Why Rick Was Asked to Leave

Overview of last ten years
Our church grew to the numbers the elders spoke of when we joined about 10 yrs ago. It expanded rapidly and hired staff ‘quickly.’ In those years since many ‘issues’ ensued which are typical when rapid expansion occurs. The first bump in the road, was the worship director Mike Dwyer. Many members left with/after his departure. Then I think the Dave Nelson debacle and Dave Simonson departure…there was loss after that. Then we started experiencing the reduction of income and the budget wasn’t covering. We had to let Ron Speers go…much dissent and loss of membership over that. And then Scott Pittman left for better ground….our great Jr high program was demolished…people departed over the loss of that program. And then Dave Friese and Matt Odegaard. Somewhere in between all this was the Santa Fe Christian disturbance and division.
Sorry, but these cannot be laid at Rick’s ‘lack of ‘intent’ shepherding and pastoral oversight‘ concerns or ‘loving his family too much‘… We expanded rapidly, hired staff to fulfill those needs, not always staff in complete understanding and ‘on board’ with the church’s 'process' and belief perspective about everything……and at this time we had elders who spent a couple of hours at the church on Sundays.
Point to consider: If many people left because of perhaps ‘misplaced’ loyalty to these ‘peripheral’ staff and programs….how many will the church lose when and if the MAIN voice/Teacher/pastor of the church is fired? Aside from whether people ‘should’ biblically leave for whatever their reasons are, the fact is people DO unfortunately get frustrated, not understand, and leave…… The fact is MORE people will leave than probably all previous staff combined…not just a few like with each departing staff member previously. When people left before, they left because they had personal contact with that staff member leaving, whether it be in the worship, parenteens, children’s ministry areas, etc. ALL ‘feel’ personal contact with Rick.
There are always 3 groups in the church….the “we like ‘em” crowd, “we don’t like ‘em” crowd and the ‘we don’t care’ crowd. But in this scenario with the voice/teacher/pastor…MOST people have an opinion because they have ‘experienced’ contact with Rick. While the elders no doubt have heard from the “we don’t like em crowd’ as evidenced by the ‘critique’ Rick ‘loves his family too much’ *(see below) Me thinks they have grossly underestimated the extent of the ‘we like em crowd’ as well as the potential effect the loss of Rick will have on this body of Christ, biblical or not biblical.
The last ten years' growth/loss will be a speck. Are the elders really willing to ‘cut the baby in half?”

• so...... Why Rick was asked to Leave (L.O.A.)?
  1 What is the ‘philosophy’ difference? Bottom lining, the Elders believe growth comes from small groups and Bible Study scenarios, where people are personally responsible and accountable to others, and there is less emphasis, if any, on ‘teaching the Word.’ Rick believes growth comes from ‘teaching’ where the Holy Spirit works mightily--and this is not just ‘ imparting knowledge’ as well as the smaller group scenarios. Elders want the personal accountability and small group aspect ‘preached’ more. Intentional shepherding does not include ‘the teaching aspect’ for the elders. Rick’s main gifting and concern and emphasis is in strong, biblical teaching of the Word, the elders emphasis is in strong small group and Bible Study connections and accountability and responsibility.

So the question is ‘how do individuals and groups of people/congregations grow spiritually?’

The elders are entrenched and committed that we have to change directions from what Rick has been doing for 31 years to a greater emphasis on being personally accountable to each other in small groups. They want that preached in the message stronger and emphasized more overall. They have perhaps unfairly, labeled Rick’s belief and philosophy at best: “hands off” which isn’t necessarily and completely accurate and at worst: unbiblical.

PS Rick’s “personal issue” alluded to : He ‘loves his family too much.’ (Those are Rick's exact words to describe what the Elders mean.) They feel the examples and illustrations Rick uses with his family are ‘too much.’ {wow Personally, it is great to see a person verbalize that much love for family…..and as another member said, ‘what a great example to aspire to……’ but I can see where this makes many who are not at this point feel ‘uncomfortable.’ It is a high standard.But what teachers doesn't use examples from their personal life, I.E. John Tebay, my word, The Carr's ministry is based on their personal life!}
Rick cites Biblical Scripture which supports his aspect that one ‘shepherd’ may not necessarily be gifted and strong in every aspect of a ‘shepherding’ the elders mentioned but God provides in the Body. If I am not mistaken, I believe that IS one of the principles upon which he founded the church---that no on man can be 'it all' to the church system . After all, Moses had Aaron…and Miriam. Also, Deborah had Barak….or Barak had Deborah. Gee, even the God of the ALL is Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Eph 4: 11 “It was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up…” and in the Greek, that ‘pastor and teacher’ idea goes together. Rick is fulfilling his gift as well as the other areas of the Biblical scripture laid out by the Elders in support of ‘what an elder is to be.’ And of course, Rick says, he could do better in the ‘hands on’ aspect…but then can’t that be said of all of us?
2
The ‘message’ of small groups and accountability is valid and no one, including Rick disputes this…but to all of us THIS HAS been very well emphasized and made clear over the last years……but what Rick and the Elders cannot change (only the Spirit can) is the makeup, faults and the machinations of our attenders, our members, the Southern California, and specifically the less-than-perfect Encinitas culture. Regardless of our professed desire for spiritual growth, unfortunately, paying our high rents, mortgages, cost of living, maintaining our style of living, educating and making sure our children have the best schools, childhood experiences and extra-curricular activities silently and inevitably still competes in our Encinitas culture for first place. Until those individuals, families and ‘each’ is moved and convicted BY THE SPIRIT to abide by Mathew 6:33 and place the Father and His Kingdom first I.E. Put their JOBS, CHILDREN, LEISURE TIME, SLEEP, FREEDOM, TIME and whatever into His Providing Hands completely…a far second---small groups will not flourish. Our Encinitas culture and many of our members still cannot make the leap to FULLY entrust and commit this verse in a real way and sense in their lives. We are still keeping THAT part of our lives under our 'own' meticulous, organized, carefully or not so carefully planned control-- continually coming to the wrong conclusion---we do NOT have the time to commit to a small group….it has to be ‘fit in’….and no amount of preaching and emphasis is going to have the scales fall from their eyes…until the Holy Spirit moves in them and they receive, and ACT upon that "wild abandonment" themselves.
　
3
So where are we? . This hasn’t happened overnight. Before John Tebay came, this is the path the Elders wanted and were headed…it never died, was passed on down to the Board today and now has been revived over the last 6 months more fierce than ever. The course of the Elders sure seemed set by the tone of that last meeting, regardless of what they are publicly speaking. Their heels, especially two of them, seemed very well dug-in. And that is meant in the best of way. Diplomatically they can’t claim out loud, “either Rick changes to our way of thinking or else” but their body language and fielding of questions and responses seemed to indicate that. In essence, that seems to be clearlywhat they are saying and doing when they send him away to ’think, pray and reflect’ ---sounds reminiscent of children when they are sent to their rooms to contemplate their actions?--- and do not eliminate the concern of the majority of the attenders when they ask about what will happen when Rick comes back. Not taking calming our concerns is preparing us for the shock to come.

some thoughts to consider

• Isn’t it the end of the fiscal year soon? In 6 weeks? When does the Leave of Absence end?
• It certainly is much easier to ‘get things moved along’ without the dissenter amongst the meetings?
• It seemingly looks like the Elders are 'taking all possible measures." But, how do you ‘work things out’ without the ’opposition’ present? {Would we be advised to send our spouse away in order to work things out in our marriages?} yes, a marriage structure and a church system is different......somewhat.... isn't there something in there about the bride of Christ, etc?
• and by the way....who cares that someone else has said 'we have given Rick more than enough grace over the years" I am pretty sure...there is NO END TO GRACE. '7 X 70 for forgiveness' or something like that. ....applies
• The ‘majority rules’ or 'four elders against one' reasoning...even among Elders isn’t completely valid. Oswald says “the value of ’advice’ cannot be judged by the number of people ’for’ or ‘against’ it.” As AL Menconi alluded to, ALOT of our congregation has benefited from Rick’s solid Biblical teaching, are Bereans and we not all ’dumb sheep.’ We understand the problems of this body of Christ, the Scripture and study it like an Elder does too, and DO NOT AGREE with this course of action. So if the elders are going to stand by ’the majority rules thing” better poll the majority not 'pole' the majority--keep at a distant. (and yes, we know we can't have the mob mentality running the show.)
  
• Along with that, we ALL can ‘get it wrong.’ Instead of making sure the Scriptures are on ‘our side’ we better make sure ‘we are on Scripture’s and God’s side….and be POSITIVE ---which is impossible to be in this situation---before radically changing what has survived 30 years. In 2 Kings 12, I think, Rehoboam got counsel from the Elders that had counseled his father Solomon, and then from those younger men he had grown up with. He rejected the counsel of the elders of his father and followed the council of those he had grown up with and it turned out disastrous.
  
• In comparison, a man who has dedicated his life to serving the Lord, irrespective of financial gain, totally trusting in the Lord to supply all his needs and in the ‘physical’ world, whose chosen profession--a pastor; Rick’s philosophy and if you will, interpretation--- vs. four younger Elders--business men in the ‘physical’ world-- overall proportion of time spent in a secular profession, however, in all fairness---very, very dedicated to God in their personal lives…… Again, not to say anyone ‘can’t get it wrong‘ but who is more likely to have an all-compassing perspective?
• Whatever happened to ‘UNITY in the essentials, and GRACE in the nonessentials?’ Isn’t the ONLY ESSENTIAL Jesus? Work it out--gentlemen----- together.
• However, BUT GOD, and the Elders DO believe that God can work…..AND Rick is counting on God to work, as He did when John Tebay was brought into our midst and altered the Elders’ course of action a few years ago.'

• Now is not the time to be passive congregation...the Elders have heard from the squeaky wheels, now the the well-oiled wheels---- give some imput--IN LOVE AND PRAYER--talk to your Elders.
  
• PRAY, PRAY, PRAY, PRAY, PRAY, PRAY, PRAY, PRAY, PRAY, PRAY, PRAY, PRAY