THE CHURCH IN CONFLICT AND RESOLUTION (15 OF 56)
Scripture: Acts 6:1-7
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The Church in Conflict and Resolution (15 of 56)
Series: The Church in ACTSion
Wyman Richardson
Acts 6:1-7
Read Acts 6:1-7
R. Kent Hughes has told one of the most heartbreaking stories I think I have ever heard about church conflict.
When a certain Dallas church decided to split, each faction filed a lawsuit to claim the church property. A judge finally referred the matter to the higher authorities in the particular denomination. A church court assembled to hear both sides of the case and awarded the church property to one of the two factions. The losers withdrew and formed another church in the area.
During the hearing, the church courts learned that the conflict had all begun at a church dinner when a certain elder received a smaller slice of ham than a child seated next to him. Sadly, this was reported in the newspapers for everyone to read. Just imagine how the people of Dallas laughed about that situation!
I also have in my files an Associated Press article about a conflict in a church in Spartanburg, SC, that ended up before a judge some years ago. His response to the case was most interesting.
Magistrate tells church, pastor to settle their own dispute
The Associated Press
Spartanburg, [SC] - A magistrate told church members and the pastor they are trying to fire that he may not have the authority to settle their months long dispute and urged them to resolve their differences out of court.
The dispute involves Foster Chapel Baptist Church and its efforts to oust its pastor, the Rev. Douglas E. Dennis. On several occasions, the church has voted to fire Dennis, but he has refused to stop representing himself as pastor or to leave the parsonage.
On Thursday, Magistrate Robert Hall told about 60 church members crowded into a Spartanburg County courtroom for Dennis' eviction hearing that they need to settle the issue themselves.
''I'm asking you as a judge, and maybe I shouldn't, but I'm asking you as a Christian, to resolve thi ...
Series: The Church in ACTSion
Wyman Richardson
Acts 6:1-7
Read Acts 6:1-7
R. Kent Hughes has told one of the most heartbreaking stories I think I have ever heard about church conflict.
When a certain Dallas church decided to split, each faction filed a lawsuit to claim the church property. A judge finally referred the matter to the higher authorities in the particular denomination. A church court assembled to hear both sides of the case and awarded the church property to one of the two factions. The losers withdrew and formed another church in the area.
During the hearing, the church courts learned that the conflict had all begun at a church dinner when a certain elder received a smaller slice of ham than a child seated next to him. Sadly, this was reported in the newspapers for everyone to read. Just imagine how the people of Dallas laughed about that situation!
I also have in my files an Associated Press article about a conflict in a church in Spartanburg, SC, that ended up before a judge some years ago. His response to the case was most interesting.
Magistrate tells church, pastor to settle their own dispute
The Associated Press
Spartanburg, [SC] - A magistrate told church members and the pastor they are trying to fire that he may not have the authority to settle their months long dispute and urged them to resolve their differences out of court.
The dispute involves Foster Chapel Baptist Church and its efforts to oust its pastor, the Rev. Douglas E. Dennis. On several occasions, the church has voted to fire Dennis, but he has refused to stop representing himself as pastor or to leave the parsonage.
On Thursday, Magistrate Robert Hall told about 60 church members crowded into a Spartanburg County courtroom for Dennis' eviction hearing that they need to settle the issue themselves.
''I'm asking you as a judge, and maybe I shouldn't, but I'm asking you as a Christian, to resolve thi ...
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