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Some times there is NO CHOICE. Any pastor who doesn't recognize problematic church situations and know that there have been times a Man of God has had no choice after searching his heart, than to exit a denomination and form a community or independent church, has his head in the sand. On this very Forum I have read from present pastors in the COG that an overseer lied to them or misrepresented something. Not a good testimony to our form of government.If I, in my loose connection to the COG, have seen this, then most of our COG ministers have seen it also. I use my dad as an example probably too many times but he was self educated (with God's help) his formal education was 3rd grade, he had to quit school to work on a North Georgia farm, in the early 1900's. He Organized his first church in the COG, then pastored 6 more churches in his 50+ years. EVERY church he pastored grew. He had a philosophy that he passed on to me when I thought I was called to preach.Son, try not to go in debt, God's people will feed you. There will NEVER be a problem that cannot be solved with prayer and tears as long as you do not care who gets the credit. As far as I know he never had a member leave his church disgruntled. There was never a split. He had no problem in apologizing, even if he was not wrong, he knew he could have been misunderstood. He fellow shipped with two men who organized independent churches. He told me, Son they were given no choice.Our organization has lost some GOOD men. In the past few years we have lost some good churches. I must think, administration hurts ourselves. Animosity is NOT Godly. Some facts but mostly just my [email protected]/

Couldn't agree more - we have seen a lot of good guys who have either walked away from ministry after a tough run or they end up taking a group of people & starting an independent work. John Hagee left his church in San Antonio & went down the street & started a church that ended up having a growth spurt We rarely & I do mean rarely ever hear about a large independent church coming into the CoG (at least in the West), it seems they find other places to engage in Like Fellowship in order to secure their ministry futures.My Great Gpa, Great Uncles (even a Great Aunt) my Gpa, Uncles & my Dad have all been in pastoral ministry & it is with caution that I say this, I wonder how differently they would find the challenges of ministry if they could come back & see what we have to face today in this culture sensitive society Empty nest syndrome is for the birds!Email me at: [email protected] planters are focused on just one thing ...introducing people to Jesus!

He resigned his church because of immorality. Shortly after he and his wife were divorced, he married a young woman from the congregation of the church he had resigned.

Cute! It never ceases to amaze me what we value in our church leaders. If he resigns as a senior pastor for what he himself defines as immorality, divorces his wife, and starts a new church all in the same year, something is amiss. Unless what is amiss is dealt with, it continues to be a problem regardless of how many years elapse. My point was that it hardly can be held up as a sterling example of a good split.

The only good 'splits' I have known is when the church grew until the pastor felt he could no longer be a 'good servant' and sought out a hard working deserving minister, brought him in and introduced him and asked if any of the members would be interested in organizing a church with this preacher.That has happened in the East Belmont COG. It is a mother church and has given birth to 5 or 6 solid churches in the past 40 years. All are doing well and are about the same size of E Belmont.I would not call them 'splits' in a nasty sense, The three I remember were definitely not antagonistic but treated like the birth of a child and feeling like they were 'spreading' the Gospel of Christ. Long before the 'mega church' was a thought in the COG. Some facts but mostly just my [email protected]/

He resigned his church because of immorality. Shortly after he and his wife were divorced, he married a young woman from the congregation of the church he had resigned. Bonnie, are you an angry white woman? It seems that when I read your responses to several threads it's as though I can hear a tone of voice that sounds like an angry white woman who has an opinion on every topic. In response to your comment above it is as though you found it necessary to remind all of us that Hagee had an affair & then married a younger woman.Problem is I never defended the man nor did I qualify my statement about him. I was making a slight remark that he left his church & went down the very same street & started another church which exploded in growth. His sin didn't make it grow nor did it hinder the growth or his calling to ministry; we know that he repented & God forgave him ...have you forgave him?He at one time had credentials with a major denomination but I wasn't trying to defend him or excuse his actions from 41years ago.I know you're building up a great response as you read my words but take a moment & re-read some of your own words & how you respond to people.You are some what of an grammatical proponent & English instructor. So based on that concept consider the way the reader takes your view into account Empty nest syndrome is for the birds!Email me at: [email protected] planters are focused on just one thing ...introducing people to Jesus!

I don't think I actually wrote that he had an affair.I am a white woman. I don't know about the angry part; I wouldn't say that's a general description of my personality, but I'm sure different people see me different ways; I've been called all sorts of stuff on Acts from amiable, pompous, doubting, you-name-it. Even snarky, lol.I'm not a grammarian or English instructor.I do have opinions on lots of topics. (I'm still trying to formulate one on Texit.

My error on the technicality ...you had said he resigned his first church due to immorality ...touche'.I hold to the notion that you are some what of an grammatical proponent & English instructor. (you didn't even notice when you said grammarian) lolTexit?? Empty nest syndrome is for the birds!Email me at: [email protected] planters are focused on just one thing ...introducing people to Jesus!