Also, a failure of polity

I've been following this story over at Get Religion for the last couple of days because the principle character in the story was on staff at a church I attended for a short while back in 1990-1991.  While living in Columbia SC during that time I attended Columbia Biblical Seminary and went to church at Gateway Baptist Church where Steve Flockhart was on staff.  I can't remember his exact role, it might have been with youth or something like that.

The trail I followed on this actually began at Common Grounds Online.  My good buddy Glenn Lucke did a post yesterday on a Baptist minister in Texas who had resigned over a shady real estate deal.  His post mentioned Flockhart so I followed the trail from there.  Glenn has updated the post today.

In the last 15 years, through a combination of personal charisma, outstanding preaching abilities, the patronage of Johnny Hunt, and God's blessings, Flcokhart has led several churches to enormous growth and has apparently become a budding superstar in the SBC, as is evidence by his call to pastor the prestigious First Baptist Church of West Palm Beach, FL.

But, as his star has risen, controversies have dogged Flockhart's steps.  He apparently "misappropriated" several hundred thousand dollars from a prior church through using the church credit card for personal expenses and writing checks to himself.  He has repaid the "misappropriated" amounts but now has resigned from First Baptist of West Palm as lies were uncovered on his resume.

To his credit, Flockhart seems to have confessed his sin and has taken responsibility for his actions.   And he is still loved by many, even those at the former church where the funds were "misappropriated." All of the proper qualifiers and kind words are appropriate at this point to the effect that he is certainly no greater sinner than any of us and we should all hope and pray for his welfare and the welfare of his family.

But I think there is a bigger story here, it's not just the story of one man's failures, it's a story of systemic failure.  This is not to sidestep his responsibility for his own sins, just to say that this story reveals more widespread issues, and I believe this has mostly to do with failures of church polity, or church government.

First of all, I suggest this illustrates the perils of celebrity culture.  From what I read in the Get Religion article and the links included, there seems to be no doubt that Flockhart possessed unusual charisma and had an unusual ability to move people.  Plus, he operated under the patronage of one of the SBC's biggest celebrities - Johnny Hunt.  When someone achieves this level of celebrity others tend to fawn over them and see them through the lens of their giftedness while forgetting their depravity.

This is not to deny that some excel in gifts in a way that is a great blessing.  But it is to say that the current celebrity culture can create leaders who become larger than life, larger than the congregations they serve.  And I don't think a nefarious motive is always or necessarily involved.  It's just that when the perks of celebrity keep coming it's hard not to use them

This leads to my second point, which is that ecclesiastical authority in the NT is a joint and several thing, not an individual thing.  This is why it is essential that a church be run by a plurality of elders, each of whom are accountable to one another.  This not only provides accountability but it provides protection.  As I mentioned above, when a leader becomes larger than life, perks follow.  I am quite certain I could go down the same road as Steve Flockhart if I were as gifted and talented as he and if I had access to the perks that he had. A plurlaity of elders provides protection to the church in that one person is not able to run the show and it provides protection to the pastor or elders themselves, as a check of their own depravity.

I am aware that just having a plurality of elders does not guarantee this.  There are some who are so charismatic or have such a forceful personality that they can override their equals on the board.  But, having a plurality of elders at least provides a structure which can assist in preventing some of these problems.

Thirdly, I want to put a plug in here for connectionalism and graduated spheres of authority.  In the PCA we are governed by three "courts," the session, or ruling body of a local church, the presbytery, which is made up of the elders in a given geographical area and the General Assembly which is composed of elders from all the churches of the denomination.

Whether you buy into our way of doing it or not, there is something to be said for having a structure where pastors and elders are accountable to some group beyond the local church.  This provides necessary checks and balances.  A man's colleagues in ministry have access to things the local church doesn't.  The social networks of ministry alone provide checks, as fellow ministers have easy access to verification of credentials and other things.

I may do another post here in a day or so on what I would call "the man of God" syndrome, which is a belief that some people are uniquely gifted and authoritative in our day such that they are owed a special kind of deference.  It's the old "thou shalt not touch the Lord's anointed" syndrome which I think is dangerous in some ways.

But for now I'll just comment that preachers like myself and Steve Flockhart are still depraved.  Whle Hebrews 13 and other places do say that leaders are to be honored, it does not dishonor us to have systems in place which can protect us and the body from our own sinful tendencies.

 

Comments

[Catez]

"To his credit, Flockhart seems to have confessed his sin and has taken responsibility for his actions."

I don't know this situation but will ask, does the taking responsibility include making restitution? Or steps by which sums can be repaid in installments over time?

Recently here a tv personality (not a Christian) went bankrupt. She has set about working very hard to repay her creditors - and said on tv that she is doing so because she firmly believes you pay what you owe and couldn't live with herself if she didn't. She could have just walked away and said "I'm bankrupt and can't pay". Instead she set about working and although not legally required to has been repaying the debt. She's had a lot of public support for that.

I mention this because my observation of cases where Christian ministers misappropriate has been that yes, some do confess and apologise. But I have not yet ever seen any make restitution (although some may and I simply don't know of it).

Yet it seems to me that restoring what was taken is a central principle in Christianity.

So that's what I'm wondering having read your post - is restitution being made?

As I said, I don't know this particular situation.

[David Wayne]

Catez - thanks for bringing this up. Yes, he has paid the monies he has owed.

[David Cho]

In one place in the post, it reads, "Flcokhart." I only mention that because I spent about a minute trying to figure out how to pronounce it :).

Good post. It is so true that many big time preachers have become larger than life. At least here in Southern California, certain prominent churches are named after the pastor's name. "

Joe Smith's church, Steve Johnson's church (I made those names up), etc. etc.

[Deborah]

While I will agree that this is a failure of polity, I think it also reflects a failure of theology. The "Jesus forgave it, I believe it, that settles it" view of sanctification has driven many a pastoral failure, from Jimmy Swaggart (who apologized publicly and profusely, only to refuse denominational discipline and restoration) to the Roman Catholic pedophilia scandal (bishops passing problematic priests along to other parishes/dioceses in an effort to not be "unforgiving"). This "lightning strike" theory of sanctification and a "Lone Ranger" spirituality produce fertile soil in which the taproot of embedded sinfulness can fortify itself against surface spirituality, both in the pew and in the pulpit. Grace and forgiveness do not preclude calling sin sin and insisting on it being rooted out - the latter are necessary preludes to the former.

[Catez]

Thanks David.

[Catez]

David I just want to add, since my comment here has been picked up by some-one elsewhere, that my example of the non-Christian woman who was bankrupt was simply in my mind because it is so out of the ordinary here. In fact I've never seen anyone say what she said (and she has been doing it too -repaying people).

It really got everyone's attention beause it is so different to the norm for some-one, not just some-one bankrupt, to offer to work off a debt they owe if they aren't legally required to.

My comment wasn't a general statement about bankruptcy or bankrupt people though - it was a spontaneous comment at that moment and that example came to mind because it's been a topic here very recently.

My point really was more about a mindset we can have where people don't make restitution when they could - because legally they aren't obliged ( I was really thinking about misappropriation of church funds and situations I know of, and not bankruptcy in general).

Thanks for clarifying that point on the situation you refer to in your post. I'm not up on that particular situation.

I just felt more comfortable explaining that here than elsewhere, and my first comment is here in your thread.

Thanks.

[Hmmmm]

Check out Dr. Hunt's doctorate

Sermon Search

Bio for Johnny Hunt
Dr. Johnny M. Hunt became pastor of First Baptist Church of Woodstock, Georgia in December, 1986. During 1987, Rev. Hunt baptized 3l8 people with additions by letter or statement of over 268. The year of 1999 proved to be Pastor Hunt's best year to date in ministry.

Sunday School attendance has increased from an average of 275 in 1986 to 4300 in October, 2000. Church membership has increased from 1,027, in 1986, to over 11,500 (October, 2000), and the church is averaging 5,500 in attendance. First Baptist of Woodstock meets in their 3200 seat worship center with three morning services and three Sunday schools to accommodate the large attendance. Yearly giving is in excess of $12 million and our total mission giving is over $1.7 million. May God be praised for His immeasurable blessings!

Dr. Hunt was born July 17, 1952, in Lumberton, North Carolina. He is married to Janet Allen Hunt of Wilmington, North Carolina. They have two daughters: Deanna Hunt Carswell and Hollie Hunt Hixson. They also have one granddaughter: Katie Hunter Carswell and one grandson, Carson John Carswell.

EDUCATION:

- Gardner-Webb College, Boiling Springs, North Carolina: BA Degree-Religion, 1979.

- Voted ministerial student of the year in 1979.

- Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest, North Carolina: Master of Divinity Degree, 1981.

- The Chair of Church Growth at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary was named in Dr. Hunt's honor on March 11, 1997.

- Dr. Hunt received an honorary Doctor of Divinity from Immanuel Baptist Theological Seminary of Sharpsburg, Georgia, and also Doctor of Sacred Laws and Letters from Covington Theological Seminary.

PREVIOUS PASTORATES:

- Lavonia Baptist Church, Mooresboro, North Carolina: July 1976-August 1979, while attending Gardner-Webb College.

- Falls Baptist Church, Wake Forest, North Carolina, while attending Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Led the state of North Carolina in Sunday School growth in 1980 while pastoring and attending seminary.

- Longleaf Baptist Church, Wilmington, North Carolina: May, 1981 - December 1, 1986. Led the state of North Carolina in baptisms in 1983, 1984, and 1985.

[Spencer]

Just a thought about David's first post. He writes:

"She could have just walked away and said "I'm bankrupt and can't pay"

It struck me that if she had done that, she would have been a lot closer to becoming a Christian than otherwise. She refused to give up her pride, her "I can make it" attitude (whether it was making it out of debt, or to heaven)

Yes, I understand and agree with the point of personal responsibility in David's post. But only a debtor can come to Christ. See Matthew 18:23-35

[fredia blackcorn]

Just incase anyone reads these post...35,000 people are dying today of hunger and disease but we choose to discuss a fellow brothers mess ups instead of praying for Him. That to me seems so not what the Lord called us to do, If you want to see a change, be the change you want to see. He messed up, but He has defiantly learn from his mistake. My encouragement to yall bloggers Pray for His family and for him that he will stay close to the heart of Jesus and be bold for Jesus's name.

[Who is Steve Flockhart?]

Steve Flockhart studied at the Covington Theological Seminary. He has served as pastor in three churches including New Season, which is located in Hiram, Georgia. The church started out with 40 members or so then saw a significant growth 15 months after it was opened. At present, the weekly average attendance is 600 with some 300 people baptized and renewing their relationship with Christ.