The Plague: Power and Church Splits
If you have never witnessed a church split, then part of me hopes you never do but another part of me honestly thinks it is good to see one, just so that you will never be surprised at the depth of sin and ugliness that Christians are capable of.
When a church splits, it is always ugly and painful. Some people eventually bounce back from it and move on in their walk with Christ. Others never quite recover, and the split becomes the defining moment in not only their Christian journey, but their entire life. The hurt and frustration, and the unspeakable disappointment, fester into resentment and bitterness.
There are some good reasons for a church to split, and I will mention them in a later post. But for today’s purpose, I want to talk about the most common reason churches fall apart. It usually revolves around two words that are kissing cousins…POWER AND CONTROL.
It seems that my post on Restoring Honor touched a nerve. I have moderated more comments on that one than any other I have ever written, and I only posted a fraction because some of them were just to raw. Others decided to email me for privacy. But what blew me away was how many pastors and their wives, and get this…their kids, were emailing me about being hurt and wounded in a church split.
This is a plague that is killing the church, and it is destroying lives by the thousands. I have a theory on why most (not all) church splits occur and it goes like this…
After WW2, the American evangelical movement hit full swing. Churches popped up all over the place, people were going back to church, Patriotism was at an all time high, largely in part to the threat of Communism in the U.S.S.R. as it crept as close to us as Cuba. Billy Graham (my personal hero) became the most recognized face on earth, and several professing born again Christians and a few Southern Baptists even became President (Carter, Reagan, Clinton). And what the evangelical church did was give people, mostly, what they wanted in a church experience. Lots of programs, short and sweet worship services, tons of weekly events to choose from, and musical styles that suited their preferences.
And so now what we have in the evangelical church (I speak generically, not specifically) is a generation of baby boomers, and even some Gen Xers, who are used to getting what they want, how they want it, when they want it. And when we don’t get what we want, we pitch a fit. But not like a little kid, because children don’t have much weight to throw around when they are told “NO, WE ARE NOT DOING IT YOUR WAY.”
Adults, on the other hand, have expendable income, a weekly tithe check, relationships with other influential people, or a vote on the deacon board to throw around. So when a new pastor takes the pulpit and realizes the church is getting older, new people are not coming, nobody is being saved, the old Sunday School system is doing nothing but fostering cliques, the community around the church is growing by leaps and bounds but the church is actually dwindling in attendance, and he wants to do things differently to reach the lost, you can pretty much set your clock. A power struggle is coming, and a split is likely.
I have seen this happen 3 times in my life, once when I was only 14, once in my 20’s and once in my 30’s. And the destruction that was left in the wake of a few arrogant baby boomers who did not like the new pastor messing with “their church” or “their music” was akin to nuclear holocaust. One gentleman actually went as far as to say “we have a graveyard outside this church full of our ancestors, and we have a legacy to protect.” This kind of statement needs no comment from me. If you cannot see what is wrong in this kind of thinking, then I would be wasting my time and yours trying to explain it to you.
The church belongs to Jesus Christ. The real question is, “Will I set aside my personal preferences in order to see the body of Christ grow and mature, reaching the lost in our community and building the kingdom worldwide?” If I am unwilling to set aside my personal preferences, that attitude will transform into an ugly, evil sense of entitlement, which will lead me to get rid of anyone I disagree with.
Welcome to the world of church splits, friends. Let us pray fervently for the church of the Lord Jesus Christ, that our generation will be known more for love than power struggles, more for serving the world than for killing each other. And let’s pray, honor,and support those we know who have lost a job, a family, or their soul in a church split. And, if you have never been through one, consider yourself lucky. I pray that you never have to.
[...] This isn’t my Church, I just work here…sometimes we can let our emotions get in the way of what the Lord is trying to do. I can’t let myself get attached to any assignment, title or way of doing things because this is not my Church, I just work here. The Church belongs to Jesus Christ. The real question is, “Will I set aside my personal preferences in order to see the body of Christ grow and mature, reaching the lost in our community and building the kingdom worldwide?” If I am unwilling to set aside my personal preferences, that attitude will transform into an ugly, evil sense of entitlement, which will lead me to get rid of anyone I disagree with. (via clayton king) [...]
Pingback by Morning Meditation:Who’s Church Is It? « Now! Leadership! — April 29, 2008 @ 10:22 am
Wow - this was such a straightforward wake up call for today’s church. I have just recently went through this type of thing - the pastor was being ousted because the “power group” was unhappy and I was told I was next. It was amazing as I look back on it that adults really can act like children with and adults pull of money and a vote. The saddest part of all of this foolishness is not only the hurt that is left in the aftermath but —- the church’s testimony to a community that needs a lighthouse shining God’s love. We MUST take back our mission and reach the world and not play church until we want to take our toys home.
Comment by David — April 29, 2008 @ 10:25 am
Hi Clayton.
Glad to see you are tackling this tough topic - more power to you!
I have to say though that in my experience I haven’t seen many Baby Boomers (I’m one) who are spoiled by getting their way all the time. If anything it’s the reverse, or has been until lately. In all of my ministries it was always the Boomers wanting to update the music, etc. They in turn were held back by the older generation saying they can’t do it, they have to think about the elderly, etc.
Now that we Boomers are rapidly becoming the elderly I’m hoping and praying we don’t repeat history! But I suppose many of us will.
I’ve been through a church split and several church fights, and you are right - THEY ARE UGLY! Here’s hoping your posts will help heal some of the wounds left from them, and maybe even stop a few right in their tracks!
Comment by Louie Marsh — April 29, 2008 @ 11:20 am
Hey Clayton…when it comes to the devastation caused by those on a power trip in our churches and ministries, I couldn’t agree more. I had an article recently posted on Crosswalk on this very topic. Feel free to post the link if you feel your readers will relate. It’s called “Pit Bull Ministry,” and here’s the link: http://www.crosswalk.com/pastors/11565057/
Have a great day!
Julie
Comment by Julie Ferwerda — April 29, 2008 @ 4:30 pm
Glad to hear your comments, friend!
As you know, I pastor a church gasping for breath in the wake of a devastating split. Naturally, one of my chief concerns is with the pastoral role in creating and healing these awful schisms. It should not be forgotten that the pastor and his band of supporters are often among the Power Parties… and not necessarily in the right. Wearing the cloth, so to speak, certainly doesn’t immune us from having an agenda. And though the agenda of the pastor may be divinely inspired, its presentation may be quite inappropriate! Too many of us take a divinely-mandated agenda and initiate it impatiently through divinely-condemned means! Much nuance is required, and the patient, tedious work of communicating vision is not necessarily “compromise”–it may just be “ministry.”
The difficulty is knowing where the line of compromise is drawn, and then crossing the Rubicon courageously (though brokenly) under God’s guidance.
Your comments were super. Helped stir my thinking…Thanks!
Comment by Andy Byers — May 1, 2008 @ 1:12 pm
Clayton….good article, but I wanted to point one thing out: while Carter and Clinton were members of SBC churches at the time of their election, Reagan was not. Reagan was alternately affiliated with the Disciples of Christ and the Presbyrtarian Church (USA), but I”m pretty sure at no point was he a Baptist of any type.
Only 4 Baptists have ever been elected President: Warren Harding, an American Baptist, and Truman, Carter and Clinton.
Comment by Travis — May 2, 2008 @ 7:34 am
[...] Church Splits - interesting thoughts from Clayton King - with a comment by me! [...]
Pingback by The Marshian Chronicles » Short Rounds #88 — May 2, 2008 @ 9:01 am
It is sad when a church splits regardless of what causes it - our congregation is facing this now. What I see is that the elders have made the decision to split by literally dividing the congregation into two services - one conservative and one very liberal. And basically telling those who dont want to support the changes to just be quiet. Sorry - my presence is in effect an endorsement and I cannot continue. My father was a preacher all my life so this isnt the first time and I doubt it will be the last but I pray it will be a positive movement which will bring back some that have left the church over their frustrations.
Comment by lm — March 17, 2009 @ 1:01 pm