Church Pastors Methods sound Familiar?

[the duck]

Chattanooga Pastor
From the article:
"Sunday services included light shows and congregants would provide a standing ovation when he came on stage. Along with the campus security team, a special team of armed bodyguards would follow Smith around."
and "
"The lead pastor, you could not talk to him anymore. If he walked in the room, you had to stand up. You couldn't talk to him unless he talked to you in that room. And then you would be seated when he told you to be seated."
Any criticism would be seen as going against the church and going against God, Helton said, even when he tried to report to leadership how verbal arguments between some church leaders would turn physical.
Helton said preaching at the church also shifted from more traditional Calvinism to prosperity gospel, the belief among some protestant Christians that material wealth is God's will and can be increased by giving to the church. The church's theological direction was another topic that could not be discussed or questioned, he said.

 

[Ransom]

"The lead pastor, you could not talk to him anymore. If he walked in the room, you had to stand up. You couldn't talk to him unless he talked to you in that room. And then you would be seated when he told you to be seated."

Sort of like meeting the Queen of England, only she's a bit more restrained when it comes to light shows.

 

[Tarheel Baptist]

Turns out that pride and ego are not spiritual gifts.

 

[Walt]

From the article:
"Sunday services included light shows and congregants would provide a standing ovation when he came on stage. Along with the campus security team, a special team of armed bodyguards would follow Smith around."
and "
"The lead pastor, you could not talk to him anymore. If he walked in the room, you had to stand up. You couldn't talk to him unless he talked to you in that room. And then you would be seated when he told you to be seated."
Any criticism would be seen as going against the church and going against God, Helton said, even when he tried to report to leadership how verbal arguments between some church leaders would turn physical.
Helton said preaching at the church also shifted from more traditional Calvinism to prosperity gospel, the belief among some protestant Christians that material wealth is God's will and can be increased by giving to the church. The church's theological direction was another topic that could not be discussed or questioned, he said.

It does sound familiar... another church that has turned from exalting God to exalting a man... sadly this happens all too often.

 

[illinoisguy]

Tavner Smith, the pastor of Venue Church in Chattanooga, Tennessee which is referenced in this thread, says "I'll be back."

"Despite evidence of an adulterous affair, Tennessee pastor Tavner Smith says he’ll be back at his Chattanooga megachurch next month, following a short sabbatical. Just before Christmas, a video of Smith kissing a woman other than his wife surfaced online. This prompted eight staff at Smith’s Venue Church in Chattanooga, Tennessee, to resign. Staff members also told local media that Venue Church is rife with abuse and questionable financial practices. . . .Former Venue security team member, Destiny Santos, said the church put people on a 'watch list' who criticized the church. She added that Venue labeled any criticism as 'the devil’s move' against the church."

TN Megachurch Pastor Accused of Affair Says He’ll Be Back in Just Weeks (julieroys.com)

 

[illinoisguy]

More on "Pastor" Tavner Smith: "Smith is not going anywhere. This is because his theology is a jumbled mess of prosperity preaching, wretched theology, charismatic mumbo jumbo, vision casting, the pursuit of ‘impossible dreams’, an unsatiable ask for money and seed-sowing, and constantly positioning himself as hearing directly from God and being the conduit to the heavens. Like most cult of personalities, this led him to escape accountability, with no elders or guardrails, much like Mark Driscoll at his current church."

Disgraced Pastor Tavner Smith Announces Small Sabbatical, Then Back to Preaching - Protestia

 

[illinoisguy]

Daily Beast reports on implosion of Tavner Smith's Venue Church - things got ugly after Tavner was caught in his undies with his girlfriend who was wearing only a towel:

Hipster Megachurch in Shambles Over Pastor’s Alleged Affair (msn.com)

"People in Chattanooga say, 'Don't drink the orange Kool-Aid,' one former volunteer said, referring to the vibrant color of Venue's logo. 'They really say that.'"

 

[Barb. Maria]

Chattanooga Pastor
From the article:
"Sunday services included light shows and congregants would provide a standing ovation when he came on stage. Along with the campus security team, a special team of armed bodyguards would follow Smith around."
and "
"The lead pastor, you could not talk to him anymore. If he walked in the room, you had to stand up. You couldn't talk to him unless he talked to you in that room. And then you would be seated when he told you to be seated."
Any criticism would be seen as going against the church and going against God, Helton said, even when he tried to report to leadership how verbal arguments between some church leaders would turn physical.
Helton said preaching at the church also shifted from more traditional Calvinism to prosperity gospel, the belief among some protestant Christians that material wealth is God's will and can be increased by giving to the church. The church's theological direction was another topic that could not be discussed or questioned, he said.

That sounds like a different, interesting church. I do not think I would be a member there. Perhaps other People are attracted to that ministry. Barb. Maria

 

[Barb. Maria]

Turns out that pride and ego are not spiritual gifts.

I believe I have heard that. There are zero " I"s in Jesus. I am sooo thankful Jesus Christ IS there for me!! I Praise Him for the sunrises, and the rain!!

 

[illinoisguy]

The latest on the implosion at Venue Church - Chattanooga paper reports that attendance is now down to maybe just "a few dozen!" If congregants would just quickly abandon all megachurches that have scandals like Venue Church, it just might put an end to this entire ongoing saga of lurid megachurch scandals and abusive practices. [Original article is behind a paywall, but see this link instead}:

Former members question culture of Venue Church, a Chattanooga megachurch in crisis (yahoo.com)

"The sins of the past appear to be undoing the Chattanooga megachurch. A church that years ago was among the fastest-growing houses of worship in the nation now struggles to attract a few dozen people to a service on a given Sunday."

"He [Pastor Tavner Smith] had this sense of divinity. . . . If he did something and you didn't follow, you weren't worthy enough to be under him."

"For those who remain, the message is clear: Respectfully, you need to get out. Regardless of what your belief system is now, you need to go elsewhere,"