Pastoral Leadership

The following are pastoral leadership quotes from Pastor Dwight Mason, lead pastor at New Pointe Community Church in Dover, Ohio, a large and growing congregation of around 3,000 people.

- Nothing happens without leadership.
- There is nothing more powerful than an example.
- If there is no one leading, then everyone is doing what is right in their own eyes.
- Most problems can be traced to a lack of competent leadership.
- It is always easier to blame others rather than take responsibility.
- We teach what we know, but we reproduce who we are.
- If you don’t like your church, take a look at who you are.
- It’s amazing to me how many people leading churches don’t like people.
- When we are driven to perform or please, we become controlling and we don’t lead well.
- My value is not because I’m a pastor. My value is because I’m a child of God.
- This book rocked my world: Emotionally Healthy Spirituality by Peter Scazzero.
- You are as sick as your secrets. You don’t need to tell everyone, you just need to tell somebody.

Connecticut Supreme Court Legalizes Gay Marriage

The Associated Press has reported that a judge cleared the way today for gay marriage to begin Wednesday in Connecticut, a victory for advocates stung by California's referendum that banned same-sex unions in that state.

Couples immediately marched to New Haven City Hall to get marriage licenses, and less than two hours after the final court hearing, Peg Oliveira and Jennifer Vickery were married in a brief ceremony next to New Haven City Hall.

"I feel so happy," said Vickery, a 44-year-old attorney who has a 3-month-old baby with Oliveira. "It's so much more emotional than I expected."

The Connecticut Supreme Court ruled 4-3 on October 10 that same-sex couples have the right to wed rather than accept a civil union law designed to give them the same rights as married couples.

Connecticut and Massachusetts have legalized gay marriage so far. The unions were legal in California until a statewide referendum to ban gay marriage narrowly passed last week. The vote has sparked protests and several lawsuits asking that state's Supreme Court to overturn the prohibition.

What Lies Ahead For America?

How long will it be until the following happens in America?

- Same sex marriage - legalized
- No more “See you at the pole” now illegal
- Boy Scouts disband rather than accept homosexuals
- Elementary schools include compulsory gender identity classes
- No more religious broadcasting
- Doctors who don’t offer artificial insemination for lesbians are fined
- Churches cannot legally refuse to host homosexual weddings
- Open homosexuality in the military
- No more churches renting school facilities
- No more Campus Crusade or Intervarsity
- No more pledge of allegiance in public schools
- Nurses cannot refuse to be involved with abortions
- FCC drops obsene language and nudity regulations from broadcast television
- Porn openly displayed in public stores for sale
- Illegal to privately own a gun in 8 states
- Home schooling has been severely restricted
- Terrorist bombs have exploded in four US cities
- Government now provides all healthcare
- People older than 80 have no access to healthcare or hospitals
- Restrictions on Christian books
- Prosecution of Bush Administration employees

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