Gardendale 165 seek new churches Dispute click here

Gardendale 165 seek new churches Dispute pits modern vs. traditional worship backers. Caller-Times July 22, 2004 Gardendale Baptist Church has been the cornerstone of Herb Fondren's life for more than 60 years. He and his wife raised four daughters in the church and watched each one marry there. He has taught Sunday school and served on advisory boards. And, as of Sunday, he is no longer welcome there. "It's very disappointing and hurtful," said Fondren, 74. Advertisement Last weekend Fondren was one of 165 people voted out of the church's membership for disagreeing with some of the decisions of Senior Pastor Micah Davidson. Fondren and his wife, Joyce, plan to search for a new church home. "I'm sure we'll visit some of the other local churches and find a place where we can worship and feel like we can contribute," Fondren said. On Sunday, Davidson called a special business meeting in which he told members they would vote on two recommendations, the first to decide if he should remain as pastor and the second, to eliminate those members who voted against him, if it was decided he should stay. Associate Pastor John Gilbert, 59, estimated that of the church's 1,500 membership, 1,039 attended Sunday's meeting. There is some disagreement about the number of people who voted to keep Davidson on board. Some say it was around 450, but Gilbert said ushers estimated more like 750. "We did have some people abstain who said it was too painful and refused to do it," Gilbert said. Gilbert said the way opposing members behaved during the videotaped meeting helped convince others that voting them out was the right thing to do. A request to view the tape was declined. Davidson declined to comment on why the vote to eliminate members was necessary, but Gilbert spoke on the church's behalf. "This has been brewing for a while," Gilbert said. "There have been lots of meetings and discussions over the last year and a half to try and resolve differences. Pastor Micah has gone to incredible lengths to try and make things work. But just like a divorce, this has built up to this point, and it's been painful for everyone. There is a possibility of reconciliation but (the 165) have to be open to that themselves." The 165 members were told they could all come back if they agreed to sign a covenant for church unity. "I can't and I won't do that," said Grady Jackson, 81, who had been a member for 35 years. "I won't sign something that says I can come back if I follow his leadership, no questions asked. That's what he really means." Jackson said for more than a year he personally tried to speak to Davidson about changes within the church, like the elimination of Wednesday and Sunday night services and the incorporation of less traditional music and programs that made some of the older members feel alienated. "In many respects our church under this pastor has a much more energetic service than some of us would like to see, with lots of hand-clapping and jumping up and dancing. Some of us would have like to see it toned down a bit," Jackson said. "I realize these are all trends among some churches, and we are not against change if it is for the church and doesn't leave anyone out." Gilbert said the problem boiled down to older members who didn't want to let go of older traditions. For months, he said, there were e-mails filled with misinformation, gossip circulating through the congregation and secret meetings held in an attempt to convince people that Davidson, 33, should step down. "When voting to remove them from the rolls, we were saying we know you are unhappy with the leadership and want you to go to a church that you can be happy and productive and that you want to be a part of," Gilbert said. But Jackson said their meetings were never a secret and only meant to determine concerns and possible solutions. In the end, he said, the real problem wasn't about the music or service times. "None of us in the group ever asked (Davidson) for a resignation. We have been supportive of his leadership," he said. "We have only asked that he consider some of our desires. He refused to take any suggestion seriously." Gardendale Baptist Church's mission statement says part of its purpose as a family is to love each other unconditionally, so that all people everywhere can discover real life in Christ. But Fondren said the church failed to live out that mission. "Calling for a vote pitting friends against friends and even family members against one another, rather than praying and working toward reconciliation, could only result in many fine people being hurt and hinder the cause of Christ," he said.