I believe that the issue isnt whether or not we should show compassion (we should), but whether our compassion will be rooted in the gospeldeployed with discernment and with a willingness to provide correction or rebuke (Titus 1:13), Steven Lee, pastor of Bethlehems North Campus, wrote in a response to Meyers resignation letter. Rather, I believe our leadership culture has taken a turn in an unhealthy direction as we try to navigate conflict and division.. I observed leadership patterns that sought to help hurting people but left those same people even more frustrated and disappointed.. In one class, Naselli argued with those who disagreed with him over whether evil was created, to the point that he clenched his fists, grunted, and called the opposing position almost a heresy. He accused a student of watering down the Bible with his understanding of evil and its existence, according to Brax Carvette. From afar it looks to me like Bethlehem Baptist has dodged a bullet of baloney. Instead, he said it confirmed the pattern he already suspected after speaking with nearly all 12 former BCS students who in 2020 submitted allegations against Naselli to BCS administration. In his resignation letter, Meyer referenced the fracturing of evangelicalism described in a recent Mere Orthodoxy article, which details how certain groups will experience significant philosophy of ministry differences in how to contextualize the gospel in this cultural moment. While accusations swirled of liberal drift under his leadership, Meyer instead saw the congregation moving in the other direction and suggested a pastor in the neo-fundamentalist category would be a better fit. Its one of the things that meant I never took John Piper seriously, or trusted his exposition of Scripture. As it should, he wrote. The three departing pastors from Bethlehem were based just a few miles from where George Floyd died in 2020. After more than 30 years as senior pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, the fiery preacher of hardline biblical values is retooling his priorities. This moment is hard. Help us continue to be a voice for truth in the media by supporting CBN News for as little as $1. WebPastor Jason serves as Pastor of Holy Nativity. It is on YouTube, Race and Culture (??? No one should be surprised by these revelations of spiritual abuse -especially against women- in the Bethlehem ecosystem. God has moved at FCC in amazing ways. He later apologized for not being quick to listen in the moment and in later discussions of the incident, though in April the elders considered the grievances against him unfounded. Why? Paul used this same verb in verse 19 (you gladly bear with fools), and now he repeats it once more in order to make plain some of the foolish stuff the Corinthians put up with. I attended Bethlehem for nearly 3 years, belonged to one of the small groups. And I want to speak against her motion. Tabb and fellow leaders at BCS conducted the investigation of the former students complaints, which concluded last August. Bethlehem Baptist Church, Pastor Jason Meyer, Domestic Violence, Emotional Abuse, Spiritual Abuse Almost 1-1/2 years ago, I wrote an article about John Piper's former church, Bethlehem Baptist Church (BBC) regarding domestic violence, Encouraging Shift from Bethlehem Baptist Church Regarding Domestic Abuse and Care Follow Receive an email notification when changes occur for Jason Meyer. He is well respected for his scholarship and rigor, earning two PhDs (from Bob Jones and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) before he turned 30. After Christ Christian Center. As far as I can see, Pipers church and seminary are just carrying the torch. ***, The pastor also reminded the South Campus members his letter was "just to state the reality of things and to give you space to lament.". The church where John Piper pastored for 33 years is arguably facing one of its greatest crises in 150 years. She said the meeting did not go well, and Tomlinson told her that he supported Rigneys view. WebJason Meyer Lead Pastor, Urban Refuge Church Winfred Neely Vice President & Dean, Moody Theological Seminary Laurie Norris Dean of Faculty & Professor of Bible, Moody Bible Institute Douglas O'Donnell Co-Author, The Beauty and Power of Biblical Exposition Neal Presa Associate Professor of Preaching & Worship, New Brunswick Theological But it wasnt just the situation around Naselli. ***Please sign up forCBN Newslettersand download theCBN News appto ensure you keep receiving the latest news from a distinctly Christian perspective. Jason Delgado served as lead pastor of Vibrant Church in Columbus, Mississippi, until he resigned in April 2021. Students saw the effects too, where professors were becoming less willing to find merit in concepts that have become associated with CRT, such as institutional bias. Meyers exit last month followed two others at Bethlehems downtown campus. If yes leave the church. At Bethlehem, Rigney said, we want to un-coddle the American mind, or at least the Christian mind. He also did not respond to The Roys Reports repeated requests for an interview. Naselli, associate professor of theology and New Testament at BCS, spoke up to identify himself as the five-star reviewer and said that if the motion passed, hed quit. (The Roys Report was not able to obtain statistics for member resignations at Bethlehems two other campusesNorth and South.). "There's unethical behavior. So far this year, about 200 peoplenearly 10% of the megachurchs total membershiphave resigned as members from Bethlehems Downtown campus, according to statistics provided to The Roys Report by former BBC members. WebSince that time, his life has never been the same and the reach of his ministry has only grown. While Meyer was on sabbatical in May, Pickering and Tong were removed from the Sunday prayer and preaching schedule. His worries center on what he sees as contemporary expectations that people join others who are hurting in their pain. Even people whove left in frustration agree theres no single cause or person beneath the conflict. From our humble beginnings in 1975, Faith Assembly of God began as a church serving 95 people from a small steel building. They resigned not long after. Are there good reasons for why Pastors are leaving the church? She referenced the six habits that shape BCS education: observing, understanding, evaluating, feeling, applying, and expressing. No one has leaned in to care for my soul more than him," he wrote. They insisted he sinned against them by explaining and denying instead of seeking to understand. Jason Meyer, John Pipers successor at Bethlehem Baptist Church, has stepped down from his position as pastor for preaching and vision at Bethlehems As another biblical example, Im reminded of Jobs 3 friends. The Roys Report noted Meyer, the successor to founder John Piper, is the fourth pastor to resign from the megachurch in the past four months. Doug Wilsons carnality is so blatant that a sincerely devoted follower of Christ would be unable to be around him for long, and certainly would not repeatedly seek him out. Nothing in seminary wife class prepares you for this.. The motion passed on a voice vote and Takata told The Roys Report that three of the task forces five reports were eventually released to church members with redactions. ]. Why anyone would align themselves with Doug Wilsonwhose latest in a string of anti-Christian behaviors is authoring an erotic novel about a sex robotis beyond me. WebFor more information about enrolling in services, please contact Mary Ali at [email protected] or 260.456.4534 ext. Calvins Misrepresentation of God) to see the outcome as we see here. He said he felt a conviction that he couldnt in good conscience stay at BCS and by the end of 2020 his family left Bethlehem too. No one has influenced how I love my wife or my family more than him. ++++++++++. Though the process was done with the approval of Bethlehem pastors and the elder chair, some wanted the church to do its own review of Naselli last year. Piper quite dysfunctionaly spoke in regard to Wilsons repentance over his hurtful and honestly unsupportable writing, I believe in regards to Southern Slavery As It Was. Portugus, WebThe New Hope leadership and staff is comprised of men and women who love, care and pray for every single person in the church. Browse 60+ years of magazine archives and web exclusives. In an interview with The Roys Report, Bryan Pickering, the former pastor for care and counseling at the church, said he resigned over a pattern of abusive conduct by Bethlehem's leaders that he not only witnessed but experienced. But when urged to make a public statement that BBC did not endorse Rigneys view, one elder instead directed Mekala to meet with Tim Tomlinson, who was then president of BCS. Meanwhile, church elders and BCS administration concluded that the processes largely worked as they should, but that they came to a different conclusion than the accusers. His experience in the class led him to hear from others who had been called out by Naselli, and he brought concerns from a dozen students to leaders at the church at BCS the following year. Those leaving and those staying recognize some of the issues that have divided Bethlehem, many of which are straining other conservative churches: racial justice and critical race theory (CRT); the #MeToo movement and the call to believe women; and the nature of trauma and abuse. But empathy that is true does not result in that. ), I believe in 2013. "This news is fresh to the leadership at Bethlehem, and we are still processing the reasons for the departure, as well as next steps," the statement continued. This is another painful and confusing moment for us," Zuleger wrote. Zuleger also asked church members to pray for their leaders. He seems to be warning that a large amount of empathy will muddy the waters. Great! The downtown campus was the most diverse of the three, with people of color making up 21 percent of attendees. He added that Wilsons church has received a great deal of scrutiny about its poor handling of abuse cases in the past, so I cringed when I heard (Wilson) bring up . Piper has hosted and defended pastor and author Doug Wilson over the years, even as hes become an increasingly contentious figure in evangelicalism for his teachings on slavery, women, and other issues. WebOur Legacy. Couldnt agree more, Rebecca. But it takes a lot of hard work, time, and money to do what we do. Pastor, you have introduced the last three sermons that way. There's domineering. BCS is a confessional school where professors teach from its 52-page affirmation of faith, but students from other traditions can attend. Are there good reasons why members are leaving? Please contact Pastor Jason if you are in need of financial suppor t or WebThrough biblical truth and personal stories, author, pastor, and theologian Jason Meyer encourages the weary and anxious believer by shining light on the nature of reality, the nature of God, and the intersection of the two in our daily, rubber-meets-the-road lives. Theyre drawn to Reformed theology and Pipers Christian hedonism, which is reflected in the schools motto: Education in Serious Joy., In a classroom full of men who would give their lives for the gospel, to have somebody whos supposedly training you for ministry doubt your commitment to that gospel because youre not convinced hes right about everything is really hard to deal with, said Karl Grant, who studied under Naselli in the seminary, as the sole Lutheran in the program. Mekala, who says she was emotionally and spiritually abused for eight years while serving in a campus ministry overseen by Bethlehem, told The Roys Report that listening to the podcast was traumatizing. According to the website, Meyer's resignation was announced last week in an email to the congregation by Elder Council Chairman Dr. Kurt Elting-Ballard and Bethlehem Pastor for Strategic Implementation Ken Currie. An outside investigation TEAM is objective, trained, experienced, know what they are looking for, knows how to speak to the church about what they see, and love Jesus Christ. 95 people from a small steel building seminary are just carrying the.! God began as a church serving 95 people from a small steel building against women- in the media supporting! The downtown campus he accused a student of watering down the Bible with his of. Was not able to obtain statistics for member resignations at Bethlehems downtown campus the.. 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