Here's a comment from one of our readers that I felt deserved its own post.
I just got some fascinating news last night…thought you might get a kick out of it in light of City Church's new digs in Washington DC….perhaps they are needing to cut costs to pay for their 'house'…
City Church called CLF last night and told them that they would no longer be allowed to pick up food from their distribution center for their "Lord's Pantry" ministry where they provide food for the poor in Grays Harbor…They told the fella who runs the ministry that what CLF did to poor "Dougy' was an abomination, and so they didn't want to have anything to do with CLF. They also told the fella, who attends CLF, that if he wanted to move to another building that City Church would provide in Aberdeen, that they could still pick up food. He confirmed, "You mean I have to leave my church for you to allow me to get food to feed the poor?"
"Yep"….:o)
I do not enjoy this at all. Sometimes, and I know I’m an old softy at heart, but sometimes I can’t help but think there has to be more to the story than that.
A church surely wouldn’t cut a food ministry over this? What did the hungry do and what did the poor do to deserve this?
Well, I guess if the City Church is taking their ball and going home, the game is over. I imagine that in light of this action, Doug will be quickly reinstated.
I am incredibly sad about this one…but not surprised. Our church is doing fine… the spirit of God is moving like it has not in 5 years or so. if city church wants to do this…then the leadership needs to make it plain from the pulpit the facts and let others know that this does not come from CLF.
Is CLF going to withdraw from MFI?
Apparently that IS what Jesus would do, since they profess to be led by the Spirit. Surely they wouldn’t react vengefully, would they?!?
[Comment ID #11249 Will Be Quoted Here]
Gee, that’s a really tough decision…:o)
Where the Spirit fails to lead, a magic 8 ball always worked for me.
What a bunch of SNOBS
The church in D.C., right across the street,
Is conveniently located for Congressmen to meet.
What is the reason; what is the essence
For a Northwest church to have this D.C. presence?
Is it money or power or some other thing
In mutual interest with the D.C. ring?
Did they buy too soon, looking at the wrong stats
Before the nation elected more Democrats?
Are they making it easy for Republican friends
To raise money away from their official dens?
Will the faithful be barred from the church ‘cross the street
While Republicans raise money reclused and discreet?
Who will be welcomed through the church office door?
The powerful & rich, the hungry and poor?
With neighbors in need of the church in this hour,
It seems so unseemly to trade money for power.
No matter my effort, I cannot conceive it.
Would Jesus do this? No, I just don’t believe it!
haha nice poem
Roses are red.
Violets are blue.
Wendell’s a bonehead.
Jonah is too.
Staynd Glass,
Good poem… you should try your hand at Song Parody.
Somebody made a parody request
So I’ll try it I guess
I hope the humor is not in vain
And with apologies to Shania Twain……….
“That Don’t Impress Me Much”
(original sung by Shania Twain)
I’ve known a few pastors who thought they were pretty smart
But you’ve got being right down to an art
You think you’re a genius – you drive us up the wall
You’re a regular original, a know-it-all
Oh-oo-oh, you think you’re special
Oh-oo-oh, you think you’re something else
Okay, so you’re a senior pastor
That don’t impress me much
So you got the reigns but are you still in touch
You can’t be wrong, because you know you’re always right
But that’s the kind of thinkin’ that’ll get you in a fight.
That don’t impress me much
I never knew a guy who carried a mirror in his pocket
And a condom up his sleeve-just in case
You rent the hotel room and make sure that you lock it
‘Cause inside with you is a prostitute who’s gay
Oh-oo-oh, you think you’re special
Oh-oo-oh, you think you’re something else
Okay, so you’re Top Dog
That don’t impress me much
So you know the Book but have you got the touch
You can’t be wrong, because you know you’re always right
But that’s the kind of thinkin’ that’ll get you in a fight.
That don’t impress me much
You’re one of those guys who likes to run church machine
You make me kiss your shoes before you let me come in
I can’t believe you count the money each night
C’mon pastor tell me-you must be jokin’, right!
Oh-oo-oh, you think you’re special
Oh-oo-oh, you think you’re something else
Okay, so you’ve got a title
That don’t impress me much
So you know the Book but have you got the touch
You can’t be wrong, because you know you’re always right
But that’s the kind of thinkin’ that’ll get you in a fight.
That don’t impress me much
Okay, so what do you think you’re the Pope or something…
Oo-Oh-Oh
That don’t impress me much!
Oh-Oh-Oh-Oh-No
Alright! Alright!
You’re Tarzan!
Captain Kirk maybe.
John Wayne.
Whatever!
That don’t impress me much!
[Comment ID #11249 Will Be Quoted Here]
CLF was never an MFI church
Both associate pastors belonged to MFI. Yes, they have withdrawn their memberships, and CLF is no longer sending MFI membership dues.
Yes…this much i do know and it is long overdue. the church will find connections to continue their food ministry to the poor and to the church. God will bless them for their faithfulness and as for the others…well. what goes around comes around. and i sure would not want to be the ones who decided that the hungry and poor did not need help bad enough for them to swallow their “attitude” about poor dougie and just help. that is all i gotta say about it. i will pray for them…i think they just p.o.’d the wrong guy….GOD.
You can search the membership of MFI online
And Christian Life Fellowship is a name that you find.
It’s not the one in Washington you’ve talked about, although
There’s a CLF in Massachusetts and one in Idaho.
These churches are listed on the Web with the same MFI master.
With the name and address of the church and the pastor.
In Aberdeen, WA they list no church, but all is not forgotten.
The members listed there are named: Doug and Lois Cotton.
MFI, it seems, is cut from the mold of City Bible Church:
The people are to be subservient to the Principal on the Perch.
One wonders why, on 9 occasions, within MFI listings
There are the names of the pastors there, while the church’s name is missing.
Is it power? Prestige? Money control? — What gives?
Shouldn’t the focus instead be back on the MESSAGE:
He died. He arose. He lives!
Power; check. Proved by his reaction when he lost it….:o)
Prestige; check. (Mrs. C. said one time, “We may be just a small church on the harbor, but we rub elbows with some PRETTY IMPORTANT PEOPLE…)
Money control; a no brainer.
Don’t worry, though, City Church is going to help get an MFI church back on the harbor–they are rumored to be setting up Dougy in his own building after he gets all ‘fixed up’ by his counseling. It’s a pretty sound ‘investment’, with promising returns, as ol’ Doug is always so generous with ‘God’s’ money….silly pawn…..
I was referring to MFI when I wrote “MFI master”
The attributes were meant for them; not your local pastor.
I assume you are from Aberdeen, and your problem is persisting,
And that is why there is no church with your MFI listing.
The lesson learned, with little time spent, going through MFI searches,
Is they exist for pastors’ sake, at the cost of local churches.
Thus, I’ll conclude, when I see it done (though I’m no great logician)
Once a new church in your area is begun, they’ll give him a new position.
And once again, to save the chief, we’ll see MFI buffer
The cries of wounded who need relief, while MFI let’s them suffer.
When pastors leave, then start another church within the city,
The people grieve as conflict comes. I know it isn’t pretty.
Just know that many people have survived such sad affairs.
The pain is real, but here’s the salve: You’ll make it through with prayers!
So the CLF was never with the MFI. That’s good because it’s another SNAFU. Keep it on the QT. Seems the MFIC was FUBAR. BOHICA!
Doug Cotton and Rick Moyer were members of MFI. (Pastors at CLF) The church was not, since churches aren’t supposed to be. (tell that to Dick, Wendell and Frank) Dan Gebhart had just applied for membership but didn’t accept it due to the current circumstances. Rick sent his resignation in to MFI. CLF was on MFI’s web directory not long ago.
Honestly I have no idea what this is all about. i stumbled into this page looking up something on Google, but I never miss an opportunity to be a bit sarcastic when “religion” is concerned. It’s such a farce it deserves no respect. And that’s all I’ve got to say about that (for now… wait for it…)
Doug Cotton allegedly has/had issues with anger management. It is alleged that Doug Cotton had inappropriate outburst at many individuals, 19 of whom signed sworn statements about Doug Cotton’s outbursts that they personally witnessed. I personally know many of the people who are involved, and I believe them. I do not know Doug Cotton well.
Regarding the involvement of M.F.I., M.F.I.’s own website says this:
“All ministries including the senior pastor should be under the legal authority of and accountable to their own church elder board.â€
“Ministers Fellowship International has a strong conviction regarding the autonomy of the Local Church. This foundational conviction effects everything that MFI does and it serves as a guide to every policy that MFI establishes. MFI constantly seeks to balance a loving and caring responsibility that we have to all believers in Christ with a recognition of the special place that God has set everyone in their own local churches.
“One of the strong doctrinal foundations of MFI is its conviction that every local church is an autonomous organization. That means that each local church is to be self-governing, self-supporting and self-propagating.â€
“In the event that a senior pastor member of MFI was to be disqualified from ministry it would not be the place of MFI to officially discipline him. It is the responsibility of that local church and/or its covering “mother” church to judge and administer discipline officially.â€
“The local church is completely autonomous, that is, it is self-governing, self-supporting and self-propagating in its mature state.â€
“The biblical form of church government is a plural eldership with a senior minister, who qualify on the basis of spiritual life, character, domestic life, and rulership ability (I Timothy 3).â€
All of the above are from Ministers Fellowship International.
Apparently, M.F.I. chose to get involved in an internal disciplinary action against Doug Cotton, DESPITE what M.F.I. states on their own website.
Pastor Wendell Smith allegedly made a decision that the disciplinry action against Doug Cotton was not appropriate, so IN RETALIATION (Emphasis added) Pastor Wendell Smith decided to starve the poor and hungry of Grays Harbor who were depending on the food ministry at Christian Life Fellowship. Apparently, Pastor Smith believes that by starving the hungry at five churches that depended on that food ministry, he will be retaliating against the Elders at CLF.
The following is from Pastor Wendell Smith’s own website:
“The City Church is known for its spirit of worship, prophetic preaching, generosity, faith in the goodness of God and warm Christian love.â€
“The pastors believe every year will bring an unfolding expression of a city within a city, a vision that includes youth and children’s outreaches, food and clothing distribution, ministry to the needyâ€
“We believe in the plenary-verbal inspiration of the accepted canon of the Scriptures as originally given and that they are infallibly and uniquely authoritative and free from error of any sort in all matters with which they deal, including scientific and historical as well as moral and theological (I Timothy 3 :16; I Corinthians 2:13).â€
~The City Church
It is painfully obvious to me that Pastor Wendell Smith is unqualified to lead, given his own violations of his own church policy.
If anyone would like to help support The Lord’s Pantry, you can mail a check to The Lord’s Pantry, 4800 Central Park Drive, Aberdeen, WA 98520.
As it is a part of Christian Life Fellowship, you can request a receipt if you would like one for tax purposes.
Last night, an offering was taken at the youth service (with a number of adults also attending). I do not know the amount collected, but I gave some cash to my niece (a new believer) and one of my sons to put in the bucket.
It was also refreshing to see the genuine worship from the youth.
Rick Moyer payed acoustic guitar and there were two youth singing up front.
Teenagers was all across the altar area, standing with hands raised, laying face down, sitting, kneeling.
No rock music, no heavy beat, no smoke, just genuine worship, prayer and reading from the Bible.
And the microphone was passed around for people (youth and adults) to share why they are thankful.
I was glad that I went, even though I spent a part of the time keeping an eye on my 4-year-old daughter who likes to greet people with hugs and kisses.
Happy Thanksgiving.
And please remember The Lord’s Pantry in your prayers and giving, at least for this short season of transition.
Thanks,
Dan Wood
Sorry for the typos.
Rick Moyer played the guitar.
Teenagers were all across the altar.
Man, I gotta slow down and read my posts again before sending them.
Same old problem for me, I guess: I still struggle with proper submission.
Happy Thanksgiving, still.
I still struggle with proper submission.
Good one.
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