I'm always wary of positive reviews where the business in question is all over the site (i.e. argues, corrects, or responds to, etc every negative review). I agree with James W's review about the money, nepotism, and lack of accountability to the church body since it is a family run business. I have had several friends that taught for the school and they have confirmed that kids and grandkids of employees get free tuition at the school. However, they could be misinformed.
I have also heard Pastor C on occasion mention checking people's tithe records after they have come to him with a problem. I have also been uncomfortable with him ridiculing people (even though not by name) on stage in front of the whole congregation (For example: "I had someone come to me this week saying the music is too loud. Really? You dont have anything else to worry about?") Especially when there really have been times where the comments he is putting down on stage were ones where others In the congregation agree (such as a time when the music really was uncomfortably loud for several weeks when he could have used that as an opportunity to inform the sound team rather than humiliating someone on stage).
I have never been to a church before where members didnt vote on and receive a summary of where their tithes are going. I have never had this made available to me here. When I and friends have asked about a summary of where our $ is going (even just % to missions, salary, etc), we were immediately asked instead of answered, 'Are you tithing? Are you serving?" And the church pastor definitely plays favorites with who they help out financially in times of job loss, etc, as I have personally experienced. Also, the church nursery directors and volunteers arent on the same page about their policies. I have had several occasions where I have been told contradictory information about policies and practices by the different kids' ministers, directors, and workers. I was treated with condescension and like her time was way too important by the children's ministry director for even HAVING questions. Yes, the workers are volunteers, but it is the paid staff's job to ensure they understand and are upholding the practices they tell the parents they are using.
In summary, many of the church staff and congregation are awesome, genuinely helpful people, but the pastor, former pastor, and his family could step back and have more accountability, humility, and yes, less pride and greed. I have been a member of several "mega churches" through the years due to moves, and have never had such a rich church act so desperate for money, yet not tell you where it is going. When I first started attending, the church was BRAND new, had skateboard ramps and video game consoles, etc in the youth areas (I know because I volunteered in those areas), but they weree constantly in sermons talking about what message we were sending to the youth by giving them such a rundown, unfinished Fire Escape. It has been remodeled in various ways (same way with other areas of the church in the years I attended), yet people who needed money for missions were turned away for missions (i.e. a long time member and friend who needed money to do a year in A mission program was denied money from us, her home church, but random other churches gave her love offerings just for visiting!)
Yes, we give money to a church in peru for example, (though how much and how often, you will never be told) where in return their staff came and preached about how we should be giving more money to our church; and to the pastor's brother's church in northern va (nepotism again).
And while I am sure Brian will respond with genuine concern because he is a good guy, as are many of the staff members, the actual head honchos, who are the only ones with any real power to address any concerns would do nothing about it and likely just ridicule me on stage in front of the whole church ( though not by name). Hence, why I stopped calling or trying to meet with staff with any concerns and changed churches. read more
