Actscelerate.com

Is The Administrative Bishop Out Of Order?

Friendly Face Posts: 426 **10/4/11 10:42 am**

The Administrative Bishop gets a call about a pastor. The call was not any accusation that the pastor was doing something immoral. The call was one lady who was calling to complain about the pastor and his wife. So it would have been understandable for the AB to call the pastor and ask him about it. The overseer did not do that. He called three of the pastor’s council members and asked them what was going on “BEFORE” he even called the pastor. He took a situation that was small and blew it up by calling the pastor’s council. The result was the pastor’s council got stirred up and stirred up even more people in the church. They never had an AB call them before so this must be “BIG”. After he did all that he called the pastor to “FINALLY” ask him about the situation.

So some questions:

If the offense is not chargeable what business does the AB have calling members of the pastor’s council?

Why would he call the pastor’s council first before calling the pastor?

*. Note: This is the Administrative Bishops first time ever holding that position.

Is this just a novice overseer?

What would you do if it happened to you?

I would call it a total overreaction

Acts Mod Posts: 25305 **10/4/11 10:53 am**

But thank you for not naming names at this time. If it is in reality an actual situation, may I suggest praying about it and letting the AB, pastor, and church go through this together rather than us continually beat on the beehive.

Just a suggestion.
_________________
Doctor of Bovinamodulation

Administrative Bishop out of order?

Golf Cart Mafia Associate Posts: 2109 **10/4/11 11:00 am**

Hang a sign on his door and call the plumber!
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God-Honoring
Christ-Centered
Bible-Based
Spirit-Led
(This is how I want to be)

We don't know all the facts...but

Acts-celerater Posts: 841 **10/4/11 11:15 am**

based on your description, the AB would appear to be out of order. Still, we are hearing only one side to this story. He should have called the pastor first.

I know I would be UPSET!!! if something like this happened. There is a chain to go through. He wouldn't want us calling up RC to talk to him about something in the local state, before going to the state to speak about it.

Interesting question...

Acts-celerater Posts: 841 **10/4/11 11:17 am**

What training do overseers get for their jobs? A great preacher does not always make a great administrator. I know many preachers who were incredible speakers, who couldn't run a church worth a flip and were terrible people-persons.

Do they get training in how to manage conflict? Manage the state budget? Manage a staff?

Just wondering.

Re: We don't know all the facts...but

Friendly Face Posts: 426 **10/4/11 11:40 am**

Acts-celerater Posts: 975 **10/4/11 11:55 am**

I would have called the pastor first, got his feedback, and then based upon how he responded to the accusation, call for a meeting with the pastor and the accusing party. If the accusing party refused to meet or didn't show, I would advise the pastor to watch his back and let it go. Keep as few people involved as possible until the facts can be determined. If the accusation proved to by true, by evidence, not just hearsay, then it would be time for the AB to involved the pastor's council if necessary to provide the appropriate discipline.

Blew the guy up

Acts-celerate Owner Posts: 6957 **10/4/11 11:58 am**

That very, very unwise AB, caused an explosion in that Pastor's ministry there. He threw gas on one little, negative, spark and BLEW that Pastor away.

The Scripture is very straight-up. If we have a fault with someone, we go first to that person. ABs are to follow Scripture. Everybody in this life, including the Lord Jesus and AB's too, get criticism.

In my opinion, the AB should have asked the woman if she had followed Scripture and had spoken with the Pastor before calling him.

Doyle
_________________
The largest room in the world is the room for improvement.

How in the world...

Hon. Dr. in Acts-celeratology Posts: 5161 **10/4/11 12:32 pm**

Did the AB get the names and phone numbers of the pastor's council? Our AB doesn't know anyone on our leadership team - except me, but that's because I am licensed as well. He couldn't call the pastor's council if he wanted to.
If the "offense" wasn't chargeable, then I'd say to call the pastor. If it is chargeable, then I'd say to go visit the pastor. Either way (and I said this in another thread) some to the pastor's aid. He may be wrong, but that doesn't mean he should be hung out to dry.

Friendly Face Posts: 426 **10/4/11 12:38 pm**

When the AB finally called the pastor he asked the AB who called to complain. The AB said he swore to the lady he would not tell the pastor her name. I can promise you the complaint was basically a disagreement in ministry philosophy and petty nit picking things, nothing major at all. The pastor was really upset because he thought he had the right to face his accuser. The complaint was basically general enough that the pastor does not know who it was. So now the pastor is left wondering who is against him.

Out west of the Pecos, this is how it is handed

Get a rope Posts: 181 **10/4/11 12:57 pm**

I'm kinda ashamed to say it, but when some skunky member who deserves some time in the bear cage doesn't get his way and starts in a whining to the overseer, most of the time the overseer will go with the church rather than the pastor not matter who is right.
It's not right I tell you what.
But an overseer will preserve the church every time because that church sends in money, pays the payment, supports missions, and it doesn't matter if the pastor is in the right.
The overseer don't want that church to be a seed in his dentures. The pastor can't make the payment, bills, and percentages all by his lonesome, so money talks and the pastor walks.

It ain't always right, but it's the way it is.

I think every church needs a bear cage to handle cantankerous members. It would solve a lot of problems I tell you what.
_________________
Never ask a man where he's from. If he's from Texas, he'll tell you. If he's not, don't embarrass him.

Re: How in the world...

Friendly Face Posts: 426 **10/4/11 1:38 pm**

He is small minded!

Acts Enthusiast Posts: 1994 **10/4/11 1:46 pm**

He is small minded! Its not his members, its the pastor's. Its not his church, its the pastor's. The pastor is the "angel" of the church and even Jesus honored this principle (Revelation, chapters 1,2 & 3).

Mat

Re: How in the world...

Acts Mod Posts: 25305 **10/4/11 1:49 pm**

Golf Cart Mafia Capo Posts: 2857 **10/4/11 1:51 pm**

He can go to God and that is the one who can really give wisdom in the situation. I cannot imagine an overseer not calling the pastor first. If the complaint was serious enough he should have then called a meeting with the pastor and the lady with the complaint and helped bring resolution to the situation. I cannot imagine not telling the pastor what the complaint was and who made it. Only by bringing the matter out into the open could he help resolve it without causing harm to the pastor and the church.

One wonders what would happen...

Acts Mod Posts: 25305 **10/4/11 2:03 pm**

if the pastor took the pulpit and said, "This is what has been happening. As the membership of this church, you have the right to know..."

And then share what has been going on.

Turn on lights and roaches scatter.
_________________
Doctor of Bovinamodulation

Re: He is small minded!

Golf Cart Mafia Underboss Posts: 3638 **10/4/11 3:01 pm**

Acts-pert Poster Posts: 16509 **10/4/11 3:03 pm**

A question: Is there an AB Manual? I know that some things seem to be common sense but is there a manual that says this is wrong? I don't know. Anybody?

Golf Cart Mafia Capo Famiglia Posts: 4955 **10/4/11 3:18 pm**

Acts-pert Poster Posts: 16509 **10/4/11 3:33 pm**

Thanks, John....that was not the question.