Are Family Run Churches OK?

[Nymphalidae]

Ok - that still doesn't change the fact that imo the most innovative and creative people happen to be Christians. But you are entitled to your opinion.

You make a good point about family-run churches. I just don't know if there are very many of them that are not conducted like self-interest family businesses.

Einstien was a Jew.

 

[nightingale]

Einstien was a Jew.

So was Jesus.
Was Einstien creative and innovative or just highly intelligent? There's a difference.

What would Einstien have thought about family-run churches?

 

[Nymphalidae]

So was Jesus.
Was Einstien creative and innovative or just highly intelligent? There's a difference.

What would Einstien have thought about family-run churches?

Einstien said "It was, of course, a lie what you read about my religious convictions, a lie which is being systematically repeated. I do not believe in a personal God and I have never denied this but have expressed it clearly. If something is in me which can be called religious then it is the unbounded admiration for the structure of the world so far as our science can reveal it." So he probably didn't give a rat's left nut about family run churches.

Gandhi was not Christian.

 

[nightingale]

Einstien said "It was, of course, a lie what you read about my religious convictions, a lie which is being systematically repeated. I do not believe in a personal God and I have never denied this but have expressed it clearly. If something is in me which can be called religious then it is the unbounded admiration for the structure of the world so far as our science can reveal it." So he probably didn't give a rat's left nut about family run churches.

Gandhi was not Christian.

When people think of Gandhi do they think innovative or creative, or do other adjectives of character come to mind?

I wonder what Gandhi would say about family-run churches?

 

[ChristianCenturion]

Which impoverished nation or poorer district are you referring to that has family-run churches? Even in those types of areas there can be systems of checks and balances.

I didn't say that they couldn't have checks and balances. You simply stated that you haven't seen churches where the leadership was mostly family not being run in a bad manner. I asked if you had been to another country where it is typically poor. That goes back to one of my first responses that when a new church is started somewhere remote, the mature Christians are typically those that help build the church and it isn't unusual for them to be family. Examples would be in South America, the former Soviet Union, etc.

 

[nightingale]

I didn't say that they couldn't have checks and balances. You simply stated that you haven't seen churches where the leadership was mostly family not being run in a bad manner. I asked if you had been to another country where it is typically poor. That goes back to one of my first responses that when a new church is started somewhere remote, the mature Christians are typically those that help build the church and it isn't unusual for them to be family. Examples would be in South America, the former Soviet Union, etc.

Yes, I would think that family-run churches in third world countries would be quite different than in the US; but, then just about everything is different right? Some churches could possibly have assemblies where just about everyone is related!

 

[.Mikha'el.]

We went to a fledgling church for three years that was staffed only by family members. All family members were on the church payroll, and the church was run like a business with the pastor as the president of the company. A printed budget was scarce and church members were ostrasized for asking questions about financial accountability. The church membership grew to 200+, and the pastor was rumored to be drawing quite a salary. How common is this? Would you say this is a pastor's right but maybe unethical?

Such a case would certainly be unethical. There is nothing wrong with family run churches, but I think there must be a great deal of transparency, so that all members of a church know where any donations are going.

 

[ChristianCenturion]

Yes, I would think that family-run churches in third world countries would be quite different than in the US; but, then just about everything is different right? Some churches could possibly have assemblies where just about everyone is related!

That is correct and is why I have been trying to point out that making generalized statements against this or that (in this case, family run churches) has a danger of speaking negatively against a small portion where such negativity is unwarranted and may even do damage.

 

[nightingale]

That is correct and is why I have been trying to point out that making generalized statements against this or that (in this case, family run churches) has a danger of speaking negatively against a small portion where such negativity is unwarranted and may even do damage.

Well, that's what forums are for; to share ideas. If people from very biblical family-run churches post their opinions, it may help for me to see a different perspective. As it is, my perspective of family-run churches is very shallow since I feel that I was abused-of-sorts from the church of my example.

To say that I should not make generalized statements based on my experiences doesn't really make any sense to me. Speaking negatively against the small or large portion of churches who misuse and abuse church members for their own lucrative gain should be a "danger" warning to victims everywhere.