What Pastors Believe (and don't believe)

[Brian]

Some of you pastors decided to stay with your respective denominations, some chose to leave, some maybe pushed out.....but what are some of your thoughts? thanks

What should pastors do if they no longer hold the defining beliefs of their denomination? Do clergy have a moral obligation not to challenge the sincere faith of their parishioners? If this requires them to dissemble from the pulpit, doesn't this create systematic hypocrisy at the center of religion? What would you want your pastor to do with his or her personal doubts or loss of faith?

[Rascal]

I am not a pastor but I believe many pastors and other members decision to leave or stay was driven by position. Some thought that if they went with a new group, they would be appointed State Overseers or serve at General HQ. In some cases, that proved to be true especially when TCOG was formed. I know of one person who call Brother Pruitt and told him if he needed a state overseer, he would go with him. He was not asked to serve.

Doctrine is sometimes used as an excuse to make a move, but it may not be the real reason for action. Some thought they would better themselves if they went with the new group Really, is there a big difference in the doctrines of the COG's ? So much that it was worth the splits? No. Now look where most of them are today. I don't think I have to tell you.............Pruitt is gone, Nabors is gone.............

[Brandon Bowers]

Interesting thoughts...

I would personally like to see more flexibility on the side of denominations. I grew up in the Church of God. But as I've grown, I no longer agree with some of the Declaration of Faith. For instance, I do not agree with Tongues as Initial Evidence doctrine. To me, this is minor, but to them, it's a major difference. So because of that, and some other issues relating to polity, we are not planting with the COG..

There are some things I'm willing to be flexible on if they would be willing to be flexible with me, but I don't feel right in asking them to make an exception just for me to be part of the denomination.