The Preacher's Pen

by Mark Roberts

The Highland Oaks church of Christ and the Pitman Creek church of Christ are merging. Highland Oaks has about 2000 members, while Pitman Creek has only about 200 members. The smaller church is merging into the larger church, something that happens from time to time as neighborhoods and demographics change. The difference here, however, is that nobody is moving. Pitman Creeks building is located about 14 miles from Highland Oaks and it will remain open and the Pitman Creek members will remain there. They will share common staff, eldership, budget and vision, in what is being called the first "multi-site" church of Christ in America. One of the Highland Oaks elders, Don Crispin, said they will be "one congregation meeting in two locations." (Reported in The Christian Chronicle, "One church, two locations," by Erik Tryggestad, April 2007).

After you pick your jaw up off the floor try to think through this biblically. How can Highland Oaks elders, located fourteen miles away, possibly imagine that they are fulfilling the mandate to "shepherd the flock of God among you" (1 Peter 5:2)? The New Testament pattern is for independent, autonomous congregations to function under local oversight. There is no plan or pattern for a giant "mother church" or church bureaucracy tying congregations together into a denomination or network of churches. Yet this is exactly what Highland Oaks has done. Pitman Creeks minister Steve Roseberry said "In the name of autonomy weve been reluctant to take this on." That is exactly right, Steve! In the name of doing what the Bible says churches of Christ have resisted imitating the Roman Catholic churchs way of doing things! Doesnt Rome oversee smaller churches, just as Highland Oaks is overseeing Pitman Creek? I am quite sure Highland Oaks folks wouldnt care for that comparison, but in principle, how are they different than what the Catholics do? If Highland Oaks can take over one congregation would be it a violation of scripture to take over every congregation in the Dallas area? What about every congregation in Texas or north America or (gulp) even the world? What verse would Highland Oaks use to prove they can oversee one congregation but not every congregation?

Steve Roseberry went on to say "Were all members one to another. That extends across congregational lines." Once again we see the thinking that the body of Christ is made up of congregations, and that misconception has led to Highland Oaks and Pitman Creek teaming up in a mini-version of Roman Catholicism. Yet the church is not made up of congregations, it is made up of Christians. How do those Christians work together? In independent local congregations that are under the oversight of elders (Acts 14:23; 1 Peter 5:1-2). The amazing liberalism of today continues because brethren dont know the teaching of the New Testament, and are determined to be like the world around them. All the "big" churches have satellite churches and now Highland Oaks has one too! Can popes and cardinals be next?