Terry Shock Leaving Alexandria

[houston]

Originally Posted by canam

I can think of one in texas that was passed on and its shocking to see the changes @ cornerstone ,not sure how you could anticipate it though !

Is there a website?

[CC1]

Originally Posted by houston

Is there a website?

http://cornerstonefortworth.org/


Of course I am very excited about Cornerstone and Steve Pixler's changes!

[aegsm76]

Originally Posted by CC1

http://cornerstonefortworth.org/


Of course I am very excited about Cornerstone and Steve Pixler's changes!

CC - I am sure you are. And you can be sure that I am not. I will defer to someone's opinion who used to be a prominent poster, here.
She and her husband also became convinced of the non-essentiality of some of the UPC teachings.
However, they left the church which they were pastoring and went and started another, in a different area of the country.
She stated that it was not right to attempt to move a church from those basic doctrines and that you would end up destroying people when you did it.
She was and still is right.
I still have the utmost respect for her and her husband.

[CC1]

Originally Posted by aegsm76

CC - I am sure you are. And you can be sure that I am not. I will defer to someone's opinion who used to be a prominent poster, here.
She and her husband also became convinced of the non-essentiality of some of the UPC teachings.
However, they left the church which they were pastoring and went and started another, in a different area of the country.
She stated that it was not right to attempt to move a church from those basic doctrines and that you would end up destroying people when you did it.
She was and still is right.
I still have the utmost respect for her and her husband.

I think it all depends on how you do it. The mistake a lot of pastors make is that they will put on a congregation changes in thinking that took them years to get to in too short of a time frame.

I remember several decades ago talking to a UPC preacher who had visited a prominent exUPC Pastor seeking advice on how to implement change and he said that pastor told him that it was like steering a large, long ship. You had to tack slowly and make wide turns. I would add to that metaphor that sudden changes in directions causes some people to be thrown out of the ship and some end up drowning.

You are correct that sudden change will make some people feel as if the rug has been pulled out from under them and can end up destroying people. This comes back to the aspects of psychological conditioning that goes on in any type of intense indoctrination. I know it makes people angry when I say this but it is only natural that when you are taught week after week, year after year, a set of doctrines and rules it becomes your mental measuring stick of right and wrong so anything that controverts that causes confusion and guilt. People need to be brought along over time to look afresh at the Bible and christian teachings.

[returnman]

Originally Posted by CC1

Pastors are only human and it is a human instinct to protect what you have put blood sweat and tears into usually for many years. It is also a parents instinct to protect and promote their offspring. Sadly in some cases it is also a parents instincts to see their children through rose colored glasses and not the reality of what and who they are. All of the above can be a toxic mix in some cases.

This is what I have departed from. It should be the sharing of everyone's blood and sweat. No one man should make or have that much influence......Elders, deacons, etc.

[aegsm76]

Originally Posted by CC1

I think it all depends on how you do it. The mistake a lot of pastors make is that they will put on a congregation changes in thinking that took them years to get to in too short of a time frame.

I remember several decades ago talking to a UPC preacher who had visited a prominent exUPC Pastor seeking advice on how to implement change and he said that pastor told him that it was like steering a large, long ship. You had to tack slowly and make wide turns. I would add to that metaphor that sudden changes in directions causes some people to be thrown out of the ship and some end up drowning.

You are correct that sudden change will make some people feel as if the rug has been pulled out from under them and can end up destroying people. This comes back to the aspects of psychological conditioning that goes on in any type of intense indoctrination. I know it makes people angry when I say this but it is only natural that when you are taught week after week, year after year, a set of doctrines and rules it becomes your mental measuring stick of right and wrong so anything that controverts that causes confusion and guilt. People need to be brought along over time to look afresh at the Bible and christian teachings.

It's interesting to see that we agree on some of this, but from totally different sides of the issue.
"All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient".

[Barb]

Originally Posted by CC1

http://cornerstonefortworth.org/


Of course I am very excited about Cornerstone and Steve Pixler's changes!

And I am NOT!!

[Steve Epley]

Originally Posted by CC1

http://cornerstonefortworth.org/


Of course I am very excited about Cornerstone and Steve Pixler's changes!

Very sad.

[Barb]

Originally Posted by Steve Epley

Very sad.

Yes it is!!

[CC1]

Originally Posted by Barb

And I am NOT!!

Just For you!