Sovereign Grace Ministries: A Christian Version of Animal Farm?
"We pigs are brainworkers. The whole management and organisation of this farm depend on us. Day and night we are watching over your welfare. It is for YOUR sake that we drink that milk and eat those apples. The importance of keeping the pigs in good health was all too obvious. So it was agreed without further argument that the milk and the windfall apples (and also the main crop of apples when they ripened) should be reserved for the pigs alone."
(All quotes come from George Orwell’s, Animal Farm)
Well, once again, the best-laid plans have been delayed by curious events at SGM. Because TWW believes that the events happening at SGM represent history in the making, we feel obliged to cover events as they happen. We firmly believe that churches, which have ears to hear, can learn much from this debacle. We also believe that readers who are questioning their own church membership can learn to spot some red flags as they watch these events unfold.
I really wish to do a series on how some in the church have a seriously (and I mean seriously) flawed view of mental illness, psychological counseling and psychotropic drugs. I have now been contacted by no less that four people in the past week who have been harmed by the church in its naïve understanding of this complex issue.
I believe that I need at least three posts, perhaps more, to do justice to this sober matter and I do not want to break it up, if at all possible. So, here is what I anticipate. Tomorrow, I want to do a story on pedophilia and Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano and contrast the response to a church in Mount Airy, North Carolina, that was thrown out of the Baptist Association for calling a woman as pastor.
On Monday, Deb is working on a story about CJ Mahaney and his "mentor" during this period of “soul searching.” If we survive the anticipated onslaught, we will then do the series on the church and mental illness.
One final thought: SGM and Mahaney have been jumping up and down at all the conferences, churches, etc. telling us to look at how they do things. So, we looked…..
For more, see:
http://thewartburgwatch.com/2011/08/11/sovereign-grace-ministries-a-christian-version-of-animal-farm/
Well, once again, the best-laid plans have been delayed by curious events at SGM. Because TWW believes that the events happening at SGM represent history in the making, we feel obliged to cover events as they happen. We firmly believe that churches, which have ears to hear, can learn much from this debacle. We also believe that readers who are questioning their own church membership can learn to spot some red flags as they watch these events unfold.
I really wish to do a series on how some in the church have a seriously (and I mean seriously) flawed view of mental illness, psychological counseling and psychotropic drugs. I have now been contacted by no less that four people in the past week who have been harmed by the church in its naïve understanding of this complex issue.
I believe that I need at least three posts, perhaps more, to do justice to this sober matter and I do not want to break it up, if at all possible. So, here is what I anticipate. Tomorrow, I want to do a story on pedophilia and Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano and contrast the response to a church in Mount Airy, North Carolina, that was thrown out of the Baptist Association for calling a woman as pastor.
On Monday, Deb is working on a story about CJ Mahaney and his "mentor" during this period of “soul searching.” If we survive the anticipated onslaught, we will then do the series on the church and mental illness.
One final thought: SGM and Mahaney have been jumping up and down at all the conferences, churches, etc. telling us to look at how they do things. So, we looked…..
For more, see:
http://thewartburgwatch.com/2011/08/11/sovereign-grace-ministries-a-christian-version-of-animal-farm/
11 comments:
Heaven help you if you suggest allegations of abuse should be carefully examined; not just tossed out like rice at the wedding departure.
And if you even suggest that the absolute veracity of some of the commenters could be less than perfect, you're facing being banned.
It's quite one sided. Pastoral leadership is inevitably concerned only about themselves, never actually concerned about the sheep. But accusers are NEVER concerned about themselves, they are pure altruists.
Thanks Seneca.
I emphatically share your concerns.
I don't understand the width, depth and reach of the problems, but am beginning get a sense of it.
Regards.
I actually wished to find out about Sovereign Grace when I started on Wartburg and SGMrefuge but they are so caught up in assessing whether the leaders are narcisstic or legally guilty of not protecting the sheep or are all liars and reprobates; 3 weeks later I STILL don't have a good handle on SGM.
Huge focus on victims of SGM but it's really hard to assess how they were victims other than they were not listened to like they thought they should be.
Do you know how Sovereign Grace actually functions? I'd love to hear.
TOPIC: What is reformed Anglicanism.
Vaguely I know the Anglican church is a huge conglomeration which is headquartered in England but who's strength appears to be in Africa. The Epicopal Church is also a part of the Anglican community but seems to have lead the way in abandoning Anglican theology.
ALSO, isn't the Anglican community noted for it's book of common prayers?
Finally, are all Anglican churches theoretically on the same page every Sunday in terms of their readings or Scriptures?
Inform and educate me Brother.
Seneca:
I'm still trying to get my arms around SGM, its history, practices, abuses, patterns and current situation.
There are a lot of hurt people there. I'm reviewing 1000s of posts. I have about 100 pages of notes.
Working through Mr. Detwiler's documents for the fourth time, so the jury is out.
From what I gather. SGM-corporate is separate and governs the 90-100 SGM churches. It's not clear what they do or provide to the churches other than counsel, evaluations, support for the Pastors' College, write books, and conduct Conferences. There's a lot more to be studied here.
My sense is that they are charismatics who picked up a predestinarian theme (early 2000s?) and began calling themselves "Reformed." Although, there is a sense of conflict as that transition occurred, to wit, charismatics complained about reduced charismatic expressions.
Liturgically, my guess is that the service is probably 45 minutes of informal Praise and Worship music followed by a 45 minute sermon.
I'm still learning
Seneca: TOPIC: What is reformed Anglicanism.
DPV: Classical Anglicanism, the 39 Articles (a Reformed Confession), and the old Prayer Book.
Seneca:Vaguely I know the Anglican church is a huge conglomeration which is headquartered in England but who's strength appears to be in Africa. The Epicopal Church is also a part of the Anglican community but seems to have lead the way in abandoning Anglican theology.
DPV: Anglicanism is 1800 years old and goes back to early Celtic and English churches. Canterbury, England, has been its long-recognized headquarters, but that reliance is breaking down. The centre of Bible-believing Anglicanism has shifted in the last century from UK, USA, and Canada to Africa, South America, and--although older--to Australia. The modern Episcopal or Anglican Church, USA, has gone liberal and abandoned its grand confessions and even Prayer Book in its classical form. It's pretty sad. I've seen similar repressive tactics used in Episcopal circles that are saddening, something akin to what some SGMers have experienced (1000s according to some).
Seneca: ALSO, isn't the Anglican community noted for it's book of common prayers?
DPV: Yes, before 1979, one could travel anywhere in the world and the Prayer Book would be the common service, be it England, US, Australia, Africa, etc. Africa still uses the 1662 BCP. But, there's been a fracturing. The 1979 has traces of the old BCP,, but traces. I've been doing some writing on it. I'll be posting more here. Also, on FB, we have a page entitled "Anglican Prayer Book Churchmanship." We have some scholarly commentators too, although the focus is for those unfamiliar with it.
Seneca: Finally, are all Anglican churches theoretically on the same page every Sunday in terms of their readings or Scriptures?
DPV: Short answer: No. I call myself an "Anglican in exile." I have the Triune God as my Saviour and Redeemer. I love Him. I have my beloved family. I love them. But, my church has left the faith. I attend, but with sorrow. Yet, with Jeremiah's hope for better days and Ezekiel's hope in exile.
Seneca: Inform and educate me Brother
DPV: I hope this helps.
Couldn't find Anglican Prayer Book Churchmanship on Facebook. Help
Seneca:
Perhaps this will help.
https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/146899558722807/
I found this Brother but other than II., don't actually know the dates?
You got any help?
[Each page contains the lessons for the Sundays and Holy-days that fall within the range specified, and also for the weekdays following the last Sunday listed for that page.]
Part I: Advent Sunday through the Fourth Sunday in Advent.
Part II: Christmas Eve through January 5.
Part III: Epiphany through the Sixth Sunday after Epiphany.
Part IV: Septuagesima through the Fifth Sunday in Lent.
Part V: Palm Sunday through Whitsunday.
Part VI: Trinity Sunday through the Sixth Sunday after Trinity.
Part VII: The Seventh Sunday after Trinity through the Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity.
Part VIII: The Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity through the Twentieth Sunday after Trinity.
Part IX: The Twenty-First Sunday after Trinity through the Sunday Next before Advent.
Part X: Lessons Proper for Holy-Days not Included in the Foregoing Table.
Any chance you might, at regular intervals, reference where we are in the Prayerbook beyond your other posts? Are you literate enough to post on on the margins of your blog? (I could never figure that stuff out.) Seneca.
Seneca, great questions.
Alas, am in the thick of evaluating Mr. Detwiler's docs on Mahaney.
We are considering Skype sessions in the future at the FB page. We'll keep you and others posted.
Please bear with my distractions. Your concerns are considerable.
Best regards.
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