Things are not that rosy in the non-denominational world either. There are countless sex scandals, other forms of abuse scandals and financial scandals. Someone who is a good speaker with an engaging personality can set up his own church. Any deacons or elders are likely to be people he hand-picked and there is no real oversight. So Pastor Bob has a personality cult thing going. People might even informally call it “Pastor Bob’s church.” This is a welcoming scenario for abuse. There are of course more good and faithful pastors than not but a church that is pastor-based with little oversight is not the wisest model.
...”Any deacons or elders are likely to be people he hand-picked and there is no real oversight.” Sorta like Francis picking Cardinals & Bishops who think like him....