Has "Church" become a "Family Business"??

[LaVonne]

Originally Posted by NW Pastor

Again, the church is not "the family business" regardless of how long a family is in the leadership. It is ALWAYS God's business. The sheep are his, the building is his, the future is his. Not ours.

So, can it ever work out. Sure. But in our day it seems to be an entitlement. Young pastor's kids become the heir apparent at ten years old when nobody knows if they are called, or will even be saved when they are grown. This is what some object to.

Furthermore, it can destroy pastor's kids, giving them the idea that they are immune to acting responsibly because eventually it will all be theirs anyway regardless of how prodigal they are in youth.

Agreed! Your first two lines had me worried for a minute...because some pastor's, I fear make it their business, not God's.

I know of a family who pastors and their oldest son is stuck doing everything his father and grandfather want for him, which is assist. pastor. If he had his choice, he do something much different. This is wrong...this young man should be able to persue the career of his choice, but his "destiny" was chosen for him when he was still a small child.

[Felicity]

Originally Posted by seguidordejesus

Makes you wonder how some folks do things, doesn't it? I'm amazed sometimes

I'm amazed a lot of times. :

[Thumper]

Originally Posted by NW Pastor

Again, the church is not "the family business" regardless of how long a family is in the leadership. It is ALWAYS God's business. The sheep are his, the building is his, the future is his. Not ours.

So, can it ever work out. Sure. But in our day it seems to be an entitlement. Young pastor's kids become the heir apparent at ten years old when nobody knows if they are called, or will even be saved when they are grown. This is what some object to.

Furthermore, it can destroy pastor's kids, giving them the idea that they are immune to acting responsibly because eventually it will all be theirs anyway regardless of how prodigal they are in youth.

Great post. This is truly one of the worst poxes in pentecost today. I am constantly amazed at how the assumption that the son/son-inlaw/nephew is automatically assumed to be the heir apparent. I have heard every argument that there is to justify it but it still comes down to the desires of man and not the will of God. I have seen situations where it not only worked but was clearly the will of God. However, what absolutely befuddles me is that it appears the some think it is always the will of God.

there is a Pastor that is not very far from you, NWP, who took over from his father-in-law a few years ago and he wasn't even regularily attending any church, let alone the one he suddenly took over when daddy-inlaw decided opportunity was calling somewhere else.

[Kay B]

Originally Posted by Felicity

I'm amazed a lot of times. :

Me too.After almost 50 years.

[Rhoni]

Originally Posted by Truthseeker

Amen, might shock some, but pastor wife is not a position in the church.

Yeah right...LOL. Unless the saints want her to be. Everyone has their idea of what the Pastor's wife should be or do. The Pastor's wife is always to blame. If the Pastor makes a success it is despite his wife, if he is a failure it is because of his wife.

My children were shocked one time. Their father's church was having trouble and it all got blamed on his other wife. They were telling me all about it. I said, "Look, you can't blame her because your father won't lead". "It is never his fault because he never makes any decisions." They found it quite ironic that I would side with...the other woman. I was just thinking...LOL "it is her headache now".

[Rhoni]

Poor leaders put family members in postions because they are afraid to mentor good leaders who can take their place. It stops being God's church at that point and becomes that Pastor's church.

JMHO

[KarenJo]

Originally Posted by NW Pastor

Again, the church is not "the family business" regardless of how long a family is in the leadership. It is ALWAYS God's business. The sheep are his, the building is his, the future is his. Not ours.

So, can it ever work out. Sure. But in our day it seems to be an entitlement. Young pastor's kids become the heir apparent at ten years old when nobody knows if they are called, or will even be saved when they are grown. This is what some object to.

Furthermore, it can destroy pastor's kids, giving them the idea that they are immune to acting responsibly because eventually it will all be theirs anyway regardless of how prodigal they are in youth.

Great post...It's too bad that there are so many in ministry that don't really feel it's God's Church, God's People, etc. All you hear is MINE! The current church leadership should NEVER push a family member to take over a church. If the members of the church want the Pastor’s son or son-in-law, grandson, etc. then that’s ok. What I really hate to see is when the leadership an idea that they are exalted and should be treated as such. It’s sad that they forget that to be in the ministry means to be a servant. If we all would remember to serve one another how much better would we all be.

[Cindy]

I agree KJ. We all need a servan't heart.

[Rhoni]

Originally Posted by CareyM

Agreed! Your first two lines had me worried for a minute...because some pastor's, I fear make it their business, not God's.

I know of a family who pastors and their oldest son is stuck doing everything his father and grandfather want for him, which is assist. pastor. If he had his choice, he do something much different. This is wrong...this young man should be able to persue the career of his choice, but his "destiny" was chosen for him when he was still a small child.

This is why we have Pastor's who do not make good leaders...they are following their father's dream and not their own calling.

Blessings, Rhoni

[OP_Carl]

Originally Posted by Rhoni

Poor leaders put family members in postions because they are afraid to mentor good leaders who can take their place. It stops being God's church at that point and becomes that Pastor's church.

JMHO

I agree with you.




. . . in other news, the devil's mid-month banquet was postponed due to snow flurries . . .




I wonder if the "family business" mentality is just part and parcel of using the structure model we've inherited from the denominal world where the church is run like a business. The chief concerns can all-too-quickly become growth, building, and cash flow.

Why do we derive a sense that we are charitable when the lion's share of our "charitable giving" goes to the maintenance and operation of a big fancy building that's empty 5 days of the week?