The gods Have Clay Feet: A Few Thoughts About Pastors

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I think this is an excellent article about some of the problems in Christianity today;

Most Fundamentalist/Evangelical Christian churches are independent. Even those who belong to denominations like the Southern Baptist Convention are independent. Each church is a local, autonomous entity, accountable to no one but themselves. The Southern Baptist Convention has a HUGE sex abuse problem, yet little is done by the Convention because each church governs itself. The convention has no power over churches or pastors, or so they conveniently claim.

Since most Fundamentalist/Evangelical Christian churches are independent, there are few standards or requirements for starting a church. Anyone can start a church. Anyone can claim to be a pastor. Anyone, Anyone, Anyone. In most states, there are no legal requirements for starting a church. The Federal government, by default, treats churches as exempt from taxation. By default, they receive most of the benefits of 501c3 status without actually applying for it. Starting a church is a con artist’s dream. Just tune into a Christian TV channel for proof of this. There are no educational requirements; no ordination requirements. Anyone can become a pastor. It really is that easy. (Please see What is a Church According to the IRS)

In charismatic/pentecostal circles, some pastors have added titles to their name. Not content to be called pastor, they demand that they be called bishop or apostle. Several apostles have set up shop right here in the county I live in . Once again, a man is an apostle or bishop because he says he is. God has imparted to the man a special anointing, a special dose of Holy G-h-o-s-t power that raises the man to a higher level in the church. Or so he says.

We have independent churches with independent pastors without any checks or balances. A man can start a church whenever and wherever. The church becomes his church, the religious equivalent of a corporation. The pastor is considered divinely called by God because he says he is. How dare anyone question GOD! This type of religion flourishes in America. We are a people who applaud the entrepreneurial spirit. Starting a church is akin to starting a business. We worship personalities: entertainers, sports figures, preachers, playmate of the month, etal. We are a lazy people, content to let others think for us.

I think he really hit the nail on the head about some of the pastors out there. Like he says, structured denominational churches - Catholic, Episcopal, etc - have their own problems. But at least with the more mainline churches they have structure. They have the requirements for clergy - educational, psychological, medical, etc - to make it harder for bad apples to become pastors.

[ColesCountyDem]

1. The stucture may resemble an exoskeleton, in some denominations.

I absolutely agree that structure is important, and for the reasons you state.

Some denominations, like my own, have churches that are largely autonomous, but those churches must adhere to 'acceptable practices' policies. My denomination has requirements A, B, C, etc., if the church is to be affiliated with the American Baptist Convention. For example, no pastor may be ordained unless he/she has graduated from an approved seminary, no church may maintain it's affiliation with ABC-USA unless it pastor, governing boards and staff have attended approved courses in child, spouse and elder abuse, etc., etc. .