I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT SCRIPTURAL AUTHORITY DO THE ELDERS HAVE THE RIGHT TO IMPOSE THE WANTS AND WISHES AND DESIRES OF 20 OR 30 PERCENT OF OUR CONGREGATION - AND NEVER CONSULT THE OTHER PART OF THE CONGREGATION.
(THE DESIRE OF THE ELDERSHIP IS TO MAKE EACH WORSHIP SERVICE THE MOST WORSHIPFUL EXPERIENCE POSSIBLE FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL IN ORDER TO ENHANCE THEIR SPIRITUAL RELATIONSHIP TO THEIR LORD.)
WHY IS IT MORE SCRIPTURAL TO SATISFY A FEW AND DRIVE OFF MANY OF THE MAJORITY?
(THE DESIRE OF THE ELDERSHIP IS TO NOT DRIVE OFF ANYONE!!)
I THINK THAT WE NEED TO KNOW WHEN THE FOUR OF FIVE OR SIX ELDERS THAT DO NOT AGREE WITH THIS DIVISION ARE GONNA STAND UP AND BE COUNTED?
(THE ELDERSHIP DOES NOT CONDONE OR WANT ANY DIVISION IN THIS CONGREGATION.)
WHAT IS GAINED BY MOVING THE LORD'S SUPPER BY ANYBODY SPIRITUALLY WHEN IT UPSETS SO MANY OF OUR ELDERLY BRETHREN? WHAT ARE GAINING BY THIS?
(THE PURPOSE OF MOVING THE LORD'S SUPPER PLATES AND TRAYS TO THE SIDE WALLS WAS TO GIVE THE MEN WHO SERVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIT WITH THEIR FAMILIES DURING MOST OF THE WORSHIP SERVICE. THEY WALK TO THE "SIDE LOCATIONS" AT THE START OF THE COMMUNION AND THEN BACK TO SIT WITH THEIR FAMILIES AT THE END OF THE COMMUNION.)
(THE ELDERSHIP DOES NOT WANT TO EMBRACE ANY "MOVEMENT". IT IS THE INTENT OF THE ELDERSHIP TO FOCUS ON EACH PERSON CONNECTING SPIRITUALLY WITHIN THE DYNAMICS OF THE WORSHIP SERVICE.)
WHY HAVE THEY (THE ELDERS) OVERSEEN THE DEPARTURE OF OVER 1500 MEMBERS WITH MORE LEAVING EACH WEEK?
(EVEN THOUGH THE CHURCH'S ATTENDANCE RECORDS IN RECENT YEARS DOES NOT REFLECT A LOST OF MEMBERS OF THIS MAGNITUDE, THE ELDERSHIP IS EXTREMELY CONCERNED ABOUT ANY MEMBER WHO HAS LEFT.)
WHY DO THEY (THE ELDERS) NOT CHOOSE TO WALK THROUGH THE AUDITORIUM OUT THERE?
(THE ELDERS DO WALK THROUGH THE AUDITORIUM MANY TIMES. WE ARE CONTINUING TO MAKE OURSELVES AVAILABLE TO TALK TO MEMBERS OF THE CONGREGATION BEFORE AND AFTER SERVICES AS WELL AS BY PHONE AND E-MAIL.)
(WHY WERE) [.........] AND [............] PUSHED OUT OF THEIR REGULAR SEATS TO MAKE ROOM FOR THE PRAISE TEAM?
(THE ELDERSHIP IS FOLLOWING UP WITH NATHAN AND SHIRLEY ON THIS ISSUE.)
9: WHY HAVE SOME OF THE ELDERS COME TO EMBRACE THE CHARISMATIC, PENTECOSTAL MOVEMENT THAT IS SWEEPING THROUGH MANY CHURCHES AND DENOMINATIONS ACROSS THE LAND WITHOUT CONSULTING THIS MEMBERSHIP?