SGM-Mahaneygate: Mahaney's #2 Man Steps Down

C. J. Mahaney, President of SGM
Co-defendant in class action lawsuit in child sex abuse coverup

Another word comes from Brent Detwiler about C.J. Mahaney.  Last week, Mahaney's flagship church with about 4000 members , Covenant Life, Gaithersburg, MD dumped Mahaney and Sovereign Grace Ministries.  Two days later, Mahaney's number two man at Sovereign Grace Ministries (SGM) stepped down.  Reportedly, another large church in the Fairfax area of VA is scheduled for a congregational vote in Jan 2013 with likely secession from SGM.

https://www.facebook.com/#!/notes/brent-detwiler/dave-harvey-the-number-2-leader-in-sovereign-grace-ministries-steps-down-from-al/552639364763632

Sovereign Grace Ministries is in total disarray. Last Sunday, the largest and most influential church in the denomination announced its decision to sever ties. Two days later, Dave Harvey abruptly stepped down from all his sizeable leadership responsibilities. This is mind boggling news.

After C.J. Mahaney, no one is a greater luminary in SGM or before the evangelical world than Dave. Here’s his biography as it appears on the SGM website.

Church Planting and Church Care
Sovereign Grace Ministries
Glen Mills, Pennsylvania

Dave Harvey is responsible for church care, church planting, and international expansion for Sovereign Grace Ministries. He has served as a member of the Sovereign Grace Ministries leadership team since 1995.

Dave Harvey

Dave has been in pastoral ministry at Covenant Fellowship Church (Glen Mills, PA) since 1986, was ordained in 1988, and served as senior pastor from 1990 to 2008. He has served on the board of the Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation since 2006. Dave received a Master of Arts in Missiology from Westminster Theological Seminary in 1989, worked toward a Master of Divinity from Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary from 1993 to 1995, and in 2001 became a graduate in Westminster’s D.Min. program. The subject of his doctoral thesis was the identification and equipping of church planters.

Dave is the author of Am I Called? The Summons to Pastoral Ministry (Crossway, 2012), Rescuing Ambition (Crossway, 2010), and When Sinners Say “I Do”: Discovering the Power of the Gospel for Marriage (Shepherd, 2007). He contributed a chapter to Worldliness: Resisting the Seduction of a Fallen World (Crossway, 2008) and wrote a chapter for Why Small Groups?, a book from Sovereign Grace’s Pursuit of Godliness series. He continues to work on other writing projects.

Dave lives in West Chester, Pennsylvania, with his wife, Kimm. They have four children and, despite his many protests, one stray cat.

##

Dave and I have a long history together going back to the early 1980’s when I was his first pastor in Indiana, PA. He joined C.J, Steve Shank, Bo Lotinsky and me on the SGM Board of Directors in 1995.

From 2000-2005, Dave and I worked in earnest to help C.J. see and turn from his long-standing and serious patterns of sin. We were in total agreement regarding our assessment of C.J.’s character and leadership.

By 2005, Dave was deeply discouraged and exasperated with C.J. He had no hope C.J. would change and was exhausted after years of trying. His trust in C.J. was greatly shaken and he was on the verge of despair. I know because I was caring for his soul during this time.

I continued to raise issues with C.J. but Dave made a conscious decision that year to accommodate C.J. and relate to him like a rebellious teenager. Those are Dave’s exact words. This is documented in A Final Appeal (pp. 90-97).

In January 2006, Dave wrote C.J. a lengthy personal letter outlining his concerns and frustrations (AFA, pp. 85-87). This was Dave’s last attempt to help C.J. C.J. never responded to letter. After this Dave went into retirement and stopped bringing concerns and correction to C.J. He could not handle the on-going stress of dealing with C.J. and he did not want to jeopardize his prominent position in SGM.

C.J. was Dave’s bread and butter but this accommodation to C.J. cost Dave his integrity. His desire for national recognition exceeded his commitment to speak the truth without worldly concern for the consequences. By 2007, he fully embraced the culture of accommodation surrounding C.J. That same year I resigned from the SGM Board having lost respect for C.J.

When C.J. took his “leave of absence” in July 2011, Dave became the Interim President of Sovereign Grace Ministries for 9 months. That began an even greater fall from grace that led to unimaginable deceit and heavy-handedness as he manipulated a puppet Board, the SGM pastors and the entire ministry with the help of men like John Loftness and Mickey Connolly.

But by June 2012, a couple members on the new Board began to tell others of a breakdown in Dave’s relationship with C.J. Even though Dave had continuously lied, schemed, and covered up for him, C.J. was not pleased with Dave. I wrote Dave immediately and brought this to the attention of the entire Board who were unaware. See A Divided Board Makes C.J. Mahaney Long Term President (June 29, 2012).

From: Brent Detwiler
Sent: Thursday, June 28, 2012 9:48 AM
To: Dave Harvey
Subject: Falling Out with C.J.
Importance: High

Hello Dave,

I’ve been told about the break down in your relationship with C.J. because he feels you did not defend him adequately and did not denounce me, Larry T, etc. more harshly. This comes as no surprise. You need to bring this to the immediate attention of the entire Board to whom you and C.J. are now accountable. Be honest with them. Don’t cover up for C.J. Put an end to the enablement. You must tell the Board about this mistreatment of you. Dave, you know full well that nothing has changed with C.J. Your assessment and my assessment from 2004 are as relevant today.

Dave’s Assessment

“To correct CJ, or to challenge his own self-perception, was to experience a reaction through e-mails, consistent disagreement (without seeking to sufficiently understand), a lack of sufficient follow-up and occasionally, relational withdrawal. Along with this, CJ was poor in volunteering areas of sin, temptation or weakness in himself.”

Brent’s Assessment

1. Can become resentful, distrustful or withdraw when he feels misunderstood, judged, or sinned against by others.
2. Can judge or prematurely come to conclusions about others based on limited or incomplete information.
3. When correcting or disagreeing can communicate his assessment or perspective too strongly or categorically.
4. Can lack gentleness and not perceive the unhelpful effect of his words, actions or decisions upon an individual.
5. Can be difficult to correct and help because he often disagrees with or has a different perspective on illustrations.
6. Infrequently makes us aware of specific sins or the correction others are bringing to him.

I have little hope you and C.J. will be transparent with the Board. I imagine this will be glossed over and made to sound like a trifle when it is serious. Please turn the corner on a new lease in life by doing what is right.

Regards,Brent

##

Dave has been out of sight for the last 9 months. The last time he posted or was featured on the SGM website was in March 2012 when he introduced the new Board. Except for speaking at the November 2012 Pastors Conference, Dave has not been heard from in a long time. When leaders go missing in SGM it is always a bad sign. It usually means they have fallen out of favor with C.J.

In the letter to Dave above, I concluded by saying, “Please turn the corner on a new lease in life by doing what is right.” Dave has done a lot wrong in relation to his family, C.J., and SGM. He has finally been asked to step down by the pastors of Covenant Fellowship Church (CFC) outside of Philadelphia.

I addressed these issues and also the unwillingness of the CFC pastors to be honest with the church about the true state of Dave’s family and other disqualifying sins in Dave’s life on my blog in March 2012. For years, the pastors have been covering up for Dave in the same way Dave and others have been covering up for C.J. See Dave Harvey’s Deceitful Leadership Covered Up and Left Uninvestigated – Exposed Tonight at Covenant Fellowship Church (March 4, 2012) and Hardball (March 6, 2012). The house of cards is now collapsing.

Here’s Dave’s statement from Tuesday of this week. My comments are interspersed in bold italic lettering.

##

Some News from Dave
December 19, 2012
http://www.covfel.org/blog/some-news-from-dave/

Merry Christmas my friends,

I have some news that is now sprinkling our holiday season with an unexpected grace and I’m eager to share it with you.

As I’ve been experiencing the care of the elders and reflecting on the way forward, it’s become clear that the connection to my local church, my team, and my family should be prioritized in this next season. However, I don’t see how a more singular focus on these things would be possible with the extra-local responsibilities I’ve been carrying. So, after discussion with the elders and with their support, I believe we’ve found a way to bring that emphasis. I am stepping off the Sovereign Grace Leadership Team, largely eliminating my ministry travel, and resuming my role as a full-time elder at Covenant Fellowship through August 2013. Let me shoot straight with you - this has not been an easy decision. But Kimm and I now have a growing faith for what God intends to do as we take these steps.

Dave makes no mention of discussing this decision with SGM or of their support for his action. Dave and the pastoral team took this radical action without involving with C.J. or the SGM Board of Directors. I’m sure this only adds to the rift between Dave and C.J.

“Experiencing the care of the elders” should be understood as including the discipline and correction of the pastors. “Care” is something of a euphemism. Dave does not divulge what kind of correction he has been receiving but the issues have reached a point where he was asked to step down in order to focus on “the connection to my church, my pastoral team and my family.” The resignation was not “an easy decision” and Dave and Kimm “now have a growing faith for what God intends to do.” There is more to this story than meets the eye.

In predictable fashion, Dave tells us absolutely nothing about why this stepping down was necessary. This is a radical step and one that would not be taken at this time if not for dire reasons. Dave’s departure from his leadership post could not come at a worse time for SGM. It throws them into greater confusion and creates an ever growing cloud of suspicion. What is really going on here? Will anyone in CFC or SGM just be honest? This kind of statement only fuels suspicions and inevitably leads to skepticism because it lacks any kind of meaningful transparency.

Now, just so there is no misunderstanding: this step does not reflect any lack of confidence in Sovereign Grace, our direction, or our leadership. Actually, I’m quite excited over our mission to plant churches and serve pastors. I think our new polity, if ratified, will help us do this even better. It’s really my confidence in God’s grace already working so evidently through this family of churches that emboldens me to step away from the Leadership Team role I have occupied for the last 17 years. Nope, the story on this is not about what Sovereign Grace lacks but what one pastor needs right now.

This is a lot to parse. Statements like this cannot be accepted at face value because these kinds of press releases are inevitably full of spin as we have observed repeatedly over the last year and a half. For example, when Joshua Harris stepped down from the SGM Board in July 2011, Dave told us Joshua was in 98% agreement with SGM. It was a manipulative attempt to minimize the stark differences that led to the recent separation.

Dave takes the opportunity to pump up SGM like an inflatable Santa Clause with a big hole. For instance, “I think our new polity, if ratified, will help us [plant churches and serve pastors] even better.” Great Dave. Let’s hope SGM keeps up the good work as more and more churches leave the denomination. Or, “It’s really my confidence in God’s grace already working so evidently through this family of churches that emboldens me to step away from the Leadership Team role I have occupied for the last 17 years.” This is all hype and I believe Dave knows it. He could be singing a different tune in nine months. I would not be surprised if this begins his transition out of SGM. He expresses no desire to return in this statement.

Dave also has a very short memory. The four thousand people and 20 pastors at Covenant Life Church just severed ties with SGM two days before he released this statement leading into the chaos of Christmas. This kind of positivism is so disingenuous. SGM is being shaken to the core by Almighty God and Dave is emboldened to step away because all is well. Dave would never make this move now if there weren’t very serious problems that needed immediate attending in his life, family and on the pastoral team.

Also, this transition back to Covenant Fellowship is not being initiated by Sovereign Grace; it’s a step I have voluntarily taken with the counsel of the elders – I’m grateful for the way they have walked with us through this decision. It’s one of those times where local and family needs must take priority over extra-local relationships/ministry. I want time in the church that I love and more connection to the men I have served with, some for over two decades. I need to continue to receive their friendship and counsel. And I want to be a part of what God is doing here.

Once again we see the “transition” was requested by the elders and without C.J.’s counsel. C.J. can’t be pleased. Furthermore, take note when Dave says, “It’s one of those times where local and family needs must take priority over extra-local relationships / ministry.” “Local…needs” is a reference to the pastoral staff. Not only are there problems in his family but also among the pastors. I suspect there is division over issues concerning Dave, C.J., SGM, the SG Book of Church Order, etc.

So what does this “one pastor need right now?” He gives only this nebulous answer. “I need to continue to receive their friendship and counsel.” Dave and the pastors in Covenant Fellowship Church do not believe in congregational accountability. They continue to act on their own and behind the veil of secrecy divulging nothing of significance to the church.

Why won’t the pastors at CFC be open and honest with the church about the reasons for this mind boggling development? Will Dave come clean and acknowledge to the church what has been going on for a long time? I really doubt it. This stepping down is at best a half measure. I’d be surprised if Dave’s disqualifying sins were confessed to the church. In all likelihood, he will continue to be treated with partiality and favoritism just like C.J. as things are covered up in his personal, family and ministerial life. I don’t expect any truth telling, only vagaries, but I always hope I am wrong.

So, my friends, this is good news for Kimm and I and I hope it hits you that way as well. As to how I’ll be serving in Covenant Fellowship, I leave that to our elders – I’ll serve wherever they want. As to what I’ll be doing beyond August 2013, I leave that to the Lord, confident that he’ll make it clear to us all. As to our hopes for this season,…well, maybe some refreshment, some reconnection, some additional growth, and maybe lots of good fruit. So please pray - pray for lots of good fruit.

It may be good news for Dave and Kimm but it is bad news for C.J. and SGM. In the sovereignty of God this removal of Dave from SGM leadership is but another expression of his discipline and the on-going dissolution of SGM. In the wisdom of God, no leader of any “prominence” remains in SGM except for C.J., Bob Kauflin and Jeff Purswell.

Dave doesn’t know what he will being doing at CFC over the next nine months. Nor does he know what he will do starting September 2013. He expresses no interest in returning to SGM. I’m not sure Dave wants to come back given his broken relationship with C.J., the greatly diminished stature of SGM, and the deep seated problems that plague the ministry. Dave is no dummy. These are all factors in his thinking despite his denials. There are greener pastures in other fields. But first we must “pray for lots of good fruit.” What kind of fruit? Dave doesn’t want us to know. He gives no standards by which to evaluate his progress which should be evident to all (1 Tim 4:15).

It will be interesting to see how Covenant Fellowship Church responds to this announcement. It was made a week before Christmas so that buys the elders some time. Few members will make much of this immediately. It awaits the New Year. But will the church continue to be passive and indifferent or will substantial number of members finally ask hard questions and require honest answers of Dave and the pastors? Thus far Jared Mellinger, the senior pastor, has managed to corral the church into a mindless submission. His threatening’s to discipline slanderers and divisive members has all but silenced the church. For instance, see What Does My Website Have in Common with Pornography? Ask Jared Mellinger! (February 18, 2012). His lording over the church has only been exceeded by Mickey Connolly in Charlotte, NC. That must change.

Thanks for being the kind of church that makes a place for pastors, whether they’re young or old, green or weathered, fresh or embattled. Because for us, drawing into Covenant Fellowship means coming home.

Dave feels old, weathered and embattled. He wants to get out of the fight and salvage his family and relationships on staff. These are his felt needs but not his greatest needs. I know Dave extremely well. He fully recognizes how serious the problems are in his life, his family, on the pastoral staff and in SGM. He knows what he must do to get right with God and others and he knows the same for C.J. He lacks no knowledge, only obedience to Scripture. Psalm 32 is the remedy for all Dave’s woes. I hope he turns the corner.

See you Sunday!
Dave

##

Here is the accompanying statement by the pastors with my comments.

Covenant Fellowship Elders Statement:

Dave’s decision is one we fully support and believe represents the Lord’s direction for him and his family, as well as our church. We are grateful for Dave’s willingness to follow the elders in this process. In making this decision, he embodies the collection of values that guide the elders called the Pastoral Team Affirmations: the values of devotion, humility, honesty, integrity, accountability, faithfulness, and unity. These include receiving the assessment of those who serve with us and trusting God to work through the leadership and care of the elders. How Dave has sought to walk with the team during this past difficult year and the decision he’s come to both reflect his deep commitment to these values. Even more so, they demonstrate a faith in God that deeply affects us.

This statement sheds a little, but just a little, light on what has been transpiring. Dave has been “receiving the assessment of those who serve with [him]” in relation to “the values of devotion, humility, honesty, integrity, accountability, faithfulness, and unity.” He is willing “to follow [obey] the elders in this process.” That is good but truth be told, these men hardly qualify bringing this kind of assessment because they suffer from the same maladies. For example, Mark Prater has acted in the most unscrupulous way over the past 18 months [see Panel Report on Brent Detwiler’s Dismissal from Grace Community Church (January 25, 2012); The Need for Watchmen (October 5, 2012)] and Jared Mellinger has conducted himself like a demagogue [see What Does My Website Have in Common with Pornography? Ask Jared Mellinger! (February 18, 2012)].

That aside, what is their assessment of Dave’s character? Is he above reproach (1 Tim 3:1) and blameless (Tit 1:6)? The obvious answer is no but I think hell will freeze over before the pastors are candid with the church about his true condition. I have no doubt this is a disciplinary action by the elders. Therefore, not only should CFC be told the basis for this action but so should all of Sovereign Grace Ministries. That kind of transparency is expected in Scripture.

Over the last ten years the elders have failed to deal with Dave in a biblical fashion (1 Tim 5:19-21). In 2003, C.J. told me he thought Dave may need to step down as the senior pastor and should make a public confession to the church when major problems began to surface in his family. Since then those problems have only worsened and intensified. This and much more has been concealed from the church though many people in the church are aware of the family issues but afraid to speak out against the deceitful cover up that has transpired. The elders also need to give account to the church for their compromise. See Dave Harvey’s Deceitful Leadership Covered Up and Left Uninvestigated – Exposed Tonight at Covenant Fellowship Church (March 4, 2012) and Hardball (March 6, 2012).

We are eager and expectant for God’s grace and blessing in and through these steps, and we are full of faith for the good fruit that will come from them. We love and respect Dave and Kimm for walking this path with us. Our hope is that this upcoming season will result in a platform of even greater strength, in the home and in ministry, that will afford decades of local and extra-local fruitfulness. To God be the glory!

I may be reading too much into this paragraph but the elders may not return Dave to full orbed service in ministry. Such a restoration appears dependent on “good fruit” in “this upcoming season.” The pastors have not removed Dave from the eldership but this action represents a major demotion. It will interesting to see if Dave is allowed to preach or counsel others regarding marriage and family life.

Moreover, the pastors say nothing about “decades of…extra-local fruitfulness” for Dave with SGM. I believe some of them have serious misgivings about C.J. They have registered their concerns with me regarding C.J. in the past. They have seen his lording and deceit and experienced his harshness and sinful judgments in pastoral situations. Mark Prater, Andy Farmer and Jim Donahue know of what I speak. In their statement, the elders make no effort to express confidence in C.J. or a hope for Dave’s return to any position in SGM. Dave and the pastors are entirely moot regarding their future commitment to C.J. and SGM.

##

Here is the press release put out by Sovereign Grace Ministries on Thursday with my comments.

Leadership Team Update
December 20, 2012

As we work together in our mission to plant and build churches with the gospel of Jesus Christ, we want to inform you of a change in Sovereign Grace Ministries’ Leadership Team. Dave Harvey has made the decision to resign from our Leadership Team so that he can resume his full-time role as an elder at Covenant Fellowship Church. Dave made a public statement yesterday explaining this change on the Covenant Fellowship Church blog.

“Dave Harvey has made the decision to resign from our Leadership Team.” Hit the pause button!!! Think about what this means for SGM at such a crucial point in its history. Dave Harvey, the most public leader in all of SGM after C.J., is gone. The ministry of SGM has been built around C.J. and Dave Harvey for the past five years. After C.J., Dave has been the biggest draw to SGM.

Consider, Dave has been the center of the wheel for all SGM does in terms of church planting and oversight around the world. He is the primary reasons for its growth and expansion. In my opinion, Dave is the most gifted man in SGM when considering his total skill set. His responsibilities have been massive. He is also extremely well connected in the evangelical world.

People must recognize that Dave is to growth and expansion what Jeff Purswell is to the Pastors College. Without him there is a huge sink hole under the foundation. No one can replace him as an equal. No one has done more to attract and train church planters than Dave. His strategic thinking is the key to SGM’s numerical success in the past.

So how does C.J. explain this to the movement? By simply saying “Dave Harvey has made the decision to resign from our Leadership Team so that he can resume his full-time role as an elder at Covenant Fellowship Church.” End of statement. C.J. can’t possibly be honest with the ministry. He can’t tell all the pastors and people who remain in SGM why Dave really resigned. Why? Because C.J. would have to resign for the same reasons as Dave. Here’s what I mean. I have no doubt the pastors of Covenant Fellowship Church required that Dave resign from SGM because the issues in his life, family and ministry are serious. He is barely an elder now.

Though I have little confidence in the CFC pastors given their track record, they have done the right thing in demanding Dave resign from SGM without asking C.J.’s permission. That took some nerve. I commend them.

As Dave communicates in his post, this change does not reflect any lack of support for the direction or leadership of Sovereign Grace Ministries. Dave is, in fact, excited about our future mission and the benefits our new polity will bring to this work. He has expressed hopes of possibly returning to SGM service someday in the future. As Dave states, “…the story on this is not about what SGM lacks but what one pastor needs right now… It is one of those times where local and family needs must take priority over extra-local relationships/ministry.”

Contrary to this press release, Dave expresses no hope of “possibly returning to SGM service someday in the future.” Maybe he said something to C.J. in private but he says nothing of the sort in his public statement. Assuming he or the elders actually conveyed this thought to C.J. it is an extremely weak assurance. The operative words are “possibly” and “someday.” There is no guarantee Dave will ever return and if he does I don’t believe it will be in nine months. He’s life is a mess right now. I think this is a long term reclamation project. He has lost the trust and confidence of his local elders and they have finally acted. No band aids please.

This is precisely what the Covenant Life pastors should have done with C.J. in the past. It is what his current elders should require of C.J. now in Louisville but that is a lost and hopeless cause. If C.J. goes down, they all go down.

This brief update provides insufficient space to adequately thank Dave for his outstanding contributions leading us in church care, church planting, and international expansion since 1995. These past 17 years Dave has played a vital role in keeping Sovereign Grace’s mission to plant and build churches with the gospel of Jesus Christ at the forefront of all we do both domestically and internationally. His proactive development of an SGM church planting group served to prepare future church planters for their calling. His model of church care in the Northeast region both strengthened individual churches and SGM as a whole. Covenant Fellowship Church, where Dave served as senior pastor for 18 years, has influenced SGM in countless ways through its example, teaching, and generosity. And Dave’s vision to further equip church planters through his focused writing and preaching on the topic will serve pastors for years to come. Please join us in thanking Dave for the unique role he has played serving us as a family of churches.

This reads like an obituary or eulogy at Dave’s funeral.

We are grateful that his influence and service do not end here. Though transitioning from our Leadership Team, we look forward to Dave’s continued investment in the mission of SGM through his service as an elder at Covenant Fellowship Church this year. Please join us in praying for Dave and his family during this transition.

Dave’s “influence and service” do end with Sovereign Grace Ministries and it is uncertain what limited role he will play at CFC as an elder. There is no guarantee Dave will return to SGM.

Finally, we want to you know that the SGM Board looks forward to communicating the plan to cover Dave’s responsibilities as part of our transition to the new polity, pending ratification.

This development caught C.J. totally by surprise. He was not consulted or involved in the process of making the decision to have Dave step down. He was kept out of the loop by the CFC elders. This bespeaks of a lack of confidence in C.J. and the SGM Board of Directors.

C.J. is now the last man standing. Soon more churches will leave SGM because the leadership culture is corrupt and the polity proposal unbiblical. Yet, C.J. and his shrinking entourage continue to blame everyone else for the demise of SGM. In so doing they further provoke the indignation of God. The only solution. C.J. must follow Dave’s example and step down from all his responsibilities in Sovereign Grace Ministries. Of the two, he is the greater sinner.

SGM-Mahaneygate (World Mag, 2 Nov 12): Megastar's "Troubled Ministry"

http://www.worldmag.com/2012/11/troubled_ministry

 

 

Troubled ministry

 

Religion | Lawsuit claims leaders at Sovereign Grace Ministries covered up sexual abuse

James Thompson

C.J. Mahaney

 

Troubles continue to mount for Sovereign Grace Ministries (SGM), an evangelical association with about 90 churches and 28,000 members worldwide. The SGM board of directors reinstated the ministry’s founder, C.J. Mahaney, as president of SGM in early 2012 after he took a leave of absence for several months. 

 

Accusations of spiritual pride and hypocrisy precipitated Mahaney’s leave. Now SGM is facing a lawsuit by three female plaintiffs, alleging that SGM leaders covered up sexual abuse that occurred in the 1980s and 1990s, and that they discouraged church members from cooperating with law enforcement officials. 
 
Even before the lawsuit, several SGM churches, including ones in Charlottesville, Va., Sarasota, Fla., and Daytona Beach, Fla., had left the association. Jesse Jarvis, pastor of the Daytona Beach congregation, cited a “leadership culture characterized by excessive authority and insufficient accountability” as a reason for leaving SGM. 
 
Mahaney founded SGM in 1982 out of Covenant Life Church in Gaithersburg, Md. In 2004, Mahaney stepped down as Covenant Life pastor. Following his reappointment as the president of SGM, Mahaney relocated the ministry’s headquarters to Louisville, Ky., and planted a church there. The new church held its opening service on Sept. 30. 
 
The lawsuit charges SGM leaders with allowing suspected child abusers to continue interacting with children, sheltering the accused perpetrators from prosecution, and forcing alleged victims as young as 3 to forgive their molesters. The complaint accuses several SGM elders and officials of actively covering up the crimes, while it names Mahaney because the offenses allegedly occurred under his leadership. 
 
SGM released a statement saying that “child abuse in any context is reprehensible and criminal. Sovereign Grace Ministries takes seriously the biblical commands to pursue the protection and well being of all people, especially the most vulnerable in its midst, little children.”

SGM-Mahaneygate (Detwiler): Flagship Church Leaving SGM

C. J. Mahaney, Founder and President of Sovereign Grace Ministries
Co-defendant in Child Sex Abuse Case of Coverup

http://www.brentdetwiler.com/brentdetwilercom/2012/11/5/flagship-church-of-sovereign-grace-ministries-announces-plan.html

Flagship Church of Sovereign Grace Ministries Announces Plans to Leave

Monday, November 5, 2012 at 1:23PM

 

No church has loved C.J. and Sovereign Grace Ministries more than Covenant Life Church in Gaithersburg, MD. From its inception in 1977, CLC has served as the model church for all the churches in SGM. The members of CLC have worked harder and given more to serve the interests of C.J. and SGM than any other church. What the Jerusalem, Antioch, and Ephesian churches were in NT times; Gaithersburg has been throughout the 30 year history of SGM.

Starting in 2002, the headquarters for SGM was housed in the newly expanded CLC facility. So too the Pastors College. In addition, conference after conference was held in their building. The members of CLC have always sacrificed their time, used their talents, and given their money to make Sovereign Grace Ministries a success for the glory of God. CLC has a church population of approximately 5,000 persons.

Joshua Harris moved to CLC in 1997 in order to be trained by C.J. He lived with the Mahaney’s up until he was married. After 8 years of discipleship, C.J. turned the church over to Joshua and installed him as the sr. pastor. In 2007, C.J. added Joshua to the SGM Board of Directors. He planned to turn the ministry over to Joshua next year when he turns 60. Joshua was C.J.’s chosen replacement. 
   
All that has changed. In July 2011, C.J. abruptly left Covenant Life Church without talking to any of his pastors about his decision. In April 2012, he abruptly decided to relocate the SGM headquarters to Louisville, KY without talking to any of the pastors. In September 2012, he started a new church even though he was unreconciled to his old church and the pastors. Tens of thousands of people have watched C.J. destroy the ministry we began in 1982. Friends and supporters throughout nation and many parts of the world have been shocked as they’ve observed C.J.’s pride, deceit and hypocrisy over the past year and a half.

After being ever so patient and forbearing with C.J., Joshua recommended last night that Covenant Life Church end their partnership with Sovereign Grace Ministries. All 18 pastors were in complete agreement with Josh. This is in stark contrast to July 2011 when Dave Harvey, the Interim President of SGM at the time, said the following when Josh stepped down from the Board of Directors.

“The important thing is that Josh and the [SGM] 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.” (Dave Harvey, “Where we differ, where we agree,” July 14, 2011)

 

Only someone who has been a part of Sovereign Grace for a long time can fully appreciate the magnitude of this action by the CLC pastors. These 18 men were all loyal and devoted friends and followers of C.J. Their lives and ministries were largely built around C.J. and his leadership. None of them ever imagined having to leave SGM because they no longer trusted C.J. or the Board of Directors given their abusive leadership practices and unethical conduct. Many other churches in SGM feel the same way. A few have left. Many more will follow.

Last night, Joshua provided detailed explanations to the church for why the separation from SGM was necessary. He covered seven different areas. It must have been the hardest and easiest thing Joshua has ever done. Hardest, because of his deep love for C.J. Easiest, because the reasons were compelling and the choice obvious. It was time to leave.

The pastors have taken this action now because they don’t need to wait for a final SG Book of Church Order. They have set this direction primarily because the moral problems in SGM are flagrant and C.J. remains unrepentant. Over the past 18 months, they have experienced up close and personal, the same C.J. described in my documents. They’ve also experienced the trickery of Dave Harvey, the heavy handedness of Mickey Connolly, and the partiality of John Loftness. Churches in SGM are going to leave in large numbers for two reasons. Unethical conduct and unbiblical polity.
      
Per the CLC constitution, the entire church must vote on this recommendation. That’s why the pastors announced a direction, not a decision, to separate from SGM. They will hold two “Coffee and Conversation” meetings on November 11 and 18 to answer questions. Two weeks later, an online vote will be taken over a three week period. Then the votes will be tallied. A 51% majority is needed in order to sever ties with SGM. The pastors hope to wrap things up by mid-December.
From my perspective, C.J. began to build a “Tower of Babel” around 1996. The Sovereign Grace tower reached to the heavens by 2010. But now in 2012, the Lord has come down and begun to scattered it over the earth.

Genesis 11:4, 8

[4] Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth.”… [8] So the Lord scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city.
Making a name for one’s self always invites God’s judgment. It is this love of reputation and desire for greatness that has brought about the downfall of C.J. and Sovereign Grace Ministries. The well-known proverb is true.
  
Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

But here’s the good news. Unlike the King’s men with Humpty Dumpty, the Holy Spirit can put contrite men back together again. In his mercy, the Lord gathers after he scatters. It continues to be my prayer that God will raise up and strengthen pastors and churches characterized by humility, honesty and courage.

SGM-Mahaneygate: Brief Roundup of News Re: Child, Sex, & Leadership Abuses

Co-defendant, C.J. Mahaney in class action lawsuit against Sovereign Grace Ministries about sexual abuse, child abuse and the mediated, communicated, underlying, pervasive, governing and controlling culture of abusiveness

The Associated Press article on SGM-Mahaneygate has literally gone nearwise everywhere.

It is in local newspapers from New York Newsday to Dallas Morning Post. TV News websites have posted it, from Las Vegas to the Carolinas, from Wisconsin to Florida. Washington Post, Huffington Post, Yahoo News, The Guardian, Business Week, U.S. News & World Report. Plus, there are independent stories by Christianity Today, Christian Post, Courier Journal, WJLA. It's even made it to the infamous military outlet, "Stars and Stripes" which means it's throughout Europe, the Mediterranean, Middle East (5th Fleet) and to all afloat assets.

Here’s a meagre and very paltry roundup of links.  There are many, many more on these cultic, sectarian, often ignorant (leaders, but also the Kool-aide followers) and Anabaptacostalist "enthusiasts." Yahoo News

http://news.yahoo.com/lawsuit-.....39890.html

Huffington Post

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/.....74568.html

Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/.....story.html

U.S. News & World Report

http://www.usnews.com/news/us/.....use-claims

The Guardian

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worl.....e/10490269

MSNBC

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/49.....se-claims/

Business Week

http://www.businessweek.com/ap.....use-claims

Stars and Stripes

http://ap.stripes.com/dynamic/.....7-21-08-40

Boston Globe

http://www.boston.com/news/nat.....story.html

Dallas Morning News

http://hosted2.ap.org/txdam/23.....82f9532777

WTTG

http://www.myfoxdc.com/story/1.....ertainment

WLNS

http://www.wlns.com/story/1984.....=printable

NBC 12

http://www.nbc12.com/story/198.....use-claims

Fox 8

http://www.fox8live.com/story/.....use-claims

WTXF - Fox 29

http://www.myfoxphilly.com/sto.....use-claims

WNYW

http://www.myfoxny.com/story/1.....use-claims

New Channel 5

http://www.newschannel5.com/st.....use-claims
http://www.abc4.com/content/ne.....ic7Xg.cspx

WPRI

http://www.wpri.com/dpp/news/u.....s_86797704

WLUK

http://www.fox11online.com/dpp.....s_47399703

WAOW

http://www.waow.com/story/1984.....use-claims
 

SGM-Mahaneygate: Updated (26 Oct 2012) SGM Statement on Class Action Suit

Co-defendant, C. J. Mahaney, President of Sovereign Grace Ministries



No doubt written by SGM lawyers.  We'll wait for discovery and a jury trial.

http://www.sovereigngraceministries.org/blogs/sgm/post/Updated-Statement-on-Reported-Lawsuit.aspx

Updated Statement on Reported Lawsuit

October 26, 2012 by SGM Staff
Categories: General


Please be aware of the following press release.
October 26, 2012

Statement by Tommy Hill
Sovereign Grace Ministries Director of Administration

Re: A Civil Lawsuit Filed Against Sovereign Grace Ministries Oct. 17 in Maryland’s Montgomery County Circuit Court

Though not yet served, Sovereign Grace Ministries (SGM) leadership has obtained a copy of the civil lawsuit filed last week against SGM and several pastors of its associational churches. This recent complaint makes broad allegations that SGM pastors were negligent in providing spiritual counsel and pastoral care in situations involving persons who had previously suffered child sexual abuse. It is important to note that it does not allege any act of child abuse by a pastor or staff member of SGM or of an associated church. SGM is not in a position to comment on the specific allegations at this time, but we are beginning a careful legal review of each allegation. Upon initial review it appears the complaint contains a number of untrue or misleading allegations, as well as considerable mischaracterizations of intent.

Child sexual abuse is reprehensible in any circumstance, and a violation of fundamental human dignity. We grieve deeply for any child who has been a victim of abuse. We want to minister the love, grace and healing of God to any who have suffered this horrific act.

SGM is committed to integrity and faithfulness in pastoral care, as are the pastors of local congregations. We take seriously the biblical commands to pursue the protection and well-being of all people – especially children, who are precious gifts given by the Lord and the most vulnerable among us. These biblical commands include fully respecting civil authority to help restrain evil and promote righteousness as Romans 13 instructs us. SGM also encourages the establishment of robust child protection policies and procedures based on best practices.

SGM churches are separately organized and constituted in their respective communities. They voluntarily partner together for certain aspects of their broader common mission: to plant churches, develop resources, train pastors and serve international ministries in order to proclaim the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We ask that you please join us in praying that God guides and leads all of us in these challenging circumstances, ministering His grace, comfort and peace to all who are affected by this situation, and that His truth would prevail.

SGM-Mahaneygate: Challies, Mohler, Duncan, Piper, Sproul, Carson, Dever, MacArthur, Grudemn, DeYoung, Trueman, Chandler

Co-defendant, C. J. Mahaney, in Child and Sex Abuse Lawsuit

Sage and orbital musings by Brent Detwiler about SGM-Mahaneygate.

http://www.brentdetwiler.com/brentdetwilercom/2012/10/26/random-thoughts-on-recent-events.html

Random Thoughts on Recent Events

Friday, October 26, 2012 at 11:03AM

 

Church Polity: This Sunday the Board of Directors will send the polity proposal they adopted to the SGM pastors. I think it will be a combination of Presbyterian and independent. They probably hope it will serve as a distraction from the class action lawsuit.

Challies: I wonder if pro-C.J. blogger, Tim Challies, will tell his readers not to read the lawsuit like he did my documents.

Mohler & Duncan: I wonder if Al Mohler, President of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (SBTS) and Ligon Duncan, noted Presbyterian churchman, will vilify the plaintiffs and call all the charges in the lawsuit slanderous? That’s what they’ve done in the past with anyone who speaks against C.J.

SBTS Trustees: What does the Board of Trustees at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary think now about the cozy relationship between C.J., SGM and the seminary now? I doubt they’ll make a 100k contribution like C.J. did in 2008 to help cover lawyer’s fees.

C.J.’s Circle of Friends: Will men like John Piper, R.C. Sproul, D.A. Carson, Mark Dever, John MacArthur, Wayne Grudem, Kevin DeYoung, Carl Trueman, Matt Chandler, et al., continue to actively support C.J. by having him speak in their churches, participate in their conferences, endorse his books, etc. It will interesting to see if any of these men grant an interview on the SGM website commending C.J. and SGM until the lawsuit is resolved.

Name of Church: Now would be a good time for any church with Sovereign Grace in their name to change it.

Molestation Policies: Churches need to have policies and procedures in place to protect against child abuse at all church functions (home groups, seminars, retreats), not just on Sunday morning.
   
Sex Offender Register: Every church should have a sex offender register on their website. Require this of your pastors.

Leave of Absence for President and Chairman: The SGM Board of Directors should relieve President Mahaney and Chairman Loftness of their responsibilities until the lawsuit is resolved - not as an admission of guilt but as a precaution.

Mahaney and Loftness Fired: If SGM, Mahaney, and Loftness are successfully sued for covering up child molestation they should be immediately fired by the Board of Directors.

Pastors Who Cover up Molestation: Every church needs to find out how their pastors have handled sexual and spousal abuse in their church in the past. Did they contact the police, etc. Demand an accounting. Church members must find out if sexual abuse was covered up.

Civil Versus Criminal Suit: Think of O.J. Simpson. He was not found guilty in a criminal court but he was found liable in a civil court. One article I read explained it this way. “The burden of proof in criminal matters is ‘beyond a reasonable doubt,’ which is much more difficult to achieve than the ‘preponderance of evidence’ standard used in most civil cases…. The civil justice system does not determine an offender’s guilt or innocence, but works to determine whether the offender is liable for the harm caused to the victim…. This burden of proof essentially means that one side’s evidence must be more persuasive than the other; this is far lower than the burden necessary in a criminal case.”

Monetary and Equitable Relief: “A plaintiff can either ask for monetary relief, or equitable relief. Monetary relief is when the plaintiff asks for a cash award to remedy the situation. Equitable relief is when the plaintiff asks for the court to order the other party to do or not to do something” (“The Difference between Civil Courts and Criminal Courts,” The Leadership Conference). If SGM or any of the defendants are liable, I hope the plaintiff’s ask for both kinds of relief. I assume they can require SGM to take action that prevents the cover up of child molestation in the future.

Liability Insurance: SGM has liability insurance but I don’t believe it covers the kind of malpractice alleged in the class action lawsuit. If I am correct, that means SGM will have to pay all lawyer fees and damages awarded by the court if found liable. That could bankrupt SGM. I assume individual defendants will also have to cover their own their own expenses and damages if found liable. May the innocent be vindicated and the guilty held accountable. I don’t want to see anyone harmed financially or otherwise who is not guilty.
    
Additional Defendants: More defendants should be named in the lawsuit. I can think of a few in light of recent revelations. I’m sure the attorneys are busy taking names and gathering information.

Ambassadors of Reconciliation: Ed Kober and Ed Keinath defended SGM in “Cases Involving Sexual Misconduct” on page 19 as found in their April 10, 2012, Ambassadors of Reconciliatlion Report to the Sovereign Grace Ministries Board of Directors. They said the following. “Some raising their concerns alleged that SGM consistently handles such cases in irresponsible ways. While we did not complete detailed reviews of cases involving sexual misconduct, we were able to review documentation in some situations that demonstrated the SGM leadership understood the gravity of the situations. SGM leaders offered care and concern, they sought professional legal and counseling help for SGM and key leaders involved, and in some cases they helped connect parties to Christian mediators.” This amounted to a complete vindication of Sovereign Grace Ministries. AoR should also be name as a defendant in the lawsuit. If the allegations in the lawsuit are true, then at least some of the plaintiffs made this clear to Ted and Ed. They did nothing but commend SGM in their report.
 
Stop Giving: How can anyone be donating money to Sovereign Grace Ministries? Last year they paid out over 400k to cover the cost for Ambassadors of Reconciliation and the corrupt Three Panel Review. This year they will pay out hundreds of thousands in attorney’s fees to fight the class action lawsuit. And fifteen months later, we still don’t know how much C.J. is compensated even though he promised to reveal it. Approach your pastors and find out if they are still giving your tithe money to SGM. Demand they stop. They should redirect the church’s giving to worthy individuals and organizations.
 
Start New Churches: If your church doesn’t leave Sovereign Grace Ministries, you should consider starting a new church comprised of people who are devoted to love our Lord Jesus in humility, integrity, and truth.

God’s Opposition: I’m sure C.J. and John are telling all their friends and associates that the lawsuit is full of slander. That they are not guilty of covering up child molestation. This much is certain, God continues to oppose the proud in SGM and only the proud in SGM are foolish enough to deny it (Jam 4:6-10, 1 Pet 5:5-6). Being good Calvinists, they shouldn’t blame the devil or people as primary agents. Yet C.J. and the Board present C.J. as the suffering servant who has been victimized by evil doers. They continue to deny God’s sovereign opposition. Pray for C.J. Proverbs 29:1 He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck, will suddenly be broken beyond healing.

My Bitterness: Eleven months out of the year I do okay dealing with temptations to bitterness. October is different. I should be 25 feet up a tree in my beloved deer stand dressed in camo. Instead, I’m on the ground before my computer screen addressing SGM. A bitter man with a bow is not a good combination. By the way, I desperately need some updated broad head arrows. Make a donation so I can put food on my table and overcome my resentment. Help the hungry and pray November allows for hunting. Remember the words of Jesus to Peter. Acts 10:13 A voice came to him, “Get up, Peter, kill and eat!”

Prayerfully Consider Financial Support 
 
My efforts are designed to help Christians judge righteously, think biblically, live courageously (and support hunting). Would you prayerfully consider a gift or donation? This work is aided by the kindness of appreciative readers. Click the donation button for more information. Thank you.
  

SGM-Mahaneygate: 4 More Churches Leave Sovereign Grace Ministries in Last 10 Days

http://www.brentdetwiler.com/brentdetwilercom/2012/10/24/four-more-churches-leave-sovereign-grace-ministries-in-last.html

Four More Churches Leave Sovereign Grace Ministries in Last Ten Days

Wednesday, October 24, 2012 at 7:13PM

Sovereign Grace Church of Daytona Beach left Sovereign Grace Ministries on October 12 citing a loss of trust and a leadership culture characterized by excessive authority and insufficient accountability. Four more churches have severed their ties in the last 10 days.

I don’t gloat over these departures. That is not why I bring them to your attention. I bring them to your attention because the SGM Leadership Team and Board of Directors will never tell you about departures, let alone provide the reasons pastors are giving for severing their ties. These men have not left over polity differences – we won’t know until Sunday what form of polity SGM has a adopted. These men have primarily left over ethical concerns. Here is the latest tally.

July

1. Keith Breault, Redeemer Church of Charlottesville, Charlottesville, VA

August

2. Luan Nguyen, Grace Community Church, Sarasota, FL

October

3. Jesse Jarvis, Sovereign Grace Church of Daytona Beach, Daytona Beach, FL

4. Jerry Cisar, Gulf Coast Community Church, St. Petersburg, FL

5. Eric Simmons, Redeemer Church of Arlington, Arlington, VA

6. Toby Kurth, Christ Church at Park Presidio, San Francisco, CA

7. Sam Shin, Wellspring Church, Pleasanton, CA

C.J., Dave Harvey, John Loftness, Phil Sasser and the Board want everyone to believe all is well in the world of Sovereign Grace Ministries. From the beginning, the Interim Board called my 600 pages of carefully documented evidence a “tall tale,” “gossip” and “slander.” They ordered people not to read any of my documents. C.J. took great offense when Joshua Harris permitted people to examine their contents. Two thousand pages later, SGM continues to tell people not to read my documents or blog posts.

Men like Mickey Connolly, a current SGM Board of Director, demanded that members of CrossWay Community Church leave the church if they refused to obey him by reading anything I wrote. See Ten Common Cult-Like Characteristics Evident in Mickey Connolly’s Leadership. SGM will do almost anything to keep people from knowing the truth - lie, deceive, threatened, cover-up and withhold vital information. But the Lord in his sovereignty has seen fit to override their cunning and get out the truth.

I have no proof but I surmise SGM has hired a public relations firm to help rescue their deteriorating image. If so, I don’t think their strategy is working. For instance, two days ago they highlighted C.J. on The Sovereign Grace Pastors Conference Slideshow just after he was cited as a defendant in a class action lawsuit for covering up the sexual molestation of children. He appeared in 15 slides. Far more than anyone else. Bob Kauflin came in second at 5. Dave Harvey came in third at 4.

Just tonight SGM had Christian Wegert honor C.J. on the website for his messages at Eckstein Conference in Germany on “how cravings underlie conflict” and “the responsibility we have to help each another grow in godliness.” C.J. has not lived these messages. He is a complete hypocrite for preaching on these topics. No matter, the Board of Directors continues to build the entire ministry upon and around C.J.

What happens if a jury finds C.J. guilty of doing “absolutely nothing” in protecting children from sexual predation? Charge 18 in the recent class action lawsuit says, “The Church [referring to Sovereign Grace Ministries] learned in 1997 through non-ministerial means that the son of a high-ranking Church [SGM] leader was engaged in the sexual predation of children under the Church’s care. Yet the Church [SGM] did absolutely nothing to protect the children.” C.J. was the President of SGM and Chairman of the Board in 1997. He never told me about any “sexual predation of children.” If he is found guilty, Sovereign Grace could be sued for millions of dollars and he must be removed from ministry.

The SGM website has also been repetitiously featuring individuals like Christian Wegert. This began in earnest with the August 1 post, “Tim Kerr: If prayer is such a good thing, why does it seem so hard?” Since then approximately 40 men have been paraded by name before readers giving the impression that there is vast support for the ministry. Anyone who is astute immediately takes note of all the prominent leaders who are no longer featured because C.J. has cut them off for differing with him.

One person you haven’t heard from in a long time is Dave Harvey. He’s vanished into thin air. I hope he hasn’t suffered the fate of Jimmy Hoffa. We’ve heard nothing from Dave or about Dave for over seven months. That will probably change with this post. Expect a feature on the SGM website tomorrow. Anyway, the last time we heard from Dave was on March 19 when he introduced the Interim Board. See Introducing Our New Board.

I wrote Dave three months later about his falling out with C.J. which occurred earlier in the year. Since that conflict he has not been featured on the website. He didn’t even participate in the Eckstein 2012 conference last week in Germany. That is hard to comprehend since Dave has been Sovereign Grace’s point man in Germany for many years.

##

From: Brent Detwiler
Sent: Thursday, June 28, 2012 9:48 AM
To: Dave Harvey
Subject: Falling Out with C.J.
Importance: High

Hello Dave,

I’ve been told about the break down in your relationship with C.J. because he feels you did not defend him adequately and did not denounce me, Larry T, etc. more harshly. This comes as no surprise. You need to bring this to the immediate attention of the entire Board to whom you and C.J. are now accountable. Be honest with them. Don’t cover up for C.J. Put an end to the enablement. You must tell the Board about this mistreatment of you. Dave, you know full well that nothing has changed with C.J. Your assessment and my assessment from 2004 are as relevant today.

“To correct CJ, or to challenge his own self-perception, was to experience a reaction through e-mails, consistent disagreement (without seeking to sufficiently understand), a lack of sufficient follow-up and occasionally, relational withdrawal. Along with this, CJ was poor in volunteering areas of sin, temptation or weakness in himself.” (Dave Harvey, Nov 11, 2004)

“[C.J.] can become resentful, distrustful or withdraw when he feels misunderstood, judged, or sinned against by others. Can judge or prematurely come to conclusions about others based on limited or incomplete information. When correcting or disagreeing can communicate his assessment or perspective too strongly or categorically. Can lack gentleness and not perceive the unhelpful effect of his words, actions or decisions upon an individual. Can be difficult to correct and help because he often disagrees with or has a different perspective on illustrations. Infrequently makes us aware of specific sins or the correction others are bringing to him.” (Brent Detwiler, April, 2004)

I have little hope you and C.J. will be transparent with the Board. I imagine this will be glossed over and made to sound like a trifle when it is serious. Please turn the corner on a new lease in life by doing what is right.

Regards,

Brent

##

Dave will be speaking at the SGM Pastors Conference next week. I assume he will be lauded by C.J. and Dave will return the honors. But that is not the truth. If Dave ever tells the truth about C.J. it is the end of his ministerial career. He can forget being on Baords, selling books, speaking at Conferences, and the like. It's over for Dave if he gets honest. Dave knows the same C.J. I know. He just chose to cover up for him.

You never know what is going on in SGM unless you have a prophetic gift, personal relationships, insider contacts, or leaked information. Take for instance, Ken Sande and David Powlison. These men fell off the face of the earth too. This is what C.J. said about these men 15 months ago.

Why I’m taking a leave of absence
July 6, 2011 by C.J. Mahaney

Just so you’ll know, I have also contacted David Powlison and Mark Dever and asked them to review the charges and provide me with their counsel and correction. I have enlisted them to serve me personally during this time and to ensure this process of examining my heart and life is as thorough as possible. And for the past year I have been the recipient of Ken Sande’s correction, counsel and care. That, I am grateful to say, will continue…. I am deeply moved as I reflect on how rich I am relationally and I am humbled by the time these men are willing to spend serving me and Sovereign Grace.

David and Ken provided C.J. counsel and correction. C.J. never told us what David and Ken had to say. He never reports on correction he does not like. He covers it up. Then he cuts off his relationship with those who confront him and you never hear from them again. There have been no references to these men or their ministries in over 15 months. The Christian Counseling and Education Foundation (CCEF) and Peacemakers used to be household names. These two men have no continuing role in C.J.’s life because they had the nerve to correct C.J. on his deceit and pride.

The same is true of Sovereign Grace churches that silently disappear into the night never to be heard from again. Charlottesville, Sarasota, Daytona Beach, St. Petersburg, Arlington, San Francisco, and Pleasanton – all gone with no explanation from SGM.

The only hope for SGM is keeping people in the dark and providing them misinformation. That has been their plan from the beginning. Only problem…the God of light is committed to expose deeds of darkness. More and more keeps coming out and more and more chruches leave with each passing week.

Ephesians 5:8-11

[8] For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light [9] (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) [10] and find out what pleases the Lord. [11] Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.

Prayerfully Consider Financial Support

My efforts are designed to help Christians judge righteously, think biblically, and live courageously. Would you prayerfully consider a gift or donation? This work is aided by the kindness of appreciative readers. Click the donation button for more information. Thank you.