When Mac and Debbie arrived in Jacksonville last year, I found it just a bit "odd" that their son's wedding was so heavily promoted in our church. There were receptions at the church, a money tree, notices passed to Sunday School announcing the money tree and reception and requests for fresh baked goods. This all caused a check in my spirit...after all, we were not hiring Trey Brunson I thought, we were hiring Mac Brunson....then it all became clear when Trey was found to be on the payroll of the church.
I found it odd too that the Mac Brunson photos running on our website after he was voted for included an entire family shot, inclusive of his married daughter and husband who didn't live in Jacksonville. Just a bit odd, I thought. I was concerned that pastor might be using his position to promote his family. Someone has told me the new birthday cards from the pastor that go out to members INCLUDE THE WHOLE CLAN. Is not it appropriate to ask WHY? Why is his daughter and son in law from Kentucky on the card wishing members in FBC Jax a happy birthday?
Now yesterday we get the next episode: his grandbaby is dedicated at the church. I know that I will be attacked as being heartless and cruel for saying this: but why is HIS grandbaby dedicated at the church, on a special day in the morning, when the parents aren't even members? Should now our other seniors invite their grandbaby's down to the big church in Jacksonville to be dedicated? Isn't the dedication service a dedication of the parents to the Lord, and the church to the family to help them, thus for members of the church? Why did Mac do this? Please don't tell me the Brunson's spent church funds to fly the whole clan down for the service! And why Mac take a swipe at your high school families in the middle of the dedication saying that so many in the church expect the youth pastor to raise their kids - who are you referring to? The church in general, or those of us who are concerned about the departure of Calvin Carr? To throw that barb in there with no context, in the middle of your grandbaby's dedication is nuts.
Then the ordination service of his son in law. I know you say we have an ordination committee...but we don't know this man from any one. Why did you choose to have a special ordination service and hijack the senior revival meeting so you could do this? Can others in our service have a special ordination service for their out-of-town relatives?
Come on church, WAKE UP! This is the TEAM BRUNSON show glorifying their family, and its getting a little tiresome. Let's get back to expository preaching of the word, and worshipping Jesus Christ and not personalities. Mac has told us so many times that church is NOT about personalities, but yet at every turn HE HIMSELF ACTS LIKE HE IS THE ROCK STAR OF THE CHURCH. I'm glad that he loves his family and is proud of them, but that doesn't mean that we are too. We have our own families that we are proud of, but we don't have the luxury of doing all the things he does out in the open with them. Its just getting a bit too much, and I wish someone in a position of leadership or power would have the guts to speak up. Maybe its you Jim Whitmire...maybe the Lord brought you here as an elderstatesman to help Mac out.