Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How did the Gospel Center begin?
In 1950, Dr. Floyd Head held a revival at Anderson Chapel in Petersburg, IN and the Lord laid a burden on the heart of Harold Head to begin an Independent Baptist Church in Petersburg. The church was named "Gospel Center" and the first building was a 20' x 20' concrete building at 207 N.6th Street in 1950. The second building was built in 1953/54 on N.9th St. and the present building was erected on Illinois St. in 1984. Pastor Harold Head retired in 1987 and Jim Wade & Bill Cato followed as pastors until February 1996 when the current pastor, Steve Frederick, took over.

Q: Where is Gospel Center located?
The church is located on Illinois Street (across from the little league ball park) in Petersburg, IN.



Q: What are the Service Times for Gospel Center?
Services on Sunday are at 10am Sunday morning. Sunday School for the children is also at 10am. Sunday evening preaching at 7pm. AWANA Bible clubs Sundays at 6:45pm-815pm. Prayer at the Altar on Mondays at 6:30pm. Wednesday HOUR OF POWER at 7pm. All church services last right at 1 hour. Radio Broadcast Sunday 9am on 102.3FM.

Q: How does one become a member at Gospel Center?
One must have accepted Jesus Christ as their personal savior (been saved) and baptized. Also that person must be in agreement with our Doctrinal Statement.

Q: Does Gospel Center offer a Nursery and Sunday School for children?
Yes! We have a well staffed Nursery for the little ones (2 years & under) so that the parents can relax and enjoy the service. We also offer a wonderful Sunday School program with the classes separated as follows; 3 and 4 year olds - 4 and 5 year olds - 1st & 2nd grade - 3rd, 4th & 5th grade - 6th, 7th & 8th grades - and the High School or Teen class which is 9th grade and up.

Q: Is Gospel Center a part of any Denomination?
No. We are an autonomous Independent Baptist Church and not affiliated with any denomination. We determine our own policy, practice & spending of funds. Monthly business meetings are open to all men of the church. The financial statement of the last month is given and an explanation of every expenditure is available. Major expenditures are voted on by every man who is a member of the church. The yearly budget is voted on and must be passed by majority vote by the men present in the business meeting. Every member of Gospel Center can see how every dollar is spent.

Q: What is the leadership at Gospel Center?
At Gospel Center the Lord Jesus Christ is the head of the church and the Pastors are the ordained leaders of that local assembly by authority from our Lord. The Pastors lead the church as they are led by the Lord in all spiritual matters. The Deacons and Trustees are the Pastors helpers, assisting in the oversight and care of the buildings and property, and the temporal and material needs of the members of the congregation, at the Pastors request for assistance. At Gospel Center the Deacons and Trustees do not act as a governing board of the church. That responsibility is given by the Lord to the Pastors of the church.

Q: Why is Gospel Center not a part of the local Ministerial Association?
We do not believe you will find two friendlier men than our Pastors at Gospel Center. For some to think that Gospel Center is not a part of the local Ministerial Association because we feel we are 'better' than other churches, or because Gospel Center feels it is the only 'right' church is simply not right.
We believe the Bible teaches in 2 Corinthians 6:14 that as Christians we are not to 'yoke up' with unbelievers in spiritual matters or endeavors.
Now, Gospel Center will fellowship with any born again believer or church that preaches the proper plan of salvation.
The problem with many local Ministerial Associations is that invariably some of the churches included differ from most of the others and teach a completely different plan of salvation! If you have one church that teaches that you must be baptized in order to be saved, that is wrong, and is a false plan of salvation!
We are directed in the Bible not to 'yoke up' with that church. If another church in the association teaches you must keep 7 sacraments in order to make it to Heaven some day, that is 'another gospel' and we cannot join up with that church in a spiritual endeavor. If another church teaches to get to Heaven you must live a Holy life with many rules on dress, make-up, and activities...and then you can finally earn your way to Heaven...that is 'another gospel' and we cannot join up with that group and be true to the Bible.
Now, does that mean we feel we're better than these folks? Of course not.
Does it mean we can't be friendly to them and sit with them at a ball game? Of course not.
We just can't interpret 2 Corinthians 6:14 honestly and then join up with such groups in a Ministerial Association when they are teaching completely different 'ways' to get to Heaven than are taught at Gospel Center.
Ministerial Associations do many good things for the community and should be commended for such, but we at Gospel Center believe that we are simply trying to obey the Bible.

Q: Why did Gospel Center not participate in a recent city-wide campaign where all the local churches joined together and cooperated?
Following the Biblical principle of 2 Corinthians 6:14 it seems that God is saying NOT to join up in any spiritual endeavor where some of the participating churches teach false plans of salvation.
Now, while 90% of the churches were okay, there were some churches involved who taught you were saved by water baptism, keeping 7 sacraments, or by your ability to live a holy life and keep yourself saved by your works and performances!
If the evangelist is preaching the proper way to be saved, and folks ARE saved....what happens when they come foreword for counseling from the personal workers? If the counselor is from a church that believes you must keep 7 sacraments to be saved, does he counsel the new convert that he must do these things before he can get to heaven? If the personal worker believes the way to heaven is through water baptism, does he tell the new convert now he must be baptized as soon as possible or he will not go to heaven? If the personal worker is from a church that believes one must keep himself saved by good works and behavior or else he can lose his salvation and end up in hell after all, does he counsel the new convert with such wrong advice?
Can you see why Jesus is saying NOT to yoke up in crusades or revivals with churches or preachers who believe in different plans of how to get to heaven?
Some may reply, "But look at the people who were saved...good was accomplished!!" Yes, and we rejoice that people were saved, but that does not make the other right. You do not do WRONG in order to accomplish RIGHT. We believe God will see to it that those people will hear the Gospel and will be saved sometime during their lifetime if they were not saved at the revival or crusade. No one is ever lost because of someone else's failure to get the Gospel to them. God can look into someones heart and see if they would get saved if they had the chance...and he will get the Gospel to them one way or another. (and by the way, that includes heathen pagans in remote parts of the earth...no one will go to hell because they never heard the Gospel, but would have been saved if they only had the chance. God will see to it that this person will get the Gospel delivered to them by someone, in some way, during that persons lifetime.)
Some might argue, "Didn't Jesus preach in the synagogue to the Pharisees?" Yes, but He did not unite with them in a city-wide Jerusalem campaign where the Pharisees were allowed to preach or even counsel the new converts that were saved! He preached the Gospel to those who were willing to listen, but He did not imply from the pulpit that the Pharisees were saved and He never implied that they preached the same plan of salvation that He did! Quite to the contrary. He did not call even one of the Pharisees to the pulpit and call him "My dear brother" and ask him to lead in prayer, thus implying to everyone that the Pharisees was going to heaven!

Q: Why doesn't Gospel Center participate in ecumenical events such as 'Promise Keepers'?
God says in 2 Corinthians 6:14 and other Scriptures not to unite in spiritual endeavors with any churches or groups who teach different plans of salvation.
While many of the speakers at Promise Keepers rallies are good men of God, some believe in different plans of salvation.
One of the main speakers at all the rallies is a Church of Christ preacher who is a nationally known speaker and the author of best selling Christian books. The Church of Christ believes that a man is lost unless he is baptized in water!
The main idea of the ecumenical movement is predicted in Revelation where it speaks of a 'one world church' that will be prominent during the last days.
The ecumenical movement says, "let's just overlook our doctrinal differences and work together, we're all going to heaven" Well my friend, those doctrinal differences are too huge to overlook if it involves the way we get to heaven!!
What does a man who believes that you are saved by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ - apart from any works, have in common with a man who believes you must be baptized or speak in tongues in order to be saved??
We can disagree with someone on minor matters and still fellowship and work with him, but the Bible forbids us from uniting with a person who believes in a completely different plan of salvation!
Now, we realize this is not a popular stance in this day and age. But we must be true to the Bible whether it loses us friends or not.
We must be careful never to be hateful in explaining our differences with other folks who believe differently on these matters. But, we will 'Speak the truth in love'. (Ephesians 4:15).

Q: Aren't the Southern Gospel Groups that sing at Gospel Center from different denominational backgrounds?
Yes they are.
We will fellowship with any believer, no matter if he is a Baptist or from any other denominational background, as long as he is born-again and teaches the proper way to be saved.
While any saved person can come and sing for the Lord at Gospel Center, we only allow those who share our Baptist beliefs to preach from the pulpit after the concert or revival, etc.
We will not knowingly let anyone sing, preach or speak from the pulpit at Gospel Center who is not born again.
Although we might not agree on all lesser matters, we will fellowship with anyone who is born again. But preaching and teaching to our people is a different matter.

Q: Is Gospel Center a member of the National or World Council of Churches ( NCC & WCC)?
Absolutely not!! We realize that practically every other church in our city is, but Gospel Center will never be.
These are left-wing, radical, liberal organizations that stand against practically everything the Bible stands for.
At a recent yearly conference, prayer was opened to the 'Mother Goddess Sophia'!! Can you believe it? These groups support homosexuality and the ordaining of homosexual ministers. They also support Planned Parenthood, which in turn supports abortion!
Hindus, Buddhists, and Muslims are all seen as our brothers and sisters spiritually and as long as we're sincere, we'll all make it to heaven someday!
It is amazing how good folks who are born-again and who do not believe these things can allow their church to be a member of such organizations. Don't these folks realize God will hold them accountable for the dues that are sent into them from the tithes of God's people? Some member churches argue that while they, or their denomination is a member, they have designated their dues for specific causes, or they refuse to pay dues to the NCC or WCC. While this is good, the members of that church need to realize that if they are a part of a denomination that is a member of these organizations their tithe is, indirectly, going to support them. Even if you designate that your denominational dues not go to these groups, that simply frees up the denominations other moneys to go to the WCC or NCC.
We believe the churches of these denominations should simply pull out of their denomination if they don't believe the WCC & NCC are scriptural and become independent!
We realize that might cost a Pastor his denominational retirement or pension fund, but what do you think is more important?

Q: What is Gospel Center's stance on the Charismatic movement, with it's emphasis on speaking in tongues, faith healers, and being 'slain in the Spirit'?
We believe there are many good, sincere folks who are born-again Christians in these charismatic churches. But, we believe they are wrong on these matters. More than just being mistaken or wrong, we believe they can be very dangerous matters spiritually and even open oneself up to demonic involvement!
How many folks have went astray in the faith spiritually, or even stopped going to church completely, when they realized that much of the phenomena they were experiencing was a sham and hypocrisy.
Speaking in tongues was a gift from God that existed during the early days of the church when the Bible was not yet complete therefore not available to the people. When the Bible began to be completed, receiving revelations and messages from God, and speaking in tongues was no longer needed and ceased (1 Corinthians 13:8-10).
The Apostles and others in the early church had the ability to heal and raise people from the dead. These were 'sign gifts' given to the early church to bring attention to the new program of the church that God was beginning. Paul had the gift of healing and could heal a person by just sending them one of his napkins, he even raised a person from the dead! But, a few years later, we notice that Paul no longer had the gift of healing. He could not heal his friend Timothy of his stomach ailment, but told him to drink wine and stay away from the polluted water. He left his friend Trophimus ill and did not heal him. Paul couldn't even heal himself when he had his 'thorn in the flesh' (2 Corinthians 12:7-9). Why didn't Paul use his gift of healing at these times? Evidently it was already gone by about AD60 as the Bible was becoming complete.
If these so-called 'faith healers' today do have the Biblical gift of healing, why can't they raise people from the dead? Why don't they empty the children's hospitals across the nation?
We believe that God heals today through prayer, when it is His will to do so.
'Slain in the Spirit' is a phenomena that has absolutely no basis in the Bible whatsoever, and is most dangerous. For someone to be knocked unconscious by the touch or point of a Pentecostal preacher, and then lay prostate on the floor is a dangerous thing and could even open oneself up to demonic and occultist involvement! Imagine a woman rolling around on the floor uncovered and in an immodest manner, where men are present, to the extent that 'modesty blankets' are needed to cover her! My friend, God never called us to be out of control and lose consciousness (spelling?).
We believe at Gospel Center that these things are very dangerous and the Christian should have nothing to do with them! Over the past 30 years this charismatic movement has left a trail of split and torn up churches and congregations, not to mention Christians who have just quit.

Q: Do women play an active role in the ministry at Gospel Center?
Most certainly! Many of our ladies are Sunday school teachers and/or AWANA leaders. Our Choir Director is a lady, and another lady helps direct our Sunday School program.
Most anything a lady is gifted to do...she can exercise that gift and talent at Gospel Center.
We at Gospel Center believe that woman should be placed on a pedestal and treated with the highest respect. We believe the ladies at Gospel Center are among the happiest and most contented ladies you will find in any church.

Q: Why are there no Women Pastors at Gospel Center?
We believe the Bible teaches clearly that women are not to be Pastors nor are they to teach the Bible to men or usurp authority over men in the local New Testament Church. (1 Timothy 2:12)
Now it is not that we are against women or chauvinists in any way. In fact, we try to place women above 'equality' here at Gospel Center and treat them with the utmost respect, and we try to teach that respect to our children.
According to the Bible God has so chosen and decided that in the government and leadership of the New Testament church, the role of leadership, preaching and teaching (to a mixed audience with men present) the woman is to take the submissive role.
It is true that women 'prophesied' in the early days of the New Testament before the Bible was completed, and they witnessed to others and did many wonderful things...but there is not one instance in the New Testament or the Epistles (which were written especially to the church) where you ever find a woman as a Pastor of a church, teaching or preaching to men, or exercising authority over them, in any way, in any local church. God has reserved that ministry to men.
In 1 Timothy 3:2 we see one of the qualifications for a Pastor is that HE be the 'husband of one wife'...that would be difficult for a woman to do!
Throughout the history of the early church, the facts substantiate that there were no women Pastors. Only when we reach the 1900's do we begin to see women Pastors coming on the scene.
It is true that Deborah was a judge back in the Old Testament. But if one studies the situation closely it was because Israel had digressed to such a backslidden state that there were no men qualified and brave enough to step forth and lead. In fact, God had predicted that a sign of His judgment upon His backslidden people would be that women would rule over them! (Isaiah 3:12) What does that tell us about our society today?
My friend, we are just trying to obey the Bible. Some try to ignore these verses that we have quoted and claim they do not apply for today, but you cannot get that from the text or from anywhere in the Bible. And history seems to back it up. No women were Pastors for nearly 2000 years!! Why??
Our ladies at Gospel Center who do have ministries involving leadership such as the Choir Director, Assistant Sunday School Director, AWANA leaders, etc. are all under the authority of the Pastors of this church and all are the finest of submissive Christian ladies. Therefore we believe this does not violate the Scriptural principle of Biblical leadership.

Q: Why do the Women not attend or vote in the Business Meetings?
We are trying to follow the Biblical principle taught in 1 Timothy 2:12. God is saying that He doesn't want women to 'usurp authority over the men' in the New Testament Church.
Most churches have more faithful women than men. And in most business meetings in these churches there are 60 to 70% women and only 30 to 40% men. Now it doesn't take much of a math whiz to figure out which gender group has the voting authority by majority!
In most churches in America, the women by their sheer majority, are running the business of that church.
Men have given testimony that that is why they don't get more involved in the business matters and leadership of their church. When matters are brought up in a meeting, the women by their majority control the business decisions of that church.
Now before one complains that this is only fair because more women are attending...remember, we're not talking about fairness...we're concerned with trying to obey what God has said in the Bible that HE wants! We might add that our women are pleased that the men take care of things and that they don't have to be bothered with such business matters.
In the business decisions of any church, there are serious decisions to be made which include disagreements when there are several options to a matter. Can you imagine the after effects of a man having to disagree publicly with another man's wife!?
the roots of many church problems and even splits may have had their genesis with this very situation we have described. Could this be why Gospel Center has had a successful ministry without any serious problems for over 50 years?
We believe God so designed the local church in this way for the following simple reason... We have found over the years that men can disagree about things in a church business meeting and usually walk out and still be friends the next day. However, if you disagree with another man's wife publicly, and explain why and how she is wrong in front of others, well this can come very close to being the 'unpardonable sin'! You just do not publicly correct another man's wife and think everything will be fine tomorrow.
Do you see why God may have designed the local church the way He did, and why He put the principle of 1 Timothy 2:12 in the Bible?

Q: Does Gospel Center use a specific version of the Bible?
Yes! We use only the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible. Through an in-depth study it is revealed to us that other versions of the Bible are inferior and incorrect. Some of the other versions actually take out complete verses and change others to such an extent that the original and true meaning is lost or perverted.
For example, in Isaiah 14:12 the KJV speaks of Lucifer and how he fell and became the devil. The NIV takes Lucifer completely out of this verse (the only reference to Lucifer in the Bible) and substitutes the 'Morning Star' as the one who fell and weakened the nations! Revelation 22:16 tells us that the Morning Star is Jesus! There is no Lucifer in the NIV!
While the KJV says in Matt.7:14 that there is only one way to be saved...Through Jesus Christ and "Narrow is the gate"...The NKJV changes the verse the say "DIFFICULT is the way which leads to life". My friend, can you imagine telling a child it is 'difficult' to be saved!
The NIV teaches that Jesus was a SINNER! Compare Matt.5:22 in the KJV where it says 'whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of judgment'...the NIV omits the crucial phrase 'without a cause'. Mark 3:5 says that Jesus 'looked ...on them with ANGER' when the Pharisees criticized Him for healing a man on the Sabbath. Was Jesus a sinner?
The NIV teaches that a Believer can LOSE salvation after he has trusted Christ. 2 Timothy 2:12 in the KJV says 'if we deny him, he will deny us' and refers to REWARDS. If we don't serve Jesus with opportunities we are given during this lifetime, we will be denied acclaim and reward by Jesus when we do get to Heaven. The NIV changes the verse to read 'IF we disown Him, He will disown us'! My friend, Christ will never disown one of His children!
The NIV & NKJV teach that we ARE BEING SAVED by our works and performances, rather than as a once and for all FREE GIFT! In the KJV 2Cor. 2:15 says 'them that ARE saved'. The NKJV changes that verse to read 'those who ARE BEING SAVED'! My friend, we are not BEING saved. We were saved the moment we trusted Christ! 1Cor 1:18 in the KJV says 'unto us which ARE saved' While the NIV changes the verse to read 'but to us who ARE BEING SAVED'!
These are but a few of the changes that are recorded in a study on this subject. The complete study is available at Gospel Center.

Q: What should I wear to the church services at Gospel Center?
Come as you are! You will be welcome!
Dress ranges from casual wear, such as jeans & T-shirts to professional, such as dresses and suit & tie, whatever one is most comfortable in.
At Gospel Center you won't feel as though you have to wear the finest and most expensive clothing to feel at home amongst our friendly folks!
We have many people who come right from work and wear their work clothes.

Q: What type of service can I expect at Gospel Center?
You can expect a relaxed, friendly atmosphere at Gospel Center, where everybody feels welcome, as we come together to worship the Lord!
We love to sing the old hymns and our talented singers will sing some of the more contemporary songs of today to prepare our hearts for worship. Our choir works hard each week to bring a very special song about our Lord as we are prepared for the message from God's Word.
Everyone feels welcome and at home at Gospel Center from start to finish of the service. Pastor Steve moves around the auditorium for several minutes before the service and greets everyone personally. Also, each service at Gospel Center opens with "Shake & Howdy" where everyone gets up and takes a few minutes to greet one another.
All visitors are personally welcomed to the service with a special gift from the ushers, but no one is ever embarrassed or put on the spot in any way. And no visitor ever need fear of being called upon.
Everyone entering the doors is greeted by our friendly 'Greeters' and is handed a bulletin which lists the many activities that go on at Gospel Center each week... but don't expect the same old dull bulletin you might get elsewhere... Gospel Center's bulletin is one of a kind!
Don't be surprised to find humor at a Gospel Center church service because our Pastors believe humor is Gods tender hand upon the shoulder of a weary world. However, enjoying laughter and humor does not mean the worship service isn't serious, as Pastor Steve brings a helpful message for us from God's Word which the Lord has laid upon his heart.
An altar call is given at the end of each service at Gospel Center as folks are always given the chance to trust Christ as Saviour.
After the service expect to be greeted by several people before you get out of the building and Pastor Steve and his wife Lisa are always at the door to thank you for coming to the service.
Services are fast-paced at Gospel Center, usually lasting only one hour. Remember that Gospel Center is also unique in that children's Sunday School is conducted during the same hour as worship service is being held in the auditorium (or children may sit with their parents). We are so proud of our Sunday School program and our dedicated teachers!
A nursery is available at each service.
Communion is served at every Sunday morning service and is open to all believers.
You will notice that the Bible plays a prominent role at every service at Gospel Center. We even have everyone hold up their Bible in the service to be counted! The Word of God is very important at Gospel Center! We preach it, we teach it and we love it... because it tells us about our Lord!

Q: Is Gospel Center Incorporated? If So, Why?
Definitely YES! Gospel Center is a NON-PROFIT Corporation and was approved as such by the Secretary of State of Indiana on Nov. 30, 1950, and the Articles of Incorporation are a part of the public record and filed in the Book of Misc. Records No. 17, pages 69-71 in the office of the Pike County Recorder. Gospel Center was given a Tax Exemption Number after meeting all the legal requirements, and was also given a Federal Identification number as a Tax Exempt Organization so that the members and contributors to Gospel Center can receive credit for their charitable giving on their federal income tax form. Gospel Center records with the Secretary of State of Indiana every year and gives detailed account of its income for that year and how it was spent. By being incorporated, the law assures and protects Gospel Center against one man, a group of men, a family, or even a cult…taking over Gospel Center and its property, and changing its stated original purpose of being a Bible-Believing Church whose goal was to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and win souls!…in accordance with our Articles of Faith, Doctrine, and Constitution. This assures the founders of Gospel Center that it would also never become a part of a denomination or a federation of Churches such as the National or World Council of Churches. Incorporation protects our People and our church for future generations. Incorporation protects our People and our church for future generations. We have known churches that were not incorporated to lose their property or have their church taken over by another group who changed its beliefs completely! By being incorporated, this cannot happen to a local church! Also, when a church is incorporated, its members or property cannot be held liable in case of an accident in which the church is sued. In other words, the injured party could not sue and take the pastor’s home or the trustee’s homes and the church itself and property! In an incorporated church, the trustees merely act as agents of the corporation.

Q: Does Gospel Center Have A Dress Code For It's Teachers And Workers?
Gospel Center strives to follow the Bible’s instruction on these matters rather than making legalistic list of man-made rules and regulations. The Bible’s guidelines for dress in Christians, especially those leader who should set the example, involves common sense in the areas of decency, discretion, and what is proper and what is not. The Bible’s way of dealing with such matters is found in Titus 2:3-5. Here the older women are taught to teach the younger women proper behavior. The same would apply to older men teaching the younger men. For example, if a young woman teacher or worker were dressing in an improper way, we would have one of the older respected women in church, perhaps another teacher, to talk to the young lady in a private and a tactful way so that the problem could be resolved. Likewise, the man could be talked to in private in a tactful way by an older man, perhaps another teacher, superintendent, deacon or pastor… This should be done in a kind way to be helpful, never to embarrass or discourage another if at all possible. This Biblical way of dealing with ‘dress’ and clothing matters for workers, teachers, and leaders is far superior, we believe, than making up a man-made Legalistic list of rules, which could end up causing more harm to the cause of Christ in the life of a young woman or man than their ‘improper’ dress supposedly caused! We have seen matters dealt with in what we have felt was an improper way and the ‘offending’ or ‘guilty’ party was so embarrassed or discouraged that they and their whole family went to another church or even quit going to church or serving the Lord completely! Now we’re not saying matters of improper or immodest dress shouldn’t be dealt with…but they should be dealt with in the proper, kind and tactful way, in private if possible…in the Bible way described above. Founding Pastor Harold Head has used this approach in dealing with such matters since the church was started back in 1950 and it has worked well.

Q: What is the financial accountability at Gospel Center?
Gospel Center uses a method of checks and balances in its financial matters to assure the utmost integrity and accountability.
All offerings received are counted by at least two people and a record is kept and signed by both in a permanent record book.
The Pastors never count the money nor do they accept cash when it is given to the church, rather they give it to the nearest member or usher to take to the treasurer, or it is put directly in the offering plate.
This method of double counting also protects our treasurer from criticism.
Detailed records of receipts and expenditures are kept by our treasurer and are presented to the members in our monthly business meetings.
Our financial books are audited regularly and our treasurer is elected to the position by vote in the business meeting by majority.
Gospel Center has over 50 years of honesty and integrity and a record of financial accountability that is impeccable.
When the Pastor's salary or compensation is discussed, the Pastor leaves the business meeting. The Pastors at Gospel Center never ask for any raises nor are they involved in that discussion process at all. The finance committee composed of the Deacons, Trustees, and Treasurer, propose the Pastors salaries each year and the church business meeting votes on this proposed budget yearly.
The Pastors at Gospel Center do not look at the offerings at any time to see who gives what. Even the ushers, secretary, and treasurer who work directly with the offerings are under strict instructions of confidentiality to not discuss with anyone, even their family members, as to who gives what at Gospel Center. Any infractions of this confidentiality results in that person being removed from any position dealing with the finances of Gospel Center.
While the Pastor, as Financial Administrator, according to our constitution has the authority to purchase items within the budget allotted, major items are voted on ahead of time in the church business meeting... which would include major purchases such as land, a building, a church van, computer system, sound system, etc. The Bible says things should be dome 'decently and in order' and Gospel Center has strived to follow that principle for the past 50 years.

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