tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12009297.post1717577787571563668..comments2023-11-02T02:58:53.594-07:00Comments on From the Pew: Re-Thinking Church Membership (Part 6)Steve Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10297044571819912511noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12009297.post-41649234923827136592007-09-28T06:23:00.000-07:002007-09-28T06:23:00.000-07:00Steve,I have read your whole discourse on this top...Steve,<BR/>I have read your whole discourse on this topic and am in accord, mostly.<BR/><BR/>My son who is a pastor in a very fundamentalist pentecostal church has this differentiation, for those who want to just attend and participate there is no membership benefit or duty. <BR/><BR/>For those who are in leadership, direction, eldership, having to do with governance membership is essential.<BR/><BR/>I have argued it but then when I see what goes on in Liberal denominiations; Gay in Clergy and all I guess I have to ask who's right.<BR/><BR/>I am NOT a member of a local church boday. I am a minister and as such am a member of a denomination. <BR/><BR/>I don't know where the balance is on all this. I wish I did.<BR/><BR/>If I were full time pastoring a church in our area again and was going to figure out who was and was not a part of our church I would think there should be some differentiation. <BR/><BR/>Membership? I don't know. On the other hand then you get to the question of who is making the decisions. If it's by a vote, who votes. OR, is it by the mandate of some single person who is a strong apostolic leader and who just runs it as a dictatorship. That model has been more "successful" in the Mega Churches of America. <BR/><BR/>Tough question Steve. Keep asking it. I may not be bright enough to.Genehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16540894657933632541noreply@blogger.com