Can you believe she was banned from her lifelong church?

2015-09-17T21:59:10-04:00

https://gma.yahoo.com/why-103-old-woman-banned-her-life-long-223733490--abc-news-topstories.html

Why a 103-Year-Old Woman Was Banned From Her Life-Long Church

Genora Hamm Biggs joined Union Grove Baptist Church in Elberton, Georgia, when she was just 11 years old and now, almost a century later, she was told she was “not to come back to the church, not even on the ground,” she told ABC News today. She and the Rev. Timothy Mattox have disagreed on his way of preaching since he was hired six years ago, she said, but their problems came to a head when he put out a motion to remove her from the church...

Response by CW4 Guy Butler made Sep 17 at 2015 10:04 PM

2015-09-17T22:04:40-04:00

That's one of the things with congregational churches like the Baptist church. Each is its own separate entity with no hierarchy to appeal to. It tends to be both a strength and a weakness.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 17 at 2015 10:17 PM

2015-09-17T22:17:41-04:00

Based on the one-sidedness of this article, I would go out on a limb and state that the pastor is not being very Christian(y). I believe the bible has a parable about forgiveness that essentially translates to always forgive no matter how many times the problem occurs. I think both that pastor and this women need to reread that passage and then sit down to talk out their issues.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 17 at 2015 10:25 PM

2015-09-17T22:25:46-04:00

Man. Nothing illegal per say about this, it's definitely an issue within that church, and if I were her I wouldn't want to go back. Sounds like an awful situation, but not much else to do.

Response by SSgt Terry P. made Sep 17 at 2015 11:50 PM

2015-09-17T23:50:00-04:00

Not a very "Christian" attitude.

Response by CPO Andy Carrillo, MS made Sep 18 at 2015 1:58 AM

2015-09-18T01:58:13-04:00

James 1:27--"Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you." My money is on Ms. Biggs being more grounded in the gospel than Rev. Gettout Now!

Response by Cpl Jeff N. made Sep 18 at 2015 6:25 AM

2015-09-18T06:25:03-04:00

This can be a real issue in Churches that do not have a strong governing body with a Book of Church Order that outlines discipline (Biblical) within the Church. There is likely no ruling elders or Session at this Church to go to. Normally, a group like the Ruling Elders hires a Pastor and lets them go if they do not care for the results. Many Baptist Churches have very loose processes in this area.

There appears to be a lot missing in the story. The purpose of the story appears solely to be to generate sympathy for the elderly woman and not necessarily report what happened. She may be 100% right or 100% wrong.

Response by SGT Anthony Rossi made Sep 20 at 2015 3:32 AM

2015-09-20T03:32:24-04:00

There isn't enough information here for me to formulate any opinion. It's to bad that this had to make its way into the public scene.