Ray Perkins was the head football coach at Alabama from 1983 to 1986. His record was 32-15-1 for a .677 winning percentage… better than 17 of 29 coaches at Alabama. He left under adversity after three seasons. Why? Basically, he wasn’t Bear Bryant.
What do Joel Gregory, Steve Gains, and Tullian Tchividjian have in common? They followed beloved long tenured pastors… and eventually found themselves under attack. They all suffered from the ministerial version of “The Ray Perkins Syndrome.”
Joel Gregory followed W.A. Criswell at FBC-Dallas, TX. Steve Gains followed Adrian Rogers at Belleview in Memphis, TN. Tullian Tchividjian followed D. James Kennedy at Coral Ridge in Ft. Lauderdale, FL.
The most recent one to deal with this situation is Billy Graham’s grandson, Tullian Tchividjian at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church. One of the main ones calling for his resignation by sending letters to the congregation is Dr. Kennedy’s own daughter Jennifer Kennedy Cassidy. To read about how these people who oppose God’s man are giving the church a black eye… click here and here.
Now those in opposition will argue there are more to their objections to the new pastor than that he followed Moses… uhh… their previous pastor. But bottom line, I guarantee you to a great degree the new guy behind the pulpit just doesn’t (And couldn’t) measure up to the last guy they loved.
Has pastor Tchividjian committed doctrinal heresy? No. Has pastor Tchividjian committed an immoral act? No. Has pastor Tchividjian done anything illegal? No.
So why do they want to run him off? He doesn’t wear a robe when he preaches… his hair is spiked… he doesn’t promote political activism… his collar is loose in the pulpit… and he hired some of his previous staff when the two churches merged. (Tongue in cheek) “OH! NOW I understand… They have every right to be asking for his resignation!” Truth: Pastor Tchividjian is different from Dr. Kennedy (And that is a good thing!) and THAT is why they want to run him off.
The best thing the malcontents could do at Coral Ridge is shut up… go to church somewhere else… and keep their mouth shut! The Biblical thing for them to do is pray for Pastor Tchividjian instead of preying on him (Get it?). No wait… the BEST thing they could do is to be at peace with the leadership of the congregation, apologize for their dissensions publicly, and repent of giving the Church a black eye!
I am glad that the majority of the church at Coral Ridge have banned the malcontents from attending church there or setting foot on their property. The leaders of Coral Ridge are following the Scripture as found in Romans 16 and Titus 3. If more churches would deal with their malcontents in this manner, the church would be healthier!
Amen!
I miss you.
There are no perfect preachers just as there are no perfect churches!
Good points there on this post. I have found that most people have a problem with change, they want to compare to how it used to be. Many become set in their ways and don’t want to change, but by the same token, those that are doing the change need to keep in mind other Christians feelings. Change is good, if it is done in a loving, caring and moderately slow way. Alllowing those to adjust to the change. God created us all different and so we all see and deal with things differently…. Hope that made sense….
AMEN!!!!!!!
Ron,
As a lifelong Alabama fan, I certainly get the analogy, but I am not sure you can compare Tullian Tchividjian with Joel Gregory or Steve Gaines (or Ray Perkins for that matter).
Tchividjian’s situation was vastly different from Gregory’s, who admittedly wasn’t prepared spiritually or emotionally to enter the circus that was FBC Dallas. And more importantly, Criswell didn’t leave the Church, whereas Kennedy passed, forcing the hand of the congregation to seek another pastor. Additionally, Tullian’s Church merged with Coral Ridge, adding a completely different element to the mix. Finally, Gregory’s situation was fueled by outside political forces (the Conservative Resurgence and his work in that) and inside problems (possibly moral failures). Tullian’s situation looks vastly different.
As for the Gaines’ situation – a great deal of that has come because of missteps by Gaines, not merely issues of differing style. It is true that Gaines and Tullian are similar, but Tullian is, of course, a Presbyterian, and as such can do nothing apart from approval of the elders, who directly supervise him. Gaines has had no such supervision, which for many of his opponents was part of the problem. The dissenters at Coral Ridge were not just dissenting against Tullian, but the entirety of the elder body that they had already submitted to in the past.
Finally, none of these guys is like Ray Perkins, who broke the cardinal rule of Alabama football – DON’T LOSE TO AUBURN! During those years, I honestly think any of those pastors above could have coached Alabama to a win over Auburn. Ray Perkins couldn’t do it. Thus, we was replaced by someone who could.
Still, interesting insights Ron and I do agree that the first pastor (like the first coach or CEO) after a legend is always going to experience problems. I am just not convinced that this is the primary problem at Coral Ridge. I tend to think that Tullian’s focus on the Gospel and his unwillingness to defend conservative political causes, as well as spiritual problems with those who are dissenting, are what is driving this story. Still, you are right that no matter who comes after a legend, there are going to be problems because the new guy “doesn’t measure up.”
I agree there are many other factors at work than could be extrapolated in my post which is why I know those “in the know” would bring up objections. I do appreciate your thoughts and insights on the matter. I especially agree that Coach Perkins main problem was the inability to defeat Auburn on the field!
Ron
Speaking of Moses, seems that the “chosen people” continually reminded Moses of the “good old days” back in Egypt. Seems like they wern’t into change neither!
Exodus 16:2
“In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron.”
Exodus 17:4
“Then Moses cried out to the LORD, “What am I to do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me.”
Ron, this was powerful and you are correct in every respect. I feel sorry for ministers these days and especially the Baptist ministers!!! They are highly judged from every angle which is not right.
POWERFUL.
T.
Actually, Perkins was not fired. He left to coach the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFL. But your point is good.
Bob… you are right and I have made the appropriate change.
Thanks!
Amen, amen and again; amen
Perhaps the one who needs to be kicked out of the church is the ‘one with the red suit and pointed tail’
(oh. that he were that powerless)
Another good message with great insight.
We still miss you.
Sue B
I hope no one is treating you like that at MBC!
Barbara… MBC has been to me nothing but loving, gracious, merciful, and kind. My prayer is that MBC will continue when God calls a full time pastor to shepherd His people.
Ron
Pastors too often are the unfair target of disgruntled church members who take advantage of the fact that they can attack the pastor and no one calls them on it. Therefore, many pastors are hurt unnecessarily. God is a just God and He judges all of us justly.
I apologize in advance if these comments offend, but I am hopeful that they will not. I have s simple question or thought, should this discussion be played out in a forum such as this, or should the positioning of the man of God be a silent and humble move of God. No man or men can really move this anchor.
Keith,
Your comments do not offend me in the least! The reason I posted this is because it is being played out in the public arena. Too many times in the average church the greatest majority of God’s people are kept in the dark about what is discussed and done in secret. The person in the pew is not aware of others in the church that place pressure on staff, manipulate situations, deceive, and do things to have their way. As Paul wrote in Ephesians 5:11, “Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.”
When people act in an unchristian manner, they are to be exposed. Paul did this with Peter in Galatians 2:11-14. My goal in this post is to pull back the curtain a little bit for the average church member to consider that what they see and hear may not always be the whole story.
Personally, I wish I had never heard of all that has happened at CRPC. But since it is out… it is open for discussion and is something good for people in other churches to examine, study, and discuss because it probably has happened before and they just may not have been aware of it. The call is for Christians to conduct themselves in a manner worthy of the Gospel (Phil 1:27) in all situations… especially when disagreements take place in the church.
Ron
It’s sad for a group of people to impose “their” will on “God’s” church ~ and the church will continue to suffer. I mess up in lots of ways ~ but I would sure would hate to have to answer for that one.