If the Bishops decide to go the Hurtful route (I'm not hopeful that they won't), then I believe traditionalist churches need to stand against them and withhold apportionments. If their Bishop retaliates by threatening to remove their pastor, they should warn the Bishop that they simply won't pay the salary for whoever is appointed as a replacement.
Local churches need to learn that they DO have a great deal of leverage in dealing with incompetent church leaders. It may be time to use that leverage across our denomination to motivate them to "let my people go."
I don't say this to be ungracious - on the contrary, true grace hold people accountable for their bad behavior; true grace, according to Dietrich Bonhoeffer, disturbs us into doing the right and righteous thing.
If the Bishops decide to go the Hurtful route (I'm not hopeful that they won't), then I believe traditionalist churches need to stand against them and withhold apportionments. If their Bishop retaliates by threatening to remove their pastor, they should warn the Bishop that they simply won't pay the salary for whoever is appointed as a replacement.
Local churches need to learn that they DO have a great deal of leverage in dealing with incompetent church leaders. It may be time to use that leverage across our denomination to motivate them to "let my people go."
I don't say this to be ungracious - on the contrary, true grace hold people accountable for their bad behavior; true grace, according to Dietrich Bonhoeffer, disturbs us into doing the right and righteous thing.
#1. Hopeful