Prominent Memphis Area Pastor Resigns

[Cindy]

If we ALL are not humble before God, how can we be humble before each other? We have to be humble to ask for forgiveness. We do not owe allegiance to any man, but to God.

2 Chronicles 7:14

King James Version (KJV)

14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

I believe this scripture would apply to a church as well.

[tv1a]

There will be a moron who will publicly post their "minutes" and the civil war continues. Where is John Wilkes Booth when you need him?

Originally Posted by CC1

That is great news that the board is calling a members meeting to explain what is going on. I hope they are transparent and forthcoming at this meeting. It is better to air the unvarnished truth to the members so they can dispense with the rumors, half truths, etc that swirl around in these situations. This will help clear away confusion about the situation. Of course they may try to just address the situation a little without full disclosure hoing that will be enough. That would be a mistake.

[Tlswift2009]

Originally Posted by H Gang

This level of denial is disturbing. Even if you don't have detailed proof of wrongdoing, he resigned. If the man was innocent, why in the world would he step down without a fight? If you require proof, then buckle up because if you ever get it, it's going to obliterate the false image you have constructed about this man. He's not great. He constructed a public image of greatness but in private he was anything but. And if you were a good member, and did your duty, and marched in lock-step, and never asked questions or ever showed signs of not being adoring or had a mind of your own, you would never have seen the side of this man that many saw. Many got to see a self indulgent, self promoting, condescending, manipulative, hypocritical narcissist. And if he started another church, you couldn't pay me to darken those doors.

I agree with CC1, there will be another church. If not pastored by him, by one of the sons in law, with the man lurking in the shadows. And if the ALJC takes him or the WPF he'll connect with them because a big part of his identity was the preaching gigs around the world and country. He'll try to resurrect that. Or he'll get a revelation about grace (hopefully) and minister in a whole new way and actually do a 180 and begin pointing people to the cross, instead of uncut hair and shout down services.

Wow!!!! Pretty hard hitting commentary!!!

[Tlswift2009]

Originally Posted by StillStanding

TB is like King David???? Wow!

Let me clarify the TB/King David point. It was not so much that King David decided to repent on his own accord, but it was our Merciful {but angry} God that sent the Prophet Nathan to confront KIng David about is adultery/murder, and only then {after 1 year of being unrepented} did David come forth with confessions and TRUE/GENUINE repentance. I believe that TB will follow this same repentance/reconciliation with God and man with whatever he may be guilty of.

[Tlswift2009]

Originally Posted by SeekingTruth

One son in law has already accepted a position in another church out of state. It seems that church is also having it's set of problems stemming from the situation at TPC, not because of the SIL (son in law). I am praying for that church as well.
There is a 3 member board, because that is how TB wanted it to be. When I first started attending church there, there were more board members. None of the board members have missionary families. The person that has been referred to as being on the board, actually has several nephews and his son on the ministerial staff. He is very involved in the church and in leadership, but not a board member. Also, his father is not a missionary. He passed away many, many years ago. His brother is the missionary.
I had stated before that the SILs resigned voluntarily, however that is not the case. They were asked to step down, but were given a severance.
Several of the church members have rightfully been expressing confusion at this whole situation, so the church board is calling a members only meeting to explain the situation. People on here, who do not attend the church, seem to know way more than over half of the congregation at TPC. TPC has been known to keep the congregation in the dark on many things. If you are not for lack of a better term "in crowd," then the general feeling is that you don't have a right to know. They keep all business meetings quiet. It's always been a little off kilter to me. I didn't care to know or be involved in the business side. I just wanted to go to a place to worship and be spiritually fed. I do think in this situation, I have a right to know the truth of what is going on.
There are a lot of things in this church that certain people were allowed to do or get away with, because of money or status. I am not going to address them here, but I hope that once a new pastor is installed, everyone will be treated equally. Continue to pray for TPC and the Black family. I do not know what they are dealing with right now, but I know they need a lot of prayers.

Yes, once all members have been enlightened with what has taken place, and the anticipated directives are made known {the church needs a permanent pastor}; then the proper healing and progress of the church can take place. There also need to be put in place whereby the general laity of the church is involved {made known} what's going on with the church in all aspects; maybe periodic closed church meetings. I'm very familiar with TPC, and yes; there are some**supposed**big shots, which should not be in the House of God: EVERYBODY SHOULD BE LOVE AND TREATED**EQUAL**WHICH IS/HAS NOT BEEN IN SOME VERY SENSITIVE WAYS-my wife and I decided not to be a part of the TPC due to some of these UGLY-UNGODLY attitudes {sometimes subtle/others blatant}towards certain people; one in particular that's known, and was discussed with me by TB; he was still dealing with that issues before he resigned-hhhhmmmm.

[Tlswift2009]

Originally Posted by Enigmatically Ambiguous

That's good to hear. Let every question be answered. Let people emote. The board needs to brace themselves for some anger and people getting things off their chest. They need to not take it personal. They know what they know, they've seen what they've seen. They did the right thing. Their character will stand on it's own and God knows who is in the right here. They need to be prepared to share what lies ahead so that there can be some sense of security that things are moving toward the goal of stability and a new pastor.



Not unusual for churches that belong to a denomination with an elitist mentality. What works in the politics of the denomination works in the politics of the local church. It's a cultural thing. The culture of the UPC is riddled with the "in crowd" preachers. They actually have, or used to even recently, VIP rooms at the arenas at conference where the "in crowd" would go to for finger foods, pate, shrimp cocktail, etc that only people with special passes were allowed in. A friend of mine was with a guy who had one of these passes and went in the VIP room and a high UPC official asked what he was doing in there and made him feel very uncomfortable for showing up at the country club without a membership. So he left somewhat embarassed. It's stupid to make church on any level exclusive. But that's what kings do---the people are there to serve their needs not the other way around.



Another typical dynamic. Double standards. Holiness and righteousness preached and enforced until someone in the family falls or someone who is a big giver has personal issues, then exceptions are made and a lot of talk about mercy and love and giving people second chances.

Another reason whereby wife and I stayed away from joining the UPC. We're just common people {not broke-poor, nor uneducated} striving to do God's will, and help build in the Kingdom-I personally despise arrogant, and puffed up people in the church; it STINKS!!!

[Tlswift2009]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

Pastors are not kings. That's probably why a lot of Pastors fall to these sort of problems in the first place...thinking and acting like they are Davids and we are his kindom

Let me clarify the TB/King David point. It was not so much that King David decided to repent on his own accord, but it was our Merciful {but angry} God that sent the Prophet Nathan to confront KIng David about is adultery/murder, and only then {after 1 year of being unrepented} did David come forth with confessions and TRUE/GENUINE repentance. I believe that TB will follow this same repentance/reconciliation with God and man with whatever he may be guilty of.

[Tlswift2009]

Originally Posted by Tlswift2009
AMEN!!! Be very CAREFUL with dealing with this man of God. TB is like King David; he will make amends before God and his people {it's necessary}, and God wil restore-HE YET HAS KINGDOM DESTINY WITH GOD!!! A man may suffer grest consequences for his failures, but God can restore and yet use him {a just man falleth seven times but risest up again}; even in a greater COMPASSIONATE capacity-take diligent care with handling this man and his wife!!!

Pastors are not kings. That's probably why a lot of Pastors fall to these sort of problems in the first place...thinking and acting like they are Davids and we are his kindom


Let me clarify the TB/King David point. It was not so much that King David decided to repent on his own accord, but it was our Merciful {but angry} God that sent the Prophet Nathan to confront KIng David about is adultery/murder, and only then {after 1 year of being unrepented} did David come forth with confessions and TRUE/GENUINE repentance. I believe that TB will follow this same repentance/reconciliation with God and man with whatever he may be guilty of.

[Monterrey]

Well, if you are comparing TB to David then also remember that David paid dearly for his sin.

[tv1a]

David kept his throne despite his sin.

Originally Posted by Monterrey

Well, if you are comparing TB to David then also remember that David paid dearly for his sin.