He described his reasons for leaving in a 3,100-word resignation letter that was recently leaked, nearly a month after the church announced his departure in a brief email. Image: Screengrab / Bethlehem Baptist Church. Not Jesus. Thank the Good Lord that Jesus Chris didnt consider empathy a sin. Piper cant step in, from what I understand. Pastor Brian Dow. 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. So, lets call this what it is, address it as the foul, malevolent, pernicious evil that it is, and stand against the manifold oppression and abuse that are not only forbidden by God, but condemned by Christ Himself. a unity culture that breeds fear and seeks to protect the institution Jason Meyer He had the power to just wreck me. Rev Patricia Downes. Youre going to have people on opposite sides saying theyre making mountains out of molehills and then other people saying youre making molehills out of mountains. To unlock this article for your friends, use any of the social share buttons on our site, or simply copy the link below. Today was the first time Ive ever heard of the controversy re: the concept of empathy as discussed by Doug Wilson and Joe Rigney, and also now the idea the some biblical counselors are also thinking similarly. The congregation which has a membership of around 4,600 operates three campuses in the city. One of them, Ann Mekala, wrote in a 2019 letter to several elders, There is an air of disdain and distrust towards women woven throughout the episode. She noted that Wilson and Rigney gave examples of women falsely accusing men in the podcast and encouraged listeners to be skeptical toward those who report abuse. 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. 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 church went on to revise its stance on divorce and start a ministry response team to care for victims. The Takatas, like the group of Nasellis former students, felt like they too had gone through a convoluted process of praying, reporting, documenting, scheduling, meeting, and working for resolution only to have the process end without feeling like their concerns were fully understood and that nothing would change as a result. This was supposed to be a landmark year for Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, as the historic congregation, best known for John Pipers 33-year tenure as pastor, marked its 150th anniversary. He also expressed misgivings around the treatment of women, which he claimed was the result of attitudes that went beyond complementarian convictions, as well as around Rigneys ties to Wilson. Tong led the churchs efforts to help the community in the unrest and grief in the aftermath of Floyds death, including setting up pop-up grocery stores. (BBC has about 40 elders, but the congregation is considered the final authority and meets quarterly to vote on church matters.). The situation at Bethlehem highlights not only certain issues being debated but also the conflicting philosophies shaping Christians responses: Are we accommodating feelings so much that we are crying sin where there is no sin? But I am glad Fod called Jason to be a preacher instead of an air-traffic controller. 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. A unity or one voice culture puts a lot of focus on institutional protection. Meyer adds that while unity is a great goal, the problem comes when unity moves from a desired goal to a demanded outcome.. Particularly since Donald Trumps presidency, theres been a deepening of divisions among American evangelicals, exposing disagreements not in theology per se but in how they as Christians see their greatest priorities and fears in society. Another pastor who resigned is accusing a Bethlehem elder of spiritual abuse and calling on him to resign. Ive always been mystified by claims that Doug Wilson is brilliant. This dysfunctional mess is the logical outcome of John Piper and his theology and its methods. Jason has been a dear friend and mentor since we met in his tiny closet of an office during my first year of seminary back in 2010. The church where John Piper pastored for 33 years is arguably facing one of its greatest crises in 150 years. Meyers most recent title was pastor for preaching & vision at Bethlehems downtown campus. They were disappointed, too, that their pursuit of evidence and the truth became viewed as disbelieving victims or not showing compassion. Browse 60+ years of magazine archives and web exclusives. Approximately 75% of attending members voted AGAINST it. Then they got themselves in trouble (ultimately with God) when they opened their mouths and spoke words without knowledge in their attempt to fix Job. In terms of the leadership of the school, its the same guys. WebWe are excited to share that t he youth of UPC are heading to Duluth for their summer mis s ion trip June 11 th-16th. ++++++++++. And I want to speak against her motion. However, three pastors/elders voted against dismissing chargesPickering, Meyer, and Ming-Jinn Tong, former pastor of neighborhood outreach who also recently resigned. What was described in this article is one of the clearest examples of a local church functioning as a narcissistic family system. Man Rampant? 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. We cant even think about whats next, said Debby Pickering, whose family left when her husband, Bryan, resigned his position as pastor. The church where John Piper pastored for 33 years is arguably facing one of its greatest crises in 150 years. And let us pray for Gods rescue and healing of those victimized by these wicked hired-men posing as undershepherds. Wilson tells you very plainly what his show is about: his own male self aggrandizement. One need only look at the life of John Calvin, father of Reformed theology (deformed is more like it) and how his followers minimize his past (as Piper himself does; this is referenced in Dave Hunts book What Love is This? ), Boyum said it was because of her training at Bethlehem that she felt like she should raise concerns. Two Bethlehem elders, Ken Currie and Chairman Kurt Elting-Ballard, responded that they are focusing our energy on the needs of our flock and had no other comment or statement to add.. While he was trying to work for resolution, she didnt know where to go with her own frustration and anxiety. He seems to be warning that a large amount of empathy will muddy the waters. We see this is the third article this month youve found worth reading. If yes leave the church. 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. 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.. Prior to ordination, Pastor Jason attended the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago and the University of Chicago. According to Pickering, Naselli had been the focus of an internal investigation at BCS due to allegations of bullying and spiritual abuse brought by about 12 former and current BCS students. At Bethlehem, the biggest source of frustration and disappointment, in many cases, came not from the grievances themselves but from the resistance and attitudes people said they faced when they tried to bring those grievances forward. It may be worth noting that Naselli graduated from Bob Jones University. Jason Meyer, pastor for preaching and vision at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota, preached on the pride-crushing power of the cross in Alumni 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. 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. A Taiwanese American, Tong also wore traditional Chinese attire as he preached on the Sunday following the Atlanta massage parlor shootings. During a meeting in May, the downtown pastors faced further challenges from some of the council. In their minds, claims of inappropriate behavior or abuse wont always be justified. Feb. 06-Feb. 06. Opinion: What is Revivaland is it Happening at Asbury? WebIn 2012, Jason Meyer became the senior pastor. In our next article on events at Bethlehem Baptist Church, well explore the allegations against Naselli, as well as the response by BCS administration and BBC elders. It would have been easier, he said, to move from understanding abuse within institutions and systems, as can be the case with spiritual abuse and racism, to the ways abuse manifests in marriage relationships. Our academic dean is an elder at the church. Janette Takata also wrote emails to BBC elders in 2019 with concerns about the episode. 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. D. degrees. WebView Jason Meyers profile on LinkedIn, the worlds largest professional community. 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. Hi. We have room to grow, yet I know that my fellow North elders have sought to shepherd not under compulsion but willingly, not for shameful gain but eagerly, and not domineering over others but serving as examples to the flock (1 Peter 5:23), Lee wrote by email. There's bullying. Pickering, however, said he was not surprised by Nasellis response at the meeting. 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. 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. However, this past spring, several church members also brought allegations of sin and misconduct against Naselli. Even if the motions dont pass, at least the option is there to address major concerns with the entire church. If I just resign and pretend that I think everything at Bethlehem is fine, I would be dishonest, wrote Meyer, who left August 1. Many brought up the untethered empathy concept as a factor that they believe shaped leaders responses when confronted with claims of bullying, institutional protection, and spiritual abuse. When the image of the family is more important than the individual members of the family, this is a narcissistic family system. Wilson can easily be intellectually challenged, but he uses verbal and physical intimidation as a shield to avoid it. 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. with Pastor Shedrick Clark. Now I wonder why he was so harsh.. "It's been more painful to me personally than corporately. 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. I feel like we have encountered wave after wave after wave, and that in a good-faith effort to keep the peace and maintain some form of unity, we have not spoken with sufficient clarity about what is true and what is false and instead have attempted to appease left-leaning folks who are virtually unappeasable , By the time the Takatas eventually met with Naselli and church leaders, they saw that there are more dividing lines being formed here than we expected, Janette told CT. Thats why we view every news story through the lens of faith. The three departing pastors from Bethlehem were based just a few miles from where George Floyd died in 2020. Help us continue to be a voice for truth in the media by supporting CBN News for as little as $1. Help is Here a new sermon series; Upcoming Events. Five of our professors are elders; four of our trustees are elders, said Rigney. 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. This response, of course, is labeled as immature, manipulative, and reactive.. 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. Among his concerns, the former assistant professor of theology and philosophy wrote that leaders used Scripture or Christian vocabulary to dismiss employee and student complaints, and that he felt pressured to tiptoe around addressing racial progress. Up until this point, I thought he was a pretty cool guy and authoritative in his teaching.. She also left her job at Bethlehems Campus Outreach after reporting what she saw as domineering and sexist behavior by a coworker, only to have the leaders blame her personality and ambitions for the conflict, she said. 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. The other, and far more contentious, motion concerned an October 1, 2019, episode of Man Rampant, a podcast on Christianity, leadership, and masculinity hosted by Doug Wilson. 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. Ive blogged about that twice. 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 sure that systems like this may be corrupted (or at least those whose ideas arent accepted may think the system is corrupted), but at least it allows the collective will of the people to be expressed and it allows individuals to speak openly. At the meeting, Steve Takata moved that the task forces unedited reports be released to Bethlehem members. 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. Piper should intervene to save what is left at Bethlehem. Four students recalled intense debates in their 2019 undergrad course in Christian ethics and apologetics. Disagreements in this area can feel like personal attacks or as doctrinal attacks, when they really are neither.. A year later, Rigney, who had taught theology and literature at BCS since 2007, was named the schools second president in an announcement by Piper as chancellor. . . Tabb and fellow leaders at BCS conducted the investigation of the former students complaints, which concluded last August. Please check your information and try again or call us at 1-800-759-0700. Thats actually kind of incredible. espaol,
You'll hear sermons, worship, life-changing help, and prayer. He feels overjoyed in his calling to love and lead the flock at Urban Refuge in the strength that God supplies. 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. Sarah Brima and her husband were former members of Bethlehem and Rigneys Cities Church but left in part over his affiliation with Wilson. But it wasnt just the situation around Naselli. The church formed an ethnic harmony task force in 2019 to review issues such as representation and diversity within the church and leadership. laid out by The Gospel Coalitions Kevin DeYoung, With Gossip of the Gospel, the Church Grows in Nepal, Southern Baptist Convention Disfellowships Saddleback Church, I Was the Proverbial, Drug-Fueled Rock and Roller, Grace Community Church Rejected Elders Calls to Do Justice in Abuse Case, The Kings College Faces Threat of Closure, Complete access to articles on ChristianityToday.com, Over 120 years of magazine archives plus full access to all of CTs online archives. In a climate of suspicion, compassion can look like coddling, Meyer wrote. Please contact Pastor Jason if you are in need of financial suppor t or I didnt start experiencing regular conflict until I started advocating for racial justice issues, Bowers told CT. 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 the following weeks, as the church attempted to make peace between them and Naselli, the couple felt maligned in the process, as the professor went on to characterize their motion as divisive and disrespectful. A debate over untethered empathy underscores how departing leaders, including John Pipers successor, approached hot-button issues like race and abuse. Rev Juan Dominguez. 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? I say all of that to let you know that it's okay to feel sad and confused," Zuleger continued. Now, obviously Im a pastor at a separate church, but that church has the same doctrinal commitment as Bethlehem does., Rigney and Wilson discuss the sin of empathy.. He and Pickering, who read the names of the victims in prayer that week, received criticism from a fellow elder for bringing up race as a component in the incident. 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. "With regret, a deep sense of loss, and praise to God for his mercy and grace even in trial, we announce the resignation of Pastor Jason Meyer from the position of Pastor for Preaching & Vision, Downtown Campus. Pastor Jason Meyer, Bethlehem Baptist Church Almost 1-1/2 years ago, I wrote an article about John Pipers former church, Bethlehem Baptist Church (BBC) 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. If the church would take seriously the scriptural qualifications for elders, it would protect the sheep from these narcissistic leaders. July 19, 2021 Source: Facebook In whats being called a major shake-up, four pastors have resigned from Bethlehem Baptist Church (BBC) in Minneapolis in the past The others who have resigned include Bryan Pickering, former The school also hired its only female faculty professor, Betsy Howard, this year. WebOur Legacy. When met with issues that strike at the core of ones identity, its natural to have visceral responses, she tweeted. I had a growing concern that compassion that lacks discernment would ultimately and subtly undermine sound doctrine. However, Takata said nothing ever came of her efforts. examples (from Wilsons church). (An investigation by Wilsons denomination found several serious errors in Wilsons handling of sex abuse cases in his church, including shifting blame for sexual abuse from the perpetrator to the father of the victim. 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. Its been accelerated by political polarization, racial reckoning, and pandemic stress. Learn more about Urban Refuge Church Pastor, you have introduced the last three sermons that way. Jason Meyer, John Pipers successor at Bethlehem Baptist Church, has stepped down from his position as pastor for preaching and vision at Bethlehems As far as I can see, Pipers church and seminary are just carrying the torch. Share Podcast Audio Download. What shocks me is that these men have not bothered to look at the clear examples in the New testament, including of sympathy and empathy in Hebrews. Such sensitivities, he fears, can threaten Christians relationship with the truth. Jason Delgado served as lead pastor of Vibrant Church in Columbus, Mississippi, until he resigned in April 2021. 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. Something that gives me hope that BBC will be able to navigate this very difficult time is that they seem to have a church government in place designed to serve the congregation. Maybe this is normal for most people, but its mind-blowing to me. The news of official grievances against Naselli, one of the best-known professors at BCS, spread among its 400 or so graduates. If you find over time that Johnathons perceptions are true, you will rightly seek out another place to study or work. I attended Bethlehem for nearly 3 years, belonged to one of the small groups. 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. Meyer wrote in his letter, It is hard to avoid seeing (the charges) as retribution., The Roys Report reached out to several elders for comment. Speaking as a 18 yr attender at BBC (currently planning on leaving) the closest Piper ever got to decrying Wilson was during a interview with Joe Rigney. Are the Pastor(s) abusive? 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. Meyer preached in 2015 against the dangers of hyper-headship and made the case that doing nothing when faced with abuse is taking the side of the abuser. After Christ is a deliverance church. He has previously served congregations in Lake Benton and Blaine, both in Minnesota. Outside the church, they are concerned by the cultures increasing hostility to Christianity, most prominently from mass media, social media, and the government., https://mereorthodoxy.com/six-way-fracturing-evangelicalism/, Ive been so concerned that a man who is widely known for thinking empathy is a sin is now the head of a seminary. Its been a taxing year for everyone, and its been a taxing year for ministry. Rev Greg Doss. 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 Get the best from CT editors, delivered straight to your inbox! 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. Hurt feelings arent always a sign that someone has been sinned against. 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. 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 The Takatas were jarred by the response. Overall, her professors and pastors modeled a way to engage the world not from fear and suspicion, but with openness and critical thinking., Theres much I love about Bethlehem. 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. They insisted he sinned against them by explaining and denying instead of seeking to understand. In arguing for the motion, Takata expressed that it was disheartening to her that an elder who calls himself a pastor had given the Man Rampant episode a 5-star rating. He doesnt need us, but by his grace and through his Son, we belong to him. Some of the resignations were due to normal factors, like families moving out of the area. 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. 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. For twelve BBC students to submit allegations against N is not insignificant. 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 . But what I noticed, underlying the meaningful time I worshiped at Bethlehem, was rigidity and control among leadership. ", "We also have troubles that have played out at Bethlehem over the past year. When the legitimate needs of the individual members of the family are expendable for the sake of the image of the family, this is a narcissistic family system. Pastor Jason Meyer said, If you as a church dont like what I said today, you will have to get another pastor, because I believe this to the back of my teeth.. Meyer adds that while unity is a great goal, the downtown pastors faced further challenges from some of school... And apologetics study or work one voice culture puts a lot of focus on institutional.... Time I worshiped at Bethlehem, was rigidity and control among leadership the downtown pastors faced further from... Meyer adds that while unity is a narcissistic family system relationship with the truth his. 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