Dake Bible Discussion Board ⇒ Jeremiah Counsel vs Second Baptist Houston

[Texas2018]

Have you heard about this lawsuit? Should the congregation of a church (and this is a huge church with 90,000 members) get to vote on who will be the new senior pastor? What does the Bible teach about how a senior pastor gets his position?

[Spiritblade Disciple]

Have you heard about this lawsuit?

Haven't heard of it, but here's an AI summary that I received from Google. It may contain errors.

Jeremiah Counsel vs Second Baptist Houston

Jeremiah Counsel refers to a non-profit organization formed by a group of current and former members of Second Baptist Church in Houston, Texas. They are involved in a legal dispute with the church and its leadership, primarily focusing on allegations of a deceptive power grab and the stripping of members' voting rights.

Here's a breakdown of the conflict:

- Jeremiah Counsel's Claims: The group claims that church leaders, known as "The Young Group" (including Pastor Ben Young and his family members and staff), secretly changed church bylaws to eliminate members' voting rights and consolidate power with the senior pastor. They allege that this action, taken during a poorly publicized meeting in May 2023, was a deceptive manipulation of the congregation and puts the church's assets at risk. The group aims to restore the previous bylaws, establish a truly independent board, and reclaim the voting privileges of church members.

- Second Baptist Church's Position (as represented by Pastor Ben Young): Pastor Ben Young has publicly stated that the allegations of a power grab are untrue. He asserts that the church has an excellent leadership structure, along with great efficiency and accountability.

- Key Issues: The core of the dispute revolves around the bylaws change, the transparency and accountability of the church's governance, and the independence of the church's leadership. Jeremiah Counsel claims that the Ministry Leadership Team (MLT) is handpicked by the Senior Pastor, hindering true independence and accountability.

- Legal Action: Jeremiah Counsel has filed a lawsuit against Second Baptist Church and several leaders to address their concerns. They state that they have tried to resolve the issues for two years without success, and the lawsuit was a last resort before the statute of limitations expired.

In summary, Jeremiah Counsel is a group of members challenging the leadership of Second Baptist Church Houston over changes to church governance and member voting rights, which they claim were made deceitfully to centralize power with the senior pastor.

[Spiritblade Disciple]

Should the congregation of a church (and this is a huge church with 90,000 members) get to vote on who will be the new senior pastor?

I don't know that there are any biblical examples of a congregation voting on a new senior pastor.

[Spiritblade Disciple]

What does the Bible teach about how a senior pastor gets his position?

Good question.

Let's see what others have to say.

Also, you might try asking the same question on the Dake Bible Discussion Board on Facebook. It's slightly more active than this forum.
https://www.facebook.com/share/g/16zoYPcGDg/

[Texas2018]

Thank you for the replies. I look forward to seeing what others say about how a senior pastor gets his position, here and on FaceBook.

[Spiritblade Disciple]

Is it weird to go to a secular court to settle a dispute over church leadership?

[bibleman]

Is it weird to go to a secular court to settle a dispute over church leadership?

I don't know about weird... But it is unbiblical as you know.

1 Corinthians 6:1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?
2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?
4 If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.
5 I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man amongst you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?
6 But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers.
7 Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?
8 Nay, you do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.

[Spiritblade Disciple]

I don't know about weird... But it is unbiblical as you know.

Agreed.

I guess it's not that weird, but it is unbiblical.

[Texas2018]

The Jeremiah Counsel claim they followed Matthew 18:15-17 and since all their attempts at discussion etc. were refused, they could treat the church leadership as gentiles and pagans, which I suppose means they were no longer brethren, so they could sue.

[Spiritblade Disciple]

The Jeremiah Counsel claim they followed Matthew 18:15-17 and since all their attempts at discussion etc. were refused, they could treat the church leadership as gentiles and pagans, which I suppose means they were no longer brethren, so they could sue.

If they aren't brethren any longer, then I guess it makes sense.