You said you served in regional and state leadership for years. In that capacity, what do you feel is the thing that would be the easiest to change on a state level that would help the Church of God grow? I think it will have to be done slowly. It has become a large ship and turning it in the right direction will take some time________________
I would think that if you served in regional and state leadership for years you would know exactly how the minutes say the monies from sold churches and parsonages can be used. But obviously you don’t. Many people however, like you, don’t understand the wording of what was passed in that regard. And I don’t know where you’ve been the last 7 years but less and less from my local church has been going to support the system (from 15
Letting international leadership hear the heart of state leaders. Our heart breaks seeing our State declining and no one is listen. Reduce, merge or reorganize so that all the monies don’t just go to keeping the offices going.
I would think that if you served in regional and state leadership for years you would know exactly how the minutes say the monies from sold churches and parsonages can be used. But obviously you don’t. Many people however, like you, don’t understand the wording of what was passed in that regard. And I don’t know where you’ve been the last 7 years but less and less from my local church has been going to support the system (from 15% down to 10%) instead of more and more. We already addressed the things you express concern over. Sounds to me like you are throwing off on the church that gave you somewhere to minister and supported you during all of those years of regional and state leadership. I say this in love.
Letting international leadership hear the heart of state leaders. Our heart breaks seeing our State declining and no one is listen. Reduce, merge or reorganize so that all the monies don’t just go to keeping the offices going. Consider the needs of the local church as priority over the needs of the system i.e. Denomination. I believe there are plenty of people who would like to see these changes but few who are willing to sacrifice their potential position in the Church of God to REALLY make some waves. It will take someone of reputation to begin the process of making us more local church in emphasis________________
Well said cogcia. In order to advance in the COG you have to leave the local church behind. They don’t want you to pastor and be an official because if you do both the system can’t control you and they know you won’t serve the the best interest of the system. They want you to give up your local church and enter the arena of cog politics so that you can not buck the system and jeopardize the desk job so many have gone to depend on. You do not know the number of times I heard officials say well so and so can’t go to Cleveland they are inexperienced. The church they have runs in the thousands they are out of debt. The church bills are paid what inexperience was what I thought. We might need this man to balance the budget in Cleveland. But I have notice inexperienced according to the system does not mean they have no experience. It means they have not going though the initiation process of not having anywhere to turn but Cleveland. What would a pastor focused government look like. What would happen if general overseers all the way to state overseers could still pastor a local church. I think our leaders would still be in touch. I look at some and I wonder could they still pastor? It reminds me of that scene in the movie taken when iam neeson turns to the corrupt desk cop and says, That’s what happens when you sit behind a desk! You forget things! Here is the scene.www.youtube.com/embed/vu96u7oA93Q
You said you served in regional and state leadership for years. In that capacity, what do you feel is the thing that would be the easiest to change on a state level that would help the Church of God grow? I think it will have to be done slowly. It has become a large ship and turning it in the right direction will take some time________________
I would think that if you served in regional and state leadership for years you would know exactly how the minutes say the monies from sold churches and parsonages can be used. But obviously you don’t. Many people however, like you, don’t understand the wording of what was passed in that regard. And I don’t know where you’ve been the last 7 years but less and less from my local church has been going to support the system (from 15
Letting international leadership hear the heart of state leaders. Our heart breaks seeing our State declining and no one is listen. Reduce, merge or reorganize so that all the monies don’t just go to keeping the offices going.
I would think that if you served in regional and state leadership for years you would know exactly how the minutes say the monies from sold churches and parsonages can be used. But obviously you don’t. Many people however, like you, don’t understand the wording of what was passed in that regard. And I don’t know where you’ve been the last 7 years but less and less from my local church has been going to support the system (from 15% down to 10%) instead of more and more. We already addressed the things you express concern over. Sounds to me like you are throwing off on the church that gave you somewhere to minister and supported you during all of those years of regional and state leadership. I say this in love.
Letting international leadership hear the heart of state leaders. Our heart breaks seeing our State declining and no one is listen. Reduce, merge or reorganize so that all the monies don’t just go to keeping the offices going. Consider the needs of the local church as priority over the needs of the system i.e. Denomination. I believe there are plenty of people who would like to see these changes but few who are willing to sacrifice their potential position in the Church of God to REALLY make some waves. It will take someone of reputation to begin the process of making us more local church in emphasis________________
Great conversation here is some food for thought
Most pastors I talk to say leadership serves the system over the local church.
Well said cogcia. In order to advance in the COG you have to leave the local church behind. They don’t want you to pastor and be an official because if you do both the system can’t control you and they know you won’t serve the the best interest of the system. They want you to give up your local church and enter the arena of cog politics so that you can not buck the system and jeopardize the desk job so many have gone to depend on. You do not know the number of times I heard officials say well so and so can’t go to Cleveland they are inexperienced. The church they have runs in the thousands they are out of debt. The church bills are paid what inexperience was what I thought. We might need this man to balance the budget in Cleveland. But I have notice inexperienced according to the system does not mean they have no experience. It means they have not going though the initiation process of not having anywhere to turn but Cleveland. What would a pastor focused government look like. What would happen if general overseers all the way to state overseers could still pastor a local church. I think our leaders would still be in touch. I look at some and I wonder could they still pastor? It reminds me of that scene in the movie taken when iam neeson turns to the corrupt desk cop and says, That’s what happens when you sit behind a desk! You forget things! Here is the scene.www.youtube.com/embed/vu96u7oA93Q