Church who doesn't list all pastors last names

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[carmel]

Hi! I'm new to this forum, and I have read quite a bit, but sometimes answers are still difficult to find. I have a student who is pretty involved at GCM, and I am trying to learn more about it. When I look at the GCM church in College Station, TX, it lists two pastors, with a short description and photo, then it lists a Pastor John and a Pastor Steve, with no photo. No last names. Also, I don't really see a depth, or any seminary education in any of the pastor's bios; one of the "first name pastors" has a Christian worker's certificate from Moody Bible Institute.

What gives? I'm accustomed to major education levels in theology for pastors/ministers, I mean, I know the Holy Spirit reveals things to us, but ?? Any knowledge of this church or what the deal is with education?

On a tangent, I can't find anything about IGNITE, except it is a conference.

Thanks!

[EverAStudent]

Greetings carmel. 

It has been an ongoing complaint by the ordinary church member at GC churches that their pastors often do not seek or obtain seminary-level education on interpreting the Scriptures.  The leadership at GC justifies this spiritual / intellectual laziness by misinterpreting a series of Bible passages, usually out of the Old Testament wisdom literature, such as Psalms 119:97-100, rather than from the clear commands of the New Testament.  They do this because they are not trained in biblical interpretation and the willful ignorace becomes self-perpetuating.

As a result of this lack of education the doctrines they impose on the membership can become abusive and controlling.  Moreover, rarely are the members encouraged to seek higher education via seminary making it difficult for the membership to credibly identify and refute the poor Scripture usage of the leaders (Luke 6:40). 

Others will have to inform you about "ignite."

[carmel]

I appreciate your answer; I just have trouble fathoming the lack of education in theology and how that would ever be a good thing,
but I guess I'm preaching to the choir.

[Linda]

OK, here's an interesting link I found by going to the GCM site and clicking on the giving part.

http://www.gcmweb.org/give?cat=s&region=&group=TX+A%26M+Univ+Ministry

Here is a link to the US Field Staff that GCM collects donations for.

http://www.gcmweb.org/getinvolved/Give.aspx?cat=m&region=&group=US+Field+Staff

John Hopler, the executive director of GCC collects his salary through GCM! Right off the bat I can name several other GCC staff who are funded through GCM: Tom Brown, Karl Quickert, Tim Borseth, Paul Johnson, Gene and Kathy Shafer, I think everyone listed under the Drake staff, Steve Nelson. Lot's of other GCC "old" names pop up, but they might technically work for GCM now, so I didn't list them.

Also, here is a link to the GCM projects.

http://www.gcmweb.org/getinvolved/Give.aspx?cat=p

The Rock Minneapolis and Urban Refuge are all part of Evergreen Community Church in Minneapolis. A GCC church. Rock Berlin was a church plant of Evergreen. Linworth Road is a GCC church. Summitview Greeley is GCC. The Rock, Iowa State is GCC.

There is a money trail from GCM to GCC that can't be denied.

GCM will offer these talking points. They will say that they are merely a "collecting and distributing" organization for Christian ministries. Technically, I think they are since I believe they are offering their services to other organizations. So, they can get off on a technicality. But, that's not how they started, or why. I seem to remember Mr. Mauriello saying something like they couldn't possibly be responsible for all the doctrine and teaching of everyone they fund. That responsibility would belong to the group they serve, not the group that writes the checks.

I can't imagine funding someone without feeling a sense of obligation to be careful about what they teach. Why would anyone do that?