Saw in the local newspaper this week where the pastor of the local First Baptist Church resigned -- this just a few weeks after the Minister of Music resigned in disgrace and upon the heels of the Youth Minister resigning. Anybody know the whole story of what's going on over there? In the newspaper article, the pastor received glowing praise from the Associate Pastor of the church who deemed him during his eight-year tenure to have "been a positive influence not only to the First Baptist family, but the entire community."
A friend who goes there tells me that when this pastor came, the church was running 950-1000 in Sunday School. She says they are now lucky to have 550, and many Sundays the attendance dips below 500. Let's see, being on the generous side we could say attendance has dropped by 400 since he came. Does that sound like he's been a positive influence to you?
I have seen this pastor on their local television broadcast several times, and I've never been impressed. He pretends he's reading from his Bible, but when the camera angles just right, you can see he has his sermon typed out and taped in there. And it always seems to be the same sermon. I don't know, maybe they just do a lot of reruns. I also heard he forgot to show up at a wedding he was to officiate one time. The bride and groom had to scurry around and find a justice of the peace. I've heard of the bride being stranded at the altar by the groom before, but not by the preacher!
Baptist churches not being bound by the hierarchy of other denominations, I'm just really curious as to why the congregation didn't move him out long ago. Looks to me like the only positive thing he did for that church was to resign!
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