GCM and "authority"

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[namaste]

Looking back over my time at GCM, it seems that many of the problems I experienced were caused by mis-use of authority by the leadership of our church.  But I think the problem was also more subtle than that, and treating it as such would be a vast over simplification.

In my experience, it seemed that leaders wanted authority when it was convenient, but not when it was inconvenient.  The 1991 error statement makes the excellent observation (even if gcm needs to be reminded) that there was a major failure on the part of the organization to make the important distinction between a christian principle and an outright biblical command.

Much the same way, I noticed with the pastors I worked with that there was a major failure to differentiate between the pastor being a clear authority, and the pastor making a suggestion one was free to follow or ignore.

This failure is unsurprising, given the lengths gcm goes to in an effort to establish those in positions of power over you (particularly elders) as absolute authorities.

Perhaps these individuals would do well to be reminded that with great power comes great responsibility.  All too often, I've observed gcm pastors accept the power of authority, but not all of the responsibilities of it.

The most often ignored responsibility of authority is the obligation not to abuse authority.  I'm sure many pastors would say that they are quite aware of the responsibilities of being accountable for the sins/spiritual lives of their congregations.  But as a whole, they seem far less concerned with defining clear limits for that authority, and ensuring that they don't overstep the clear, biblical bounds of their power.

IMNSHO, using guilt as a motivation tool is a clear abuse of power.  Manipulation, including witholding affection/love/etc., is a clear abuse of power.  Using one's position as an elder to publically endorse political positions, or other preferences (without clearly labeling them as such) is a clear abuse of power.

I once sat in a gcm sermon where the elder speaking said that if any of us ever did yoga (?!?!?!) we weren't really christians.

I understand the "mystical" roots of yoga.  But seriously- I have to say that a pastor exerting control on the manner in which I exercise is taking things waaaaaay past the bounds of reason.  :lol: