You can read here that there are other blogs online related to church stuff. Some of these are as simple as this one. Some of the blogs are quite deep in their theology. You can find blogs from the professional as well as the perspective of the church member. Blogs can range from the kinda ordinary like here all the way to controversial topics of all types. Anyone can start a blog. You should recognize this just from the fact that I have one. Money usually is not required to begin writing for public consumption. All a person needs to do is sign up and start putting thoughts down for all to read. Most of the other blogs within my reading interest relate to Baptist life. There are a few that are geared toward controversy. You will be able to read the latest criticism against the SBC or even a local congregation. Sometimes it is frightening to look at these. I know my mind wanders during my stays there.

No one will ever mistake me as a minister of a super large congregation. This is fine with me despite my early dreams. Age and experience teaches me that not everyone is wired to lead those churches where thousands attend. My best guess is that no amount of salary can make up for the headaches involved. One of those headaches includes online blogs devoted to critical evaluation of a ministry. Let me say at least two things about such efforts. One, people often find it easy to tear down when they do not understand the nature of ministry. Churches of every size will face this on occasion. I will go to my grave believing that conversation can go a great distance in diffusing conflict. Two, some of the behaviors of large church ministers may be worth evaluation. My recent efforts at reading make me scratch my head at what these men do that seems so unreal. None of the pastors in the crosshairs are doing anything immoral or fattening. But it becomes clear there is a disconnect between theology and ministry.

Let me begin by saying that I know my own weaknesses. Some of that comes from people who are very helpful in reminding me when wrong. But it is also true there are still blind spots for me in terms of this career. Do not imagine in the slightest that my opinion is the only one that is valid. My view of doing leadership like this is probably different than some if not most. Being the minister does not make you infallible. My opinion on any given subject is just one of many. Some of the men who speak at our conferences or write our books seem to feel quite different. We have some of our largest congregations in my denomination who are in the midst of emotional violence due to such an idea. The pastor is not the CEO with everyone else being there to do their bidding. A minister is not one who lives by one set of rules while others have lesser lives. Reading about the hurts of the church members affected by such behavior is painful. Being a supersized congregation does not make it any more spiritual than yours or mine.

I also realize full well that some church people can act in impure motives or methods. You can find enough emotional scars within me that bear that out. But it also seems to me that a heavy handed reaction to such behavior does nothing to bring about unity. Some of the churches already used the legal system in some form or fashion to win a battle. At least three of our larger churches went through ugly and painful conflicts in the public eye. It may be that the battle for conservative faith will continue to bleed into local church relationships. Do not hear me saying that I have all of the answers. My thoughts are just my own. Maybe we will arrive someday at a point where we take serious all of scripture. We are doing pretty good at the fundamentals of the faith but it sure seems like we are failing when it comes to authentic fellowship. I always wonder if one is good without the other?

Bro. Trey