Another SGM-Statement about the Mahaney-matter

This is a second advisorial--in one day--from the Baptacostalist SGM. Again, Brent Detwiler dumped a well-researched 600-page data dump to over 100 SGM Pastors.  A better argument for Confessionalist, liturgical and orderly governance could not be better argued than the review of the internal issues of this Baptacostaholic outfit. 

<< A note from Joshua Harris and our board |

Where we differ, and where we agree

July 14, 2011 by Dave HarveyCategories: General

A few minutes ago, we announced that Joshua Harris is resigning from the SGM board. If you're wondering what that may represent, let me just make a couple of points.

First and primarily, as a board we still have a strong desire for Josh’s input, and all parties involved are eager to keep the partnership strong between SGM and CLC. Josh has graciously agreed to keep attending our board meetings as requested to give us counsel, and for that we are very grateful.
Second, Josh and the board agree on many things about our current season.

• We are grateful for how C.J. has confessed to sins and leadership failures in this process and we agree that other accusations against him require further examination.
• We agree that giving C.J. his requested leave of absence is key to facilitating that examination.
• We agree there are other problems in Sovereign Grace Ministries that need attention.
• We agree there are people hurting over this situation for a number of reasons, and that we need to take that seriously.

But we disagree on some important matters too. For example, we disagree in our interpretation of this current season of ministry. Is God disciplining all of Sovereign Grace Ministries right now? Josh says yes, and we’re open to that conclusion. But before arriving at that conclusion we would want to walk through a process of evaluating all of SGM, which we have not done yet. It also became apparent that Josh and the board think differently on how best to help C.J. engage with an evaluation, and how the board should exercise leadership as that process unfolds. These differences in our thinking are important and it recently became clear that the other 10 board members and Josh are in a different place on these issues.

And that's okay. Individual churches like Covenant Life have the flexibility to do things differently. We don’t force Covenant Life to adjust where they are at, nor does Covenant Life demand that we respond differently.

The disagreements remain, which explains why Josh could not sign the board statement that we released on Wednesday. Josh also wanted to be free to focus on leading Covenant Life Church through this season.

The important thing is that Josh and the board continue to affirm our ministry partnership together. Josh's resignation from the board is not a grand statement about our future together. It's not even an indication that we disagree on most things. We don't. In fact Josh and the board agree on about 98% of things, especially on our shared mission we have been given to see churches planted and built in this country and around the world. We share this vision, even if we find disagreements elsewhere.
So that’s pretty much what is going on. If you have any questions or thoughts, please feel free to talk to your pastor or email Sovereign Grace Ministries. And please continue to pray for us during this time!

On behalf of the board,
Dave