Reformed Churchmen: Mahaney-SGM Board Addresses Harris's Resignation

Reformed Churchmen

We are Confessional Calvinists and a Prayer Book Church-people. In 2012, we remembered the 350th anniversary of the 1662 Book of Common Prayer; also, we remembered the 450th anniversary of John Jewel's sober, scholarly, and Reformed "An Apology of the Church of England." In 2013, we remembered the publication of the "Heidelberg Catechism" and the influence of Reformed theologians in England, including Heinrich Bullinger's Decades. For 2014: Tyndale's NT translation. For 2015, John Roger, Rowland Taylor and Bishop John Hooper's martyrdom, burned at the stakes. Books of the month. December 2014: Alan Jacob's "Book of Common Prayer" at: http://www.amazon.com/Book-Common-Prayer-Biography-Religious/dp/0691154813/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417814005&sr=8-1&keywords=jacobs+book+of+common+prayer. January 2015: A.F. Pollard's "Thomas Cranmer and the English Reformation: 1489-1556" at: http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Cranmer-English-Reformation-1489-1556/dp/1592448658/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1420055574&sr=8-1&keywords=A.F.+Pollard+Cranmer. February 2015: Jaspar Ridley's "Thomas Cranmer" at: http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Cranmer-Jasper-Ridley/dp/0198212879/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422892154&sr=8-1&keywords=jasper+ridley+cranmer&pebp=1422892151110&peasin=198212879

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Mahaney-SGM Board Addresses Harris's Resignation

A note from Joshua Harris and our board

July 14, 2011 by Dave Harvey

This past week we (the Sovereign Grace Board and Joshua Harris) came to the mutual decision that it would be best for Covenant Life Church and Sovereign Grace Ministries for Joshua to step down from his role as a board member.

While still committed to our shared theological foundation and partnership in Sovereign Grace Ministries, as well as a common desire to walk through this unique season in a God-glorifying way, this change seems wise in light of certain points of disagreement over how best to proceed. Joshua also faces a sizable responsibility of steering Covenant Life through this trial and stepping away from his board role allows him to focus entirely on that task.

What remains unchanged is our affection, respect, friendship and partnership within Sovereign Grace. Joshua’s work on the board for the last three years has been important and we still want him to be a source of counsel for the board. To that end, Joshua has graciously agreed to continue joining board meetings as requested.

We celebrate the fact that in our family of churches, unity in the gospel doesn’t mean unanimity on secondary matters. Ultimately we believe this change will better preserve our essential unity while allowing Joshua to focus his attention on leading Covenant Life and the Board to provide leadership for Sovereign Grace in a time of crisis.

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Showing 3 comments

Mel 1 comment collapsed Collapse Expand
"Ultimately we believe this change will better preserve our essential unity while allowing Joshua to focus his attention on leading Covenant Life and the Board to provide leadership for Sovereign Grace in a time of crisis."

Josh must not want to sweep enough under the rug. Good for him!!
Jewel999 2 comments collapsed Collapse Expand
This is disturbing. Larry and Brent questioned authority and were booted out. It looks like Josh is going the same direction (which I question was fully his choice). This should be a big red flag to SGM members that leaders are not able to voice disagreement without consequences. Why is that? Why is SGM leadership so afraid of leaders and congregants asking questions and voicing disagreements? It sure paints the picture that only those who agree with SGM leaders remain in SGM leadership. What a destructive place to be and an abuse of authority. Who is holding SGM accountable?

Unity among the board after dissenters are booted out does NOT equate with unity in the church body where there have been notable cases of lies, cover-ups, sexual sin not reported to authorities, blackmail from the highest ranking leader, etc. This is a disgrace. Surely God cannot be pleased with this show of false unity.
Andrew 1 comment collapsed Collapse Expand
Jewel, I understand why you'd speculate that. Josh's choice was completely voluntary though--this was not a booting.