ScottEmerson
Active Member
Hello, friends,
I wanted to ask for your perspective on an issue that's hitting our church. We have co-ed classes that are team taught by married couples in Sunday School. Many of our classes are all one gender, but a few are co-ed. Some of our deacons all of a sudden are now making a big fuss about the situation, and have brought it up to the deacon body.
Now, the pastor and the entire staff (of which I am a part) are in agreement: As long as the woman is teaching under her husband's authority (and the authority of the pastor), there is no problem. That was clearly given to the deacons. But this was not good enough for the band of three who are causing the fuss. The deacons have called a special meeting to vote on this issue tomorrow.
Now, here's a question: Are the deacons going outside of their Scriptural responsibilities in usurping the pastor's authority? While we could argue on the Biblical evidence of women teaching/not teaching, this isn't the place. That's another issue all together that our staff has prayed over, searched the Scripture, and decided upon.
I guess I'm wondering if any pastors or other staff members have had to deal with a deacon body run amuck...how did you handle this? The entire ministerial staff (11 of us) will be there to support our pastor tomorrow. Many of the deacons have spoken out in favor of the staff. To be honest, if the pastor gives in to these three men (and whatever support they may have gotten during this week), not only I, but over half of our staff, have stated that we will turn in our resignation letters over this. Am I overreacting? Thoughts?
I wanted to ask for your perspective on an issue that's hitting our church. We have co-ed classes that are team taught by married couples in Sunday School. Many of our classes are all one gender, but a few are co-ed. Some of our deacons all of a sudden are now making a big fuss about the situation, and have brought it up to the deacon body.
Now, the pastor and the entire staff (of which I am a part) are in agreement: As long as the woman is teaching under her husband's authority (and the authority of the pastor), there is no problem. That was clearly given to the deacons. But this was not good enough for the band of three who are causing the fuss. The deacons have called a special meeting to vote on this issue tomorrow.
Now, here's a question: Are the deacons going outside of their Scriptural responsibilities in usurping the pastor's authority? While we could argue on the Biblical evidence of women teaching/not teaching, this isn't the place. That's another issue all together that our staff has prayed over, searched the Scripture, and decided upon.
I guess I'm wondering if any pastors or other staff members have had to deal with a deacon body run amuck...how did you handle this? The entire ministerial staff (11 of us) will be there to support our pastor tomorrow. Many of the deacons have spoken out in favor of the staff. To be honest, if the pastor gives in to these three men (and whatever support they may have gotten during this week), not only I, but over half of our staff, have stated that we will turn in our resignation letters over this. Am I overreacting? Thoughts?