Ousted Pastor of S.C. Megachurch has had Close Ties to Elevation’s Furtick

The Charlotte Observer ^ | July 12, 2016 | Tim Funk and Rick Rothacker

[Cecily]

A pastor ousted by his megachurch in South Carolina over problems that included alcohol use has been a close friend of Elevation Church pastor Steven Furtick and has served on the board of overseers at the Charlotte church.

As recently as 2014, Perry Noble – removed July 1 by the board at NewSpring Church in Anderson, S.C. – was described as the longest serving member of the Elevation board. Elevation officials did not respond Tuesday to requests for comment on whether he was still on the board.

Elevation, started in 2006, is one of the fastest growing evangelical churches in America, and it draws about 20,000 people to services every weekend at its 10 locations in and around Charlotte.

A 2014 issue of a magazine published for Elevation’s members called Noble “one of Pastor Steven’s closest friends,” referring to Furtick.

[Cecily]

Perry Noble was dismissed.

[Gamecock]

Indeed he was. FR thread: Perry Noble removed as pastor at NewSpring for personal behavior related to alcohol

[PAR35]

Ping?

[AppyPappy]

Rather odd reasoning. You have to wonder if there was something else.

[wardaddy]

Demon alcohol

A celebrated high fived over scourge

I wonder what percentage of drinkers develop problems from it

[Gamecock]

Sure, why not!

All of this reeks of too much of a big bidness environment. Why would a pastor of one church sit on the "board" of another church?

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[Migraine]

There usually is something else, maybe multiple foibles. I have observed this, though: in Christianity, bigness, especially sudden bigness, carries with it a number of sometimes fatal pitfalls. #1 of course is money; but not far behind are stardom (a big no-no in the Gospel) and groupies, who ingratiate themselves via sexual availability. It is the rare man who can combat these successfully all at once, especially when his flunkies are in on it, too.

[Cecily]

It’s the Churchianity version of crony capitalism, or logrolling.

[Mr Rogers]

January 2014 article on how “Elevation” is run:

“At the great majority of churches - in Charlotte, in the Southern Baptist Convention, even in the cutting-edge world of megachurches - the congregation or elected lay leaders make the final decisions on budgets, debt and salaries.

Elevation does have a five-person governing board. But it offers none of these seats to those who actually fill up the church’s theater-like sanctuaries every Saturday and Sunday.

Instead, Furtick and four out-of-town megachurch pastors direct the church’s $25 million budget, its ambitious building program, its debt and a host of other matters.

This “board of overseers” also sets the salary and housing allowance for the 33-year-old pastor, using a compensation study of a range of churches that’s conducted by a law firm the church won’t identify.”

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/living/religion/article89164002.html#storylink=cpy

I cannot imagine WANTING to be part of a church that hides salaries and has no local oversight!

[Tax-chick]

Rev. Noble’s alcoholism is not very relevant to Elevation Church. Plenty of other Southern Baptist ministers (as well as clergy of every other stripe) have had problems with the drink.

I’m underwhelmed by Rev. Furtick, but the Charlotte Observer is an anti-Christian piece of Democrat propaganda trash. I haven’t bought one since my snake died.

[Gamecock]

**Rev. Noble’s alcoholism is not very relevant to Elevation Church.**

Except that he was on the ruling body.

[Gamecock]

WOW! What a lack of accountability to the members.

This “board of overseers” also sets the salary and housing allowance for the 33-year-old pastor, using a compensation study of a range of churches that’s conducted by a law firm the church won’t identify.”

In the past have been involved in setting out pastor's salary. We decided that his salary should reflect that of the congregation. His housing allowance should allow him to live in a manner consistent with that of the members. We were a middle class church, the pastor should have a similar lifestyle as his flock.

[burghguy]

Pastor Furtick lives in a 17,000 sq.ft. house which cost $1.7 Million. I will let you decide if this is a church or a cult.

[metmom]

That’s not a hard one.

[Tax-chick]

Except that he was on the ruling body.

Well, yes, but do you really think the "ruling body" does much ruling? I doubt it made any difference if this fellow was drunk.

[PAR35]

The megachurches sound like they have a pretty good deal. I'll set your salary that I don't have to pay, and you set my salary that you don't have to pay. No conflict there, wink, wink. using a compensation study of a range of churches that’s conducted by a law firm the church won’t identify.

There are plenty of places to get legitimate salary surveys.

We were a middle class church, the pastor should have a similar lifestyle as his flock.

We are a wealthier church, so the preacher should be making a good bit more than I do. He certainly lives in a more expensive neighborhood.

If you are Presbyterian, then the Presbytery acts as a secondary level of control on the pastor's salary.

[Tax-chick]

It’s a Southern Baptist Church. I do not consider the SBC a cult.

[AppyPappy]

The problem wasn’t that he was an alcoholic.
The problem was his drinking.

[Gamecock]

Did you see post #9?

[AppyPappy]

Or they could just get nothing from the congregation.

IIRC This preacher isn’t paid by his congregation. And he can say anything he wants from the pulpit. And does. I seriously expect he is a freeper.

http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=1160611040