C.J. Mahaney’s Church Membership Officially (Though Temporarily) Transferred
February 27, 2012 in Sovereign Grace Ministries
Below is a message sent to Covenant Life Church members today:
———————-
Dear Members of Covenant Life,
We are writing to update you regarding another important moment in the events of the last eight months.
Last month when his leave of absence as President of Sovereign Grace Ministries ended, C.J. Mahaney wrote the elders of Covenant Life informing us of his decision to transfer his membership to Solid Rock Church. At that time we told C.J. that the elders would like to meet with him and discuss several concerns that we had for him, as well as hear his questions and concerns for us.
This past Friday, Grant, Josh and Robin met with C.J. along with two members of the Sovereign Grace Board and had an honest conversation. We began by asking C.J. to share his concerns and disagreements with our leadership over the past eight months, and then we shared our concerns and questions for some of his actions and statements during that same time. We felt the Lord gave grace for everyone to speak forthrightly and listen to each other. We believe this meeting was an important step, though it confirmed that we have different perspectives on what has unfolded since last July.
Having had the opportunity to meet with C.J., we have agreed, with sadness, to accept and support his membership transfer. C.J. has communicated to us that he no longer thinks the formal mediation he requested last fall is needed (this mediation was going to be led by Ted Kober and was to address differences C.J. had with the pastors’ public leadership in response to the release of Brent Detwiler’s documents). We are grateful that we’ve been able to talk together, and we expect there will be further dialogue. Because we understand there will be questions on these matters, we have scheduled another “Coffee and Questions” night for [Time & Date Edited]. We’ve created a simple form to allow you to submit your questions in advance of the meeting.
C.J. has communicated his love and appreciation for Covenant Life and that he believes God is leading him into a new season of pastoral ministry. C.J. has told us that his time at Solid Rock will be brief as he plans to plant a new church in another state later this year. Details of those plans will be announced by Sovereign Grace in the coming months.
We pray God’s blessing on C.J. and his family. We will always be grateful for his service to this church.
If you want to talk further about this, we hope you can come to the “Coffee and Questions” night on [Date], and as always, feel free to contact your pastor.
Sincerely,
The pastors of Covenant Life
© 2012, Kris. All rights reserved.
A brief comment on the situation by Brent on Facebook: “C.J. has now pulled away from Joshua, the pastors, and Covenant Life Church and doesn’t want Ted Kober to help mediate. The CLC pastors were wise to refused a strict confidentiality agreement. That sent C.J. running. He doesn’t want any of the correction he has received from them to get out. Instead, I think he is packing his bags and heading to Louisville to plant a church next to Southern Theological Seminary with Mohler’s full support. I suspect Jeff Purswell will be offered a teaching position at the seminary also. Students will flock to hear C.J., sit at Jeff’s feet and Al Mohler will be cheering them on.” I’m sure we’ll be hearing more from Brent later on. :wink:
I’m wondering when SGM churches will begin to openly address CJ’s total hypocrisy on display in his latest actions.
SGMers, in “normal” Christianity, it is not OK for a denominational founder/leader to establish and uphold (oftentimes abusively uphold) a set of standards for how people must submit to authority…and then, when those same standards become uncomfortable or inconvenient for himself, just walk away from them.
How many SGM pastors have been de-gifted for far less?
How many SGM pastors would ever have been permitted to not only walk away from a mediation process but also then at the same time announce that they were starting new churches (presumably SGM churches)?
How many ways are there, anyway, for CJ to thumb his nose at the ideas about authority that he has taught and enforced on others for decades?
Kris #43
. But in SGM, this type of self-determination goes against everything they’ve ever taught or done.
And there you have it… this is why it is so offensive and maddening. :bang The outright blatant hipocrisy is shocking. It causes the SGMers… those who dare to look at the “wizard” behind the curtain for what he really is… question everything the man has ever said (and his posse). CJ is a rogue “pastor” (and I use the term pastor loosely), who has been far more rebellious than the dozens of men (and women) he and SGM have accused of such over the years. I say that because it appears he has been rebelling against his very own teaching for years… teaching that was portrayed to be so biblically accurate and upheld by his own character!
I am very sad for the carnage in his wake and for the future church members that will be sitting under this false, hipocritical “pastor”.
Kris,
Sorry! First time I have ever tried a block quote. This is supposed to be an obvious quote from your comment.
“But in SGM, this type of self-determination goes against everything they’ve ever taught or done”
Well, I am glad that what I shared here a few weeks ago about CJ being a member of Solid Rock was , in fact, true. Although, I do find it concerning that some of the people that post are confident that CJ has not been in attendance at Solid Rock. Has anyone seen him there lately?
And, just in case CJ’s “out” is that he has rethought what he always taught about obeying one’s pastor and submitting to one’s church authorities – well, then, he and his minions are going to have a whole lot of unteaching and reprogramming to do!
They are going to need to head out to dozens of congregations and publicly and explicitly recant all the ideas CJ went around trumpeting in his Happiest/Dearest Place sermon.
SGM pastors are going to need a whole new paradigm for thinking about their job and their role in people’s lives.
Even the idea that the pastor ought to be the go-to person if a church member has questions (as CLC’s recent emails have stated) needs to be re-thought.
What is interesting about this to me is it confirms that C.J. was a member of CLC. In that case, my question to CLC is how did they let a member talk dismissively about the leadership, refuse to attend services, refuse to go to mediation with the leadership, and then be able to transfer to another church in good standing? Why did CLC not take a stand and bring C.J. up on charges and institute church discipline? Why are they allowing someone with unresolved sin issues to transfer in good standing? Where is their leadership? Where is their care for the flock?
Wow! Just wow. So much for “practice what you preach.” I know it might be good for SGM, but I see lots more disillusion on the way. So I’m guessing this won’t be a SGM church that he plants?
This just goes to show that CJ has put himself above any authority or structures in place because he thinks he IS the authority.
All this from a man who wrote a book on humility. Wow. At least his true colors are being shown.
Sidney #24, Jerry #29, Oswald #32
I have the same concerns. The CLC pastors/elders need to man up or they will begin to lose respect and confidence of the people at CLC. CJ is accountable to the members of CLC more so than the elders exclusively but I’m not sure the church believes this because they have been taught otherwise. Like most members of SGM churches, they have been spiritually paralyzed.
#55
I was the one that said that C.J was not and had not been attending Solid Rock Church. At the time that was accurate information. He has been there as of this past Sunday.
presbyterian said,
This sets an interesting precedent, particularly for anyone who has been threatened with “loving pursuit,” an idea that is being propagated not just in SGM but by Mark Dever’s organization as well. (Check out this recent blog post from 9Marks’ Bobby Jamieson: http://www.9marks.org/blog/pastors-don%E2%80%99t-let-your-people-resign-thin-air)
Sure, technically, CJ was not under church discipline. But it seems obvious to me that if he weren’t CJ, he WOULD have been under church discipline. I mean, if a mediation process is underway, that seems almost on par with being in the midst of some sort of conflict resolution…which is basically like church discipline for leaders.
How do the 9Marks people and anyone else who supports the notion of chasing people down and forcing them to remain where they are until the leaders are satisfied with their submission/repentance reconcile CJ’s latest actions?
@B.Anon
Do you know if there was any sort of announcement made at Solid Rock about it, or if CJ being there caused any kind of distraction, you know, like the kind he was supposedly avoiding by not going there in the first place when all of this started?
If you don’t have answers, it’s cool. And this question isn’t exclusive to B.Anon if anyone else has any info.
That Mahaney is a sly one.
You gotta hand it to him, the man has a nose for where the “action” is. It all makes sense now…the big contribuiton to Mohler’s seminary, etc. This whole fiasco has played right into Mahaney’s hands, making it easy for him to sign on with Mohler. (No blackmail needed.)
CJ’s a better business man than I ever gave him credit for.
On an aside note…are “arminians” ever invited to speak at T4G? I mean, it is “together” for the gospel, isn’t it. :wink: These guys make me want to pack my bags and leave the reformed camp. I wonder if the arminians would let me set up camp among them? Hmmm…I read where John MacArthur decided not to speak at TG4 (he claimed “personal reasons”)…there was somebody else, too…Keller, maybe?…there may be some hope. Maybe they’re not all tainted.
#62
The thing is @MoreQuestions. Members are not allowed to discuss or disseminate the contents of any family letters. It is for that reason I suspect that this recent info about C.J was not mentioned on here. These blogs are being watched, so I would rather inform you about “common knowledge” or easily accesible information. As for the climate at the church, nothing out of the ordinary. SRC is as their pastor said in “peaceful” season. Nothing to see here! :)
What strikes me is the ease and speed in which CJ apparently has the green flag-full speed ahead to start a church plant. Usually SGM moves at a snail’s pace, with the idea of a church plant sometimes in the works for years before it actualizes.
Maybe CLC is wise not to pursue CJ. Why waste more time and energy on him? Let God reveal truth and administer loving correction. Let CLC get on with the healing and start on the new path of a CJ-free future.
If this were a novel, here’s how I might write the next chapter. CJ is introduced at T4TG. The syncophants clap wildly. But wait-someone in the audience suddenly grows a set, and issues a quiet BOOOO. The oppressed nearby pick up on it, and the sound grows. It grows louder and louder until the sound is overwhelming. It is silenced only when someone on the stage has the sense to make a gesture to the soundman, who manipulates the soundboard to produce that squealing feedback sound which leads to everyone covering their ears in pain. When the audience begins to get rebuked for a public display of slander, the audience members get up, gather their belongings, and head to the local Starbucks, where the girl behind the counter asks them how they are today. Someone says, “Better than I deserve”, and the entire crowd erupts into laughter which can be heard for miles.
QE2 #55
:clap :clap :goodpost
Brian Chesemore already said (can’t remember where) that he was going to SBTS with “future plans to plant an SGM church.” Does anyone remember when/where he said that? I know we talked about it here.
Sid
@B. Anon
Thanks for the reply. I agree about the being watched. It is actually a little weird to think about. I hope for the sake of your church that CJ being there does not create any problems. As the letter said, it will only be for a short time anyway, and based off of previous attendance since CJ’s reinstatement, you probably won’t be seeing a whole lot of CJ at Solid Rock anyway. He will be busy planning for a church plant and getting things together for T4G.
By the way, has everyone already seen the letter posted over on SGMrefuge from the board to the pastors. If not, you should check it out. A lot of information in there.
**correction**
I actually don’t know if B.Anon is a member at Solid Rock, so I should not have said “your church”. My bad. I must proof read better.
from the new post at Refuge re. new SGM board selection:
That applause was for post #65
Be careful QE2 there may be impressionable minds that may want to reinact your novel.
Just read the letter on the new SGM Board selection.
I still don’t understand why SGM is necessary.
Yes, the early church had Paul. He started churches and maintained care and guidance over them.
But…all the first churches had to go on were what Paul and the disciples told them. Church was a new thing. It replaced temple/synagogue. There was no Bible to guide them. Paul wrote most of the NT as he and they navigated through defining what “church” was in light of the resurrected Christ.
So now we not only have the New Testament, we also have 2000 years of history to guide us and a living and active member of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit. Plus wise and Godly local church members. Plus other wise and Godly believers in all the other local churches that we could “partner with” in our local area.
I think that if SGM vanished, the body of Christ expressed through every individual Christian church all over the world could easily continue and thrive.
Of course Cj is moving out of state. He wants to get out a.s.a.p. so he can start his new program! More mediation would just slow things down. So would CLC pastors, so why not move to Solid Rock for a short time before the big move. Here is how it will go…
He moves to Louisville and into a predominantly white upper middle class neighborhood like Polo Fields, Middleton, Jeffersontown, Houston Acres or even Indian Springs or Anchorage. You can imagine how much cheaper homes are down there. CJ will be able to get an even larger house than he has now and at a better price! He will also need this type of neighborhood to plant his church because SGM churches work best in up-scale areas that already have a plethora of existing churches for SGM to siphon off members from in the early stages.
There are hundreds of churches down there and the best option would be to buy out an existing church. I am certain that SGM will be more than happy to give CJ a generous church planting budget. This plant will, after all, put Kentucky onto the official SGM map and make SGM that much more famous for having churches in soooo many states!
After a year or two the church will be built up to a size that will require little work from CJ so he will be free to roam about the country. After all, Dayton will be just 150 miles away, the same distance from where he lives now to the disintegrating church down in Midlothian, just outside Richmond, Va. Or the same distance from CLC to the center for Kool-aid studies located at CFC, just outside Philly. CJ’s new church will have a generous population of planters who willingly and enthusiastically came down from Gaithersburg to be with THE ONE. There will also be a few coming down from Dayton and perhaps even some from Knoxville will shift over to the new Ky church. Plus the influx of people from all over SGM-dom that would love to get in close and personal with the Ceej. And throw in all the people outside of SGM that would love to sit at the feet of the great founder of SGM and T4G lecturer and you can see a substantial early church starting, almost from the get go.
Once this new church is up and running, CJ will have little to do other than be the figure head. He can fly all over to a multitude of conferences and command performances because his three sons in law will be the asst pastors there and they will shoulder most of the responsibilities, doing the bulk of the work that actually gets done. CJ hasn’t had dirty hand in years but all three SiLs have great reputations for hard work. At least two of them will have seminary degrees by that time, too. I don’t know if they would all like to live in CJ’s house or if CJ could find a house big enough, but certainly the clan could all be in the same neighborhood, AND CJ bought at least one SiL a house before so with the cheap home prices down in Ky he can probably buy each of them their own house within walking distance of his house AND the church, if he wishes. (Maybe SGM will pay the SiLs to be church planters, too.)
So after this is all settled then it is time for SGM to move down as well. (It will take at least that long for Harvey to write new polity and hand select his favorites to be on the new SGM Board.) SGM will be persona non grata there at CLC, anyway. What with SGM’s lackluster performance with the panels, and with the excoriating report from AoR that will be coming out in late March, and the chilly relationship between SGM/Harvey and CLC, and since the few people that still work for SGM will have left (either on their own accord or because the drop in giving to SGM has not provided enough money to keep them employed), there won’t be much reason to stay in Gaithersburg as the home base for SGM. SGM will sell their portion of the condo arrangement with CLC back to CLC (hopefully at fire sale prices) and move the entire organization down to Louisville. Again, with the difference in property prices, SGM will be able to purchase a nice facility right next to CJ’s new church or perhaps they will be able to BUILD a new facility ONTO CJ’s new church! At any rate, SGM will be co-located just down the street from Al Mohler’s Seminary.
This is real reason for moving to Louisville. With big wigs like CJ and Bob Kauflin, they can do lecturing at the Seminary to bolster their global standing and bring in a few more bucks. They won’t really need more money because the SGM salary they had in Gaithersburg will be waaaay more than enough to cover the cost of living in Louisville! They will be on easy street. The Seminary lecturing will be mostly for their own pride, their worldly standing amongst other reformed big dogs and their reputation with other SGM sympathizers and conference attenders. The only SGM guy to be left out of the perfect plan will be Jeff Purswell. He will have to relocate down there but as I said before, his salary will make that change an easy one. Harvey will continue to hole-up in CFC.
The whole things will come together pretty quickly and fairly easily because CJ has been there and done that before. He has the past experience with CLC and he knows what the model organization should look like so it is full steam ahead. And with plenty of great people to do the work, man the equipment and play the roles of adoring crowds at the worship time, CJ and Bob and the whole Mahaney Clan should be sitting pretty and back on top of the world in a little more than three years!
Don’t forget you heard it here first!