Lately, I've seen some rather disturbing occurrences as far as churches go. In one Dunkirk, Indiana church, the wife of a deceased pastor pretty much ran everything and did everything, as if nobody else knew even what to do. You could really see this in action at any of the church's public activities.
It was like watching a real-life version of The Big Bang Theory, whereas instead of Sheldon Cooper answering every question because he thought that he knew best, this woman tried to do everything. In her view, she knew everything and everyone else had to be told what to do, because they were as useless as children.
She has been rather successful at running off any member or potential member who presented anything resembling a challenge.
It's a real pity that the pastor couldn't stand up to her, because I believe that the church will eventually die because those who want to worship Jesus Christ there will not want to do it her way. And she will push them out if she cannot dominate them.
In another church, located in Farmland, Indiana, one woman takes charge and gives orders and demands right and left, even though she no longer attends the church, nor does she tithe anymore. It is even believed that she paid a locksmith out of her own pocket and changed the locks to control who gets inside the fellowship hall. Though I've also heard that she's a very cheap person, so I don't see her actually paying for it.
This woman has accused others outside the church of using an ancient Windows XP computer and erasing the birthdays and anniversaries of the church congregation. A group I'm a part of uses the church for our meetings (and we pay an annual fee to the church) and she accused us pretty much of using the computer and being very messy, to boot.
She even told us we weren't paying enough to use the church. When she was told the pastor said that our payment was proper and sufficient, she said that the trustees didn't agree.
The only problem was that we talked to one of the trustees, who said, "How would she know? She doesn't attend any of the business meetings, and we haven't complained about what you pay."
When I suggested that maybe one of the church kids was using the computer to play a game, she snapped, "The computer doesn't have any games!"
She also said that the computer was new, and not old. I replaced my Windows XP a few years ago, because Microsoft no longer supported it nor updated it.
It obviously showed that this woman doesn't know computers. No crime in that. I have relatives who don't use computers, so they don't know even the basics of using one. The Windows XP is not only very old, it has pre-installed games. In my opinion, the spider solitaire game was the best one I ever played. And I learned to play Minesweeper on an XP.
When it comes to accusations, she was an epic fail. However, when it came to being a hateful example of a control freak, she was an epic win. For that particular church, it is a glaring weakness, but so far, they seem to be in control instead of her.
But she apparently is a master of passive-aggressive moves to take power when she can, and they have to watch her very carefully.
Another church has two older men who pretty much rule it with iron fists. They're friendly enough, and have been the main workforce to keep the church well-maintained and running. The only problem is that anytime they get a pastor who tries to do things his or her way, they run them off.
It's gotten to the point that the district superintendent has warned them that if they run off one more pastor, he'll close the church. They have a hard time believing that he'll do it, but they are in a conference that owns the church. It wouldn't be the first time a superintendent has closed a church.
When I was a child, I believed that you went to church to worship Jesus Christ, and congregated with fellow believers to strengthen yourself in your beliefs. Apparently, to some, that is secondary to their power trips.
To them, church is Serious Business.
Peace be unto you.
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