Your tax-deductible gift helps our journalists report the truth and hold Christian leaders and organizations accountable. Thank the Good Lord that Jesus Chris didnt consider empathy a sin. Former Elder, and BBC professor of Biblical Counseling Pickering, however, said he was not surprised by Nasellis response at the meeting. I still believe we should have done the investigation, but I was able to get to the point where I regarded the March 16 process as incomplete, not immoral.. If I just resign and pretend that I think everything at Bethlehem is fine, I would be dishonest, wrote Meyer, who left August 1. He currently lives in Crystal with his wife Ann, two children, and a dog. Mekala, her husband, and another BBC elder met with Tomlinson in December 2019, Mekala said. The others who have resigned include Bryan Pickering, former Just wanted to insert that my wife and I have been taking biblical counseling classes through CCEF and they have a strong emphasis on the need to grow in empathy. Up until this point, I thought he was a pretty cool guy and authoritative in his teaching.. Is there a way to do any rebuke or admonishment when someone is hurting?, he asked. This prompted many members of the task force to leave the church, according to Janice Perez Evans, a task force co-leader. What a thorough article. When Christina Boyum, a graduate of the college, discussed what happened in Nasellis class with a fellow church member at Bethlehem, she was told, A student feeling hurt does not mean that the student has been sinned against. Rigney has become known for raising concerns about the sin of empathy, a topic hes written about on Desiring God and discussed in a video series hosted by Doug Wilson. I wish the congregation the best in getting this all sorted out. Meyer served as the lead pastor at Bethlehem since 2012 after Piper resigned after leading the church for 33 years, according to ChristianHeadlines.com. Naselli stated that he reacted in the meeting because he worried about discrediting Rigney prior to his presidency, after BCS had undergone a careful, scrutinizing selection process to choose him. To donate, click here. January 31, 2021 Pastor : Jason Wallingsford, Pastor Paul Meyer. All three had conflicted at times with Bethlehems 40-plus-member elder council, and they eventually saw their own ministries and the focus of the church going in different directions. She asked how the message, with Rigney and Wilson discussing examples of women using emotional manipulation or falsely claiming abuse, would square with the churchs own ministry to care for victims. Another elder in the meeting said of Pastor Jason, of Pastor Ming-Jinn, and of me that when we preach or pray publicly, or publicly communicate to the congregation, we are subordinating the gospel to other things, Pickering told CT. Pray for me, and I'll be praying for you. This organization investigates any level or kind of abuse within the church, and founded by Boz Tchividijian, (an attorney) and his team has done excellent work to help churches navigate through this kind of thing. Jason Meyer, the successor to pastor and Desiring God founder John Piper, has resigned from his role as pastor for preaching & vision at Bethlehem Baptist Church Bethlehem is in Gods hands, she said. Pastor Jason In the end, seven of the 17 original members of the task force ended up leaving Bethlehem, which some elders saw as confirmation that their misgivings about the group were justified. Commentators have tried to parse the fault lines, and evangelicals themselvesincluding CTs president and editor in chief Tim Dalrymplehave generated their own categories for how people of common faith can find themselves at odds. Piper responded to Bowerss account in an email to the campus community, saying that his characterization did not line up with his own as chancellor. Rigney recognizes spiritual abuse as something that does happen in Christian contexts, but he also challenged what he saw as the possibility for criticism or correction from a position of authority to get inflated as abuse. He feels overjoyed in his calling to love and lead the flock at Urban Refuge in the strength that God supplies. In this context of untethered empathy, he argues, you lose the ability to actually make an independent judgment about anything that theyre saying or doing. These churches that are really heavy on theology, we hold our theology so high that when were leaving, it felt like were leaving orthodoxy by leaving our church, she told CT. If thats how you feel, theres probably a problem., Brima, who is white and whose husband is Black, said she saw the empathy as sin idea used as protection from critique and believes it can do unique harm to women and minorities, seemingly minimizing their feelings and experiences. While he was trying to work for resolution, she didnt know where to go with her own frustration and anxiety. The episode was titled The Sin of Empathy, and featured guest Joe Rigney, who at the time of the January meeting had been appointed president of Bethlehem College and Seminary (BCS) but had not yet assumed office. Its been accelerated by political polarization, racial reckoning, and pandemic stress. And if Im saying its no longer a place to be able to say those things publicly and remain safe, theyre thinking, Thats not a place for us then either.. Ann Mekala and her husband, who was on the ethnic harmony task force, left the church a couple years ago. A narcissistic family system can be a family, a local church, an organization, or any other group. There's bullying. Jason Delgado served as lead pastor of Vibrant Church in Columbus, Mississippi, until he resigned in April 2021. The Christian conversation about racism has come a long way in the 10 years since Bloodlines, and has taken on more weight amid the recent string of high-profile police killingsthree in the Minneapolis area alone: Philando Castille, George Floyd, and Daunte Wright. Give a gift of $30 or more to The Roys Report this month, and you will receive Escaping the Maze of Spiritual Abuse by Dr. Lisa Oakley and Justin Humphreys. Pipers successor, Jason Meyer, is the fourth pastor to resign from Bethlehem in the past four months. Leaders in the Bethlehem community, though, said they worry that the new sensitivities are hurting their ability to pastor and shepherd those in their care. Both Meyer and Tong spoke out against racism, Pickering said, but added that the charges were not true. While a former leader hopes for change, women who sought refuge in biblical counseling at John MacArthurs church say they feared discipline for seeking safety from their abusive marriages. Jason refers to an article in his letter, which describes neo-fundamentalism as one of six groups into which evangelicals are fracturing. Heres a short definition offered there, but youd have to read the entire article for the more complete definition: Neo-Fundamentalist Evangelical Neo-fundamentalists are those who have deep concerns about both political and theological liberalism. Pickering, however, said he was not surprised by Nasellis response at the meeting. WebBethlehem Baptist Church. Join now Sign in Jason Meyer Jason Meyer Executive Pastor at Sierra Vista Church. Ive heard from various people who have said things like when they heard Jason preach or Ming-Jinn preach or me pray publicly, or things that I would post on social media, they would feel like they were very cared for, seen, or felt alignment with us, said Pickering, who led the church in prayer the Sundays following the Capitol insurrection, the presidential inauguration, the Atlanta spa shootings, and the killing of Daunte Wright. In the summer of 2019, the task force presented an 85-page report to the elders, which essentially died in committee. They leave behind a sizable community2,400 members, spread across three campuseswhose leaders are also disappointed and grieved, enough that the church decided to postpone its 150th anniversary event scheduled for this weekend to November. 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. But I am glad Fod called Jason to be a preacher instead of an air-traffic controller. He wrote in an email to her that he believed the elders would be taking up the issue in the days ahead.. Many at BCS, including Bowers himself, were influenced by Pipers 2011 book Bloodlines, his confession of his own racism, and his desire for diversity. Meyers exit last month followed two others at Bethlehems downtown campus. 2023 The Christian Broadcasting Network, Inc., A nonprofit 501 (c)(3) Charitable Organization. Over time, for a variety of reason, the members of the narcissistic family system are trained, conditioned, molded, shaped, and manipulated into becoming co-conspirators in the idolatry of The Image., And they are coerced into being temple prostitutes at the temple of The Image.. Please contact Pastor Jason if you are in need of financial suppor t or Interview with Jason Mayer | North County Campus Pastor by Dave Franco | August 15, 2014 How did you become a Christian? There is some overlap and co-belligerency with Christian Nationalism (a syncretism of right wing nationalism and Christianity) but neo-fundamentalists do so with more theological vocabulary and rationality. . Give a gift of $30 or more to The Roys Report this month, and you will receive a copy of "Escaping the Maze of Spiritual Abuse" by Dr. Lisa Oakley and Justin Humphreys. 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. But in contexts where believers already agree on the capital-T Truth, theres even more weight and fallout when they fail to see eye to eye on the lowercase-t truth of a situation. One of the few evangelical colleges in New York City is in sudden financial crisis, and students are planning for a possible shutdown. We also have troubles that have played out at Bethlehem over the past year. Its one of the things that meant I never took John Piper seriously, or trusted his exposition of Scripture. No one has influenced how I love my wife or my family more than him. The trip cost is $500, $250 is due with initial registration. 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. When we talk about the six habits of heart and mind, [we need to] actually do that., Rigney said that as Christian hedonists, feel becomes an educational distinctive at BCS. "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. The Roys Report has also learned that Pastor for Care and Counseling Bryan Pickering, who also recently resigned, called for the resignation of a fellow elder, Andy Naselli, whos a professor at Bethlehem College and Seminary. 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. The departures most directly affect the downtown campus, where Stokes, Bethlehems pastor of church planting, has assumed some of Meyers duties in the short term. As far as I can see, Pipers church and seminary are just carrying the torch. For some, these three pastors willingness to listen to and advocate for congregants, their teachings on race and abuse, and their leadership at the downtown campus were particular assets to Bethlehem. By After Christ Christian Center. Elders and ministers at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota have resigned over what Pipers successor, Jason Meyer, calls an embrace of neo-fundamentalism and a unity culture that breeds fear and seeks to protect the institution. Looking back, Pickering, as a counselor, wishes the church had established an understanding of systemic abuse prior to its focus on domestic abuse back in 2015. But it takes a lot of hard work, time, and money to do what we do. Thank you for this comment, Pastor Lamb. Bethlehem College and Seminary grew out of the church-run training center that dates back decades. The group faced pushback from elders and pastors, who were worried that their approach focused only on where Bethlehem was not doing enough on matters of race. Get the best from CT editors, delivered straight to your inbox! Couldnt agree more, Rebecca. As the debating and name-calling escalated, Jeffrey Hall joined the group of students defending the Augustinian position of evil as privation, or evil as the absence of good. The elder council concluded in April that the charges against Naselli were not true, but the pastors were three of four elders who dissented in hopes that further investigation could take place. Are we not caring enough about our responsibilities to weep with those who weep? One motion concerned the Racial Harmony Task Force, a group formed in early 2019 to address the lack of minority representation on BBCs Elder Council. WebJason Meyer | 2 Corinthians 11:16-21. To share this article with your friends, use any of the social share buttons on our site, or simply copy the link below. Its the same individuals who are sitting in both places. Tabb, in an October 2020 email announcing Bowerss final days at BCS, described him as being beloved by students and colleagues for his excellent teaching, good humor, compassion for the marginalized, and faithful friendship.. -It is honestly appalling that he has not called Wilsons use of savagely misogynist rhetoric, specifically in Wilsons blog. For twelve BBC students to submit allegations against N is not insignificant. No one has leaned in to care for my soul more than him," he wrote. But many were due to tensions resulting from racial and womens issues, ties to controversial pastor Doug Wilson, and the elders handling of allegations of misconduct by Andy Naselli. Even before Rigneys selection and the Naselli investigation at BCS, church leaders had begun to rethink what it means for the college and seminary to be a church-based school when the church now has three campuses instead of one. WebSince that time, his life has never been the same and the reach of his ministry has only grown. The stakes continue to be raised, said Josh Panos, a BCS alumnus. Help is Here a new sermon series; Upcoming Events. These tensions came to a head at a contentious BBC congregational meeting on January 31 in which two members, Steve and Janette Takata, submitted motions for the church to consider. Prior to ordination, Pastor Jason attended the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago and the University of Chicago. She called what happened double abuse.. Now, Meyer is part of a growing exodus of leaders and members Rev Bethany Douty. I had zero ill intent against you.. In an emailed statement to CBN News on Wednesday, Ken Currie, Bethlehem Baptist's pastor for strategic implementation, said Meyer's resignation would be effective Aug. 1. Calvins Misrepresentation of God) to see the outcome as we see here. Its a simple case of the seeds of the founder coming to fruition. Christian Rocker Posts Stunning Response to Recent Apostasy of Christian Leaders, Chicago Radio Host & a Former Bodyguard Say James MacDonald Asked Them to Arrange Murders, James MacDonald Took Millions from Harvest & Now Demands Broadcast Ministry, Mancow Airs Shocking Comments By James MacDonald: My Response. We see this is the third article this month youve found worth reading. Ive blogged about that twice. He doesnt need us, but by his grace and through his Son, we belong to him. We are committed to delivering quality independent Christian journalism you can trust. According to the church's website, the Bethlehem elders have called for an all-church meeting to be held on Sunday, July 25 regarding Meyer's resignation. Some of the faces that appear in the compilation video of 150 Gods Grace at Bethlehem no longer belong to the multisite Twin Cities churchmost prominently Jason Meyer, Pipers successor and Bethlehems pastor for preaching and vision. He says the accusations against him were (1) that I have subordinated the gospel, (2) that I empowered victims (coddler), and (3) that I allowed compassion for others to steer and dictate my leadership direction.. Rev Juan Dominguez. Janette Takata pointed out that Rigney was identified as being from Bethlehem in the video and that a BCS professor and Bethlehem elder posted a five-star review of the episode. ***, 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.". He commands us to show sympathy, but people demand empathy, and they regard it as a kind of betrayal if you refuse to join them in their pain, in their grievance, he says in the series with Wilson. Web1-31-2021 Worship Service Pastor Meyers retirement. She requested that, prior to Rigney taking office, the elders make a statement to separate Rigneys views in the episode from the views and teachings of Bethlehem Baptist Church.. God is everywhereeven in the news. | Screenshot/YouTube/Fellowship Church Church of the Highlands and ARC officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the lawsuit when contacted by The Christian Post on Tuesday. This was baffling to me. WebIn 2012, Jason Meyer became the senior pastor. I have never been a member in a church which allows a member to put forward a motion to the entire congregation designed to rebuke an elder. espaol, If youve seen much of Doug Wilson or his church/school/publishing empire in Moscow, ID, and you have some understanding of narcissism, youll immediately recognize the warning flags. As it should, he wrote. 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. Theyre trying to toughen you up. We cant even think about whats next, said Debby Pickering, whose family left when her husband, Bryan, resigned his position as pastor. "Pray for your leaders as we pray for you. Kenny Stokes, a pastor and elder at Bethlehem and associate professor and trustee at BCS, told CT they are currently in discussion to clarify protocols and policies between the two institutions. The first, Your Empathy is a SIn: a Response to Desiring God is here: https://heresthejoy.com/2019/06/your-empathy-is-a-sin-a-response-to-desiring-god/. Is this not the very thing that the Pharisees did that got Jesus so mad that he would call them out by comparing them to that which was the most filthy and disgusting thing in their own theology? It is on YouTube, Race and Culture (??? A lay member, who attended Bethlehem for over a decade and asked not to be named to preserve ministry relationships, told CT it made sense that Meyer, Pickering, and Tong were the ones to go since they were seen as the empathetic ones. In their minds, claims of inappropriate behavior or abuse wont always be justified. Ive always been mystified by Pipers attraction to him. WebUrban Refuge Lead Pastor, Jason Meyer, has a deep and abiding passion to make much of Christ in all that he does. From afar it looks to me like Bethlehem Baptist has dodged a bullet of baloney. On April 20, the elders met again for what Pickering and Meyer likened to a tribunal. Pickering said that in that meeting, the elders accused Meyer and Tong of subordinating the gospel and embracing Marxism and Critical Race Theorya controversial approach to understanding systemic racism. Stay informed with the latest from CBN News delivered to your inbox. May they work it out together in a godly manner. Rev Dr Jackie Dowdy. To donate, How Big Christian Nationalism Has Come Courting in North Idaho, Doug Wilsons Disciples Question Womens Right to Vote, Did Costi Hinn Get Canceled? Im stumped over this direction. 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. Im not convinced that I sinned against you. They did great for a week when they simply sat with Job in silence. Sarah Brima and her husband were former members of Bethlehem and Rigneys Cities Church but left in part over his affiliation with Wilson. Disagreements in this area can feel like personal attacks or as doctrinal attacks, when they really are neither.. Several current leaders at Bethlehem as well as BCSs new president, Joe Rigney, pointed to a similar taxonomy laid out by The Gospel Coalitions Kevin DeYoung. D. degrees. Similarly, Lee at Bethlehems North Campus referred to the spiritual abuse accusations against Naselli as the result of concept creep, suggesting that conceptions of abuse and victimhood are being expanded too far. WebPastor: Jason Wallingsford, Pastor Paul Meyer | Series: Life Pending Earlier this month, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, the Georgia Republican, addressed the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee in Coeur dAlene, Idaho, whose, A century after the 19th Amendment to the U.S Constitution gave American women the right to vote, a group of male leaders, Costi Hinn, nephew of Benny Hinn, has been called a progressive to mark and avoid for more than two years by Michael. Concerning threats within the church, they have deep worries with the churchs drift towards liberalism and the ways secular ideologies are finding homes in the church. Keep in touch with Julie and get updates in your inbox! 276. Wilson can easily be intellectually challenged, but he uses verbal and physical intimidation as a shield to avoid it. By now, you have received notification of the resignation of Pastor Jason Meyer. Are the Pastor(s) abusive? The successor to John Piper at Bethlehem Baptist Church this week resigned in what appears to be a major shake-up at the church amid allegations of toxic His worries center on what he sees as contemporary expectations that people join others who are hurting in their pain. 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. And if the elders were to move for that motion, I would resign out of principle.. . https://julieroys.com/bethlehem-baptist-church-culture-fear-abuse But its more difficult to shift peoples thinking the other way, though more resourcesbooks like Somethings Not Right: Decoding the Hidden Tactics of Abuseand Freeing Yourself from Its Power by Wade Mullen and A Church Called Tov: Forming a Goodness Culture That Resists Abuses of Power and Promotes Healing by Laura Barringer and Scot McKnightare changing how people see abuse within the church. . The congregation is the highest authority and there are systems in place which allow congregants to bring up concerns (motions) to the rest of the congregation. You are learning not to be led by your emotions. That was a very heated conversation. They were disappointed, too, that their pursuit of evidence and the truth became viewed as disbelieving victims or not showing compassion. Maybe this is normal for most people, but its mind-blowing to me. Brilliant people dont do that because they dont need to. Are there good reasons why members are leaving? WebPastor Jason serves as Pastor of Holy Nativity. 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. 3. I used to wonder if I was too soft. I say all of that to let you know that it's okay to feel sad and confused," Zuleger continued. It feels jarring.". *This article has been updated for accuracy. Jason informed Bethlehem's Council of Elders of his resignation effective August 1, 2021," the statement read. 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.. The implications were clear: He would not be sugarcoating in this class. Beneath this constellation of hot topics, though, theres also a deeper philosophical disagreement over how to approach the various conflicts themselves. 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. Rev Greg Doss. When he resigned, he came to an agreement of some kind where he committed to not interfering in the elders leadership or the direction of the church. I enjoyed your article. "Jason Meyer's resignation is not due to impropriety or moral failure, and we thank God for Jason's ministry among us for the past nine years, first as Pastor for Preaching & Vision for Bethlehem's three campuses, and then since last summer as Pastor for Preaching & Vision at the Downtown Campus," the statement concluded. We are open and available if you need to talk You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are.. If yes leave the church. Co-author of the entry on fundamentalism in the Encyclopedia of North Carolina (Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press, 2006), Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees (preachers and teachers,) you hypocrites! 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 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. The church formed an ethnic harmony task force in 2019 to review issues such as representation and diversity within the church and leadership. He kept saying dont get sucked in which is quite a different thing than having empathy. Thats why we view every news story through the lens of faith. A debate over untethered empathy underscores how departing leaders, including John Pipers successor, approached hot-button issues like race and abuse. 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However, three pastors/elders voted against dismissing chargesPickering, Meyer, and Ming-Jinn Tong, former pastor of neighborhood outreach who also recently resigned. Also, any comments with profanity, name-calling, and/or a nasty tone will be deleted. Jason Meyer has resigned from his position as the lead pastor of the Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota, amid allegations of toxic and abusive behavior among the church's leadership. No decent man, and no credible minister of Jesus, should enter the same room with such a craven and corrupt person as Wilson, much less appear on his radio show or promote his thinly-veiled sexual fantasies as credible theology. We dont want that kind of escalation, inflation, and fragility in play. Wilson tells you very plainly what his show is about: his own male self aggrandizement. I had a growing concern that compassion that lacks discernment would ultimately and subtly undermine sound doctrine.