After Christ Christian Center. 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. 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. Yesterday I saw a Video from John Piper asking for prayer during his upcoming 7 week writing sabbatical. No one has leaned in to care for my soul more than him," he wrote. God commands us to be compassionate. Pickering, however, said he was not surprised by Nasellis response at the meeting. 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. 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. WebRev David Dodge. WebSince that time, his life has never been the same and the reach of his ministry has only grown. The downtown campus was the most diverse of the three, with people of color making up 21 percent of attendees. Even people whove left in frustration agree theres no single cause or person beneath the conflict. 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. 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. In his resignation letter, Meyer added, Ming-Jinn, Bryan, and I were called shame terms like coddlers, and Ming-Jinn was called Absalom.. Image: Screengrab / Bethlehem Baptist Church. Sarah Brima and her husband were former members of Bethlehem and Rigneys Cities Church but left in part over his affiliation with Wilson. 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. Some current seminary students say they were satisfied with the outcome and have seen repentance from their professor following the investigation. 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. Its one of the things that meant I never took John Piper seriously, or trusted his exposition of Scripture. 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. Skip to main content. The Roys Report reached out to Tomlinson for comment, but he did not respond. This moment is hard. A better way to describe this is rigid and controlling. 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. Its not bad to feel hurt., The BCS alumna said that he went on to say, We came from a generation where Nasellis teaching philosophyand Don Carsonsis completely normal. Thats part of our entire educational approach. (He declined to comment on Naselli or any specific faculty members. ", "We also have troubles that have played out at Bethlehem over the past year. Nothing in seminary wife class prepares you for this.. Thank you for this comment, Pastor Lamb. Meyer told his congregation to expect that race would continue to be addressed from the pulpit. Feb. 06-Feb. 06. This led the Takatas and other BBC members to file grievances against Naselli with BBCs Elder Council. The church formed an ethnic harmony task force in 2019 to review issues such as representation and diversity within the church and leadership. WebPastor Jason Meyer. I never met Jason Meyer but I know an oblong blur generality, when I read one. Its the same individuals who are sitting in both places. Submitted by escamp on August 31, 2015 - 3:04pm. This generationyoung peopleare not being prepared to survive in the world they are going to find themselves in.. Interview with Jason Mayer | North County Campus Pastor by Dave Franco | August 15, 2014 How did you become a Christian? In the summer of 2019, the task force presented an 85-page report to the elders, which essentially died in committee. 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. Ann Mekala and her husband, who was on the ethnic harmony task force, left the church a couple years ago. But if you see what I see, and if you experience this community (leadership, faculty, and students) as loving, and supportive and fair, and if you share my excitement about the future with Joe Rigneys leadership and under Gods merciful providence, then I believe we will together walk in truth and love, and have a great impact for the glory of Christ.. To unlock this article for your friends, use any of the social share buttons on our site, or simply copy the link below. 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. At its heart are questions over whether, when, and how Christians might challenge those who say they are hurtingand how they balance calls to show compassion, seek out truth, and repent of sin in such situations. 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. And I want to speak against her motion. 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. It seems as though one issue is differing views regarding the churchs theological emphasis, while another issue is abusive leadership and a culture of fear. He wrote in an email to her that he believed the elders would be taking up the issue in the days ahead.. Disagreements in this area can feel like personal attacks or as doctrinal attacks, when they really are neither.. "There's unethical behavior. Tong preaches to the downtown campus in March. Bethlehem is in Gods hands, she said. 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. The implications were clear: He would not be sugarcoating in this class. They did great for a week when they simply sat with Job in silence. 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. The threat effectively shut down discussion. The church where John Piper pastored for 33 years is arguably facing one of its greatest crises in 150 years. a unity culture that breeds fear and seeks to protect the institution Jason Meyer Zuleger noted Meyer's resignation was painful to him personally due to their years-long friendship. I fully believed that living for myself and chasing my desires of money, women, and partying would lead me to joy and happiness. I have found abuse of power issues typical among conservative churches. While Meyer was on sabbatical in May, Pickering and Tong were removed from the Sunday prayer and preaching schedule. Meyers most recent title was pastor for preaching & vision at Bethlehems downtown campus. After Christ is a deliverance church. This is authoritarian house that says women shouldnt teach in seminary. Take Back Your Life. The news of official grievances against Naselli, one of the best-known professors at BCS, spread among its 400 or so graduates. Thats why we view every news story through the lens of faith. The church went on to revise its stance on divorce and start a ministry response team to care for victims. A motion was brought at a July 25 QSM for such an investigation. Lee at the North Campus told CT that his congregation, the largest Bethlehem location, has been encouraged by the frankness of the discussion and is ready to move forward. The Sunday after George Floyd was killed, he preached on racism and the call to sit in solidarity with those who are suffering. 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. However, Takata said nothing ever came of her efforts. 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. espaol, Piper cant step in, from what I understand. . 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. And let us pray for Gods rescue and healing of those victimized by these wicked hired-men posing as undershepherds. 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. Rev Greg Doss. However, three pastors/elders voted against dismissing chargesPickering, Meyer, and Ming-Jinn Tong, former pastor of neighborhood outreach who also recently resigned. 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! 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 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 It took a lot for him to leave the classroom behind. He has previously served congregations in Lake Benton and Blaine, both in Minnesota. To donate, click here. 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.. Bowers had been a professor who looked forward to the first day of school every year and loved interacting with studentsand it showed. (Image credit: Bethlehem Baptist Church/Facebook), Error: There was an internal error submitting your form. -It is honestly appalling that he has not called Wilsons use of savagely misogynist rhetoric, specifically in Wilsons blog. WebView Jason Meyers profile on LinkedIn, the worlds largest professional community. He had the power to just wreck me. 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. To share this article with your friends, use any of the social share buttons on our site, or simply copy the link below. Rev Dr Jackie Dowdy. Both Meyer and Tong spoke out against racism, Pickering said, but added that the charges were not true. With Rigney slated to lead the college and seminary, some worried that his theological views and his affiliations would become conflated with Bethlehemsspecifically his concerns on empathy discussed in the hour-long Wilson interview (which is now on YouTube). On the whole, I think you are correct that the majority (of those with power) at the very least appear to be carrying the same torch. "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. The three departing pastors from Bethlehem were based just a few miles from where George Floyd died in 2020. Four students recalled intense debates in their 2019 undergrad course in Christian ethics and apologetics. Your tax-deductible gift helps our journalists report the truth and hold Christian leaders and organizations accountable. 3. Sadly, this teaching is gaining ground in the biblical counseling circles I move in as well. Bowers said that at BCS, Black lives matter feels more threatening than the racism that has made that phrase necessary.. 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. Though Rigney serves as a pastor at a Bethlehem church plant in St. Paul, Cities Church, he is the first head of BCS who doesnt belong to Bethlehem Baptist Church itself. During the difficult moments over the past few months, hes reminded himself of James 3:17 (ESV): But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. As the downtown campus grieves the loss of longtime leaders and friends, Stokes said he continues to answer questions, but he gets the sense that nearly all the remaining members are committed to stay. WebUrban Refuge Lead Pastor, Jason Meyer, has a deep and abiding passion to make much of Christ in all that he does. If not leave that church. A debate over untethered empathy underscores how departing leaders, including John Pipers successor, approached hot-button issues like race and abuse. Join now Sign in Jason Meyer Jason Meyer Executive Pastor at Sierra Vista Church. 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. Help us continue to be a voice for truth in the media by supporting CBN News for as little as $1. May they work it out together in a godly manner. 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. Id like to see his surgically precise definition of neo-fundamentalism or even fundamentalism for that matter. . . Ming-Jinn Tong, pastor for neighborhood outreach, announced his resignation in May; and Bryan Pickering, pastor for care and counseling, in June. ***, 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.". There is no one factor that has driven me away from this school. Pipers successor, Jason Meyer, is the fourth pastor to resign from Bethlehem in the past four months. I was pretty disappointed. God has moved at FCC in amazing ways. 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. 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. The trip cost is $500, $250 is due with initial registration. Halls was one of two official grievances filed against Naselli last year. Frankly, its because I graduated from our undergrad program that I have concerns. 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. 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. Web1-31-2021 Worship Service Pastor Meyers retirement. The resignations and fractures in leadership at Bethlehem Baptist Church (BBC) extend to the congregation and have been simmering for years. Ahead of the commemorations, though, the community finds itself in the midst of what current leaders have called a confusing and challenging time and a hard and difficult season in the life of our church. Three pastors and a staff member resigned from the downtown campus of Bethlehem Baptist Church in recent months, alongside dozens of lay members. The Bethlehem pastors reveal their own corruption by their alliance with Wilson, and church members are right to flee. That was a very heated conversation. Such sensitivities, he fears, can threaten Christians relationship with the truth. 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.. But for others, the pastors focus on race and abuse issues reflected a differing philosophy of ministry. Now, Meyer is part of a growing exodus of leaders and members Having just come out of an abusive system where women arent believed, it was like, Yeah, this is exactly what Ive lived, Mekala said. Ive worked with victims for 26 years in the Christian Reformed Church. Most, though, come through the Young, Restless, and Reformed movement. In a climate of suspicion, compassion can look like coddling, Meyer wrote. Maybe this is normal for most people, but its mind-blowing to me. Pastor Jason 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. 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. 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