Unlike other high-profile evangelical scandals and shakeups in the headlines, the story at Bethlehem is not so clear-cut. Last year, Pickering and Meyer resigned from their teaching roles at BCS, with Pickering citing egregious student complaints against a professor-elder among his top reasons. From afar it looks to me like Bethlehem Baptist has dodged a bullet of baloney. 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. 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 the podcast Mr. Rigney basically said, show compassion but dont have empathy.. Five of our professors are elders; four of our trustees are elders, said Rigney. there's harm being done," Pickering said. James Lutzweiler 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. Tong preaches to the downtown campus in March. In the summer of 2019, the task force presented an 85-page report to the elders, which essentially died in committee. Portugus, Im stumped over this direction. 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. And I want to speak against her motion. There are things that professors would admit in classroom settings when I began that they wouldnt be willing to admit now.. "I'm convinced that we live in a culture (Christian culture) that is constantly angry and shaking its fists because we've lost the place for and the healthy rhythm of grief-filled lament that the world is broken, sinful, and not as it should be. In their minds, claims of inappropriate behavior or abuse wont always be justified. Jesus Word speaks as loud today as it did then. 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. Your tax-deductible gift helps our journalists report the truth and hold Christian leaders and organizations accountable. Mekala, her husband, and another BBC elder met with Tomlinson in December 2019, Mekala said. 3. Freedom City Church (FCC) was born in a small art studio in Uptown Whittier, CA, and it has quickly expanded to the present facility Pastor Jason and his beautiful wife and co-pastor, Elizabeth, lead in Whittier, CA. She said the meeting did not go well, and Tomlinson told her that he supported Rigneys view. As it should, he wrote. 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. 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. There are still a few spots open; which we hope will be filled. So, at the January 31, 2021, meetingjust months before Joe Rigney was installed as president of BCSTakata moved that the elders make a public statement separating the views expressed by Rigney in Man Rampant from the views and teaching of BBC. "At Bethlehem . This response, of course, is labeled as immature, manipulative, and reactive.. Seriously? (The Roys Report was not able to obtain statistics for member resignations at Bethlehems two other campusesNorth and South.). What a dysfunctional mess. I dont see how there can be any interpretation other than empathy for the Romans 12:15 instruction to Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Are the elders or board members abusive? Piper cant step in, from what I understand. 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. 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. Pastor Jason Last Sunday, Bethlehem campuses began to meet to discuss Meyers letter and the reasons for his resignation. a unity culture that breeds fear and seeks to protect the institution Jason Meyer Its the same individuals who are sitting in both places. In a climate of suspicion, compassion can look like coddling, Meyer wrote. Browse 60+ years of magazine archives and web exclusives. ), Boyum said it was because of her training at Bethlehem that she felt like she should raise concerns. Get new articles and breaking news delivered to your inbox. Piper should intervene to save what is left at Bethlehem. We see this is the third article this month youve found worth reading. He also opposed the selection of Rigney as president for how it complicates BCSs relationship with the church and for his Wilson affiliations. 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. 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. At the conclusion of the two investigations, Johnathon Bowerswho had taught for a decade at BCSfelt no better about the growing reservations he had over his place at the college. Many at BCS, including Bowers himself, were influenced by Pipers 2011 book Bloodlines, his confession of his own racism, and his desire for diversity. She referenced the six habits that shape BCS education: observing, understanding, evaluating, feeling, applying, and expressing. 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 believe in 2013. We put a high premium on education in serious joy, and therefore we think the emotions are important, he said. 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. Soon after he launched his academic 720 13th Avenue South, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55415 God has moved at FCC in amazing ways. 2. There is no one factor that has driven me away from this school. 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 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. 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. Most, though, come through the Young, Restless, and Reformed movement. cultural, damaging behavior that's being done, and has been done, for a long time.". Stay informed with the latest from CBN News delivered to your inbox. However, Takata said nothing ever came of her efforts. He is well respected for his scholarship and rigor, earning two PhDs (from Bob Jones and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) before he turned 30. I fully believed that living for myself and chasing my desires of money, women, and partying would lead me to joy and happiness. Meyer served as the lead pastor at Bethlehem since 2012 after Piper resigned after leading the church for 33 years, according to ChristianHeadlines.com. 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) Hurt feelings arent always a sign that someone has been sinned against. 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. 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. The investigation found that BCS policies did not violate workplace law. The key thing in a lot of waysmaybe Im feeling this one more directly nowis the way that our emotional responses to reality need to be in accordance with reality.. I was pretty disappointed. Any theology that creates abusive jerks is all doctrines taught by demons. BCS is a confessional school where professors teach from its 52-page affirmation of faith, but students from other traditions can attend. My Plans Discover Plans Sample Share Don't Lose Heart By Jason Meyer Image: Screengrab / Bethlehem Baptist Church. It feels jarring.". 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. 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. As far as I can see, Pipers church and seminary are just carrying the torch. 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. Naselli did not resign. Students saw the effects too, where professors were becoming less willing to find merit in concepts that have become associated with CRT, such as institutional bias. Here is a checklist to determine if someone should leave a church: 1. Your tax-deductible gift helps our journalists report the truth and hold Christian leaders and organizations accountable. . 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. No one has leaned in to care for my soul more than him," he wrote. The stakes continue to be raised, said Josh Panos, a BCS alumnus. 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. 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. 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. 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. (Image credit: Bethlehem Baptist Church/Facebook), Error: There was an internal error submitting your form. And are people on either side pitting truth and grace against each other and distorting the way of Jesus? We also have troubles that have played out at Bethlehem over the past year. . To share this article with your friends, use any of the social share buttons on our site, or simply copy the link below. We dont want that kind of escalation, inflation, and fragility in play. 276. They insisted he sinned against them by explaining and denying instead of seeking to understand. 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. 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. You are learning not to be led by your emotions. 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. Thats why we view every news story through the lens of faith. 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. When met with issues that strike at the core of ones identity, its natural to have visceral responses, she tweeted. Another pastor who resigned is accusing a Bethlehem elder of spiritual abuse and calling on him to resign. I wish the congregation the best in getting this all sorted out. It is on YouTube, Race and Culture (??? 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. "There's unethical behavior. 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.. Bethlehem College and Seminary (BCS)which grew from the churchs lay training institute to an accredited programalso has reason to celebrate. Both sides in a conflict want to get at what really happened; as Christians, they rightly set out to work toward justice and reconciliation where they can. They did great for a week when they simply sat with Job in silence. We learned Augustine in doctrine class, Carvette said. However, three pastors/elders voted against dismissing chargesPickering, Meyer, and Ming-Jinn Tong, former pastor of neighborhood outreach who also recently resigned. Meyer had stepped down from the BCS board of trustees as well. What a thorough article. 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 Stokes said that even without charges of heresy or a false gospel, just differences in approach, the discussion can feel very personal. Share Podcast Audio Download. 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. I feel terribly that I hurt you, and I own that and I regret it, and Im so sorry, he said. I thought others agreed with me as we talked about taking that approach. From there he went on to study at Southern Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky where he earned M. Div. 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. Rev Juan Dominguez. Pastor, you have introduced the last three sermons that way. Halls was one of two official grievances filed against Naselli last year. God commands us to be compassionate. 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. 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. Bowers said that at BCS, Black lives matter feels more threatening than the racism that has made that phrase necessary.. The attitude undergirding the motion is too easily offended or hurt, and it turns that woundedness or offense into a crusade, Naselli wrote in an email to fellow elders in February, referring to the move as a form of cancel culture.. But he loses people when he says empathy is a sin. 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.. Help is Here a new sermon series; Upcoming Events. 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.. 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. 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