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

Saga of Sovereign Grace Ministries Continues: Baptacostal C.J. Mahaney's Protege and Successor Resigns from Board

C.J. Mahaney's young protege and successor resigns from the Board of Sovereign Grace Ministries (SGM).  Mahaney has come under pressure after a 600-page document dump landed in the inbox of all SGM Pastors (100+).  Al Mohler and Ligon Duncan forcefully defended their "friend" (their word) this week waving off analysis, inquiry, consideration and evaluation.  Larger issues are at bar, to wit: American evangelical "celebrity culture" with young conference followers and hand-wavers...as well as the financial issues and moral temptations in stardom. C.J, though taking a "leave of absence" from SGM to "explore his own sin and pride" (his words), will return in 4 months and will be featured in the mega-conference, "Together for the Gospel," 10-12 April 2012, in Louisville, KY. They are expecting 10,000 attendees at about $269/registrant for total receipts of about $2.69 million dollars.  (The conference centre and 22,000 seat arena rents for about $560K with production costs of up to $1 million for an estimated profit of $1 million.  We'd like to see the financials. Plus they all sell their books there too.)  C.J. will be featured alongside (Baptyrian or Presbabaptist) Ligon Duncan, Al Mohler, John Piper, Platt, DeYoung, Chandler, Anyabwile and others of the YRR-crowd, the "Young Restless Crowd" of new Calvinistic Baptists. Although essentially a Baptist event, there will be some break-out speakers with solid credentials from the Catholic faith of the Reformation churches, but they are few.  The Mahaney-saga continues although there appears to be a tap-down on information.

http://livingtext.wordpress.com/2011/07/14/josh-harris-resigns/

Events are in the saddle and the landscape is changing fast at Sovereign Grace Ministries. Josh Harris is now stepping down from the SGM board, per this announcement. It is probably a wise move by Harris, allowing him to disassociate himself from what is beginning to look like a circle the wagons mentality on the part of the SGM board. It also helps him be a pastor – his main duty – during a crisis for his denomination.

Again and again this points out to me that we need small parishes of 150-300 people, coupled with faithful pastors and a clear structure. The whole big shot, super-star, cult of personality model of ministry should be put to death.

No comments: