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1) They believe that the Church of God is somehow holding them back from taking the path they believe they should take.2) They are concerned about their financial obligations to the Church of God (either in TOT or loans, etc.)3) There is a moral failure where there is a difference of opinion with the COG on how it should be addressed.4) They have come to believe/preach things that are at odds with key doctrinal points of the COG...and/or they have policies that are at odds with essential COG policies.There may be more, but these seem to be the main categories. I suppose you could, if you were so inclined, argue that #1 really covers everything else.In any case, perhaps all of these can be summed up in the phrase disillusionment with the Church of God.

Perhaps, but being a part of the COG has not seemed to hold him back from success in any way - in fact, they were his biggest supporter

You left out one.Dictatorial state overseers with delusions of godhood.That is my reason, the absence of due process and failure of general officials to reign him in.That left us with no other option. Charles A. HutchinsSenior Pastor SPWCCongregational Church of Godwww.spwc.church

I would consider that to fall under point #1. Indeed, there have been situations where overseers have overstepped (sometimes by a long shot).If a church truly feels that they will miss God by obeying the overseer...whew! I guess that's a Paul and Barnabas parting moment. Because it is almost a given that the higher-ups will support the overseer--NOT because he is right, but because to not do so can create lots of cracks in the ranks (e.g., If he won't back us up, we won't back him up!).Many years ago, an overseer sent word to my father (a pastor) that he had been assigned to another church several hundred miles away. Now, I believe this overseer was a man of God (you'd almost certainly know his name), but I also believe that he likely had a close friend that he wanted close to the state office (our church was in the city where the state office was). I don't think he would have purposely missed God, but he likely felt it was a good move.My dad responded thusly: I don't believe the Lord is through with me here. But if you make me move, I want it clear that the souls are on your hands.And that was the last we heard of that.

I like that, It never happened to my dad, but Imma thinking the same response.. SWEET Your dad was right! Some facts but mostly just my [email protected]/

This is gold [Jesus] will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. - Nicene Creed

Your Dad was a smart man. That was a good answer. Sounds like it was a word from God. I know of a church in the south where the pastor was retiring and had suggested to the State Overseer that another church was using his church for services and that it would be nice to combine the 2 churches and let the other pastor have it. The SO said, I already have a man for the church. The retiring pastor left, the new pastor took the church, sold the vans, made the other church find another place to have church. He closed the food pantry, picking up kids and all. The clerk tried to get SO to do something,, he did something allright, he got the law to come to the church and escort her out of the church as they thought she was a trouble maker. (She had been clerk for about 40 years - always sent in her reports and dues monthly.) That pastor changed churches with someone across the state. The SO eventually sold the church and promised the current pastor he would get XX number of dollars to help out at his church where they were combining the 2 churches and last we heard, the money was never sent). Some SO's will not listen to their pastors or members - they must think they are God and can do as they please. Who can the members complain to? I don't think any General Overseers will listen to a member saying anything against the decisions of a State O.

[quote=THE LOVE OF GOD]Your Dad was a smart man. That was a good answer. Sounds like it was a word from God. I know of a church in the south where the pastor was retiring and had suggested to the State Overseer that another church was using his church for services and that it would be nice to combine the 2 churches and let the other pastor have it. The SO said, I already have a man for the church. The retiring pastor left, the new pastor took the church, sold the vans, made the other church find another place to have church. He closed the food pantry, picking up kids and all. The clerk tried to get SO to do something,, he did something allright, he got the law to come to the church and escort her out of the church as they thought she was a trouble maker. (She had been clerk for about 40 years - always sent in her reports and dues monthly.) That pastor changed churches with someone across the state. The SO eventually sold the church and promised the current pastor he would get XX number of dollars to help out at his church where they were combining the 2 churches and last we heard, the money was never sent). Some SO's will not listen to their pastors or members - they must think they are God and can do as they please. Who can the members complain to? I don't think any General Overseers will listen to a member saying anything against the decisions of a State O. [quote=Aaron Scott]I would consider that to fall under point #1. Indeed, there have been situations where overseers have overstepped (sometimes by a long shot).How many tragic stories like this one (and ours) have occurred?Sad. Charles A. HutchinsSenior Pastor SPWCCongregational Church of Godwww.spwc.church