Father-Son Churches

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On Tue, 1 Sep 1998 19:03:49 EDT ReedActs@AOL.com writes:

> Bro. Wel...ah? yeah..Welch:
> It's Welch, although up until the mid 1800's it was Welsh.
> 
> Sorry about the misspell Brother.  If you have read many of my posts, 
>you already know it is not an uncommon occurrence.  Thank God spell
check 
>catches most of it.

I've eulded the spell checkers for YEARS!  <G>

> Bro.  Welch:
> I've already received one public post and two private posts 
>concerning this, thinking that I was criticizing someone specific 
>(and I don't know ANY of those people), and I can think of 
>FOUR Churches off hand that have done this, so I don't 
>believe that I am so far outfield with this.
>
> Me:
> I wasn't criticizing.  That was one of my feeble attempts at humor.

Oh, I didn't say that YOU were criticizing; I was saying that some people
believed that >I< was criticizing a specific person, which I wasn't.
 
> Bro.  Welch:
> I don't believe it is necessarily wrong, but I find it highly 
>unlikely that of ALL the world to preach the gospel, the 
>son is basically handed the keys to the Church as if it 
>is a family inheritance...
> 
> Mike:
> I personally don't find it highly unlikely.  In the case of a son 
>becoming the pastor, it follows that the son would come from 
>a home that does a great deal of praying and seeking God's will.  

On the other hand, we ALL know stories about PK's.  <G>

>It also seems likely that the children in the household may feel 
>part of the burden for the souls of the congregation from just being 
>brought up around parents that manifest a burden.

I'm not talking about them becoming PREACHERS; I am referring to them
supposedly being called to their home church.  I'm not doubting their
call at all.

>It also seems logical that if that young man felt a burden to preach 
>the word that he would get opportunities to be before the 
>congregation and the congregation would become comfortable 
>with him. 

That can be dangerous in and of itself, that type of "security" on both
sides.

Bottom line: The first question that the CONGREGATION should ask (and I
believe they should have SOME say on the subject) is "Did God call you to
THIS Church?"  Again, I am not doubting the call to preach.  I >AM<
doubting the call to Preach at the comfortable home (family?) Church.

> Do I think the son or son-in-law is *always* the best choice?  Of 
>course not. Sometimes it is not only not the best choice but the 
>wrong choice. 

I just wished that Churches took more responsibility in these things.  I
like it when an opening comes up and there is actually Congregational
discussion about this; several Preachers drop by and the Saints pray
about it, as opposed to the given scene; Dad basically hands Jr the keys
and says, "Don't drive it too hard" or something of that nature.

BTW, I lived in a Pastor's house for about a year.

Sometimes it just appears that we are being told to obey, even to the
point of expressing our own personal feelings (which of course would be a
lie), even when we vote on something.  

I remember (Brother Tyler might, also) that once the Pastor told us that
we could all vote on the color of the new carpet and pew coverings.  He
passed around several selections and humorously but strongly hinted that
he favored one specific pattern.  It was a secret ballot and after the
vote came in, his pattern didn't make the vote.  He became angry and told
us that we needed to rethink our decision and that we were going to vote
for it again, but this time we were supposed to be "serious" about our
vote.

Guess what?  His selection won by a landslide.

Jerry Welch

www.geocities.com/Athens/Aegean/2810/

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