The Church of Cards
by Harry McGee
January 1, 2003
Allen Smith* led one of the fastest-growing, most exciting churches in the Philadelphia* suburbs. He boasted several degrees and awards, including master's degrees and a doctoral degree in clinical psychology from Yale. He was trusted, respected, and widely admired.
When I became his associate at Faith Church, I gained a share in his success: ordination, a nice salary and title, a good reputation, and membership on an elite staff of ten. Five years later, however, our church of cards came tumbling down.
One church member, Doug Creek, had a son who wanted to pursue a graduate degree. While sorting through school catalogues, the young man said to his father, "I don't know which of these schools to apply to, Dad."
Doug remembered Allen's Ivy League credentials. "Why don't you apply to Yale," Doug answered, "where Pastor Smith went."
"No, Dad," his son answered, not realizing the impact his words would have. "Yale doesn't offer a Ph.D. in clinical psychology."
The accusations of deceit against our senior pastor soon splintered Faith Church into three groups—one loyal to Allen, one opposed to him, and one group caught in the crossfire. The war eventually involved the media, the courts, harassing phone calls, and mail fraud.
From the moment Doug accused Pastor Smith of fraud, I found myself facing a series of painful and difficult questions. How should a staff member handle accusations against our senior pastor? How do I cope if the accusers begin to throw mud at everybody? How could I, the new de facto staff leader, shepherd a divided church? What about the media? The money? The lawsuits?
Now, nearly 20 years later, I realize some of the decisions I made were right. Others I regret. I'm thankful, though, that in the long line of ethical ...
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