GCM2Timer's introduction

Welcome to De-Commissioned, a place for former members of the Great Commission movement (aka GCM, GCC, GCAC, GCI, the Blitz) to discuss problems they've experienced in the association's practices and theology.

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[GCM2Timer]

I am still a member of a GCM church. I was a member in a different region of the country while in college but spent six years in other denominations in other cities before becomming re-involved in my current city.



I am very thankful for a majority of my GCM experiences. At the core, I have known many men and women who are devoted to God and live out sacrificial lives of love to which I aspire.



Both of my GCM experiences have had their problems. During my college experience, I was kept from higher leadership for reasons I disagreed with. A year later I left after I felt the leadership became un-balanced and friends and I were getting burned out. I still remained friends with everyone and was not treated poorly my final year in that city.



In my current experience, I got involved with some great people in a small group. I have never been really happy with the overall church leadership, but feel I have made a difference in the lives of my small group. Church leaders have gone by their “values” over Biblical arguments I shared with them, and they expect members to serve in ways I feel was arbitrary. The leaders have also had internal disagreements that have deeply hurt some (now) former pastors.



I feel fortunate that God has made be bold (2 Timothy 1:7) Just like Paul wasn’t afraid to confront Peter about eating with gentiles, I have made stands out of love for my friends and the Truth. In other situations, this testing has brought me closer to and increased my respect for people in ministry. I have not been encouraged by the reaction of my current GCM pastors.



I’m not convinced that there is something fundamentally wrong with GCM. In 11 years total (back to 1990), I personally know of:

1) Excommunication: I know of 1 person asked to leave, who was a newer member with severe sin and problems with the law. Nobody was ever barred from associating with me after I left.

2) Fundraising: I only know of staff fundraising for their own salaries (low 20’s in early 90’s) I heard way more about money/giving when I went to a Baptist church

3) Spiritual Arrogance/Pride: I saw a the “confession letter” in 1991, but the churches I was with got along and participated in multi-church activities. A common response to criticism in the early 90’s was, well show me you are doing to obey God..

4) Dating/Women: This is all over the board. Basically casual dating has been discouraged because it causes jealousy. Over the years I’ve heard a lot of contradictory teaching, but the only thing that has been dogmatic is that Christians should only marry Christians.

5) Exclusivism, the only “unique” GCM claim I am aware of is that they believe that ideally para-church organizations should operate from within local churches. I have actively participated in non-GCM Christian Bible studies while in good standing at both GCM churches.

6) Loyalty/Secrets. The GCM loyalty sermon in the linkks scares me. I feel the false demands of loyalty are what brought down the GCM pastor I respected the most. In the last year or so, all but two of the 9-10 leaders I admired at a national level or from college have left. Every one has given a “best spin” reason for their moves. One is left to wonder if it is due to sin, disagreements (a.k.a. Gregg Walters) or a true change of calling. There is also a skewed view of what constitutes gossip.



I think GCM would be healthier:

1. If they changed from local elder governed structures to a mix of congregational and national governance. There is no practical means of accountability from either a congregation or national organization.



2. GCM has taught that pastor’s qualificaitons consist only of character which differs from most others evangelicals. Poorly trained pastors can be blamed for “well meaning” mismanagment that leads to burn-out or even abuse. Requiring some accredited training and outside evaluation of perspective pastors would be helpful. Some GCM churches refuse pastors (leaders) not raised from within. I feel this is unhealthy and does not reflect Pauls practice with Timothy, Priscilla and Aquilla. Perhaps having perspective pastors serve elsewhere first would help balance out GCM more.



I grieve for those hurt by bad ministry circumstances and will ask God to restore their joy and give them healthy situations to grow in. I hope people in all ministries put people over their own agendas and that Christians will be best known for their love (not a strategy, disagreement, or self-help program)

[GCM2Timer]

Quick follow-up.



In college the saying “Major on the Majors, minor on the minors” ruled and allowed a lot of unity among people from all types of backgrounds. That is missing from my current GCM church and could help resolve some of the authoritarianism that individuals feel rob them of choice.

[Genevieve]

Great comments, GCM2Timer! Your suggestions for making it healthier are well stated and have been echoed by others.

I think the worst of the excommunications are over, but there are still cases of people being encouraged to leave for non sin-related issues. One couple was told that GC wouldn’t change their organizational structure to the one you suggested, and they would be better to leave (in the past year or so).

Fundraising does seem to be more pronounced during building campaigns and may not be noticeable at other times. Although they do believe in giving 10% of your gross income directly to the church and that all other giving should be above and beyond that.

Dating/women may be different at different churches, but based on recent sermons they’re still kind of hardcore on that in some churches. I also believe that submission is still too focused on for women.

Exclusivism/elitism has also gotten better I think. There are some good examples of churches working together, though I think they still see themselves as being more devout/radical/on fire, etc than other groups.

So, anyway, thanks for your comments. I think you’re right on with ways to improve the group.

[AgathaL'Orange]

GCM 2 timer,

Welcome. I agree that GCM definitely has some authority issues. They like to be IN authority but not necessarily UNDER it.

Sometimes I feel like GCM majors on the minors and minors on the majors.

Doctrine, history, communion, baptism, ancient teachings, creeds, pastoral training, doing good in society and worship are all “majors” in my book. And yet there was probably less than 5 teachings on this in ALL my years at GCM. To me that is not placing the movement under the authority that other churches, seminary, early church fathers, and creeds bring.

Unity, loyalty, submission, evangelism, financial giving, how to have a quiet time, dating, and marriage are all secondary “minors” that should come out of having the Holy Spirit in you. Those seem to be fruits of being a Christian to me. And that was what our church taught on ALL the time. These issues tend to place the GCM church in authority over the believe instead of allowing the believer to grow naturally in the Spirit and according to personal directions of growth. Some people need to focus on purity and not evangelism. Others may be led to move away for various reasons and lifetime loyalty to GCM may keep them from pursuing God given desires.

There is so much focus on getting the message out and living in such a way to get the message out and so little focus on making sure they’ve got the message and church community “right.”

[puff of purple smoke]

“I thought [GCM Church] would help me to grow in my faith, but it took me away from the simple and childlike faith I started with. Instead of focusing on God, people concentrate on how they look in the eyes of the leaders and other members” — an ex-member quoted in a 1982 Columbus Lantern newspaper

Still relevant today, I think.

[Genevieve]

I totally agree, Agatha. Great way of saying that.

[nateswinton]

Puff,

I, and another dear friend here in Ames would echo that thought. I think it’s necessary to admit that we had some baggage coming into GC and that the social atmosphere here built heavily upon that “sandy foundation”, but the idea of going from “child-like” to disciplined and potent in ministry had been heavily felt by both of us. We’ve both been going through alot of emotional, mental and spiritual changes internally lately and sorting through alot of that baggage and identifying alot of lies we’ve believed.

Some of the lies we belived about ourselves, our “ministries”, and others views of us were our own, and we both have to come to terms with that. Some was definately given to us by our leaders though. Our main defense against that right now is to constantly be on guard and to do our best to try and balance thoughts as they come out into the public setting.

2-timer,

Welcome to decommissioned. Good to have you. Thanks for the posts.

[exshep]

“I thought [GCM Church] would help me to grow in my faith, but it took me away from the simple and childlike faith I started with. Instead of focusing on God, people concentrate on how they look in the eyes of the leaders and other members” — an ex-member quoted in a 1982 Columbus Lantern newspaper

Still relevant today, I think.

I remember the article well. I remember the year well. The Columbus church came to my alma matar to set up shop. Performance based christianity was an unfortunate by product of many shepherding groups in the 80’s. I am guilty of it myself– with some devastating consequences. Keeping up appearance is still a sad plight today. Anyone who does an internet search on spiritual abuse will quickly figure it out.

[GD]

I hadn't checked in for quite a while.  Good job moving and organizing all the content!  I registered here as "GD"

Four long-time friends of mine and GCM staffers/pastors have all left GCM to pursue non-ministry related careers.  At least three experienced some difficult times related to more "senior" leaders.

To update all yall, I left my 2nd GCM church a while ago.  A friend that worked for the church had a falling out with the senior pastor, which troubled me.  I tried to be fair to both sides, but was stunned when it was suggested by the senior pastor that I might want to leave.  I didn't leave then, but was given silent treatment by pastors ever since.

I've moved on to a new church that has been great for me spiritually.  My old friends and I still get along fine.  Most of my friends aren't impacted much by the same things there, thankfully most are pretty well insulated.