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. The threat effectively shut down discussion. Notifications include: New company roles Change in active status Location updates New By now, you Naselli often started the semester with an explanation of Malcolm Gladwells terminology of direct speech vs. mitigated speechdirect being the commands you give when a plane is crashing, and mitigated, the niceties you use as a matter of courtesy. The congregation which has a membership of around 4,600 operates three campuses in the city. Our friendship is not up for grabs even a little, yet I'm personally heartbroken. 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. It took a lot for him to leave the classroom behind. Amid these accusations, I recommend trying G.R.A.C.E to investigate the matters facing Bethlehem. . Thats why we view every news story through the lens of faith. Jason Meyer, John Pipers successor at Bethlehem Baptist Church, has stepped down from his position as pastor for preaching and vision at Bethlehems 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. Is there a way to do any rebuke or admonishment when someone is hurting?, he asked. 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. She described how hard it was to leave a church theyd helped plant, even as disagreements about race and gender emerged. Jason Delgado served as lead pastor of Vibrant Church in Columbus, Mississippi, until he resigned in April 2021. Part of whats happened, in the last five years plus especially, is emerging fault lines among people with sensibly shared theological commitments, Rigney said in an interview with CT. At the same time, Theres been an escalation of language and inflation of language such that when a certain issue rises to where it becomes the litmus test, where it becomes, Youre either with us or against usas opposed to simply a different instinct or tendency within a same shared theological commitmentthats when theres real problems, and its hard to work together.. Those leaving and those staying recognize some of the issues that have divided Bethlehem, many of which are straining other conservative churches: racial justice and critical race theory (CRT); the #MeToo movement and the call to believe women; and the nature of trauma and abuse. Having just come out of an abusive system where women arent believed, it was like, Yeah, this is exactly what Ive lived, Mekala said. In a climate of suspicion, compassion can look like coddling, Meyer wrote. Rev Bethany Douty. Worship Service 1/24/2021 Pastor Jason Wallingsford, Pastor William Knippa, June 20, 2021 Most Recent Blog Post. But what I noticed, underlying the meaningful time I worshiped at Bethlehem, was rigidity and control among leadership. 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. WebPastor Jason serves as Pastor of Holy Nativity. I doubt CCEF itself is changing direction on that. Pastor Jason From afar it looks to me like Bethlehem Baptist has dodged a bullet of baloney. 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. Like in many evangelical churches that are majority white, some members of the congregation believed the church was putting too little an effort into addressing ethnic harmony and justice, while others felt like it became too much of a focus. I attended Bethlehem for nearly 3 years, belonged to one of the small groups. Now, Meyer is part of a growing exodus of leaders and members If I just resign and pretend that I think everything at Bethlehem is fine, I would be dishonest, wrote Meyer, who left August 1. Jesus Word speaks as loud today as it did then. Feb. 06-Feb. 06. According to Pickering, Tong called the elders process and decision to dismiss the allegations against Naselli unethical., In Meyers resignation letter, Meyer writes:(I)t seemed that a committee of non-staff elders from each campus would be the best group to be able to take the allegations and sift them. 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. 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. He has previously served congregations in Lake Benton and Blaine, both in Minnesota. "Pray for your leaders as we pray for you. It has been multiple factors in concert over time, he wrote in a resignation letter last year. He also did not respond to The Roys Reports repeated requests for an interview. Rather, I believe our leadership culture has taken a turn in an unhealthy direction as we try to navigate conflict and division.. and Ph. Rigneys sin of empathy interview in Wilsons series, called Man Rampant, released in October 2019 as the debut episode. To my knowledge, and I have researched it, that is the only time Piper got even close to creating distance. But his take has also resonated. Mekala, her husband, and another BBC elder met with Tomlinson in December 2019, Mekala said. I found it very helpful. 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. 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. Get new articles and breaking news delivered to your inbox. Are we not caring enough about our responsibilities to weep with those who weep? 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. 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. Follow Receive an email notification when changes occur for Jason Meyer. Meyers exit last month followed two others at Bethlehems downtown campus. Thats part of our entire educational approach. (He declined to comment on Naselli or any specific faculty members. 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. There is no one factor that has driven me away from this school. Soon after he launched his academic In a letter that Pickering presented to Naselli in February, and the churchs Elder Council in March, Pickering accused Naselli of displaying a pattern of controlling and egregious sin against God and people., I do not think you are presently qualified for the office of elder, Pickering wrote, and urged Naselli to resign to spare the church, and the elder council, grief upon grief.. If you find over time that Johnathons perceptions are true, you will rightly seek out another place to study or work. January 31, 2021 Pastor : Jason Wallingsford, Pastor Paul Meyer. 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.. To unlock this article for your friends, use any of the social share buttons on our site, or simply copy the link below. 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. You can thank John Piper for that mess. 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. 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 The school also hired its only female faculty professor, Betsy Howard, this year. 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. This was baffling to me. Tong preaches to the downtown campus in March. A few Bethlehem elders responded positively to her letter, Mekala said. This dysfunctional mess is the logical outcome of John Piper and his theology and its methods. He may have a point about detached wisdom in making hard decisions. Its the same individuals who are sitting in both places. To donate, click here. 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? Man Rampant? Ming-Jinn Tong, pastor for neighborhood outreach, announced his resignation in May; and Bryan Pickering, pastor for care and counseling, in June. WebKnown Addresses for Jason Meyer 1801 Norwood Dr Hurst, TX 76054 Advertisements Source Texas Secretary of State Data last refreshed on Monday, January 23, 2023 What next? Steve and Janette Takata told The Roys Report they were shocked by Nasellis ultimatum. WebIn 2012, Jason Meyer became the senior pastor. When someone at the meeting asked Naselli to explain himself, he responded that what was happening in the roomhow some were taking sides without any judgmentwas exactly what Rigney and Wilson were protesting in their podcast. 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. We should not be surprised then that this is the house that disregards the voices of the abused and protects the abuser. Naselli did not resign. I have been majorly burdened for our church for the past several years regarding how we approach ethnic harmony and related issues in our culture, including partisan politics, Critical Theory, Critical Race Theory, intersectionality, Black Lives Matter, etc. 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. 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. Most, though, come through the Young, Restless, and Reformed movement. Ive blogged about that twice. Bethlehem uses the phrase ethnic harmony, believing ethnicity is a better match for the the cultural categories described in the Bible than race, which is primarily biological or physical. 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. In 1980, after only 5 years of ministry, the congregation took a huge step of faith and built a facility to hold 450 people. 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.. https://julieroys.com/bethlehem-baptist-church-culture-fear-abuse 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. The three departing pastors from Bethlehem were based just a few miles from where George Floyd died in 2020. The sensitivity over Black Lives Matter and differing approaches to contemporary racial issues hits particularly hard in the Bethlehem community. What a thorough article. Rigney at BCS lamented the challenge of responding if a harsh word immediately becomes abuse. Lee at the North Campus worried that even tenderhearted, gentle pushback is at risk of being dismissed. But I am glad Fod called Jason to be a preacher instead of an air-traffic controller. WebPastor: Jason Wallingsford, Pastor Paul Meyer | Series: Life Pending "It's confusing and painful corporately because Jason took the mantle from Pastor John Piper and helped lead us to this point of campus-specific preaching. 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. Its been accelerated by political polarization, racial reckoning, and pandemic stress. Meyer told his congregation to expect that race would continue to be addressed from the pulpit. 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. 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. 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. (The Roys Report was not able to obtain statistics for member resignations at Bethlehems two other campusesNorth and South.). . But for others, the pastors focus on race and abuse issues reflected a differing philosophy of ministry. 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. Last Sunday, Bethlehem campuses began to meet to discuss Meyers letter and the reasons for his resignation. I observed leadership patterns that sought to help hurting people but left those same people even more frustrated and disappointed.. Nothing in seminary wife class prepares you for this.. 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. Piper quite dysfunctionaly spoke in regard to Wilsons repentance over his hurtful and honestly unsupportable writing, I believe in regards to Southern Slavery As It Was. Are there good reasons for why Pastors are leaving the church? 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. 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. Bethlehem was the plan until we were going to be in Jesus arms. Until a chance encounter with my moms old Bible opened my eyes. But it wasnt just the situation around Naselli. To share this article with your friends, use any of the social share buttons on our site, or simply copy the link below. In his resignation letter, Meyer added, Ming-Jinn, Bryan, and I were called shame terms like coddlers, and Ming-Jinn was called Absalom.. As it should, he wrote. Rev Ernie Dorrell. Take Back Your Life. In September 2018, the church moved into its current South Campus facility in Lakeville. They insisted he sinned against them by explaining and denying instead of seeking to understand. Bowers said that at BCS, Black lives matter feels more threatening than the racism that has made that phrase necessary.. 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) "At Bethlehem . He currently lives in Crystal with his wife Ann, two children, and a dog. (Image credit: Bethlehem Baptist Church/Facebook), Error: There was an internal error submitting your form. After Christ is a deliverance church. He doesnt need us, but by his grace and through his Son, we belong to him. Our academic dean is an elder at the church. Abigail Dodds, who attends the North Campus, said that most remain confident in the churchs leadershipnot as blind allegiance, but based on personal knowledge of their characterand that she has seen a renewed unity around Gods Word and deepening hope in Christ among our members in recent weeks. Yesterday I saw a Video from John Piper asking for prayer during his upcoming 7 week writing sabbatical. Stokes said that even without charges of heresy or a false gospel, just differences in approach, the discussion can feel very personal. 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? But it takes a lot of hard work, time, and money to do what we do. 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. Piper should intervene to save what is left at Bethlehem. He also opposed the selection of Rigney as president for how it complicates BCSs relationship with the church and for his Wilson affiliations. 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. Feel the freedom to lament," he wrote. The Roys Report reached out to Tomlinson for comment, but he did not respond. Jason Meyer has resigned from his position as the lead pastor of the Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota, amid allegations of toxic and