Political and 'clique' conflicts at your church?

[welsummerchicks]

I was a little bit surprised to hear a friend (husband is a minister) tell me what goes on at her church! She said the church just put in a rule that no one can run one of the 'clubs' or 'guilds' for more than a few years as some people were getting awful territorial...new folks who wanted to join activities felt shut down...

I guess I just didn't expect this? I guess I'm awfully naive!

Have you had such troubles at your church?

 

[debilorrah]

Yes, I have. At many different churches too. It's one good reason why I don't attend anymore. I prefer to worship at home and do online and through the mail studies. I have enough friends to help bounce questions and share experiences with too.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Some churches are worse about this than others. Used to go to a church where there was an annual father-son breakfast. Someone told the assistant pastor that he really should not have attended as he did not have a son, and his father was not present! All the while his wife was pregnant with what DID turn out to be a son!

Thankfully, we don't seem to have much of that kind of issue at the church I've gone to for the last 16 or 17 years.

 

[GiddyMoon]

Churches are made up of humans. Humans are full of human nature and go to church not because they are well, but becuase they are sick and need help. When we put church goers and pastors on pedestals or have expectations of close to any sort of perfection..we are in for a very rude awakening.

As the other poster mentioned...church goers leaving the church .....I know so many people, including myself..who have been pulled out of the building and have found a much healthier place....and a much healthier relationship....as it should be.

 

[welsummerchicks]

It isn't actually that I thought people in the church were perfect - I thought there were more checks and balances in the structure. For example that rule that only allows people to lead a group for a few years - I just kind of assumed that sort of thing was already in place.

My SO says that often those who have the time to volunteer for the church always are few, so the duties just sort of naturally keep falling to the same small group of people over and over - he says that's how it starts.

 

[EweSheep]

I am guessing more and more churches are hungry for parishoners and needed to keep people. If they can not join clubs that would not interfere with church duties, its a problem.

 

[sourland]

And this is why I am not part of any formal church. The "CHURCH" has forced me to find my own way, and that has proven to be a great thing for me.

 

[mississippifarmboy]

Quote:
x2

 

[Carols Clucks]

There is no place that I was ever so much reminded of my second class place, we were dirt poor, as in church.

I think ever opportunity some of those people had, they managed to rub it in. Now I will admit, as time went on, I also felt it more and realized what was being said so yes I was more sensitive.

But to this day, we are still second class members of that church (not that I attend)