Life is complicated these days, ecclesiastically speaking. Used to be you trusted your pastor, your pastor trusted his church, members trusted the church leadership. OK, so that's an idealized picture of church life which as we all know hasn't been all sweetness and light.
So sue me.
And that's the issue. Do we need legal contracts between pastor and church, church member and the church leadership or church legal entity?
Two of my fav blogs are Tom Rich's Jacksonville Watchdog and two ladies, Dee and Deb, Wartburg Watch. I have found that they do a much better job than I do on some matters that interest me, and church conflict interests me.
The links above will take you to articles on member covenant/contracts. The interest Rich and the Blog Queens (their self-description) have in this is the increasing number of examples of spiritual abuse in churches.
By that I mean churches and church leadership taking legal steps to silence critics (Rich has a long story here, ending in an apology from his church). Dee and Deb have similar stories, sans the lawsuit.
Join a church, a nurturing fellowship of followers of Christ? You bet. But, here, you must sign this membership covenant/contract. Follow the links above and read the harsh legalese.
Yeah, I know. There are anti-church and anti-pastor blogs and Facebook pages. Would Jesus say of these, "Turn the other cheek" or "Sue the miscreants"? (Most SBCers still don't cuss.) Or, is it now, "They will know you are Christians by your iron clad, air tight contracts"?
Then there are the pastors who insist on an employment contract. A bit more understandable but still...is this necessary?
Then there are the confidentiality agreements. Join the church. Sit in the pew. Give us your money. And shut up...or we will sue you.
I once invited a music guy to church. He sent me a contract that included a number of perquisites, like a chilled Diet Coke. I told him we would love to have him but maybe he could come as a brother in Christ with the goal of sharing worship not squeezing perks out of us.
First kill all the church lawyers. Shakespeare, I think. If he only knew.
So sue me.
And that's the issue. Do we need legal contracts between pastor and church, church member and the church leadership or church legal entity?
Two of my fav blogs are Tom Rich's Jacksonville Watchdog and two ladies, Dee and Deb, Wartburg Watch. I have found that they do a much better job than I do on some matters that interest me, and church conflict interests me.
The links above will take you to articles on member covenant/contracts. The interest Rich and the Blog Queens (their self-description) have in this is the increasing number of examples of spiritual abuse in churches.
By that I mean churches and church leadership taking legal steps to silence critics (Rich has a long story here, ending in an apology from his church). Dee and Deb have similar stories, sans the lawsuit.
Join a church, a nurturing fellowship of followers of Christ? You bet. But, here, you must sign this membership covenant/contract. Follow the links above and read the harsh legalese.
Yeah, I know. There are anti-church and anti-pastor blogs and Facebook pages. Would Jesus say of these, "Turn the other cheek" or "Sue the miscreants"? (Most SBCers still don't cuss.) Or, is it now, "They will know you are Christians by your iron clad, air tight contracts"?
Then there are the pastors who insist on an employment contract. A bit more understandable but still...is this necessary?
Then there are the confidentiality agreements. Join the church. Sit in the pew. Give us your money. And shut up...or we will sue you.
I once invited a music guy to church. He sent me a contract that included a number of perquisites, like a chilled Diet Coke. I told him we would love to have him but maybe he could come as a brother in Christ with the goal of sharing worship not squeezing perks out of us.
First kill all the church lawyers. Shakespeare, I think. If he only knew.
