A good definition of an expert is anyone who lives more than a hundred miles away. If they come from someplace else, and we pay some big bucks to get them here, then, by golly, we better listen to them, because they must be important. Meanwhile the local person, who may know a lot more, we despise. The thorns aren't the horticultural kind, but the human sort. They keep sticking us, pricking us, needling us - causing pain and discomfort.
Alligators are worse.
They not only hurt - they consume. They find fault with the pastor, the church, the members, with everyone and everything. Nothing is ever good enough for them. This congregation will never match up with old St. Better Somewhere Else. Every program that is tried they manage to shoot down.