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It's an idea whose time has come. What is wrong with allowing our ministers to preach the Gospel where the opportunity presents itself?As long as the doctrine being preached is not heretical or against COG doctrine what is the harm? We have men and women desiring to minister buy there are no opportunities for them within the denomination in that area. But what if they feel called to that area? If an opportunity to minister or pastor comes in that area, what is the harm in allowing it?Here is another wrinkle. We have men and women who labor with no pay or even end up paying church expenses out of their own pockets. If an opportunity comes to work in the Kingdom of God arises that will not only give them great opportunities but enable them to draw a salary that will enable them to meet their families needs, why not allow them to do so? I don't see the problem if the church or organization is not contrary to church doctrine.What possible objections could there be?Why so afraid to do so?Is it a control issue?I look forward to discussion on this issue

When Dr. Lynn Stone appointed me to this church back in 1998 I didn't have creds with the CoG & in fact I didn't even have an application in the state office for consideration to become a CoG minister.I pastored this church for 24 months (2 years) with A/G creds & it was only when I brought it to the attn of the state office that we finally made the switch.If it works like that from time to time I don't know what would inhibit a CoG guy ministering outside the denom.But I happen to know that some do Empty nest syndrome is for the birds!Email me at: [email protected] planters are focused on just one thing ...introducing people to Jesus!

When Dr. Lynn Stone appointed me to this church back in 1998 I didn't have creds with the CoG & in fact I didn't even have an application in the state office for consideration to become a CoG minister.I pastored this church for 24 months (2 years) with A/G creds & it was only when I brought it to the attn of the state office that we finally made the switch.If it works like that from time to time I don't know what would inhibit a CoG guy ministering outside the denom.But I happen to know that some do. It used to be that if you did it you could have your papers pulled for disloyalty but in latter years they came up with catch all phrases with no definition like sowing seeds of discord or the timed honored insubordination.But what is the root cause?Is it a control issue or is it something larger

I always figured it had to do with loyalty and the minister’s tithes. If you allow a CoG minister to pastor a non-CoG, his personal tithes never make it past the local church level. Maybe if they set it up to where he could send his tithes into the CoG, that might work, but I would imagine it could be difficult to enforce that. Funny thing is, when I was in the AG, they usually had little problem with an AG minister pastoring an independent church, so long as he upheld AG doctrine and sent in his appropriate amount of personal tithes into the AG at the sectional, district, and national level. However, an AG evangelist had to get permission from the sectional presbyter and local AG pastor if he wanted to preach a revival in a non-AG church. So on this issue, the AG does things exactly opposite to how the CoG does it.

I know an A/G guy who was invited to preach at a Baptist church in Texas & they loved him so much he was eventually hired. They know the doctrinal issues are different but they love the guy & Springfield says it's a great fit for both parties Empty nest syndrome is for the birds!Email me at: [email protected] planters are focused on just one thing ...introducing people to Jesus!

I wonder if Jentezen Franklin has ever been under any denominational pressure to give up one of his denominationally issued creds, if in fact that still exists Empty nest syndrome is for the birds!Email me at: [email protected] planters are focused on just one thing ...introducing people to Jesus!

Do the Minutes still say the minister should pay tithes where his/her membership is? It says nothing though of the spouse. They can tithe where they choose I guess

The Jentezen Franklin deal is strange indeed. My thought is, if we’re going to allow a CoG-credentialed minister like Franklin (nothing against him, and personally I’m fine with allowing a CoG minister to pastor a non-CoG church), to pastor a non-CoG church, we really should allow all CoG ministers to do so, provided the state overseer is okay with it, of course.

From the pew I completely agree with the spirit of the OP. The idea, the plan, the purpose of ministry is to win souls to the Kingdom.I know that at least one of the administrative officials, after retirement, has been an associate pastor or co-pastor of an independent church. I have it second hand, just one away from the source he offered to tender his papers, but the general office said they would not accept them, continue as is.WE make exceptions at certain levels, and the members that realize this, and many pastors have a problem with it. I would like to see a level playing field for our COG preachers who are sacrificing to stay in the COG.Yeah my 2 pennies..... Some facts but mostly just my [email protected]/

My dad is a retired Church of God minister. But an Assembly of God in town is losing its pastor (moving on, etc.) The AG equivalent of our District Overseers advised the church that any interim pastor needed to have zero ambitions of pastoring. Since my dad has preached there before, they reached out to him since they not only like his preaching, but know that he has zero designs on beginning to pastor again).So for the next few weeks, he'll just be handling the preaching/teaching for an Assembly of God. Oddly enough, the pastor that is leaving is from a Church of God family, and his wife went to Lee.Indeed, I agree with RR. We have ministers that can't find a Church of God to pastor. So long as they aren't standing down on doctrine, let them preach, pastor, serve with anyone who needs them.Stephen Conn, from what many of us consider Church of God royalty, most recently pastored a Baptist Church (however, I don't believe Bro. Conn is formally Church of God, even if those are his roots). I have to believe that that church was enormously blessed by having someone who knew how to diplomatically serve in a non-Pentecostal church, without tossing any Pentecostal distinctives that he holds.Maybe, if they aren't paying tithes to the Church of God while serving in another church, such ministers could (assuming it's really that big of a deal) just send in a flat-amount every month (minimal, since he would presumably be paying tithes at the church where he serves).