Famed Fla. Megachurch to Vote on Fate of New Minister
Elders at the famed megachurch founded by the late D. James Kennedy have scheduled a congregational meeting for this Sunday to determine the fate of their new senior pastor, the Rev. Tullian Tchividjian.
At the end of the meeting, members of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in good standing will vote on whether or not to dissolve the relationship with Tchividjian, who had been installed this past Easter as the Ft. Lauderdale church’s second senior minister in five decades.
Though 91 percent of the congregation had voted in March to support the call for Tchividjian to serve as their new senior minister, six dissenters distributed a letter and petition to church members late July calling upon them to “reverse course before it is too late.”
“We have seen a complete lack of respect towards the congregation and for long standing traditions that have been part of Coral Ridge’s rich heritage for decades,” stated the letter signed by Kennedy’s daughter, Jennifer Cassidy, and five others.
“We were told many things that all sounded good at the time, but in fact those soothing words have largely proven empty and it keeps getting worse,” the dissenters added.
Because the petition was able to collect the minimum 100 signatures needed, church elders were required under their Book of Church Order to call for a congregational meeting for the purpose of conducting the business requested by the petitioners – namely to vote on whether or not to “amicably” dissolve the relationship with Tchividjian and the merger of Coral Ridge and New City Church, the Margate-based church Tchividjian had founded in 2003.
Famed Fla. Megachurch to Vote on Fate of New Minister | Christianpost.com.
In: Religious News · Tagged with: D. James Kennedy, megachurch, Tullian Tchividjian
on September 17, 2009 at 9:19 pm
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Regardless of what the new pastor has done, I feel sorry for any pastor trying to follow a founding pastor or a pastor who has been in place for a very long while. There will always been people who are not satisfied.
on September 17, 2009 at 9:25 pm
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Amen to that. From everything I have read, it is a small minority. We’ll pray that no one is destroyed through this.
on September 17, 2009 at 11:29 pm
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I thought it was surprising but good that they hired him. But as long as there wasn’t any funny business going on, it doesn’t surprise me that some would be unhappy. That’s a very big change. I would think a good one. Plus he’s one handsome man! If I had his looks I’d wouldn’t use a high contrast black and white picture.
Jeff
on September 18, 2009 at 9:51 am
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I would say, this “church” is closed , everybody go home, read your Bibles, pray, worship God outside of church, …………. You are the church, AbbaGod lives in you, not man made temples…. Wake up America!!!! don’t get me started, God Is in control……….do you think God is at this church?/? I think he is shaking his head,,,,,
on September 18, 2009 at 10:10 am
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Sorry Polycarp, but I am not sure from what source you received your information. An different elders from the session, yes, did announce in the two morning church services last Sunday 09.13.09 that the number of petitions reached their minimum of 100 (like you posted here), which is very misleading. The real fact is that there were 400 petitions turned in.
Additionally, it is not just “The Six” who are upset. They are many more.
Just letting you know…
on September 19, 2009 at 10:50 am
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[...] Famed Fla. Megachurch to Vote on Fate of New Minister – This is going to be very interesting. It’s always hard to follow after a legend. Look [...]
on September 18, 2009 at 10:33 am
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Thanks, ‘A Member’ for the clarification. This interests me, for a variety of reasons – including the areas of Church Government.