How Does Calvary Chapel Keep Its Leaders Accountable?

[Rawtheran]

Wrong.
The Scriptures teach it as well as the EC fathers.
Spare us the Darby dribble.

You guys should do a debate in the Peanut gallery forum over this topic. I think it'd be fun

 

[Second Coming]

Wrong.
The Scriptures teach it as well as the EC fathers.
Spare us the Darby dribble.

The Rapture theory wasn’t taught in the church for 1800 years. Did the Roman Catholic Church or Eastern Orthodox Church teach this hoax? Well they were the only churches until the reformation.

 

[ItIsFinished!]

The Rapture theory wasn’t taught in the church for 1800 years. Did the Roman Catholic Church or Eastern Orthodox Church teach this hoax? Well they were the only churches until the reformation.

That actually isn't true, but out of respect for the OP I will not continue to respond in this thread regarding the truths of the removal of the Church before the 7 year tribulation (not to be confused with The Second Coming of Christ).

 

[Rawtheran]

That actually isn't true, but out of respect for the OP I will not continue to respond in this thread regarding the truths of the removal of the Church before the 7 year tribulation (not to be confused with The Second Coming of Christ).

Thank you, and just for the record I agree with your premise regarding Pretribulation

 

[Second Coming]

Thank you, and just for the record I agree with your premise regarding Pretribulation

Then you’d probably fit in at Calvary maybe you should stay.

 

[Second Coming]

Wrong.
And yes , snarkiness was presented.

No snarkiness just facts.

 

[ItIsFinished!]

No snarkiness just facts.

You presented NO facts regarding the refutation of the removal of the Church .

OT: I wouldn't be a member of any Church that didn't believe in the Trinity or Rapture.
Not to familiar with CC, but I believe they believe both.

 

[Rawtheran]

Then you’d probably fit in at Calvary maybe you should stay.

True, like I said I love their theology just not the way they structure their churches. I guaranteed they could have a pastor preach about Preterism and he'd still be in the pulpit

 

[Second Coming]

True, like I said I love their theology just not the way they structure their churches. I guaranteed they could have a pastor preach about Preterism and he'd still be in the pulpit

Calvary Chapel Pastors sign a statement of faith so you don’t usually find them preaching various theology.

 

[RDKirk]

Greeting members of CC,

Last weekend I attended a Calvary Chapel affiliated church in my area and I was very impressed with the doctrine and biblical things that were taught. Something that disturbed me greatly though about CC was that there doesn't seem to be any balance of power between the congregants and the Pastor. I find it incredibly dangerous that the Pastor has complete authoritarian control over the church without any input from the congregation in terms of how things are run. Perhaps I have just misunderstood but I do have two questions for people in this forum. 1. How are Pastors held accountable in the CCC and what measures are taken if a Pastor goes rouge? 2. What are the powers and responsibilities of the congregants and do they have a say so at all in the direction of the church such as finances, Bible studies, evangelism, etc.

What would you expect to see with one visit?

 

[Tigger45]

Calvary Chapel Pastors sign a statement of faith so you don’t usually find them preaching various theology.

Here is the extent of their SoF though which seems a bit lacking pertaining to broader doctrinal issues and subjects. http://calvarychapelassociation.com/general-information/statement-of-faith/

 

[Dave-W]

OK this thread is about how CC runs their church government, not the various eschatological theories.

THey seem to be more of a pastor led structure. But there are weaknesses with any structure because they all are being administered by people.

 

[RDKirk]

Have any current members of a Calvary Chapel chimed in at all?

My information is dated, but as I said, at the CC we attended for several years, the pastor was guided by elders and accountable to the CC pastor who was his mentor and the CC overall pastoral leadership.

 

[Rawtheran]

Have any current members of a Calvary Chapel chimed in at all?

My information is dated, but as I said, at the CC we attended for several years, the pastor was guided by elders and accountable to the CC pastor who was his mentor and the CC overall pastoral leadership.

Thanks for letting me know this! I did some digging and found that some CC churches have in their Bylaws that the Elders can just remove a Pastor by a 3/4ths vote of the Congregation but attempts to reconcile a situation are made first usually by contacting the Leadership council.

 

[food4thought]

If you find the perfect church, we shouldn't join it we'd only ruin it!

I had an excellent pastor at the CC in Grand Rapids, MI. It's good to know that there is more accountability than I witnessed, though.

I would be attending one now if it weren't for the fact that there are no CC's in my immediate area... I'd have to drive 30-45 minutes to attend the nearest one.

 

[Rawtheran]

If you find the perfect church, we shouldn't join it we'd only ruin it!

I had an excellent pastor at the CC in Grand Rapids, MI. It's good to know that there is more accountability than I witnessed, though.

I would be attending one now if it weren't for the fact that there are no CC's in my immediate area... I'd have to drive 30-45 minutes to attend the nearest one.

This was honestly something I needed to hear which was definitely God speaking to me through you or rather confirming something he spoke about earlier today. I recently started attending a Nazarene Church and agreed with everything they represent as a denomination but didn't really like their stance on praying in tongues as a private prayer language which caused me to really wonder if God actually wanted me there and I woke up this morning with the thoughts of does it really matter? You're right there isn't any such thing as a perfect church but there definitely are good churches that serve God and no one will ever agree with a denominations stance 100%.

 

[LizaMarie]

Yikes! I'm sorry to say this but I will be avoiding CC churches for the time being. Its a darn shame because I love their theology

I used to attend one in the '80's out on the West Coast. I still have great respect for Chuck Smith and Greg Laurie, (whose Harvest Fellowship has become become part of the Southern Baptist denomination). I believe they are genuine Men of God- and:
They were instrumental in bringing me as a prodigal back to Christ. But yes, several things began to bother me. Their anti denominational stance(at least then) their view of the scaraments(or lack of it) and preaching a pre-tribulational Rapture as gospel, which I believe to be false. It was never held by the Early Christians.

 

[LizaMarie]

OK this thread is about how CC runs their church government, not the various eschatological theories.

THey seem to be more of a pastor led structure. But there are weaknesses with any structure because they all are being administered by people.

Yes I agree. They are similar to most non-denominational or Bible only Churches, in structure as they are independent. I believe the Elders or Church council would hold the pastor accountable should they stray off of Biblical teaching. That is how I understood it.
They are a very Bible based Church.

 

[justme6272]

Greeting members of CC,

Last weekend I attended a Calvary Chapel affiliated church in my area and I was very impressed with the doctrine and biblical things that were taught. Something that disturbed me greatly though about CC was that there doesn't seem to be any balance of power between the congregants and the Pastor. I find it incredibly dangerous that the Pastor has complete authoritarian control over the church without any input from the congregation in terms of how things are run. Perhaps I have just misunderstood but I do have two questions for people in this forum. 1. How are Pastors held accountable in the CCC and what measures are taken if a Pastor goes rouge? 2. What are the powers and responsibilities of the congregants and do they have a say so at all in the direction of the church such as finances, Bible studies, evangelism, etc.

As I see it, in a CC church, it's....
1. Pastor accountability - "Don't like me, leave."
2. Congregational power - "I'm not giving you any of my money because of your lack of transparency...no voting members, no deacon body, no personnel committee, no congregational authority to hire/fire anyone, including the pastor, no budget presented or approved, etc."

So I go if I like the teaching, and if you can catch me on a generous Sunday, may donate enough money to pay my share of breathable heated/cooled air and maintenance, which isn't much cause I don't take up much space or flush the toilet too often. The pastor's salary and benefits package, or anyone else's, couldn't be less of a concern when they choose to hide the facts. This arrangement works for me and my conscious is clear, as is seemingly everyone else's who shows up. We aren't being led astray by cult leaders.

The churches are smart enough to know that their policies aren't going to be for everyone, and that their church's growth is limited as a result, unless the pastor has a really, really good gift for gab. I've seen CC pastors in very nice, expensive homes, so I think that's the main bill that needs to get paid. As long as congregants like the pastor, they don't care about the rest, and numbers stay up.

But just wait until something happens to that pastor and he leaves and see if they can replace him with someone who speaks as good, since caliber of teaching is about all they've got. When that declines, so will attendance, which will dwindle cause there's not much else keeping them there....certainly no corporate governance where members on the roll ultimately decide who gets to be the next pastor or deacon, and the deacons/elders WHO ARE IN TOWN AND ATTEND THE CHURCH make all the big decisions, which is how I think it should be. Not absentee like they love to do as part of the good 'ole boy network. (anything resembling a denomination is a good ole boy network).

As for myself, I don't see that it much matters if it's a dictatorship or a bunch of dumb deacons. When I've had enough, I know where the door is, but then, I'm not the mega-donor type who has been there their entire lives like you have in other churches, and they don't want to see their financial investment crumble, so they seek power within the church. I've seen very bitter people leave churches after generations of their family donated money, after the church goes off the liberal deep end. And I know people who won't even consider a CC church because of the lack of accountability, and I respect their viewpoint on that. Those are usually people who want leadership roles and/or give lots of money. I don't need to do either. I don't view church as a place to inflate my ego or sense of worth. I just sit there, (or stand), wait for the lousy contemporary songs to be over with, then hear some Biblical insight while surrounded by others who appreciate the same thing...good teaching. If it's not a teacher I want to hear, I don't want to be there, and I'm choosey. I'd sooner sit at home and call up a streaming sermon on demand that I know I want to listen to, focusing on what's being taught, while having nothing to do with politics. I despise church politics, so it works out real well that way. The Internet has made it possible to hear anyone you want, on demand, at your convenience, choosing from the best of the best. I'd tell anyone to take advantage of it whether they drive to a church during the week or not.

 

[justme6272]

I used to attend one in the '80's out on the West Coast. I still have great respect for Chuck Smith and Greg Laurie, (whose Harvest Fellowship has become become part of the Southern Baptist denomination). I believe they are genuine Men of God- and:
They were instrumental in bringing me as a prodigal back to Christ. But yes, several things began to bother me. Their anti denominational stance(at least then) their view of the scaraments(or lack of it) and preaching a pre-tribulational Rapture as gospel, which I believe to be false. It was never held by the Early Christians.

Oh no, please don't tell me Laurie turned southern baptist. The sbc? really? why? I've never heard of a need to do that. Once you're successfully independent, stay independent! What could the SBC POSSIBLY do to make them a better church? It's like asking a federal govt bureaucrat from D.C. to come run your town, which they and the powerful Washington lobbies seem to end up doing anyway, uninvited.