Scoop’s Views

The Rev. Malcolm Finkley, of the Coatesville, Pennsylvania Tabernacle Baptist Church, seems to have a lot to learn about being a “man of God,” not to mention about being a leader, especially of a church.

Finkley, it seems, has been at the church for about a year now, and during that time, he’s rubbed some in the congregation the wrong way, including some of the ways he presents himself while at the pulpit.

During that time, the congregation has attempted to get rid of him, following the church’s bylaws. The good reverend, not wanting to be cast out of the church like a bag of rubbish, managed to divert discussion each time the topic came up, and once, according to a news story at NBC10.com, managed to shift discussion and get voting on his dismissal halted.

Just over a week ago, some congregants received certified letters in the U.S. mail. Several members said the letters were a mix of Bible passages mixed with threats of arrest if those recipient of the letters decided to attend church.

Whoa! That’s what attending church at the Coatesville, Pennsylvania Tabernacle Baptist Church is all about? I would certainly hope not, but from the descriptions provided by the congregants on NBC10’s site,

Members of a Chester County church said they have really been at odds with the pastor since he came on board about a year ago.

But after receiving a letter that mixed Bible verses along with threats of an arrest if they were to attend church on Sunday, that’s when they said the pastor went too far.

According to a few people mentioned in the story, the pastor allegedly wrote they were creating an “atmosphere of hostility,” threatening criminal charges if they showed up at supposed house of worship.

“To tell someone who has been coming to this church for over 60 years that, ‘You can’t come into the church because I say so,’ that’s objectionable,” said John Robinson, of Coatesville.

“We are in spiritual warfare, we really are … with our own pastor,” said one woman.

It sounds like John Robinson ought be up in the pulpit teaching dear Rev. Finkley some lessons. If nothing else works, perhaps they can revert to some Old Testament teachings, namely about not letting a child be spoiled. Get over the knee, pastor: you’ve some learning to do!