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Friday, September 17, 2004
I have outlined several issues that GGWO needs to address. As some of you are aware, I with other brothers and sisters in Christ inside and outside of GGWO, have lovingly offered support to the Baltimore church. I have followed the progression of FACTNet since April of 2004. I am very grieved by the situation. I do not agree and distance myself from any who would tear down our brothers and sisters in Christ. I have always been a friend and will continue to be a friend of GGWO. I deeply value what I learned while in the ministry. I thank God for the passion for souls, a love for Scripture and appreciation of the body of Christ that I was taught. Again, I attempted to look at it from the outside as an objective observer not a Proverbs 6:16-19 whiner. I have nothing to lose or gain; my intent is for you to see the problem from an objective and outside viewpoint. I will pray and hope that this will be worked out before there is serious damage done. I am deliberately brief, and probably not always right. But, I hope this helps.
Issues that need to be addressed (as seen from the outside):
1. Senior Pastor
A. Senior Pastor’s long term health problems and the results
Suggestion: I think for pastor’s own health and the long term health of the church he should resign.
B. Senior Pastor’s tenure and ability to continue to lead without continual damage control
Suggestion: If resignation is not an option then I think a definite exit strategy and plan should evolve. I would come up with a limited preaching schedule and Grace Hour schedule. He should be removed from the day to day operations of the church. He has good and bad days. It is an enviable desire to die with your boots on. But, there came a time in King David’s life that the men didn’t let him go out to war anymore. You need to do the same for pastor. Preserve and protect his legacy and life work. My memories are so fond of him; this breaks my heart to see this happening.
C. Senior Pastor’s recent careless remarks from the pulpit,” 5 men died” and the “go to hell if you don’t like it!”
Suggestion: If pastor is to preach, the three most senior elders should visit with him 30 minutes before service and determine if he is in a state where he can preach. If not, for everyone’s benefit another pastor should preach. Pastor, for his own protection should have to submit to this. Come up with a series of questions, etc. to determine his mental state. Every man who sits on the podium should have a sermon ready to go.
2. Elders’ Decisions
A. The lack of any public apology for any wrongs or failures or sins
Suggestion: You need to answer the question ‘why’?
B. The silence of the Leadership and failure to address these issues
Suggestion: Begin to dialogue through every available means. Be available and humble and transparent. On radio, church meetings, raps, etc…
C. The Elders refusal to correct Senior Pastor in love or bring before church
Suggestion: If you love him you will do what is right. Think of Nathan. He did what was right.
D. The gross mishandling of the Paul and Mrs. Lang affair
Suggestion: If you have not read the Al Lang report it should be mandatory reading. This will give insight into the obvious outrage. It should be read in front of all the elders by Paul. Then, you should all fall on your knees and beg God for mercy and forgiveness. A statement should be read publicly rebuking and apologizing for pastor (without destroying him) and the elder council for the shameful handling of this whole sordid ordeal. A policy in writing should be established for any staff pastor caught in adultery.
E. The lack of disciplining and rebuking Paul
Suggestion: I know there is a legal agreement here. However, Paul needs to be disciplined. He acted like a spoiled little child who could hide behind his daddy and get away with conduct unbecoming a pastor. I think he should be rebuked before the church and on Grace Hour. I can’t believe that he was able to continue in the office, the Relationship Class, the Grace Hour and be a conference speaker. How you handled it was not right. I know grace and mercy, and I know that grace teaches me to deny ungodliness, not excuse it. Why not make this situation right? I wonder if other pastors facing temptation will fall because nothing happened to Paul.
F. Pastor Paul’s new church plant and the appearance of favoritism.
Suggestion: Call another man to the Senior Pastor position. Let Paul go up as the Associate for two years and then let the elders decide if he is ready for this task - home life, etc. is all in order. This is a GGWO plant, so you are the mother church.
3. Doctrinal Issues
A. Pastoral authority and accountability, i.e. the doctrine needs revisiting.
Suggestion: I know what I am about to say is not politically correct. I know there is wiggle room in church government models. I would call several conservative seminaries, invite their best instructors in the area of church government and polity to come and teach all the staff pastors, the historical orthodox position of leadership and accountability. I would tape the sessions and make it mandatory for every branch pastor and part of the College and Seminary core class curriculum.
B. The process of marking and avoiding
Suggestion: When do I mark and avoid? A text without a context is a pretext. Write a policy for this practice. Not everyone who disagrees is an enemy or an apostate.
C. The Geographical will of God that causes the appearance of men and women choosing the ministry over their family Suggestion: This needs to be carefully scrutinized.
D. The Conspiracy Doctrine.
Suggestion: Not everyone who disagrees or leaves the church is a conspirator. Drop this emphasis.
4. Policies that Cause Concerns
A. Claims of abuse of children and the allegation that background checks are not being followed up. Suggestion: If there are known child abusers working they need to be fired. No pedophile should have a second chance; they should be brought to justice. Regarding background checks, produce the records that show otherwise or admit to poor handling and take corrective measures. If this was a practice I would fire the person responsible, all the way up the food chain. “The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.”
B. Lack of complete openness in financial issues (apart from we balance our checkbook). Where does it go? Suggestion: have a monthly spreadsheet that is available to all that accounts by budget category for each area, e.g. staff salaries, medical, missions, facilities, etc…
C. Membership requirements: The bylaws of the church indicate that the only effectual members of the church are the elders and possibly the trustees and collectively they do not want help, then your church has spoken. I respect your polity but see it as very unhealthy and impractical. Ironic how we were taught body life, but the corporate expression of membership in the Baltimore church is only the elders. Every church needs leaders. Every church needs leaders to be accountable. I am praying for GGWO and my family members who attend there. They are not members, just attendees even though one is an ordained pastor. What a system! I remember what my mom taught me as a child, “Here is the church, here is the steeple, open up the doors and see all the people.” In GGWO it is “Here is the church, here is the steeple, open up the doors and see all elders.”
Suggestion: Define membership in the corporation as born again and baptism by immersion. Have an annual church meeting to cast vision, present the budget and question and answer time. Vision and direction is cast by the leadership and owned by the membership, etc.
D. Untrained pastors counseling in house instead of referring outside of the church.
Suggestion: Write a policy for the church that limits counseling and refers to several good Christian counselors in the area.
5. The current climate of the church
A. Overemphasis on congregational praise for the Senior Pastor
Suggestion: I am glad the church loves their pastor. Every church should. Just tone it down a little.
B. The discouragement for congregants to read and discern and have Q&A forums to address issues. Suggestion: Change this. Let God’s people read and discern with the same Holy Spirit that you have. Answer the questions and gently correct the wrong conclusions without vilifying and demonizing those who are not in agreement.
C. The difference between disagreeing and being negative
Suggestion: I think we should seek understanding before being understood. This is a sore spot with many people who have left.
D. The exit of Pastor Lutz and other leaders and long term members of the church
Suggestion: If he is reconcilable than his concerns should be addressed. I would visit him and find out why he left and how you could bring him back and make him and elder. You need his voice. MBCS sure could use him. I would visit all the members who left and see if reconciliation is a possibility.
6. Other long term nagging Issues
A. The Grace Hour Format and callers gushing, etc…
Suggestion: Go back to what made this program great. Put other pastors on with pastor apart from his sons. You have some very gifted men.
B. The court trial from Lenox and undue influence.
Suggestion: If it is legally possible without damage of lawsuits, etc., admit and apologize that the church should not have taken the 6.5 million without husband’s consent. Good initiative but poor judgment.
C. Jack Leonard’s and others allegations of adultery in Lenox from a conversation with one of the Steven’s sons and pastor’s pressure from the trial resulting in his perjury.
Suggestion: What can I say, call Jack and seek clarification? This is on FACTNet. If true then the son who had this conversation will remember, unless Jack is a flat out liar, which does not make sense. Chase this to the ground. I am not saying this happened I am saying that it is out there as an allegation.
My analysis:
1. On the surface it appears that conflict has been ongoing because the leadership has refused/ignored or failed to address or answer these issues in a public setting.
2. Below the surface I believe these issues are the result of a flawed church government system that has given all the authority to the Senior Pastor (whether formal or informal) without enough accountability to the church. Simply put, what I mean is, “Well he is the leader, ok.” This system has both dramatically helped and hurt the church. It helps because it is easier to get things done. When pastor is on his game, a worldwide influence is the result. When pastor is not on his game, it hurts because it is easier to have poor decisions and apparent abuses. Absolute power absolutely corrupts.
3. Therefore, I would change the system without changing the vision or the niche of the church. This will be pastor’s greatest legacy - a great church planting and soul winning vision.
4. If I were a member or branch ministry pastor I would be making some noise towards home base. How much do you think they will tolerate? Or, will people just move on?
I would advise the following steps to move forward until the return of our LORD:
1. However the elders determine to address the issues, I would have Pastor Robinson read a written statement with P. Schaller and P. Shibelli and P. Lutz (if you can reconcile with him) on stage standing next to him before the church. This statement should deal with every issue open and honestly. Make it available to the church, Grace Hour, FACTNET, Baltimore Sun, etc. Then, I would have Pastor Stevens bless it with a prayer. I think this would begin the process of healing. I base this upon my best understanding of Matthew 5:21-26. The Bible says if our brother has something against us (FACTNet posts), we are to reconcile quickly; it is about relationships in the body of Christ.
2. I think it is time for the elders to accept the inevitable. For the good of pastor and the church I would insist on some much needed changes. You need to protect him, the church and the long-range health of the pastor and the 30,000 members.
3. Call an Acts 15 Jerusalem Council (Call it the Council of Baltimore) and allow every branch ministry senior pastor to participate with an equal voice. Determine an agenda to discuss the issues facing GGWO. For example, authority of a pastor vs. believer-priest, double honor balanced with a servant/leader model, disciplining a pastor, how to handle criticisms vs. slander and hearsay, just to name a few. Appoint an outside conservative Christian pastor to moderate over the meeting.
A. Set aside a time for complaints. Invite those who have a grievance to come. Listen politely and determine a course of action. Seek understanding before being understood. Both sides are so polarized. Where is the attitude of redemption and forgiveness?
B. Record everything and make it available to the membership. Produce a written statement and make it available to all via internet, Grace Hour, publications, etc.
4. Never stop winning souls!!!
5. As a friend of GGWO I offer my prayers and support as you face the future and determine God’s will for your local/worldwide ministry.
For Him,
Dave Drago
Sr. Pastor, First Baptist Church of Herculaneum-Pevely, MO
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