The charade is working because the toxic leaders have driven the believers away, delighting in the piles of loot left behind, the church buildings sold to donate the cash to the synodical cash cows. The mission leaders loaned money to groups of people who were told exactly how to build this wonderful new worship center. After decades of donating money to pay off the building and keep the officials fat, the empty shell is used to pass some cash along to the ladies, foreign fading missions, and left-wing social activist beehives.
The labor of 50 years ends up a vague memory, somewhat softened by the charade of a merger where two congregations become 1.1, not 1.75.
The Great Depression concentrated power in denominational offices, abandoning the concept of sister churches, which worked well as they found the need for expansion, with local energy and gifts.
One mission director was such a drunk that he had to be warned by the president to take it easy on the booze - at the target church! When phoned at his office, the mission director was too drunk to hang onto the phone and make sense. He had a deluxe salary and perks - or rather - burps.
