Please advise me on whether this is biblical or not.

[AspenRose]

Especially if you're clergy.

Because this seems to be so wrong to me on so many levels. And here's why.

Long time ago I attended a megachurch of the charasmatic variety. There was a woman there who did not like me, and proceeded to tell the pastor and other church leaders about 'problems' that I had (that weren't true). She went to every leader in every ministry I was involved in to spread her lies. I ended up leaving the church because she was convinced that I was 'a practicing witch' and made no bones about telling everyone that. She even caught wind of whether I was attending another church, and would find congregants in THAT church and 'warn' the pastor at any church I was attending to not let me attend there, because I was 'under church discipline' at her congregation (again, not true).

Eventually I quit going to church for several years. To the best of my knowledge, no one ever questioned this woman to get to the bottom of her 'allegations.' They just let her spew. Apparently she continued to spread these lies even though I had moved out of town. When someone who knew me personally overheard her telling two congregants that she thought she saw me standing outside her house casting spells on her house, :eyes: they FINALLY told her (in front of her captive 'audience') that it wasn't true because I no longer lived there and hadn't been around for several years. (She reminds me a lot of the "Darksided!!! Tainted!!! Gargoyles!!!!" woman.)

So when I see something like THIS in New Life's Press Release, it gives me pause:

"....if anyone has factual, first-hand information regarding the spiritual health of this Church (sic), its ministers or ministries, they should report directly to the Overseers through the means provided on the Church's (sic) website.")

http://www.newlifechurch.org/db_images/247LeadershipTransition.pdf

To me, this seems like a sure-fire way to ensure church abuse. :shrug:

[Rabrrrrrr]

1. It would be more abusive if the leaders weren't willing to hear things.

Hopefully, they are taking due diligence against all claims, and not just accepting everything at face value, but all church (or Church (sic)) leadership is willing to take seriously any claims made against leadership or the church (or Church (sic)) itself. If a minister, lay leader, or other in a position of authority is abusing their power, then the church (or "Overseers" in this case) needs to know.

Though I find it fucking scary that they call the group the "Overseers". Jesus.

And knowing how Jesus Crispy the so-called "New Life" so-called "church" (or "Church" (sic)) and fucked up it is, I'm sure this is also partly in response to the Ted Haggard "incident".

I would question whether "New Life" so-called "church" Overseers will actually investigate any claims, or do the standard republican/rightwing-Christian (or "Christian") thing and just immediately jetison anyone who has had a claim made against them, because it's more important to save the reputation of the church and the Overseers than it is to actually make sure someone is guilty before sending them off to be crucified.

The one thing that the so-called "churches" of the New Life type don't do well is actualy pastoral care - it's either "You need to pray, and then all be well" or just accept the insane person's claims as true because they're talking about evil, witchcraft, and etc., which kind of talk makes the "New Life" kind of "Christian" as orgasmic as Patton with a tank battalion because it's all about spiritual warfare.

So of course no one ever questioned whether the woman was spewing garbage - as soon as she pointed you out as an EVIL entity, you because something more exciting than one-on-one man-sex in a hotel.

Now, as to the question of whether it's Biblical - there isn't anything in the Bible about setting up a group of Oversees to oversee the ministry of peoples and make sure they aren't abusing anything or anyone; but on the other hand, there is a strong Scriptural call for those who have authority to use it well, to not abuse it, and to use it justly and humbly, and there is, therefore, and implied idea of the people watching those in authority and keeping them in check, as well as the peers of the authority, and the higher authorities.

[Critters2]

2. The biblical thing to do would have been for her to come to YOU

first with her accusations, giving you the opportunity to set the record straight. If she somehow believed that you were still engaged in inappropriate behavior after that, she should go to one or two leaders of the church. Those leaders would then speak to YOU personally to get the straight scoop. If that didn't settle things, then she should have gone to a more officially board or ministrie of the church.

Gossiping and spreading unfounded rumors is not biblical and is NEVER appropriate. Wise church leaders see this kind of abusive behavior for what it is, and give such people no credibility.

But wise church leaders are in short supply, I fear.

I'm sorry to hear of your experiences, and hope you've found a church where you feel safe and welcome.

[regnaD kciN]

4. And, if all that failed...

...she should have checked to see if you weighed the same as a duck! ;-)

[TreasonousBastard]

3. You don't say whether...

anyone actually believed this woman's ravings, although it's bad enough just having her running around with this nonsense whether or not anyone takes her seriously.

At any rate, while I have a lot of problems with New Life Church, I don't have any problem with this wording. Granted that they may be more worried about bad PR than truly spritual matters but any organization should have a mechanism to report misbehvior and problems that may be unnoticed or ignored by its leaders. And this only applies to misbehavior by church ministers and employees.

Now, if one thinks a member is a witch, and thinks being a witch is a bad thing, the appropriate thing to do would be to talk to one of the more level-headed members of the church hierarchy with the suspicions and pretty much let them handle it. If one further thinks that the church hierarchy has been bewitched and will do nothing while under the spell, other professional assistance might be in order.

[MemphisTiger]

5. I think many times people in church don't question their

fellow parishoners like they would if they were outside the church walls. I wouldn't worry too much about it if it's a mega church, there are gossip hounds in every big church.