Dr. Tim Carson resigns from UCC

Is anyone else as shocked as I am to hear that Dr. Tim Carson resigned from UCC? I am completely blown away.

ucc member wrote:

Is anyone else as shocked as I am to hear that Dr. Tim Carson resigned from UCC? I am completely blown away.

How did you become aware of this? I can't find anything online. Do you know why?

Today's Fort Worth Star-Telegram has an article about it where member (and ex FW mayor) Kenneth Barr explains one aspect of the church's dissatisfaction.
This is definitely UCC's loss! Dr. Carson is truly "a gentleman and a scholar" as well as a breath of fresh air from business-as-usual.

I became aware of the situation from an email sent from the church yesterday and signed by Alan Lobaugh.

I just read the article in the Star-Telegram here:
http://www.star-telegram.com/metro_news/story...

I am just shocked. Dr. Carson's sermons were the highlight of my week. They challenged me both intellectually and spiritually. It may sound silly, but I feel very sad.

The loss of Dr. Tim Carson is tragic. He was the bright and shining new ray of hope for UCC. The church members have no idea what they have lost. . . the whole experience of his resignation night was one of the saddest most disheartening times of my life. I still can't believe what took place.

I am not completely sad that he resigned. There were some sermons that really clicked with me and made me think, hard, and were spot on with what I was feeling in life. But, there were many more that didn't click at all. I was actually way more sad to see Colglazier (sp?) go than Carson. Still, over my 6 years at UCC I have come to know Alan Lobaugh pretty well and I always enjoy his sermons. I vote for him as our senior minister.

Having attended various churches, my wife and I had the opportunity to visit UCC on numerous occasions over the past few months and were on the verge of joining, much due to the quality of sermons and welcoming manner of Dr. Carson.
We are truly shocked, most dissappointed and will now be forced to re-evaluate our decision on church preference.

Our family received a letter in the mail on Saturday explaining the resignation. It was signed Alan Lobaugh. Whatever the details regarding this direction, one thing is certain, UCC, it's leaders and congregation must continue to stay focused on Christ, God's Will and direction. UCC is there to support, but no Church, minister or 'program' can do what individuals must do for themselves in order to move forward in God's direction. That is, develop a personal relationship with God thru Christ our Lord.
Hopefully each of us will humble ourselves before God and trust His direction.
Thank you for your service Tim!

I was told that the board members said Dr. Carson was not meeting their spiritual needs. I would have liked to have been asked before they forced him out, he met all of my needs and them some. I was told that the about half of the board members were not satisfied with Dr. Carson, just as they were not satisfied with Dr. Colglazier and little by little made it more difficult for him until he just decided to leave. I am very upset, I love Dr. Carson and I think if the board is going to continue to push out ministers, they should consult with the general church members first and see how we feel about it before making such huge choices.

The Board has made a serious mistake in forcing the resignation of Dr. Tim Carson. He is a most gifted and talented minister, and unfortunately, the congregation is the last to learn of this unfortunate decision.
No one person nor one minister can meet the needs of everyone within a church organization, but in this case it seems that the powerful few take presidence over fullfillment of the many. Having been associated with the Desciples of Christ Churches for many years I have, unfortunately, seen this happen time and time again. I am saddened and greatly dissappointed by this action, and my future attendence is in question.

I was at the assembly meeting last Tuesday when Dr. Carson resigned.
Definitely a forced resignation due to disillusioned factions, in my opinion. Squeaky wheels, which constitute a minority, have managed to divide the church much more effectively than any senior minister could. It was pathetic to listen to the few dissenters that took the podium to stand against the flood of support for the Carsons.

What person in their right mind would want the senior minister post at UCC with the rate we're blowing through them?

Also, it was a covertly forced resignation.
According to the by-laws, it's illegal for the Board to fire a minister. The final say on hirings and firings goes to the Assembly, which is why so many of the Assembly members were upset- many had no idea there was a problem and the Board cited Executive Sessions as a reason not to share their reasoning.

Unfortunately UCC is one of those congregations that often ends up living by the other Golden Rule--that the ones who have the gold get to make the rules. Tim Carson is known throughout the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) as a leader with integrity, creativity and faithfulness to the gospel. The last one may be the problem. When congregational spokespeople say there is no question about integrity or misconduct, but demands a resignation effective immediately, you can be sure it's the act of bullies, not of Christians.

I am devistated by the resignation of Tim Carson. I was not aware of a problem or a meeting to discuss the problem. I first read of the resignation in the Star Telegram. The reasons cited for disatisfaction were less than satisfactory preaching and not caring for needs. This kind of vague disatisfaction has to be a cover for some other motivations that people don't want to talk about. Dr. Carson was trying to lead the church in some new areas of ministry-one of these involved the homeless which made some congregants unhappy. Perhaps the disatisfaction had to do with ideology. I don't know and don't think I will ever know. Dr. Lobaugh in a sermon said we should not question motivations but I disagree. Motivations are at the heart of this matter.

Tim spoke to my heart when he preached. He had a way of bringing me closer to God. He was an intellect who could share insights and wisdom in a wonderful, Godly way.

Church members should not have allowed this to happen. The Board needs to be replaced. They should not be allowed to run off Tim Carson. I know that Tim fell on his sword to prevent a possible split in this Church.

I know that Dr Lobaugh is playing the peacemaker but there is such a thing as justice and justice has not been served. I am angry and I am not sure whom to be angry at. I am hurting and the hurting is not going away. I do not see how as a Church we can ignore what has happened. I hope there is some leadership in the Church who feels as I do and will take some action.

Tim Carson moved his family including an adult daughter and, I believe a mother to Texas. He did not deserve this and neither did I.

ucc member wrote:

Is anyone else as shocked as I am to hear that Dr. Tim Carson resigned from UCC? I am completely blown away.

Dr. Tim Carson is a man of exceptional depth, and multilayered vision. There has been a small contingent of people who want to exert their influence on the leadership of the University Christian Church. They found that they could, through criticism, gossip, and leverage through some members of the congregation, and possibly even ambitious staff members, create pressure on Dr. Carson. They took people who wanted to stampede the eldership through stories like: "I was unhappy with something at UCC and Dr.Carson told me that perhaps I should look for another church.". Of course, if someone is unhappy at a church, they should find one that they can love! Dr. Carson exemplified a compassionate, loving, minister and the congregation (if it had been asked) would have overwhelmingly voted him a long term tenure. His departure is more a reflection of the "lessor" people at UCC than anything. UCC will suffer if it allows vocal "wingnuts" run the church through a "tyranny of minority."

Dr. Tim Carson is a man of exceptional depth, and multilayered vision. There has been a small contingent of people who want to exert their influence on the leadership of the University Christian Church. They found that they could, through criticism, gossip, and leverage through some members of the congregation, and possibly even ambitious staff members, create pressure on Dr. Carson. They took people who wanted to stampede the eldership through stories like: "I was unhappy with something at UCC and Dr.Carson told me that perhaps I should look for another church.". Of course, if someone is unhappy at a church, they should find one that they can love! Dr. Carson exemplified a compassionate, loving, minister and the congregation (if it had been asked) would have overwhelmingly voted him a long term tenure. His departure is more a reflection of the "lessor" people at UCC than anything. UCC will suffer if it allows vocal "wingnuts" run the church through a "tyranny of minority."

I have been a teacher, a Deacon, and a member of UCC for over 10 years. Dr. Tim Carson is a man of exceptional depth, and multilayered vision. There has been a small contingent of people who want to exert their influence on the leadership of the University Christian Church. They found that they could, through criticism, gossip, and leverage through some members of the congregation, and possibly even ambitious staff members, create pressure on Dr. Carson. They took people who wanted to stampede the eldership through stories like: "I was unhappy with something at UCC and Dr.Carson told me that perhaps I should look for another church.". Of course, if someone is unhappy at a church, they should find one that they can love! Dr. Carson exemplified a compassionate, loving, minister and the congregation (if it had been asked) would have overwhelmingly voted him a long term tenure. His departure is more a reflection of the "lessor" people at UCC than anything. UCC will suffer if it allows vocal "wingnuts" run the church through a "tyranny of minority."

Dr Lobaugh's role in this is strange. It was perceived as that of a staff member that had his own ambitions. He is vocalizing the "party line" but the truth is that there were some who mistook the kindness and generosity of Dr. Carson for weakness. There were some who politically and theologically wanted to move UCC in a different direction. They thought this would be a good time to make their power move. There were some that simply could not understand Tim Carson's perceptions of grace and tolerance, and on the other hand became upset when they could not make Dr.Carson follow their own small minded agenda's. I am disappointed at the board at UCC. They are not worthy of this historic and grand church, which has been a voice for progress, love, and grace for Fort Worth, when most church organizations moved to the reactionary right bending over to conservative interests of big business and big donars. UCC has already experienced a decline in attendance and contributions. I trully feel that the Elders should show the same grace that Dr.Carson showed, when he said he would rather "resign" than create a church battle. I think if the elder's (who were in office for the past few months and allowed this to happen) don't resign and rebuild from here, there will be an ongoing attrition and battle within the UCC congregation.

Replace the Board now. They are obviously ineffective and are not making decisions in the best interest of the church.
This latest decision will surely result in a move for many church members, including this family, on an immediate basis.
If Dr. Carson takes another church in the area we will follow him.

I hope to speak with Tim and Kathy soon. My heart is broken and I haven't been to UCC since Dr. Carson "resigned". The first Sunday he was gone was because I was out of town; yesterday was because I didn't have the heart to go. I feel betrayed, as if the rug has been completely pulled out from under me. I'm obviously not in the powerful inner circles at UCC as this came as a total shock. My family too, will follow Dr. Carson to another church.

I am curious about the comments made by Editor:
"There were some who politically and theologically wanted to move UCC in a different direction. They thought this would be a good time to make their power move."

What direction do some want the church to move? That statement is very concerning to me and leads me to believe that perhaps Dr. Carson was too "liberal" for some?