out Of Church?

Earlier this year, 165 members of the Glendale Baptist Church were 'voted out' of the church for not agreeing with the policies and practices of the local minister.

Read here
for the full story.

This is very disturbing to me, that people would not be allowed to attend a church because they question they minister or priest? Since when did the church become a popularity contest? What are your views on this matter?

Church Out Voted

There are two different aspects that I see in this.

1. If the church is essentially a "social group" based on shared religious beliefs (not saying that it is only social, but rather that it is a social grouping), then that group has the right to control who is within that group. If the majority of the group thinks that this minister is right, and the group of dissidents don't, and are causing contention and disruption within that group (church), then the group is well within its rights to ask them to leave.

2. If the church is established and led by God, and the pastor truly IS the one that God has called to lead that church, then the dissidents could be cast out.

2a. If the church is established and led by God, and the pastor ISN'T the one that God has called to lead that church, then the dissidents are better off by not associating with an apostate group.

Finally, after reading the story, it almost sounds like the pastor is a autocrat, who enjoys the use of his power. While excommunication can, and should be available to a church, it should not be a simple or rash decision to use it, but should be very carefully thought out, and extremely carefully applied. It doesn't sound like this case was very carefully and prayerfully considered, nor were the thoughts and desires of the people involved even slightly considered. Judgement was rushed and unfair.

Voted Out Of Church? Beliefs Religious General

I did not read the whole article but it seems to me that this minister really like 'power' (this is just my personal opinion) so I cannot give an opinion whether these excommunications were right or wrong although I think they were not fair. But in another setting, if you have a group of people who they said believe in the same things and between that group you have people who do not agree with the President or authority within that particular group then that it will cause a lot of contention since I don't think the majority will change, then the person needs to seriously decide what he or she wants to do with those feelings because one thing for sure, he or she cannot be counted between that religious group because his/her feelings are different from the rest. I see it as club, if you don't like the rules or if you do not respect them, they kicked you out.

Church Out Voted

In my opinion, the pastor (who, also in my opinion, has probably changed his name to something biblical in order to influence his church members...) "owns" that church. It may be a non-profit organization according to law, but he's the one in charge of how to run things. Unless and until his congregation stops paying any offerings in order to sustain his lifestyle! So I would think he's pandering to the members who offer the most money on a regular basis. On the other hand, to vote out 165 potential tithe-payers is a little foolish on his part.

The fact that he would put a vote to his members that specifically states that he's somehow "called of God" to run that church says a lot.

Personally, if I were in a situation like that, I would leave of my own volition. They wouldn't have to vote me out of a church I felt uncomfortable in -- or if I thought this earthly-schooled pastor was wrong in his teachings. Certainly, if he tried to convince me that he's somehow led by God, specifically. Those kind of people usually end up leading people astray.

In my not-so-humble opinion.
Roz

Church Out Voted

I may be interpreting this wrong but I sense a consensus in the posts so far that it was the 'right' of the pastor in question to do what he did. I was taught to believe that church is a place that is open to all, and like FarSeer said, if you disagreed with what was being taught or preached, you were free to leave. However, I dont see the right to banish people from church; no man should be able to do that.

Voted Out Of Church?

I didn't read the article because to me the specifics of this particular congregation are not as important as the topic is in general.

I think if a group is disrupting the services and or causing a lot of contention between members, it adversly affects the ability of that organization to adequately meet the needs of its members. No group should be allowed to do that. So, in my opinion, you either accept the way the leaders of that church choose to present their message or you find another church to attend. I don't think anyone should be allowed to disrupt another's free worship.

Why do yo want to continue to attend a church where you are in such disagreement with the leaders? Why do you think it should be allowed to continue? Seems to me it could be simply that you want to disrupt things. Maybe you have a vendetta against the leaders. I don't think your freedom to worship includes the right to disrupt others. Neither does it include the right to dictate how a particular church or its leaders will present the gospel message. In my opinion, your right is to find a church that presents the message you believe is true and attend there not to pick a church and force them to present the message you want, in the manner you want.

Voted Out Church

malexander said:

tena said:

On a one-on-one basis, malexander, perhaps it could be worked out. However, with 165 people? Nope. The article said there was slander and gossip and misinformation. Some people voted "no" because they disagreed with the vote itself, and were cast out -- with the condition that they could return if they signed an agreement for "unity."

It sounds as if there were a lot more problems behind the scenes than the article reported -- more business related and procedural than actual gospel or doctrinal issues, and these folks wanted answers to those problems. Leaving is probably better for them in the long run, anyway.

Roz