Do Church of God pastors have meaningful accountability?
Posted by:
malleeboy
()
Date: July 26, 2007 05:18AM
OrangeRev:
A church does not need to be a "cult" for abuse to happen. A church can be thoroughly "orthodox" in teaching and still allow abuse to occurr. A church can appear to be blessed by God and abuse can happen.
The vast majority of a movement can be the most wonderfull people and the vast majority of their congregations great places. However the chances of abuse occurring increases proportionally with the absence of sound accountability practices, especially accountability of those with power.
You specifically said the movement that you attend has a structure that does not fit in with any of the more well known models of church governance. I'm curious about it, as it does seem a different model. What is the harm in expressing what the movement has in place to minimize the possibility of abuse occurring? Discussing the theological reasons for choosing a model is probably not in the scope of this forum but discussing ways of ensuring abuse does not occurr within churches is surely in scope for a forum about "destructive churches".
Furthermore forums are read by many more people than post on them. Posting the hopefully sound structure that your groups has adopted may help others in groups that do not have the same good principles help to improve theirs or seek safer "pastures".
A church does not need to be a "cult" for abuse to happen. A church can be thoroughly "orthodox" in teaching and still allow abuse to occurr. A church can appear to be blessed by God and abuse can happen.
The vast majority of a movement can be the most wonderfull people and the vast majority of their congregations great places. However the chances of abuse occurring increases proportionally with the absence of sound accountability practices, especially accountability of those with power.
You specifically said the movement that you attend has a structure that does not fit in with any of the more well known models of church governance. I'm curious about it, as it does seem a different model. What is the harm in expressing what the movement has in place to minimize the possibility of abuse occurring? Discussing the theological reasons for choosing a model is probably not in the scope of this forum but discussing ways of ensuring abuse does not occurr within churches is surely in scope for a forum about "destructive churches".
Furthermore forums are read by many more people than post on them. Posting the hopefully sound structure that your groups has adopted may help others in groups that do not have the same good principles help to improve theirs or seek safer "pastures".
Do Church of God pastors have meaningful accountability?
Posted by:
rrmoderator
()
Date: July 26, 2007 05:24AM
OrangeRev:
Please don't attempt to play games here.
This is the forum you have chosen and if you want to respond, respond right here on this thread.
Please don't attempt to play games here.
This is the forum you have chosen and if you want to respond, respond right here on this thread.
Do Church of God pastors have meaningful accountability?
Posted by:
Jannski
()
Date: July 27, 2007 03:10AM
If it helps, I believe The Church of God is set up very similar to the UPCI as far as church structure.
There are pastors who have (what's in the UPC called a Presbyter(sp?)) a person over them for spiritual accountability... then those guys all answer to a district official. However, none of it includes financial accountability. A church who is incorporated can report a pastor to the presbyter... and eventually the pastor's license can be revoked by the UPC. ...but realistically most members in most of the churches don't realize they have this recourse. Additionally accountability CAN be built in to individual church bylaws... but it WIDELY varies depending on who set the church up.
Many times the call of God is seen as sufficient accountability in individual churches... which leads to individual ministers falling into a variety of ethical and financial traps due to the lack of accountability required of them and that called of God or not... they're human beings like the rest of us at the end of the day.
So in my opinion this wouldn't count as meaningful accountability requirements as an organization. ...but perhaps you could find meaningful accountability at the individual church level depending on how the pastor set it up.
There are pastors who have (what's in the UPC called a Presbyter(sp?)) a person over them for spiritual accountability... then those guys all answer to a district official. However, none of it includes financial accountability. A church who is incorporated can report a pastor to the presbyter... and eventually the pastor's license can be revoked by the UPC. ...but realistically most members in most of the churches don't realize they have this recourse. Additionally accountability CAN be built in to individual church bylaws... but it WIDELY varies depending on who set the church up.
Many times the call of God is seen as sufficient accountability in individual churches... which leads to individual ministers falling into a variety of ethical and financial traps due to the lack of accountability required of them and that called of God or not... they're human beings like the rest of us at the end of the day.
So in my opinion this wouldn't count as meaningful accountability requirements as an organization. ...but perhaps you could find meaningful accountability at the individual church level depending on how the pastor set it up.
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