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TLFisher · 03-05-2012, 11:53 AM

This first post is in response to ToGodAlone and UntoHim.

"I have been a member of several churches (all non LRC) in my short lifetime, and all of these churches did use the pastoral/elder/whatever else system and thus had the "one man speaking" every week. However, what I think some people fail to recognize (or perhaps are not even aware of) is that although there is a speaker every week, there are smaller group contexts in which every person has the opportunity to share (ie prophesy). And everyone is encouraged to attend these small groups so there is in fact no true "suppression" of each individual member's ability to speak about God's Word. " ToGodAlone

Yes, this has been my experience also. Presently meeting with a community church that encourages small group meetings. This is ideal for everyone to function and everyone can.
Is this much different from the local churches? Many either don't feel comfortable functioning in a large meeting or feel constricted by HWFMR to speak according to their daily walk with the Lord.

"One of the major problems between current and former members is COMMUNICATION. And this is one of the major reasons for this forum, two way, back and forth communication! " UntoHim

Yes, this is accurate UntoHim. For concerned brothers and sisters who want to communicate their concerns, there is no ear to hear by the Blended brothers and by many local elders. Those who do have an ear to listen is few and far between.
You can write emails as I have to several blended co-workers and due to the nature of issues at hand, those emails have gone unresponded to.
It's due to forums such as this, I do not feel alone nor isolated in my concerns. Imagine from 1990-2003 I thought I was the only who had issues with quarantines of specific brothers and whether there was merit for such actions.
Without having such forums, how can there be honest dialogue between former and current members of the local churches? I do believe there are current members who do have concerns, but there's the trust factor. How do you as a current member express concerns without bringing youself into the crosshairs?

03-05-2012, 11:53 AM	#6
TLFisher Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Renton, Washington Posts: 3,562	Re: I love the local church This first post is in response to ToGodAlone and UntoHim. "I have been a member of several churches (all non LRC) in my short lifetime, and all of these churches did use the pastoral/elder/whatever else system and thus had the "one man speaking" every week. However, what I think some people fail to recognize (or perhaps are not even aware of) is that although there is a speaker every week, there are smaller group contexts in which every person has the opportunity to share (ie prophesy). And everyone is encouraged to attend these small groups so there is in fact no true "suppression" of each individual member's ability to speak about God's Word. " ToGodAlone Yes, this has been my experience also. Presently meeting with a community church that encourages small group meetings. This is ideal for everyone to function and everyone can. Is this much different from the local churches? Many either don't feel comfortable functioning in a large meeting or feel constricted by HWFMR to speak according to their daily walk with the Lord. "One of the major problems between current and former members is COMMUNICATION. And this is one of the major reasons for this forum, two way, back and forth communication! " UntoHim Yes, this is accurate UntoHim. For concerned brothers and sisters who want to communicate their concerns, there is no ear to hear by the Blended brothers and by many local elders. Those who do have an ear to listen is few and far between. You can write emails as I have to several blended co-workers and due to the nature of issues at hand, those emails have gone unresponded to. It's due to forums such as this, I do not feel alone nor isolated in my concerns. Imagine from 1990-2003 I thought I was the only who had issues with quarantines of specific brothers and whether there was merit for such actions. Without having such forums, how can there be honest dialogue between former and current members of the local churches? I do believe there are current members who do have concerns, but there's the trust factor. How do you as a current member express concerns without bringing youself into the crosshairs?