You have no clue what you are talking about. That church and the church board loved and revered their pastor. There was no agenda to get rid of him. Everybody there was stunned and shocked at the situation.
There are details that have come out that are slightly different than the first report but only in details. The sin is still the same and perhaps even harder to understand. No details will be posted here unless they are publicly published elsewhere as formal accusations but the details don't really matter. What does is that it was a sexual moral failure / sin and accusations of misuse of church money.
From all accounts this is a strong church who are moving forward despite their shock and dismay at this failure in leadership.
Unfortunately the church board only consist of three men! It seems to me a church running approximately 800 should have a dozen or more board members (just my opinion). I think none of the board members should be related to the pastor or each other. Shouldn't be hard in a congregation of that size.
When Bro Black resigned it was definitely a shock to many of us because we had no idea anything was even going on. To many apparently at least 100 (since that's the number of people it takes to bring a petition of no confidence) it was no shock! Well maybe that he resigned instead of fighting it. The church has not crumbled but is regrouping with the TN HQ assisting in the transition process. Every individual will process the situation in their own way but I can assure you that TB was and is loved. I've seen him handle people so lovingly and diplomatically. I've seen him protect his flock from allowing judgmental attitudes taking over in an unfortunate situation. I've heard him direct the church to not kick a person when they are down but to love them and pray for them and not talk bad about them.
I wish I could say I know what happened but I don't. I know I lost my pastor, I don't know where he is or how he's doing. My children have lost their youth pastor and his wife who from all I can gather did absolutely nothing wrong. We've lost another leadership pastor and his wife who also have no accusations of wrong doing! The original two preachers that were helping us immediately after the resignation and were expected to be with us up to six months are also gone suddenly! Time will tell how people will handle things during the process of getting a new pastor. I'm sure it won't be easy because of the size alone of the congregation it will be a challenge for any man of God especially since we lost so much of our experienced staff that could have helped a new pastor through the orientation and settling in. I know this, I feel like I've been sucker punched to the point of being disoriented in my own church. I never know who to expect to be in the pulpit and the ones that are there are strangers to me. I'm supposed to trust God to lead us through the process of finding a new pastor but since I trusted Him when I came to TPC I wonder if I have a clue as to what God's will is. I know I can trust Jesus I just question the way organized religion does things. I wonder if I've been misled to trust to much. I fight my flesh and wonder if I can even know the will of God for our lives right now. I know I'm going to keep on striving for the mark of the high calling! I know I'll pray and read the Word and for now keep still and know that He is God and wait on modern men to work through a business like process all the while praying they will use wisdom and love and the Spirit of God to make tons of decisions and probably rewrite another ton of policies to avoid a similar situation and pray a hedge of protection over my family to protect us while we seek His face! I know this is long but I guess it's my way of working it out in my mind.
Hmm. You might have something there. Could be the start of a whole new religion!
We live in the country for it, we have more religions, schisms, cults, and offshoots of Christianity then any other country.
Just look at what you have learned from just being on this forum alone, and how many different views in one movement, the Apostolic Pentecostal One God.
So, salvation for little people based on height?
Whatever.
__________________ "all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed."
~Declaration of Independence
We live in the country for it, we have more religions, schisms, cults, and offshoots of Christianity then any other country.
Just look at what you have learned from just being on this forum alone, and how many different views in one movement, the Apostolic Pentecostal One God.
So, salvation for little people based on height?
Whatever.
__________________
Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
I wonder if TB were allowed to come in and talk to the congregation and openly discuss his repentance or the lack there of if it would help? I might would rather have TB repented and restored and then back in the pulpit when he's ready instead of trust a stranger that I know nothing about that is going to be totally different on his stand on things like holiness standards and business. His attitude will take getting used to, his demeanor, his outlook on everything from children's ministry to the moving of the Spirit during church. Will he be witty and light hearted or stiff and militant? Will the new pastor be young or old, will his heartbeat be saving souls of a city that's one of the top crime riddled cities in the country or will he be swayed by a select group that were instrumental in taking TB down and will he always cow down to them knowing he's watched like a hawk and any thing on his pc is up for
scrutiny? Will his sin be even more damaging down the road will he be found to be a child molester, will he have his weakness right under the roof of our own church? We have no way of knowing but I know TB loved us and cared for us and preached and taught the straight Word of God. I never detected compromise in his sermons or lessons. I never got a haughty or arrogance from him only a spirit of a leader that truly cared about the church, the people and the city he pastored in. I wonder, I wonder and I wonder some more.
Why is there so much talking going on about this issue. It's honestly NOBODY business. This forum is a form of gossip. It truly is, and I'm sorry if I seem harsh. But none of yall know the down right honest truth. Seriously. This is not the first time something bad happened to a church in the congregation. So stop judging a man. The church is hurting and this forum doesn't help it. Instead of discussing what has happened go pray about it.
I hear your pain coming through. God will guide you. Keep the faith and trust Him. The youth pastor and the associate pastor should not have been let go. That was very unfortunate for the church. It has devastated unnecessarily three families, the youth they pastored and the wisdom and and guidance that the associate pastor could have given. That is a shame. They are blameless and innocent of any wrong doing. Hope the board doesn't have their own agenda. That will be a disaster for the church. It is my understanding the board asked the two men that were there to leave, they (the board) could handle the transition. These men to my knowledge are not ministers or pastors. Much prayer is needed for that not to become a runaway train. Praying for you, your church and all involved.
I wonder if TB were allowed to come in and talk to the congregation and openly discuss his repentance or the lack there of if it would help? I might would rather have TB repented and restored and then back in the pulpit when he's ready instead of trust a stranger that I know nothing about that is going to be totally different on his stand on things like holiness standards and business. His attitude will take getting used to, his demeanor, his outlook on everything from children's ministry to the moving of the Spirit during church. Will he be witty and light hearted or stiff and militant? Will the new pastor be young or old, will his heartbeat be saving souls of a city that's one of the top crime riddled cities in the country or will he be swayed by a select group that were instrumental in taking TB down and will he always cow down to them knowing he's watched like a hawk and any thing on his pc is up for
scrutiny? Will his sin be even more damaging down the road will he be found to be a child molester, will he have his weakness right under the roof of our own church? We have no way of knowing but I know TB loved us and cared for us and preached and taught the straight Word of God. I never detected compromise in his sermons or lessons. I never got a haughty or arrogance from him only a spirit of a leader that truly cared about the church, the people and the city he pastored in. I wonder, I wonder and I wonder some more.
At one point Every pastor is a stranger to someone that becomes a member of their congregation. Id rather have a stranger break my trust than someone you got to know and trust
__________________ Let it be understood that Apostolic Friends Forum is an Apostolic Forum.
Apostolic is defined on AFF as:
There is One God. This one God reveals Himself distinctly as Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
The Son is God himself in a human form or "God manifested in the flesh" (1Tim 3:16)
Every sinner must repent of their sins.
That Jesus name baptism is the only biblical mode of water baptism.
That the Holy Ghost is for today and is received by faith with the initial evidence of speaking in tongues.
The saint will go on to strive to live a holy life, pleasing to God.
Trust is like a mirror..once its BROKEN you can never look at it the same again...
Sister Alvear that is so very true.
__________________
Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. (Romans 14:4)
Scripture is its own interpreter. Nothing can cut a diamond but a diamond. Nothing can interpret Scripture but Scripture" Thomas Watson.
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