Life as a Christian Woman

I was reading the top stories on ChristianHeadlines.com, when one caught my eye: Two Rivers Ouster Falls 4 Votes Shy

I clicked on the link and proceeded to read a very sad story of a church torn apart.

Now, I don’t know all the issues. It is obvious that both sides are passionate about their positions. To give a short summary, a vote was held to dismiss 71 members of Two Rivers Baptist Church in Nashville, Tenn. A two-thirds majority was required, but fell four votes short. The vote was 663-337 to dismiss, based on “damage done to the witness, reputation, and welfare of Two Rivers Baptist Church.”

Evidently, there has been a feud between the “dissidents” and the senior pastor, Jerry Sutton, and other church leaders since July 2007, when a church trustee was removed from his position. A suit was filed in September for access to financial records. A website listing concerns was launched by the group.

Sutton, who has served as pastor at TRBC since 1986, survived an attempt at ouster by a vote of 1,101 to 286 in October. And yes, there have been numerous court papers filed.

But things turned brutally ugly on May 4. At a business meeting where the vote was to be held, the group of 71, along with dozens of supporters, stood in front of the congregation, asking that the members look the “plaintiffs” in the face before the vote. “They are not troublemakers,” said Carolyn Lehning. “They’ve been faithful members of the church.”

The group began to sing “Amazing Grace.” The church responded by piping in music to drown out their voices.

I know that this church is not alone fighting splits within its membership. As a child, I was a member of church where infighting led to a fracture, and I’ve heard of others.

I’m not here to judge. As I said, I don’t know the issues beyond what I have read. I don’t know who is right and who is wrong, and the truth is probably somewhere in the middle. But what I do know is that the mission of the church is lost, it’s ability to lead badly damaged. I believe that those who have filed the lawsuits believe that they are trying to save their church. And those on the other side of the fence believe that they are defending the church from attack.

But there is one thing that I am brutally, sadly sure of.

At the right hand of His Father, as He watched brothers and sisters in Christ devour each other in anger…

Jesus wept.

For more information:

Two Rivers Ouster Falls Four Votes Short