Navigating Church Choices: Discernment and Accountability

On this episode of the Church Disrupted Podcast, Jeff Cochran is joined by local church pastor Cody Farris. From a disagreement on social media, they started a conversation that eventually led to this podcast about church leadership, accountability, and how churches should respond to scandals and allegations of spiritual abuse. They also talk about important factors to consider when looking for a healthy church after church hurt. Other topics discussed include NDAs in churches, plagiarism in sermons, handling abuse allegations, and church finances. This one is a can't miss. It's honest, authentic, and incredibly refreshing. Want to support SAI financially? https://donorbox.org/sai-initial-funding-campaign THANK YOU to our podcast partner, the East TN Mentorship Association! Find out more information about what they do or connect with them at https://earnyoursanctuary.com/ . TELL THEM WE SENT YOU for a special rate that is ONLY for Church Disrupted Podcast listeners. Find out more about the Church Disrupted Podcast at https://www.disrupted.church/. Join the church disrupted COMMUNITY here: https://discord.gg/nbWwg8Sz6Z Please Subscribe and Share! Chapters 00:00 Introduction: Disagreement and Growth 04:37 Building a Healthy Church 08:53 The Importance of Adhering to a Statement of Faith 18:11 Understanding the Essentials of Eschatology 29:50 Preventing Spiritual Abuse: The Role of Elders and Congregational Involvement 32:38 Evaluating a Church: History, Elders, and Congregation Involvement 34:03 Prioritizing Spiritual Growth over Church Growth 35:28 The Importance of Accountability in Preventing Spiritual Abuse 36:27 The Role of Overseers and Checks and Balances in Church Governance 37:54 Excommunication: Maintaining the Holiness of the Congregation 40:11 Finding a Healthy and Mature Congregation 01:05:19 Finding a Healthy Church: Faithful Preaching, Sacraments, and Church Discipline 01:09:59 Accountability and Testing Leaders in the Church 01:13:21 Handling Abuse Allegations: Taking Them Seriously and Involving External Parties if Necessary 01:17:47 Transparency in Church Finances: Building Trust and Dispelling Misconceptions 01:23:01 Addressing Plagiarism in Sermons: Quoting and Referencing with Permission 01:30:37 Navigating Church Hurt: Holding onto Christ as the Head of the Imperfect Church 01:33:01 Taking Theology and Church Structure Seriously as Church Leaders