[P-Marlowe]

E.g., there is absolutely no way to challenge Smith on any of his beliefs. He is, by definition, always right. Like a super archbishop. Any attempt to do so will usually result in a hardy handshake and map to the nearest exit.

While not agreeing necessarily with your premise, I do believe that Smith's "denomination" is at this time nothing more than a worldwide church planting effort and that in order to utilize the "Calvary Chapel" umbrella and the "Calvary Chapel" logo, you, as a pastor need to believe in the doctrines and distinctives that the Church has posted and of which you are aware when you become a pastor of a Calvary Chapel Church.

This is not different than a Presbyterian Church requiring that their pastors subscribe to the Westminster Confession and any pastor that expresses disagreement with the Westminster Confession will and should be shown a map to the nearest exit.

Now if you don't agree with the Calvary Distinctives, then don't go to a Calvary Chapel and don't be a pastor of a Calvary Chapel fellowship.

Pretty simple, huh? No burning of heretics or drowning of witches, just a promise to uphold the principles that set Calvary Chapel apart which have been part and parcel to every Calvary Chapel since I started going there in 1971.

If you can't keep that promise, then move on. How hard is that?

[Lee N. Field]

the doctrines and distinctives that the Church has posted

Which would be....available for $8.95 plusshippingandhandling.

Would be nice in this Internet age, if more than the vaguest generalities were on the web.

[Lee N. Field]

never mind, just spotted your link

[Alex Murphy]

This is not different than a Presbyterian Church requiring that their pastors subscribe to the Westminster Confession and any pastor that expresses disagreement with the Westminster Confession will and should be shown a map to the nearest exit.

While you make a good point, the Calvary Distinctives are a whole lot different than the Westminster Confession. Anyone who reads the Calvary document should be troubled that Chuck Smith makes no reference to God as a Trinity, or to the Deity of Jesus Christ. You can believe in almost anything so long as you behave in the right way.

Now if you don't agree with the then don't go to a Calvary Chapel and don't be a pastor of a Calvary Chapel fellowship.

Which is why I don't. And if doctrine matters, neither should anyone else.

When an organization as large and powerful as Calvary Chapel is utterly devoid of checks and balances or doctrinal, financial, and moral accountability, the results will not be surprising: abuse, power-struggles, and the oft-unspoken fear of raising even the smallest objection to the whims of the powers that be.
-- Jason Spellman

[topcat54]

Now if you don't agree with the Calvary Distinctives, then don't go to a Calvary Chapel and don't be a pastor of a Calvary Chapel fellowship.

Such "distinctives" are insufficient to either a) build a denomination (as Chuck is attempting), or b) exercise the keys regarding church discipleship/discipline. They are nothing more than a folksy account of the Chuck Smith story from a doctrinal perspective.

They are so broad that basiclly give Chuck the ability to countenance any type of error or chastize anyone who disagrees with his personal teaching.

If folks wish to operate under that structure, have at it. But it's obvious that it leaves Chuck wide open to legitimate criticism.