okay so the situation is that the chuch i am a member of, acquired a new pastor last year, the problem is, now, instead of a place to worship, the church has almost turned into a cult like atmosphere, with the guy as pastor taking charge of absolutely everything...and if you disagree with him on anything then you are a "demon". He treats the elderly members like they don't even exist and everything else is disorganized. Church members aren't even speaking to each other because of all this nonsense, it's turned into a congregation of either you are with the pastor's "vision" or you are evil. Reminds me of the Witchcraft Trials I read in middle school. It's crazy.

So since all of this has happened i've been taking myself out of the situation and visiting other churches, with the hopes of finding another church home...but one of my family member's is insisting that i don't turn my back on the church because (she and some other members) feel that even though we aren't on the "pastor's side" that we should fight him until he leaves the church (which will happen eventually).

Tonight there is suppose to be a church meeting in which the members who are outraged with this preacher for taking over our church like it's a cult want a vote, while the other members who feel that our pastor is right on everything and that he can do no wrong are trying to stop us from having a voice as a church congregation. I told my mother and my grandmother that i would not be in attendance because after attending meetings in the past, i have walked away angry or even wanting to key up the pastor's brand new SUV that he bought with the Church money. I feel that I shouldn't go or even put myself in a situation where i know that i will be very emotionally angry. The problem is that one of my family members feels that if i don't stand up to this preacher, as she is with other members who oppose him, then i'm turning my back on the church.

so am i right to feel the way i feel and stay away? she just left a message on my cell phone telling me that i need to attend this church meeting tonight to help "save the church", but i feel like, why not let nature take it's course? I mean whatever happens will happen. I just don't want to be caught up in all this tug of war. It's B.S. to me. She should respect the fact that i'm an adult and can make my own choices.
[Edited 4/27/07 14:12pm]

When I was a kid we had a pastor who drove a Harley and wore a speedo

NastyPig said:

yeah, i mean now days pastor's are crooks. that profession is has become the new "pimping" profession.

Oh no! This happened at the church I grew up in. A new pastor came in, and started changing everything. He started kicking people out of the church who went against him. He even sent a letter out describing people who left the church as goats, while those who stayed behind were sheep. He was all kinds of wrong. My family was outraged, and we left.

UCantHavaDaMango said:

i am so relieved to know that i'm not alone. so i guess this means that i'm being right by not feeding into the negativity and anger? right?

missfee said:

he wasnt a crook, he was jsut too cool for the old people.

he would dress up in character for his sermons.
and he was hot, even in his speedo. he worked out too.
I think he was gay or bi, even though he had two daughters,
cause his whole image was 70's leather guy.

Ick!
Its the norm these days. The pastor at my childhood church is a crook. And he'snot going anywhere.

He lived in the church for awhile andsold the church van
The church gave me scholarship money when I graduated highschool. I collected my money and I told the treasurer I will never return and I have not.

U could always voice your opinion at the meeting and then leave,but if u dont want to get caught up in it-U dont have to.
[Edited 4/27/07 14:33pm]

ALWAYS RUN FROM MINI-HILTER WITH BIBLES.
Do sensible adults call other adults demons when they don't agree?
Did Jesus say ignore the elderly?
Is church about God's word or a pastor's vision?
How long can the fool pay for his SUV with an empty collection plate?
There's other churches in your town, just leave.

littlemissG said:

maybe you should become the new pastor and promote your visions of what the church should be and how a pastor should behave

missfee said:

Right. I was 17 when this happened, and it shook my faith a little. This church was practically my home away from home. Then I realized that I can't put my faith in people, because they can let me down. There will always be other churches. Don't let a bad one wear on your soul.

Yeah, do what YOU feel is best for YOU because isn't that exactly where religion starts - with one's self? If you don't feel comfortable in this clown's presence or at his church, then bounce. Find another church and find piece of mind. THAT'S what it's all about.

If the time comes when he is removed and things go back to normal, you can then return to your old church. Learn how to "Do you" ya dig? Don't let people bully you into thinking YOU have to save the world.

stick to your guns. if you don't approve and don't want to get into some big political war in your church, then state your opinion to those trying to get you to go and do what makes YOU feel comfortable.

i think ure doing the right thing by staying away. go with ure instincts- if you don't feel safe or u don't feel he's acting as a minister should- then don't go. from wat i've read abt cults- its usually someone that tries to steer ppl from one religion 2 another "religion" or w/e. is there someone u can talk 2 abt this- like whoever his boss might be? maybe someone could look into his background...

if this dude has marched in and created all this dischord and separation within your church, it's only going to be a matter of time before the people who are giving him a chance and feeding into his weirdness get tired of his assery and throw down a big ol' holy backlash. if your church has anything at all on the ball, it has got to enjoy a strong sense of community and at least a FEW principles shared among everyone, and sooner or later everyone's going to agree that this community and the faith it serves is more important than some flashy johnny-come-lately who wants it all to be about him. pop some popcorn, get ready to enjoy the show. i don't know what the bible calls "karma", but it's gonna be making a guest appearance, probably sooner than you think.

Anx said:

There it is.

If your church is important to you, then I think you should help the others fight this guy. If everybody just leaves it up to others to deal with it then it will never be dealt with, just like you will never get rid of bad political leaders if you don't vote against them.

retina said:

there are good political leaders?

isn't there a deacon or something who is in charge of the pastor?
surely it is up to the larger church organisation to keep the pastors towing to the church line...

eraclito said:

there is a deacon board in our church, but most of the deacons on the board have relented to him and feel that this guy "is the one to follow"...but i always thought you weren't suppose to follow man anyway.

tznekbsbfrvr said:

oh well it did come out about 6 months ago that 12 years ago he was convicted of selling drugs to minors in a school zone. at first it was like "oh well he made a mistake and it was a long time ago" but the next Sunday he preached he was yelling from the pulpit how nobody was going to kick him out of the church and what not (where he kicked out a member of our church who found out this information and confronted him with it. To keep her quiet he kicked her out of the church). my thing was, if his past was in the past and that was it, then why the need to kick somebody out of church to keep them quiet???

Anx said:

well i sure do hope so