Dr. Tim Carson resigns from UCC

This is so sad! Dr. Lobaugh should never have been allowed to be the Interim Pastor and then come back as Associate. I believe he has definite self-serving motive here.

When Dr. Colglazier left the circumstances were very different in that he was alleged to have participated in misconduct. To cover the churches reputation the Assembly let him leave graciously and held parties. Now, when Tim has done nothing wrong they play it out in the news and bash him.

Prospective UCC Members wrote:

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 joined UCC less than a year ago; perhaps we moved too quickly in making this decision to become members there. We, too, are still shocked at the behavior and actions of the board at UCC and horrified at the way a small group of negative people were able to control such a major decision. We attended the Sunday service after Dr. Carson resigned. The energy and vitality of the service was gone; you could feel the sadness and disbelief throughout the congregation.

UCC Friends wrote:

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.

Our family is in complete agreement!!!Thank you!!

This is not a fair statement about Alan. He had nothing to do with Tim Carson's resignation but as the senior staff member was asked to send the communication to the church membership with the assistance of church lay leaders.

former member wrote:

This is so sad! Dr. Lobaugh should never have been allowed to be the Interim Pastor and then come back as Associate. I believe he has definite self-serving motive here.
When Dr. Colglazier left the circumstances were very different in that he was alleged to have participated in misconduct. To cover the churches reputation the Assembly let him leave graciously and held parties. Now, when Tim has done nothing wrong they play it out in the news and bash him.

I have been a member of the UCC Personnel Committee and Board of Stewards for the last two years. I understand some of the feelings expressed in this forum, however I think it is unfortunate that people try to characterize and represent facts in this public forum when they have no first hand knowledge. Much of this is incomplete or inaccurate.

I would be happy to discuss this with any individual privately.

Interesting. The Board and Personnel committee want to make the decisions for the church and then when people balk, they claim we "have no first hand knowledge." However, they have refused thus far to account for their actions or to justify their decisions. They just want us to "trust them." I have "grave concerns" as to the evaluation process which led to Tim's forced resignation. I further have "no confidence" in the leadership shown by the Board of Stewards. Had they really had the best interests of the whole church in mind, they would have handled this matter very differently. If you listened to Judy Stemple's sermon, I would ask, which part of the elephant are you holding?
As my grandfather would say, "hit dog howls."

UCC Member wrote:

I have been a member of the UCC Personnel Committee and Board of Stewards for the last two years. I understand some of the feelings expressed in this forum, however I think it is unfortunate that people try to characterize and represent facts in this public forum when they have no first hand knowledge. Much of this is incomplete or inaccurate.
I would be happy to discuss this with any individual privately.

How do I get balanced first hand knowledge? The meeting and agenda in which the forced resignation was initiated was not well publicised; I did not know about it and I think many others did not know. It sounds like a group with a decided agenda getting together without letting others know for fear there may be those who object to the agenda. I understand there were over 200 people present but there were many not present because they did not know there was a movement to force Tim's resignation. Now we have to go through a 1-2 year process of selecting a new senior minister whom some group may decide they don't like and force him/her to resign.
People presume facts when facts are not known. How could you expect anything else. There has been no effort to let people know what is really going on and until the membership knows the facts there will continue to be speculation.There have been many sermons directed at calming the storm. There has been no explanations. It is almost like saying "trust me-I know what is best for you". You say you would like to discuss this privately. How do I contact you?

I attempted to put contact information on this public forum and received the following message:
"Topix does not condone the posting of phone numbers, social security numbers, or other personal information into the forums". My contact information is in the church directory.

UCC Member wrote:

<quoted text>
How do I get balanced first hand knowledge? The meeting and agenda in which the forced resignation was initiated was not well publicised; I did not know about it and I think many others did not know. It sounds like a group with a decided agenda getting together without letting others know for fear there may be those who object to the agenda. I understand there were over 200 people present but there were many not present because they did not know there was a movement to force Tim's resignation. Now we have to go through a 1-2 year process of selecting a new senior minister whom some group may decide they don't like and force him/her to resign.
People presume facts when facts are not known. How could you expect anything else. There has been no effort to let people know what is really going on and until the membership knows the facts there will continue to be speculation.There have been many sermons directed at calming the storm. There has been no explanations. It is almost like saying "trust me-I know what is best for you". You say you would like to discuss this privately. How do I contact you?

UCC Member wrote:

I have been a member of the UCC Personnel Committee and Board of Stewards for the last two years. I understand some of the feelings expressed in this forum, however I think it is unfortunate that people try to characterize and represent facts in this public forum when they have no first hand knowledge. Much of this is incomplete or inaccurate.
I would be happy to discuss this with any individual privately.

Many of us in the congregation are outraged and disgusted with the board and the small political group that has somehow managed to convince you that what you did was right. We do not "buy in" to what you are saying.

Please have the decency to identify yourself, either here or by contacting me.

disappointed ucc member wrote:

<quoted text>
Many of us in the congregation are outraged and disgusted with the board and the small political group that has somehow managed to convince you that what you did was right. We do not "buy in" to what you are saying.

If a church will not preach the Word, God's Word plain a simple. If the Scriptures are not enough, if the Spirit is not enough, then that Church may be preaching the false doctrine of men and woman. UCC may have helped many throughout the years, but it has also hurt and led astray many families and individuals by turning a blind eye to misconduct within its membership and clergy. "Clean thy house and make it a Holy and new place. The path is straight and the road narrow." May you rebuild, God willing, and do no more harm to others along the way.

UCC has to come to terms with itself. It always seemed more like Country Club within a Church. UCC needs to get real and bring folks to Christ. Start practicing what you failed to preach and teach. Consider starting with "Though shall not..1 thru 10". Your "Journey" has sent you where? To the wolves. Very sad.:/

UCC seemed to be on a distructive path for many years. So many familes and individuals crushed under its wheels on "the Journey. Its shameful and tragic. Evil really.

I have watched these developments unfold with a quesy feeling in my gut. The problem, it seems to me, is with power, and who thinks they deserve it and what they feel entitled to do in order to get it. It's all profoundly unspiritual and deeply self-centered. The Personnel committee and Board ask us to trust their decision making and by implication ask us to distrust our own judgements and experience. Many of us watched as the congregation started to get healthy again, new members arrived full of excitement and gave themselves to real participation and service. We were starting to move from being a club to being a church. The pastoral style and leadership of the fine minister we have just sent over the hill was perfect for this time in history. But because an old boys/girls network felt they had the right to determine the future for the whole, all this was lost. How bogus. Do we trust you? We do not. We know what has been taken from us and you won't tell us any differently. Though it is not fair to paint with a broad brush and characterize everyone the same, I do know that on that "awesome" board there were several people with finely tuned agendas - carrying them for malcontents who whine because the church isn't the way it used to be or the way they want it to be - at total disregard for the rest of the congregation. They manipulated the process and the people involved. Their unholy coalition gathered in some of the worst energy in the church that has been tearing down the church for years. This is a dysfunctional family that protects its own sick members. And most sadly this represents the dire mistreatment of ministers, those who give their lives to serve for the sake of Christ. As for other ministers out there who might be tempted to come our way, here is a simple warning: stay as far away from UCC as possible, if you know what's good for you.

We are in complete agreement with the previous posting "Pretense of Righteousness". Thank you so much for your focused and honest response. Where do we turn now? What is our next step? We can't even walk in the doors of UCC without feeling uncertain and unsafe... it is as if what was presented to us "onstage" when we joined UCC is not at all what is "back stage." We can't live in an environment where there is no longer trust. Trust was the glue to hold us together. Now the divisions seem overwhelming.

We can pray for all affected by UCC, in the past and present. May we all find a new begining in the world and overcome UCC. After all, the Bible is still Word and Christian Faith is sound and well.

One could say that UCC strayed from the Gospel basics. UCC has been preaching a gospel of humanistic psycho-babble for years; a prideful and boastful lot. UCC may simply be getting their natural come-up-ins. The term often used during their services was the “UCC Journey”. Well, that “journey” (aka-bunny trail) is much-less important than the final destination… which is “Salvation” - “Being a Good and Faithful Servant” - rebuking sin and doing no harm to others. UCC, like all of us, can overcome their past and present by instituting the 3R’s caught in most Sunday Schools. (Repent of Transgression, Restore the Damages, don’t Repeat the Old Ways). May All effected by UCC be made Whole again. Amen

Most of the more solid members left UCC years ago and found new church homes. UCC has betray the trust of so many and the remaining members are being led astray. There is not a good Shepherd among them. UCC is now like a collection of lost sheep. May they find the truth the way and the light.

UCC wrote:

One could say that UCC strayed from the Gospel basics. UCC has been preaching a gospel of humanistic psycho-babble for years; a prideful and boastful lot. UCC may simply be getting their natural come-up-ins. The term often used during their services was the “UCC Journey”. Well, that “journey”(aka-bunny trail) is much-less important than the final destination… which is “Salvation”-“Being a Good and Faithful Servant”- rebuking sin and doing no harm to others. UCC, like all of us, can overcome their past and present by instituting the 3R’s caught in most Sunday Schools.(Repent of Transgression, Restore the Damages, don’t Repeat the Old Ways). May All effected by UCC be made Whole again. Amen

,,, speaking of anti-humanism, can anyone tell me what's with the "Harry Potter" promotion (prominently featured on the web site last week, but I've seen it featured before)??

Maybe Harry Potter is at the highlight of their message for this week? Perhap's it's all they've got going for them right now. Oh well.:\