Pleasant_Bill
New Member
Recently a church I've attended in the South Atlanta area has adopted a policy that quite a few members of the congregation has a problem with. Children under a certain age (eight I believe) are not allowed in the Sanctuary during service. If the parents want their children to attend service with them, they are directed to an 'overflow' area to basically watch the service on a television set.
The reason being given is the leadership doesn't want the parents to be distracted during service. However, a person on the staff let it slip that it's actually the Senior Pastor that finds it distracting and is the reason this policy has been adopted.
This naturally caused quite a bit of dialog in the congregation as well as several members on 'Welcome' duty refusing to tell parents they can't bring their children into the Sanctuary. The congregation wasn't addressed initially and it's festered for nearly 8 months now, becoming the white elephant in the room.
The Senior Pastor finally addressed the congregation a week or so ago, stating that he's 'drawing a line in the sand and that either you're with him or against him. END OF DISCUSSION'. This Pastor has made himself unavailable for discussion in the past year or so, and has since began deferring questions/issues to the Executive Pastor.
Several people that have tried to discuss this and/or other issues (including church financial questions/concerns) have been labelled 'malcontents'. Other members are being told by the staff members (possibly even the Pastor's wife) not to associate with those individuals that would question the church leadership.
Naturally, this is causing even more divisiveness with members. Couples affected are now leaving the church as they have no avenue to express their concerns with this issue or will be ostricized if they continue questioning it.
How would you deal with a Pastor who thinks it's okay to make such a policy and then make the statement that it's off limits to talk about it?
The reason being given is the leadership doesn't want the parents to be distracted during service. However, a person on the staff let it slip that it's actually the Senior Pastor that finds it distracting and is the reason this policy has been adopted.
This naturally caused quite a bit of dialog in the congregation as well as several members on 'Welcome' duty refusing to tell parents they can't bring their children into the Sanctuary. The congregation wasn't addressed initially and it's festered for nearly 8 months now, becoming the white elephant in the room.
The Senior Pastor finally addressed the congregation a week or so ago, stating that he's 'drawing a line in the sand and that either you're with him or against him. END OF DISCUSSION'. This Pastor has made himself unavailable for discussion in the past year or so, and has since began deferring questions/issues to the Executive Pastor.
Several people that have tried to discuss this and/or other issues (including church financial questions/concerns) have been labelled 'malcontents'. Other members are being told by the staff members (possibly even the Pastor's wife) not to associate with those individuals that would question the church leadership.
Naturally, this is causing even more divisiveness with members. Couples affected are now leaving the church as they have no avenue to express their concerns with this issue or will be ostricized if they continue questioning it.
How would you deal with a Pastor who thinks it's okay to make such a policy and then make the statement that it's off limits to talk about it?