LCG Claims Disfellowshipments and Markings Are Therapeutic

Did you know that when LCG or any Church of God disfellowships a person  that it has therapeutic benefits for the person and the congregations?  Treating people like shit and publicly humiliating them is therapeutic...who knew!

A sad but necessary function of ministerial authority is to disassociate certain individuals from regular fellowship.  The Bible shows the Church is to be clean (1 Corinthians 5:5; 2 Corinthians 6:14,    17; Ephesians 5:27).  Occasionally, it becomes necessary to initiate a therapeutic action for the good of an individual and the Church.  This action (hopefully temporary) is to expel a person who has brought sin into the congregation.  We understand that we are regularly dealing with persons who are at varying spiritual levels, including the following:

Faithful members Members who are very weak and may not be truly converted Non-members, some of whom:

• Understand but do not subscribe and are peaceable.
• Do not understand but are peaceable.
• Do not understand but are not peaceable.

Former members of the Church, some of whom:
• Wish to return
• May be vindictive 

LCG Pastors Manual pg. 3-12

Do You Have Confidence You Can Go To Your LCG Regional Director About Issues With Your Pastor?

Ever since the Church of God instituted Regional Directors in the church hierarchy, they have been set up as the "go to" person if there is a member complaint about the pastor.

Just hows easy is that to do?  Do you feel your Regional Director would actually listen to you without any recrimination?  Do you think your local pastor would treat you differently once he is corrected by a regional director?

We all know the answer to those questions.  We have all witnessed the reactions of Regional Directors to member complaints.  The member is kicked out!

Notice #5 below....how well has that worked for you?

Here are some of the specific duties a Regional Pastor (or Regional Director) fulfills: 

1. Provides support by giving counsel, direction, and encouragement to Pastors in fulfilling their responsibilities. 

2. Is a Pastor-at-large for the Pastors and Elders who seek or desire spiritual counsel and direction from within the region. 

3. Knows the leading men in the region, to be able to encourage manpower development and have a basis for ordination recommendations. 

4. Fulfills administrative responsibilities of reports, divorce and remarriage review and decisions, and ordination recommendations. 

5. Listens to and seeks to resolve complaints or appeals from the brethren regarding their Pastor or Church area. 

6. Supports the Area Pastor when he, the Area Pastor, is unsuccessful in mediating or resolving conflicts among the brethren in his Pastorate. 

7. Communicates with the Director of Church Administration regarding the needs and spiritual health of the region.

LCG Pastors Manual pg. 3-5