A beyond-disturbing glance into the pastoral leadership of UPC churches
Sometimes I've wondered why no one ever talks about how UPC pastorates tend to be monarchies - that is, a man pastors a church until he retires or dies, at which point the pastor's son becomes the pastor. This can last for generations. It's important to note that education is completely disregarded for UPC pastors - there are no requirements for seminary degrees, Bachelor degrees, or anything beyond a mere "call" to preach. This, obviously, can have drastic consequences as pastors lack necessary qualifications to lead congregations, knowledge of scripture upon which to base followers' relationships with God, and simple education about one's culture and position within it.
Furthermore, there is no biblical precedent for the handing of pastorates from father-to-son. There are very clear New Testament guidelines for church leadership and selecting pastors, and none of them even remotely revolve around pedigree. There is a disclaimer, of course, that not all UPC (or WWPF, AlJC, etc) churches are monarchistic - in fact, most are not. But this trend definitely exists to a disturbing degree.
Consider, for example, some of the largest Oneness Apostolic churches in the nation, keeping in mind this is a mere sampling of occurrences:
Christian Life Center, Stockton, CA - 3 generations of monarchy
The Pentecostals of Alexandria, Alexandria, LA - 3 generations
Life Tabernacle, Houston, TX - 2 generations
The Pentecostals of the Twin Cities, West Monroe, LA - 2 generations
First Pentecostal, Denham Springs, LA - 2 generations
Bethel UPC, Long Island, NY - 2 generations
First Pentecostal, Jackson, MS - 2 generations
Cornerstone UPC, Ocala, FL - 3 generations
Abundant Life, Ft. Wayne, IN - 2 generations
First Church, Pearland, TX - 2 generations
Christian Life Center, Gaithersburg, MD - 2 generations
The two largest churches in UPC - Alexandria and Stockton - each represent 3 generations of father-son-grandson pastoral leadership. These two churches alone represent a combined 1% of all UPC adherents in the U.S.
This practice of passing leadership positions within the same church from father-to-son, with no inherent qualifications necessary other than genealogy, should pose considerable concern for UPC church membership. As well, keep in mind that church governance within the UPC, like most Charismatic churches, is shaky at best. In my 23 years in UPC I never officially was offered membership (it was presumed), attended a single business meeting (there was only one held in all those years), and never voted for the addition or removal of any church leaders. While exceptions exist, of course, UPC generally does not have positions of deacon or elder, leaving most important financial, spiritual, and polity decisions up to a single person - the pastor - with little accountability.
What does this have to do with biblical matters? The shocking lack of education within the UPC is pandemic. UPC youth are generally discouraged from continuing their education beyond high school, and the ones that do usually depart from the faith. Sadly, though, the vast majority of educated UPCers wind up in a paradoxical atheist-agnostic position, isolated from any body of believers. Within the church, this lack of education and training is promulgated from the pulpit. Senior pastors, whose resumes contain little more than a "call" from God and their family tree, proffer their services, prejudices, and ignorance about the rest of Christianity, relying on their simple "formula" allegedly found in Acts 2:38. All the while, their followers, isolated from true biblical guidance and doctrine, are led astray by legacy-makers in sheep's clothing.
For a truly disturbing view of this (and the socialization of hype), watch this video.
Additional Resources
- OnenessPentecostal.net
- Christ My Only Hope (also ex-Oneness Pentecostal)
- In Christ Alone! Podcasts
- A former UPC pastor's blog
- Acts 18 Ministries
- Pentecostal Freedom
- Recovering Pentecostal
- SpiritualAbuse.org
- Why I Left (UPC)
- Association of Former Pentecostals
- In Christ Alone Ministries
- The Harbor Blog
- Let Us Reason Ministries
- Discernment Ministries
- "Pulpit Pimps" takes on PAW, COGIC, and others
- Wittenburg Door webzine
- UPC on Wikipedia
- Official site of WPF
- Official site of UPCI
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- church governance (1)
- holiness (5)
- My Story (3)
- salvation (6)
- the trinity (8)
- tongues (1)
- worldwide pentecostal fellowship (2)
- worship (6)
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13 comments:
I cannot speak for your experience in a UPC church…all churches are different. But I believe it is inaccurate and unwise to paint all with a broad brush. I have been involved with churches….UPC and others….for over 30 years.
Every church I’ve been a part of…from very small (10 members) to larger (1500 members)…have had business meetings, elections of officers, ratification of by-laws, etc… . All of the churches I been a part of had Trustees. These were members of the congregation who were elected by the congregation to hold the financial assets of the church “in trust”. In other words…they were to make sure the congregation’s best interest were represented and carried out. Again…just my experience.
Regarding your use of the term “monarchistic” and the belief that these individuals are not qualified. I am assuming that you know all of these individuals and their qualifications…or lack there of. Do you take issue with a law firm or doctors office that employs family…is this simply limited to churches? I noticed that you did not mention Lakewood church…do you think he is unqualified also? Does a “degree” qualify a person? If so...then exclude much of the Old Testament writers...and much of the New for that matter. I have sat in seminary classes with Wiccan warlocks & witches(self proclaimed)…do I believe they are qualified to pastor a Christian church simply because they passed the class…No. We are instructed to “study” so that we can become skilled craftsmen approved of by God….not by men. I believe the scriptures are correct when they speak of God gifting people to be pastors, teachers, etc.. . I also believe that it is the responsibility of those who have these gifts to become the best that they can be and this includes education….but I would not say that education makes someone a pastor.
Regarding education. You claim that higher education is “generally discouraged” and imply that most that have it leave their faith in Christ to become an agnostic or atheist. I would question the facts for such a claim. I do not believe it to be true.
Regarding the churches you list. I know them and have worked with most them. Would it make you feel better to know that the next pastor of The Pentecostals of Alex. will not be from that family? Does that make him more or less qualified?
I do believe that education and experience are very valuable resources, but would not dismiss the “prompting, calling, leading” of the Spirit so quickly. Man can only go so far in his pursuit of knowledge….we all need the Holy Spirit to lead us into all truth.
That young preacher is wearing short legged britches and short sleeves on the platform. This must be one of those liberal UPC churchs! LOL
why should there be a kid you cant nderstand preaching(mocery?)
I do not understand you at all. What is your point? I dare you to go to Alexandria and spend one hour in their prayer room! It will give you a new reason to live!
Upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Sir, Jesus told Peter in Luke 22:31 "satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat"
When wheat is sifted it is cast to the wind.
Think about what you are doing and saying.
Gerard!
You are misrepresenting some of these churches! DS for instance PASTOR is a first generation there. Yes his son is youth pastor but there have been a few over the past few years, same thing with West Monroe. Silly Boy!
Hi there! I'm sure I know you, but all I can see is "Anonymous". I do consider DS to be multigenerational since there are two generations of Johnsons there.
The multigenerational selection of pastors - youth/student pastors included - from within the same family is uniquely charismatic, and that's what I'm talking about in the post.
I find this funny, how you attribute that none of the UPCI churches have qualified ministers nor do they make their Ministers go thru some sort of training or seminary... I know from experience that what you're stating here is a load of Malarkey!! There are tones of things that a person has to do to attain a license from the UPCI, and A person doesn't just get there by a 'calling' of God. Many are called but few are chosen! First, in order to even considered to become a Licensed Minister with the UPCI you must adhear to strict guidelines, read a list off materials as well as put in Preaching Time to even be considered.. The UPCI doesn't just give away licenses anymore... There are many Bible Colleges aswell that enrich the minds of Young Ministers, although they are not compulsory for a Minister to attend to receive licensing they're still there! CLC in Stockton, is one of the Largest UPCI Campus' for Bible College and Education of Young People in the United States! As for the whole monarchy thing, After a Pastor decides to give up his spot either due to age, retirement, health issues... etc.. most churches Vote on the incomming Pastor and it is not "chosen" by the leaving pastor, however; The leaving Pastor may suggest the incomming person. I don't know where you're getting all of this information that you're spewing out of Hatred here, but I pray that you will be healed of all the Spiritual Wounds that you clearly have, Remember "One Bad Apple, Doesn't ruin the whole Buch!
You don't have your facts straight. The POA is not pastored by Gentry Mangun. Anthony Mangun is the son of Elder G.A. Mangun and they are the only two Manguns to pastor in Alexandria.
The correct term is Nepotism ----There's Scriptural Context for Nepotism in the Church, But Should You Hire Relatives?
Contact: Ron Keener, Editor, Church Executive, 602-265-7600 x204
PHOENIX, July 25 /Christian Newswire/ -- Nepotism, on its face, may seem like the wrong thing in business and the workplace, but churches have allowed, even encouraged, nepotism—the hiring of family members within the same institution--even since Jesus' day. Jesus' brother was a part of the first century entourage.
Author Adam Bellow writes that "religious pulpits have often been handed from father to son," and he cites the Mathers of Boston and the Muhlenbergs of Pennsylvania as "two of this country's most important religious dynasties." Bellow wrote a definitive account of nepotism in his hefty volume, "In Praise of Nepotism" (Doubleday, 2003).
The title gives away his view of the practice. "In short, nepotism works, it feels good, and it is generally the right thing to do," he writes.
Not so says Robert Cubillos, business administrator at Rolling Hills Covenant Church, Rolling Hills Estates, CA, where his church has a policy against hiring relatives under certain circumstances.
Cubillos writes in the August issue of Church Executive, a business magazine for larger and mega churches, "the consideration and hiring of an employee who is closely connected--by a blood relation--to another employee can cause a great deal of concern for churches.
"In churches across the country," he writes "there are countless married couples and relatives employed together who make significant contributions of their time, talents and teamwork to the ministry. Much of the work in small churches depends heavily on family members serving together on staff."
Cubillos' church recently reviewed its long-standing policy against hiring relatives of staff members. It reviewed the arguments that Bellow makes of a place for nepotism in society, including the church. It is not uncommon, for example, for a church to feel it gets two for the price of one when hiring a married pastor or staff member.
But Rolling Hills Covenant Church felt differently. "Nepotism may be all around us today, but we felt there are places where it should not be--one of them being the large church.
"Nepotism can create a group of people who are insular and self-referential; they are insulated from outside scrutiny and opinion and are allied together by powerful allegiances to each other. Our concern was to avoid any situations tending toward partiality and/or favoritism that threaten our church's organizational unity and our ability to function cohesively," Cubillos says.
In the six years the policy has been in effect, the church has not hired relatives of employees.
QUOTE: Sadly, church staffs that are largely comprised of former collegiate buddies and "pastoral nieces and nephews" are often dysfunctional hotbeds of egotism and empire-building. Churches built on nepotism develop the unhealthy dysfunctions that characterize both enmeshed and disengaged families. Their staff members either all go-along-for-the-ride and learn not to ask too many questions or they isolate and build their own fragmented empires, growing departments and programs that operate without the connectivity that a healthy church needs.
Is choosing a close friend to join your staff a bad thing? Does hiring your brother's son as the Youth Pastor mean that you are guilty of nepotism? No, not necessarily. If he ranks as one of the top three choices because he is a candidate of merit and has the qualifications for the position, he might be the best choice. If, however, you choose him out of some misguided sense of family loyalty or because you believe that you can groom him into your "yes-man" well, then you are guilty of both nepotism and empire-building.
There's a reason for the old adage, "don't buy a boat with a Christian friend." Friendships, as wonderful as they are, can sometimes provide the catalyst for us to do what is comfortable and not what is necessarily right. When friendships develop before staff placements, honesty and candor can take second place to unhealthy dynamics like "covering each other's backs" or being loyal to a person instead of a principle. When friendship or familiarity becomes the major impetus for choosing who will be on your bus (1), you may be guilty of nepotism. Worse yet, your church staff may be headed toward a management crisis.
An old friend should not quickly be added to the candidate pool from which church staff is chosen just because of the relationship; certainly not when character and suitability for the job haven't already earned him a place of consideration. It makes one wonder why there isn't a proverb that goes something like this:
"If a Senior Pastor would seek to hire a Godly church staff, let him not first cast his eye upon his best friend or his brother. Rather, let him choose a stranger who has already proven himself by first being a friend, not of man, but of God."UNQUOTE
References
1. Collins, Jim. Good to Great. New York: Harper Collins Publishers, Inc., 2001.
Currently, I attend a church in Houston that practices nepotism. Many of the members are aware of how all the family members (including step children, yes the Pastor is divorced and remarried) are being used in all the positions in the church. They even make reference to it regarding the fact that it is wrong. However, they make these comments amongst themselves. There are proven ministers sitting on the pews being overlooked because the family members are automatically put into these positions. Now that the only daughter from the first marriage is married, her husband has automatically been put on the churches payroll, given a position as youth Pastor when he's "least" qualified. The dissention that this narcistic practices causes the children of God is not right. Can not believe the Pastor can't see it. The church might be family ran and alhough, man thinks he's in control, we must remember that the church is comprise of "GOD'S" people. God will handle this in the end. We must pray.
Why Nepotism Hurts Organizations
I started to call this "Why Nepotism Kills Organization" because I feel so strongly about it. First, let me get this out of the way: Everyone wants to hire their family. Especially in a small, close knit operation - or a family business - it's completely natural. There's nothing wrong with the desire to help your own family out in the business. There's nothing I would like better than to be able to help my own children through my work.
Now I say that with the understanding that the family member carries his or her weight and is right for the job. When it doesn't happen, that's the problem with nepotism. As the organization grows, relatives who can't keep up, don't pull their weight, are incompetent, or take advantage of the situation hurt your organization far more than you realize.
In media ministries, you see it when a relative is featured singing on a program - only the person doesn't have a shred of talent. The partners clap, but your employees are biting their lip. It's also interesting that children become heads of departments - and usually the exciting departments. I rarely see a pastor's kid head up the Intercession Ministry, but they do seem to gravitate to the Media Ministry.
It can be a tough call, so as you look over your church, ministry, non-profit, or company, here are some checks and balances to keep in mind:
But if that family member isn't qualified, it can reek havoc. Believe me, everyone in your organization knows they're only there because they're related to someone, so the resentment starts to build - even with the best people.
When that happens - it doesn't help your relative.
Also - when a relative is incompetent, it's unfair because it gives them a false sense of success. First - who's going to reprimand him? After all, his or her father is the head of the organization. So the kid never gets corrected or challenged. Second - you can't evaluate him accurately, because he's your child.
Don't live in a fantasy. I know pastors or business executives who have children in positions of authority. They would argue that those children are respected within the organization, people aren't afraid to challenge their decisions, and they are thriving. But I know (and the employees know) the exact opposite is true.
Am I against hiring your family? Absolutely not. I realize it's a natural desire, plus, the fact is there are awkward situations that sometimes make it difficult not to. Plus, some families are brilliant. Who would doubt Joel Osteen taking over his father's Lakewood Church? Dan Meyer, CEO of Joyce Meyer Ministries has done a brilliant job. There are great success stories of children and other relatives taking organizations to the next level.
But I am against hiring an incompetent or inexperienced family member - particularly vaulting them over more experienced, loyal, hard-working, competent employees. When you do that, it sows seeds of strife, distrust, and frustration that can completely shut down the momentum of an organization.
Be sensitive. Be careful. Do the right thing. Even if it hurts.
By Truett Hancock
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