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I've been banned from my church.

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Hugh McBryde

Hugh McBryde

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Just that. Because of my stance on marriage, or at least, indirectly because of that stance.
 
Hugh McBryde said:
Just that. Because of my stance on marriage, or at least, indirectly because of that stance.
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Sorry to hear this Hugh. I will be praying for you and your family!
 
Perhaps He is reminding you again what "come out of her, My people," means, Hugh. Which old jokester was it that was credited with saying, "I've been thrown out of better joints that this!"?

Having been there, done that, I can honestly sympathize. But it is worth noting that He has warned us -- repeatedly -- to expect such things. Even to the point that the "world will hate us" for His sake. There really does come a point where we are to shake the dust off of our feet as a "witness against them", and then be thankful for His Word, and His mercy.

I could go on, and quote Scripture after Scripture. But the point remains that we are to be "watchmen on the wall", and blow the shofar...but then our duty has been done. There really are some with ears, who "will not hear". Be thankful He has given you all the guidance you need to go now and cast your pearls elsewhere.

Blessings,

Mark
 
I think you are way too quick to want to get out of the organized Church Mark. The early believers met in Solomon's portico of the temple. It didn't seem they were keen on getting out of the self same church that had just finished crucifying the LORD. I'm none too eager to "come out" nor am I that eager to apply the label that is necessary to "come out."

Getting BOOTED out, finally and completely, perhaps that is useful in the end. Luther was booted out.
 
Just for your belief?!? I guess I shouldn't be surprised. Was your family really close with people there? I can imagine that would be hard. But just like Jesus, we can trust we're on the right path especially when the "religious" have a problem with us.
 
Pretty much for my belief. The cover story was that some anonymous member felt threatened by this post at my blog. I was in the process of challenging the church on formal membership. They kept procrastinating on the issue, and it seems from the evidence, that they have lied to me about it as well.

Eventually I stated I would contact the congregation and demand to be considered as a member, and that's when this whole monkey flinging poo business started.
 
Hugh McBryde said:
... and that's when this whole monkey flinging poo business started.
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I don't know if you were trying to be funny, but that phrase just cracked me up! :lol: I can see how that blog post might have caused a stir. I guess you kind of predicted getting thrown out in your blog, ay?!?
 
Sorry to hear that, Hugh. Happened to me about 8 years ago. I keep going anyway.
 
Stir, maybe. But they didn't know the blog existed, as amazing as that may seem. I have never lied to anyone, but I haven't promoted it in the church. The church began to pretend I was doing so because they had "Demanded" that of me, when I had volunteered that behavior without prompting. When I started putting the pressure on them, they sent me this:
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,



Greetings in the Name of the One born to bear our guilt and sin away to the Cross that we might know the joy of Salvation and the Unity which comes from being part of His Body, the Church. Thank you for your prayers for us as your Elders as we seek to serve as undershepherds to that “Great Shepherd of the sheep,” Jesus Christ.



It has come to our attention that an email was sent out by Hugh McBryde to the COPC e-mail list—a list that includes church members, former members, attenders, and others. His email was concerning his dispute with the COPC session in denying his request to become a member of the church at this time. We are saddened that Hugh chose to send this email, against our counsel, especially right before Christmas.



Since he sent the email, however, it is important that we, as a session, briefly respond to it. We want to assure you of the following:

1. the issue that Hugh calls a ‘minor disagreement’ is not minor. It involves both believing and publicly advocating, especially via the internet, a position that that is so seriously sinful that no church throughout all of Christendom accepts it. We can assure you that we are not being petty.

2. We have worked with Hugh in a pastoral and confidential manner, and are willing to continue doing so, as we would with anyone else.

3. He has been welcome to attend Sunday worship and all other church events, as long as he did not advocate his error with church members and attenders. As far as we know, he has abided by that request.

4. His act of sending out an email to a large church list, and in that email charging the session with wrongdoing is an offense against the church; it is not the proper biblical manner to resolve such issues. And for the good of the church, we will not be drawn into an email volley about issues that ought to be handled pastorally. NOTE: We have sent our emailed response only to those to whom Hugh sent his email. We request that you do not forward these emails to anyone else.



Thank-you for your prayers for us, and for Hugh. If you have any questions or concerns about these things, please feel free to call any member of the session.



Many blessings to you, and have a wonderful Christmas celebration.



The Session of COPC"
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Keep in mind that until the above letter is sent out, no one at the church outside the session, has visited my blog, or knows anything about it. One or two members are vaguely aware that I do blog but have never shown an interest in reading it.
Then they sent this:
12/26/09


Dear Hugh,



We, the elders of Covenant OPC, are agreed that we must ask you not to attend any worship services, classes, or any other church event, or go onto the church property, effective immediately, and until further notice.



These are our reasons:

1. Your words posted on your blog on 12/23/09, “It won't be long until my passion spills out into the aisles of my own church, and I can't tell you what will happen then,” have been understood as extremely threatening to some in the church, and they have caused real fear in their hearts. In reading your words in context, the session does not understand them as an intent of physical violence; however, they are so incredibly inflammatory that it has raised even more serious concerns about you. You sound like a very angry man. We have a responsibility to protect the well-being of the flock, and to do that we will take whatever prudent and appropriate actions are necessary.



2. Our boundary with you has been that you do not talk with church people about your views about polygamy. By sending your email to the church list, in violation of presbyterian government, you effectively (if perhaps unintentionally) violated that boundary by virtually ensuring that more church people would search and find your blog.



3. Our reason for having welcomed you to attend services was that you might grow under the preaching of the Word under the oversight of church leadership. Your words and actions indicate that you have rejected that oversight. That being the case, we have even greater concern about your stated agenda to spread your false teaching, and we must take prudent and appropriate measures to protect our brothers and sisters from it.



Hugh, we hope and pray that this will not be a permanent requirement, but that you will repent of your errors and publicly repudiate them. As a first step we would like to immediately receive from you a written explanation of the words from your blog that are quoted above. Second, if that explanation is satisfactory to us, we would be willing to meet with you at our regularly scheduled session meeting on January 11, 2010, to discuss our decision with you, to pray for you, and review your status. Please let us know if you would like to meet with us then. Again, though, we insist that you do not attend any COPC functions before that time.



Sincerely,
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Hugh McBryde said:
Just that. Because of my stance on marriage, or at least, indirectly because of that stance.
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I'm sorry to hear that, Hugh. It may feel a little disheartening but if it's for your stance on plural marriage, then you are not in the wrong, they are. The problem is with trying to show others how plural marriage is not a sin.

Although, I know you didn't stand up in the middle of service to proclaim your position on plural marriage, but I know I wouldn't find it necessary to do so. There's probably NO pastor that I can agree with 100%, and I know I couldn't just get up and leave a church group based off of any type of disagreement otherwise I could not work with anyone. Some times, we have to work with people, Church members included, even when we disagree, and clearly your Church group was not willing to do that, in my opinion.
 
Well, if they don't even want you on the church property ...

Guess ya gotta dust off yer shoes and go somewheres else.
 
Wow Hugh. I cannot even believe how harsh those letters are. Really - whoa. And to call PM sin...unbelievable. Even when I was deadset against just the thought of PM, I knew that my own Bible never labeled it as sin. I'll stop there before I start going on a rant about the Bible illiteracy of the modern day "church." :(
 
I've sent them a letter that states I intend to show up on Sunday, the 3rd.
 
Hugh McBryde said:
I've sent them a letter that states I intend to show up on Sunday, the 3rd.
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I wonder if there are any poly-friendly churches in your area. Then again, I'd want to know if there are any poly-friendly churches anywhere in the U.S. other than Utah.
 
There aren't any poly friendly ones, unless they also think you can marry a rabbit.
 
As someone who's been kicked out a of a church over plural marriage, Hugh, I sympathize, and we'll be praying for you, I know how tough it can be, when you are very invested with a body of believers - we still grieve, 13 years later. I have to ask with Lissa, "Why?" would you consider going next Sunday? If that's the way they feel, really what is served? I know you feel you shouldn't have to stay away, since you aren't wrong. But really, isn't the fellowship already broken there (by them) over this issue? You can say "I don't see it as an issue worthy of breaking fellowship over", since it's not a salvation issue - but if they do, I don't see the benefit. Stay in communication with the leaders if you feel so led, as long as you think it productive, but if they would see your presence as disruptive, I think you demonstrate the higher moral ground by honoring their request.

There may not be any other non-Mormon plural friendly churches in the US that we know of, but we do have the seeds of home churches in Dallas and Orlando, and more coming eventually. If you feel so led, get in the car and drive to SC retreat this weekend, and join us for fellowship and worship! We'd love to have you, 33 adults and just as many kids, and nobody telling you how wrong you are - we'd lift you up and pray for you, brother.

God bless, will be praying you have wisdom, and hear God's heart,

Nathan
 
I guess it is because they are going about it the wrong way, and this isn't a style question, it's a doctrine question. How you handle disputes of this sort is a doctrinal issue. "Booting" someone in private, isn't kosher.
 
Well said Hugh, but I can see following procedures and letting you state your case publicly would not go over well.
 
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