A Wrecked Church!

[StillStanding]

Originally Posted by Steve Epley

I will find the location. It is the church that Bro. Lewis & Burgess pastored.

http://cltmemphis.org/

[Sister Alvear]

Christian Life Tabernacle | 2869 Woodlawn Terrace Memphis, TN 38127 |

[Rapture 1]

Thank you. Bro Lewis was a great man! Been to his church years ago, didn't know it was still going.

[HeavenBound]

Originally Posted by ILG

I think you would have to get an official or some outside unbiased party involved to see if they would do this. Any official will be somewhat biased because he will be related to the friend of the friend and on and on. If you could find an official who could just administrate and let both sides speak and have an unbiased jury decide the matter (possibly very hard to find one) that might work but it might not.

There are Christian mediation groups that specialize in this and they would be completely unbiased.

Please could you tell me how to contact them. I'm sure we all would like to talk to them.

[ILG]

Originally Posted by HeavenBound

Please could you tell me how to contact them. I'm sure we all would like to talk to them.

I can't recommend or not recommend any of these groups but I found these online when I did a google search for Christian mediation. We were going to use one of these groups for our issues but the people who sued would not put up the money and pick anyone although they at first agreed to use mediation (and told everyone we refused to use it). I am sure the use of the term "Christian" will be the wider usage in our culture and some may not feel these people are "Christians" that can be used for mediation purposes. (The plaintiffs in our situation refused to go before the district board.) However, I feel they would be much more unbiased than anyone closer to the issue.

http://christianmediationservicesllc.com/

http://www.christianmediation.org/

http://justpeaceumc.org/2010/02/fait...ian-mediation/

http://christianmediate.com/

You can also do mediation/binding arbitration with a group of your choosing that both parties agree upon to use. You just have to make sure it is legally binding.

I wish you all well.

[ILG]

I also can't testify to what the process of mediation with any mediation group is like since we never got that far. However, I can say that lawsuits can drag on for years and it is like a slow bleed that goes on and on.

I would hope that mediation or binding arbitration could be quicker. You might still need lawyers on each side but how I think it works is that you get your lawyers to guide you both through presenting your sides and you meet once and get it over with, but I can't say that for sure.

[Praxeas]

As much as it might hurt, maybe it's just better to move on, find or start another church and leave those others to their own devices and pray God intervene in the lives of all to heal and correct?

[ILG]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

As much as it might hurt, maybe it's just better to move on, find or start another church and leave those others to their own devices and pray God intervene in the lives of all to heal and correct?

I could see how people might feel either way. I guess the main thing to do is count the cost of how horrific it could be before you step in. Of course, being the plaintiffs in the case, you could drop it at any time.

This may sound terrible to your ears at the moment, but it may help. Think about the woman and what she may be thinking. Her Daddy died. She is in grief. She believes that her Daddy's proclamation of this man being pastor is law or should be recognized. She believes that those that voted against this man are against God or at the very least are against the loyalty of her father's memory.

Rather than force the issue, maybe some time and space for all is best. Maybe instead of believing she is a bad person, maybe she is just trying to hold up her father's memory.

If you look this all over and think it all over and are convinced otherwise, that she is maliciously and negligently running roughshod over people, maybe you should go for mediation.

Maybe you should go for mediation anyway. Maybe she would see her fault and the church could find healing and come together.

Or maybe she is evil and the present pastor is evil. If so, you can fight it and you may win, but just know and be forewarned that fighting a spiritual war is a real war. It is ugly. It is mean. It is horrific.

Sometimes wars are just and need to be fought. But you might have war wounds for the rest of your life.

If you pray and are convinced you should fight, then fight. Otherwise, run for your life.

[ILG]

(My belief is that emotions are running high on all sides and mistakes are being made. But I am not sure that there is gross negligence. There is an abuse of power going on but I think they feel justified because of Daddy's memory. That doesn't make it right but I don't necessarily think it is based on evil motives. But this is not my battle and not my war so I would stay out of any decisions made.)

[rgcraig]

Looks like to me there are personal gains if not evil motives.