Not all is well after the retirement of Bobby Welch. It seems that some in the church are trying to oust the guy who followed him, for reasons other than what would be considered Biblical.
From the Daytona Beach News Journal:
The Rev. David Cox modernized the altar of First Baptist Church of Daytona Beach with a hardwood stage, twin movie screens and music equipment worthy of a rock band.
On Wednesday, Cox went to the same altar to defend his job, less than six months after succeeding the much beloved Bobby Welch as senior pastor of the area’s largest congregation with 4,000 members.
Cox is under fire on everything from his spending habits to his taste in church music.
More quotes include:
Noting the absence of the cross, one church member said Wednesday the church altar looks more “like a Masonic Lodge than a pulpit.”
In an allegation that was denied in a statement from Cox, the new senior pastor was accused of selling off the new church property near I-4 to a “beer drinking campground business.”
That many longtime church staffers have left since Cox took over is another source of contention, according to a church handout, which defended their leaving as voluntary. At the town hall meeting, the congregation complained about the departure of at least five staffers by name, including one who was fired only two years from retirement.
The congregation is also questioning the salaries for Cox and other staffers while many popular programs, such as youth basketball and bus transportation for the under-privileged, have been eliminated.
Much of the complaints are also cultural. Critics don’t like Cox’s use of the popular book “The Purpose Driven Life” by Rick Warren, his reference to First Baptist as a “campus” instead of a “church,” and the change in music to a more contemporary sound.
“I like the organ,” said Jim Ward at the meeting. “I don’t like the drums, guitars, (but) I’m older.”
On Jan. 4, about 60 disgruntled church members met in Port Orange without Cox present. After four hours of discussion, “nearly all raised their hands” when asked if they were in favor of dismissing Cox, according to a church letter.
The group is circulating a petition to force Cox’s ouster, Woolyhand said.
So far there is no comment from Bobby Welch.
So it’s music, money, and Rick Warren. When we he stop meddling in people’s churches? It also seems that updating the sound system and adding a little rhythm is against the will of God as well. We have created a celebrity culture in our convention (even all of evangelicalism) and it is beginning to come back to bite us.
HT: MMI
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FBC Daytona Beach struggles after Welch
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January 16th, 2007 at 2:59 pm
Another Bellevue it appears. There will be more of this to come if each longstanding Moses do not do a better job of preparing the people for Joshua.
Seems that it does not matter to the people that their church has been in stasis for a while; “Let’s keep the hymnal and fire the pastor.” Man, oh, man.
January 17th, 2007 at 6:15 pm
Sad. I feel his pain. I will add him to my list of pastors to pray for.
January 17th, 2007 at 6:18 pm
That was a bad Bill Clinton Joke.
Seriously,
I pray David Cox can build upon the great things that Dr. Welch has.
January 18th, 2007 at 2:12 am
I think your statement about the culture of celebrity just about says it all.
January 21st, 2007 at 6:44 pm
What is going on? Cox has been co-pastor at Daytona for a number of years now. You’re telling me he wasn’t pastoring the church while Welch was off driving around America for 2 years?
January 21st, 2007 at 8:02 pm
MinEurope,
I agree, but he started making changes it appears, and you just don’t do that. It’s like following Bear Bryant or Don Shula…You don’t want to be the first guy, you want to be one down the road a piece.
January 25th, 2007 at 8:47 am
People with no mission & no Kingdom purpose are an annoyance to the Kingdom. I have little patience with this sort of bickering in the shadow of the cross. I would ask them when is the last time they led someone to Christ? Never comes to mind.
January 26th, 2007 at 2:19 am
i cant believe this is happening.6 years ago march 18th dr cox led me to the lord on a faith visit at my home in north carolina. my life has never been the same.i have seen this mans heart.he has a heart for the lost like no one i have ever seen.sometimes change has to happen.like when he left north carolina to go to fbc daytona.no i didnt like it but i trusted that it was the lords plan. i have served along side of david long enough to know that everything he does is for the lord jesus.i have read some very hateful comments and right now i am struggling with what i have read.there is no way on the face of this earth that david would tell someone that if they didnt like the church then go somewhere else.thats absurd.i hope this dont sound like i am just venting but if so then god please forgive me.since when is music the reason we go to church.i thought we went to hear from gods word and teaching from the bible.people are being reached these days in a whole different approach then back in the 50s and 60s.i know that change can be difficult but there is a lost and dying world out there.lots and lots of young people.and this business about beer drinking campground whatever.i wont even waist my breath with that nonsense.
david cox is gods man.i love him and miss him and his family.i will continue to pray for him and fbc of daytona.
January 26th, 2007 at 9:11 am
I would like to clarify my comment. My comment is not directed toward the embattled pastor. I don’t know him however it is clear that he is Kingdom-minded in that he is actually reaching people for Christ in innovative ways in the marketplace. My comment is directed toward the “old guard” group that refuses growth and God’s work because they want things to change… ever.
January 27th, 2007 at 12:58 pm
David Phillips,
What do you mean that you don’t ever change? It seems that this is what the church was after by calling a younger pastor, than Welch.
And besides this is a southern baptist church and things are not just CHANGED with out the church voting to do so. It seems to me that it all come down to Welch, it looks to me that he wants the best of both worlds. Pastor the church and President the association. He can’t do both so he should have left FB and let the new man take over, but no. I’m sure in his travels, he knew plenty of church where this has happened. And as far as Cox’s spending habits LOOK AT THE CHURCH. Everything there is over the top now. So what’s a little more. And his salary, the church did not have to give him so much, it is up to the church you know. He took what he was given.
January 27th, 2007 at 2:22 pm
Michael,
What do you mean that you don’t ever change? It seems that this is what the church was after by calling a younger pastor, than Welch.
I’m not real sure that I understand what you’re talking about. I never said that I don’t change. Does it seem that people don’t change? Absolutely, and what the folks at FBC Daytona are fighting is an upgrade to the worship experience for young adults. I would dare say that these guys who eventually pushed Cox out were older, and/or culturally out of touch. Bobby Welch has gone, and it’s time for the church to move on as well.
I don’t know about how things are done there in Danville, VA, but I’ll bet in the last 15 years at Daytona, any vote that was taken was a token vote to rubber stamp what Welch wanted to do. Here in Delaware, as a SBC church that I pastor, we don’t vote on ANYTHING, so to make the claim that SBC churches have to vote to make changes is untrue. Think Adrian Rogers had his church vote on ticky-tacky stuff? How about WA Criswell? How about Charles Stanley? Jerry Vines? If they did, again it was a token vote.
Sure, Cox was a younger pastor and had been running the church for 2 years while Welch was bouncing around the country. But what they wanted was Bobby Welch, Jr, not to let the man come in with a Biblical vision for reaching the kingdom.
Was Bobby to blame? Absolutely. He should have either left the church or stood up for Cox. It appears he did neither, and in his silence was was giving tacit approval to those trying to rid Cox.
January 29th, 2007 at 5:49 pm
“It also seems that updating the sound system and adding a little rhythm is against the will of God as well.”
Cox spent $450,000 on a new rock concert styled sound system, when the church is moving in a few years anyway. He also eliminated the Bus Ministry.
And you people accuse the congregation of being wrong????????
January 30th, 2007 at 8:00 am
Full Court,
I understand your position as an anti-PDC, anti-SBC, fundamentalist baptist. You probably don’t like Chris Tomlin’s music, or Third Day, or others like them.
However, FBC Daytona has at least 3 years (according to one article I read) before they start building. In those three years they could stay stagnant, not try to do all they could to reach young adults and just hold off and do nothing. Or, they could make the changes necessary to reach their community. The money was spent to make the place look better and sound better. NOTE: Not all that money was spent on the “rock styled sound system” as you put it.
January 30th, 2007 at 10:00 am
David Cox has been one of he most inspiring pastor who truly loves the Lord that I have ever had the opportunity to know. No, I am not a youngster, but an older member of my church. I had the priviledge of being on a Faith team with David Cox in N.C. and I saw him witness and lead lost people to the Lord many times. He always made me feel closer to the Lord when I was in his presence because of his love for the Lord and his love for the lost. David Cox is surely a soul saver for the Lord, and I am praying constantly for David and his family during this transition time. I will also pray for FBC-Datona Beach.
January 30th, 2007 at 1:21 pm
Why has Bobby Welch been silent on this? Was he not in favor of bringing Cox on several years ago? Did he not prayerfully agree that Cox would be the “Joshua” to his “Moses”? Could this not have been stopped had Welch stepped up one last time and pointed the people back to followship? Where are the real leaders that once stood in the gap for the church and stood at appropriate times like men and lovingly corrected error? It appears that none are left. I dare say those who would’ve provided leadership to our SBC churches have left our denomination like so many of our gifted, young pastors…not wanting to focus their time and energy on the foolishness of self-centeredness…but starting new, fresh works willing to choose substance over sentiment and reach this lost generation for Jesus Christ. I wonder what Adrian Rogers would say to those in his congregation if he could stand one last time with the Word of God in his hand?