[Cvengr]

What this means in practice is that when a mega-church pastor dies/retires or leaves (under a cloud or not) from such an “independent” church, that body finds it nearly impossible to replace him—as the Church’s essential beliefs ARE the founding pastor’s individual beliefs....

Pretty good description of the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church.

[AnalogReigns]

What this means in practice is that when a mega-church pastor dies/retires or leaves (under a cloud or not) from such an “independent” church, that body finds it nearly impossible to replace him—as the Church’s essential beliefs ARE the founding pastor’s individual beliefs....

Pretty good description of the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church.

Interestingly, in a slow-motion, over the centuries, way....I think you are right.

Whenever the final authority goes to the Bible AND (some charismatic leader or traditional body or you-fill-in-the-blank)there are problems.

My main point was however that the hyper-individualism that non-denominationalism accommodates, and encourages--is more divisive to Christianity than old-fashioned denominationalism.