Very unsafe church leadership! CCO needs a leadership turnover that knows how to treat people equally and with respect. Be careful what you share with people or you may get gossiped about, attacked, and kicked out of the church. Zero accountability for church leadership.
Is it right that a pastor is so arrogant that he tells you he needs to be careful to not have an affair with you? Is it right that the pastor's wife is so insecure in her marriage that she throws her pre-marital sex life with the pastor in your face? No, it's completely inappropriate and disturbing and the pastor should step down.
Is it right when you call out leadership on their inexcusable behavior that they verbally attack you by calling you names and then kick you out of the church? No, absolutely not.
Is it right that a member of the congregation writes a letter of complaint to all leadership and instead of having a meeting to hear her side of what happened, they talk only to the pastor and take his side? No, this shows favoritism within the church and this is how abuses are allowed to continue.
Is it right that you are told by the women's ministry "counselor" that your confidentiality will be kept and then she goes and breaks that confidence? No, she shouldn't be in leadership if she deliberately lies to get information to use against you. It's the same for the pastor - is it right that you write in confidence and say not to share with anyone the private issues you have and then they go behind your back and do just that? No, it's shameful.
Is it right that a volunteer is told they must pay $1,000 to volunteer for the church? Is it right that the pastor promises to serve homeless women and children but then sells the house that was used to home these women and kids (the house was donated to the church). No, the church is not a business and people are not to be taken advantage of, lied to, or abandoned.
Is it right that leadership says their unwritten policy is that people can serve in the church after 6 months of attendance but then someone they don't like must be there at least 3 years to "maybe" serve? No, again back to inequality and favoritism.
A man calls and leaves a voice mail with a pastor that he is suicidal. He doesn't get a call back. Is that right? A woman calls and says she has no food and is homeless. She doesn't get a call back. Is this right? No, if you can't do your job, step down and let someone take your place who can and actually wants to serve others.
I have experienced and seen first hand so much spiritual abuse in the 2 years I attended this church. The pastor even wanted me to get in front of the whole church to share about surviving an awful and traumatizing assault. There is no compassion for you there unless you are one of them. I was even told by a family I thought I was close to that if I left this church I would be "out of sight and out of mind" and I knew that was it for me. A church should never be insular or dangerous. Home study leaders shouldn't tell you that maybe if you're there at least 5 years, then you'd feel more welcome. A church shouldn't be about what they can get from you. A church shouldn't feel like a cult or a high-school with cliques. Leadership is fallible and I don't expect perfection but this goes so far beyond wrong I'm genuinely in shock that the leadership team is still there. They should exude the love of Jesus, not judge and criticize and then lie to cover up their bad behavior. It's just not right. I haven't attended this church in a few years now and the bad taste left is still very palpable, which is what is prompting this review. That's the power of this awful thing called spiritual abuse and the pastor and his leadership team (aka his fans) should step down and make way for new leadership who will treat all people with care and respect. And let's not even get started on how the church treats marginalized people groups. Please, please be careful. I hope this review helps save someone from the pain this church causes if you aren't the "right fit" for them. read more