[SERay]

What an experience Michael!!!! You are doing it by the book and the people resist. Sounds like a serious case of the elderly playing church. I was raised in a church similar to what you described. If a pastor became too spiritual and ruffled up the comfort zone, “remove the pastor” was the mandate.

As you probably know, there are three types of church government: Congregations, Presbyterian and Episcopal. Congregational governments are doomed to spiritual failure in most cases, because the people control the hierarchy and the pastor is a hireling (puppet of the people). The Episcopal system is of course, how the Catholic, Anglican, Orthodox and Methodist churches operate (among others). Unfortunately, this grew out of the European monarchies, which leaves no room for the local pastor or congregation to follow the Spirits leading. The Presbyterian style of government of the Reformed church puts the polity into the hands of select group of elders (presbytery) who are appointed. They are the absolute power of the church body. This too puts limits on the pastor and congregations ability to follow the Spirits leading. The ideal is no complex bureaucracy, committees, sub-committees, allowing the pastor to be responsible, to work freely under the guidance of the Spirit AFTER being thoroughly tested. Although Elders and deacons should be appointed to help care for the flock, as is the scriptural method, they are servants as is the pastor.

Sounds like your work is done there?