controversy at mclean bible church

The plaintiffs in the lawsuit objected, saying anyone who joined the church after the June 2021 election should not be allowed to vote. David Platt, the President of our International Mission Board, recently became the preaching pastor at the Mclean Bible Church, a megachurch in the DC area. According to former members and staff, these former elders have left MBC for what reasons, no one will say: Jim Battle, Mark Gotlieb, Craig Proulx, Jimmy Mitchell, John Baber, and Lon Solomon. Platt and his family are members of the Washington, D.C., area church, where Platt also serves as elder. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Platt, the senior pastor of McLean Bible Church in Northern Virginia, is now caught in the middle of a scandal that is reminiscent of events that took place in 2019 at a large Southern Baptist Church in Naples, FL. And the church has not regularly tracked individual attendance for years, he added. A series of controversies and the country's growing political polarization have caused a rift at McLean Bible Church, where former International Mission Board president and author David Platt is pastor. This year, the church had an election of three church elders, which would normally be a sleepy affair. Platts 2020 book Before You Vote also drew criticism from some church members as being soft on traditional evangelical issues like abortion and sexuality. No. They cited Platts use of Woke resources as further proofPlatt required for his course on Race books likeDivided by Faith: Evangelical Religion and the Problem of Race in America. Nope. This internal document was a response to Platts promotion of The Gospel, the Church, Justice and Racism whitepaper. It never goes away on its own.. We're glad you're here! We believe the same thing would happen on appeal in this matter, as our church has now voted and revoted in ways that are crystal clear. The social justice controversy has erupted in church business meetings at McLean Bible Church and has gained national attention. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin). A group of critics that runs a Facebook group called Save McLean Bible Church claimed that church leaders had substituted critical race theory and social justice for biblical teaching. Michael Kelsey rebuked people offended that some were upset at praying for the President of the United States. Platt said in his July 4 sermon that people told voting members, in person and by email, that the elders up for nomination would have sold the churchs Tysons location to build a mosque, with proceeds going to the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). The Capstone Report can reveal the photograph was only removed after repeated demands by members of the elder board. And so the church had never before failed to elect elder nominees that were recommended. They have several campuses. Ministry partnerships: If you represent an organization which would like to partner with MBC, please fill out the International Partnerships Form or the Local Partnerships Form. I think were going to work through this, he said. Over the last several years, weve watched David take the churchthe church we built, the church we love, the church weve poured are hearts and souls and lives intoand turned it into a political, stripped-down version of what it used to be, wrote former elder Mark Gottlieb, who is encouraging members of a group called Save McLean Bible Church to admit defeat and walk away after the July 18 vote. Copyright 2020, Religion News Service. Under founding pastor Lon Solomon, McLean launched a church planting partnership with the SBCs North American Mission Board in 2016 while remaining nondenominational. NO VIDEOS! David Platt, pastor at McLean Bible Church in Virginia, speaks at the Pastor's Conference at the Southern Baptist Convention on Monday in Birmingham. [ This article is also available in I don't think that it was about the specific elders so much as the direction of the church. College Park Church in Indianapolis was accused in a blog post this spring of caving to ever-increasing social justice infiltration. Dallas pastor Matt Chandler and former SBC president J. D. Greear both have been accused of being woke, and the SBCs emerging Conservative Baptist Network (CBN) has charged some convention leaders with advocating critical race theory and downplaying the Bibles sufficiency. Attendance began to decrease significantly after the first class as attendees realized the Woke content. Video screen grab via MBC. Viewarticle. But threatening McLean now is a group that has spread all kinds of rumors, Platt said. Further, much CRT terminology continues to be used at MBC, the concerned leaders told Platt. McLean stated in a Q&A on its website that Kelseys son held a poster that read, Black Lives Matter to God.. Instead of defending President Trumps visit, Platt seemed to apologize for publicly praying with Donald Trump. According to the McLean Bible Church budget for 2021, $291,719 more is slated for Senior Managementmaking that line item in the budget total $1,121,967. Plaintiffs hope that a court will declare Sundays election void and require the church to hold a new election. All rights reserved. I hesitated to share it because I know it is so ugly and painful to hear but I want to point out the approach being used by people giving leadership to this group in these meetings.. The Evangelical Church Is Breaking Apart. Saddleback Church doubles down on support for female pastors, Mormonisms slow shift away from demonizing working mothers, Faith leaders urge Biden to sign executive order for reparations study by Juneteenth, For many congregations, wiping out medical debt has become a popular calling, Woke Wars infiltrate Christian colleges, prof under fire for racial justice unit, Professor Joeckel on why his contract, teachings on racial justice are under review, Hamline University retracts Islamophobia charge as instructor sues, Vineyard USA founders widow, board members sue breakaway Anaheim pastors, alleging fraud. Of course, not. Disposition definition, the predominant or prevailing tendency of one's spirits; natural mental and emotional outlook or mood; characteristic attitude: I'd like to thank the general manager for his hospitality, kindness, and always cheerful disposition. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. By. #302 Falls Church, VA 22042 866-788-7770 Less than 25 percent of members were part of the vote Wednesday night, Platt said. Congregants dance and pray with the church band before Pastor Andy Wood gives a sermon on Sunday, Oct. 16, 2022, at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif. Stacie Wood, the woman pastor at the . Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. It was an exercise in eisegesis (p. 121). It is unclear whether McLean Bible Church is part of the Southern Baptist Convention or an independent congregation. He became pastor in 2018 after resigning from the IMB, where his tenure had been disappointing and included the loss of almost 1,000 missionaries to resignations and early retirement. Platt knows many McLean members including former church leaders opposed his teachings that appeared to be causing racial divisions by the promotion of Critical Race Theory. INSKEEP: Is that part of what seemed to get him in trouble with at least a portion of the congregation? INSKEEP: Given that, what makes this story feel like it has a larger significance in your mind? Platt, a bestselling author and speaker, recounted the churchs history in a sermon in the summer of 2019, about a year after he succeeded Solomon as pastor, in whichhe asked: What if our best days as a church are ahead of us, not behind us?. Are the budget cuts and declining attendance a message that Platts Social Justice Theology is unpopular with churchgoers? David Platt is an academic prodigy. (UPDATED) Unusual decision draws scrutiny at one of largest Southern Baptist schools. All rights reserved. It quickly became one of the 50 largest churches in the country, with over 12,000 . Platts silent embrace of the radical Black Lives Matter movement and the promotion of Kelsey along with Social Justice Bible studies including Platts own book legitimizing Christians who vote for Pro-Abortion Democrats, conservatives are leaving the church for new homes. Putting it off is only going to make it worse. The church approved a 2021 budget slashing $2.5 million from what it budgeted in 2020. Attendance is also suffering under the Platt regime with many longtime church leaders and members leaving, according to numerous letters and e-mails received complaining about the Woke teaching at McLean Bible Church. And then even within the Southern Baptist Convention more broadly, there is a group called the Conservative Baptist Network that has charged some convention leaders with advocating critical race theory and downplaying the Bible's sufficiency. The church in question is a prominent one, McLean Bible Church, where many Washington Republicans worship. These leaders were also worried about Mike Kelseys promotion of the Black Lives Matter movement on social media. People came here this night that were recruited by this group to vote that night who had moved away to other states, Platt alleged. Meanwhile, leaders like Platt see the pushback as its own sort of coup and remain concerned about the influence of opposition fueled on social media and watchdog blogs. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Thats led to accusations that Platt and others have become woke and liberal. After a year of litigation, the outcome of a contentious election at a renowned church in the Washington, D.C. region appeared to have been settled. This is a lie. CBN-backed candidate Mike Stone received 48 percent of the vote in last months SBC presidential election, finishing second to Alabama pastor Ed Litton. If you *really* care about gospel unity, racial reconciliation, and the least of these, do better.. Steven Furtick is the lead pastor of Elevation Church, based near Charlotte, North Carolina. Many of its members come from the top ranks of government, media, and business. The best examples are the woke church movement, and the takeover of many seminaries by critical race theory. But there were some who were concerned about the direction of the church, and they made that elder election an occasion to speak out against the leadership and direction generally. And then there was some question as to who is eligible to vote as a McLean member and who is not. The church was rocked by controversy in 2019 when President Donald Trump stopped by the service for prayer. But a series of controversies and the countrys growing political polarization have turned Platts dream into a nightmare. Under Solomon, the congregation had been known as a holy destination for GOP senators and Bush aides. Tensions ramped up the past two years amid political turmoil in the DC area and nationwide. When Platt began preaching at McLean, the church was identified as an SBC church in press accounts. They organized a new election for elders in mid-June 2022, using secret ballots. And all three nominees got at least 78% on that day and were elected as elders. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Plaintiffs in the lawsuit echo Frazers concerns, saying that the ballots used by the church violated McLeans constitution. As Solomon transitioned from leadership following a 37-year pastorate, McLean made major budget changes, scaling back the percentage of income spent on personnel and incentivizing staff departures. Last weekend a sermon by Evangelical pastor Francis Chan went viral, as in the sermon Chan shared about Communion and his discovery of the scriptural and historical basis for transubstantiation - that the bread and the wine become the literal Body and Blood of Christ. It is a mega church in the DC area with 5 locations and claims an attendance of 13,000 each weekend. Critics say the Virginia church's leadership has . We're glad to hear from you. McLean Bible Church was once the biggest in Virginia. There were some who expressed the thought that David Platt and the other leaders were soft on issues like abortion and sexuality. In fact, this book was required reading for Platts course. On Friday, a Fairfax County . ROACH: I don't think that that is directly the issue, but I think that issue has implications for what has gotten him in trouble. I want you to listen closely to the words I am about to say, he said in his sermon the following Sunday. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Those dissident members argued that church leaders, including senior pastor David Platt, a best-selling author, had violated the churchs constitution. What opponents claim as being Platts liberal or woke politics, supporters see as the 42-year-old preachers commitment to Christ above all. Platt has angered other members for maintaining the churchs reputed ties with the Southern Baptist Convention. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". As if those sources of information are anywhere close to the authority of this Word.. To some observers, McLeans conflict seems like a replay of other recent episodes from American evangelicalism, where leaders who appeal to Scripture to address social issues are accused of theological liberalism or secular influence even if they continue to hold traditional Christian views. Sign up for our newsletter: God give him wisdom.. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. He also warned against letting tensions swell. We want MBC to be a place where people with all kinds of convictions on matters of conscience can thrive, the Q&A stated. And he said that there was a group that was trying to take over the church. That speaks volumes about the problems in the McLean leadership team and specifically David Platt. That comes with attendance issues and budget cuts. . In response, Platt accused his critics in a sermon of spreading disinformation and stuffing the ballot box with votes from former members and inactive church members. The authoritative record of NPRs programming is the audio record. Because of the mass exodus McLean cut spending. This is extremely important, Platt said with the sound of desperation. Why is David Platt undermining elections? The church teachings were theologically conservative under its previous leadership, the legendary Lon Solomon. When longtime leaders and perhaps thousands of members are abandoning the church, what is the lesson David Platt draws? It took repeated requests from a few conservative Elders to take down Facebook photos of staff holding BLM signs. All rights reserved. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Lon Solomon is American evangelical Christian pastor and the founder of Lon Solomon Ministries, a non-profit ministry.. From 1980-2017, I had the honor of serving as the Senior Pastor of McLean Bible Church (MBC) in McLean, VA., in the suburbs of Washington, DC. Strange events are afoot at McLean Bible Church, a multisite megachurch in Washington D.C. pastored by David Platt. Save McLean Bible Church. This is pretty shocking, even if you have been reading our warnings (here, here, and here - to start) about the apparent in-coming embrace of LGBTQ+ among Southern Baptist Elites.Eric Saunders, Pastor of McLean Bible Church of Arlington, MD, has released a video in which he claims Jesus experienced a kind of body dysphoria like that experienced by transgender claimants. (Reformation Charlotte) A sad sight to behold is the trajectory that David Platt has been on over the last several years as the Evangelical racial reconciliation movement a movement rooted in Marxist Critical Race Theory has consumed him in nearly every aspect of thought and decision. Every time this lawsuit has been filed or amended or refiled, it has resulted in a dismissal, he said. Dr. James White dissected David Platts errors in a podcast examining that T4G sermon. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. In that election, the elders were approved, which led dissident members to file a suit. She added that she is not familiar with the specific policies and procedures at McLean. Browse 60+ years of magazine archives and web exclusives. Critics say the Virginia churchs leadership has become woke and has substituted critical race theory and social justice for biblical teaching. Thousands have fled the church since it was taken over by David Platt. The dispute at McLean may now end up in court. Those inclined toward CSJ found it inspiring. Because of its proximity to Washington, D.C., many government officials, Capitol Hill staffers, and thought leaders are members. Rumors had begun to circulate around the church that Platt and other leaders planned to sell a church building to a local Muslim congregation for a mosque. But a spokesman for the SBC, while saying "McLean Bible Church, like all Southern Baptist churches, is an independent and autonomous local church," confirmed that McLean is considered an SBC church. Explanation Videos. Facebook; Twitter; visit the YouTube Channel. Apparently, amid the controversy with Calvinism that Lon and the elders initially rejected, they added that position statement on Calvinism. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. July 20, 2021. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Specifically, Platts course reveals his assumption that disparity is proof of racist systems. Solomon signed the Dallas Statement on Social Justice and the Gospel. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. Despite its elite membership, McLean has long been a conservative theological church populated by politically conservative evangelicals. And the candidate backed by the Conservative Baptist Network at the most recent SBC annual meeting got 48% percent of the vote. Platt and other leaders, they say, have abused their power by violating the churchs constitution. Life of Christ dramatization The Thorn comes to big screens March 67, New book outlines importance of every Christian knowing theology, Southcrest Baptist in Bessemer hosting Holy Destiny on March 3, Start a new subscription at the group rate. One former McLean Bible Church member pointed out that Platts preaching is mostly informed by sociological approaches to race through works that Platt read and promoted like Divided by Faith: Evangelical Religion and the Problem of Race in America. Hannaford advises pastors not to make changes too quickly and recommends cooperation from both sides, allowing believers to differ on secondary doctrinal and ethical issues. That is not acceptable for the Body of Jesus Christ. ], Subscribe to CT Elevation Church was founded by Furtick in 2006 with just fourteen members. 12,882 were here. But David Platt has emphasized that everybody, regardless of their political views or their ethnicity or anything else, should be welcome to hear the gospel and be a part of the church. The letter warned, Thabiti Anyabwile, despite promoting progressive talking points at the expense of Christian truth, dividing the body of Christ across racial lines, and promoting the political agenda of Black Liberation Theology, has been used to train the MBC staff and played a prominent role within MBC church life.. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. A drop of 39%. McLean Bible Church is one of the most influential churches in the United States. Until a chance encounter with my moms old Bible opened my eyes. If youre the church of Jesus Christ, thats really problematic.. When you dont follow the rules and it has an effect on a consequential vote, you have now created a huge distraction from your mission, Merkle said. When qualified elders do not oversee the hiring of pastoral staff, we endanger the flock to the possibility of those who bring wrong assumptions/beliefs on critical issues to our congregation and pulpit, the five leaders warned. Controversy at McLean Bible Church boils over as members file lawsuit over elder vote. The Bible speaks of individual responsibility and personal motivation and the Bible speaks to unjust systems and discrimination. The conflict at McLean Bible Church is significant not only because of the congregations size and influencewith several thousand attendees and a prominent place in the DC church landscapebut also because the incident marks the latest salvo in an ongoing clash within American evangelicalism. No current McLean elders signed the document. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. In a sobering, emotional and occasionally shocking address from the pulpit on July 4, Platt alleged a conspiratorial attempt on behalf of a "small group" of church members to sow misinformation among the congregation with the goal of taking control of the church. He also wrote an article equating support for President Trump and support for BLM as equally acceptable for a Christian.. Things began to change. Pastor David Platt preaches at McLean Bible Church, July 11, 2021, in Vienna, Virginia. This is a breach of contract action seeking to remedy Defendants illegal actions to deny Plaintiffs their rights to cast a free and fair vote, to have those votes lawfully counted, and to enjoy their right to a secret ballot, according to the complaint. At a June 30 meeting, nominees Chuck Hollingsworth, Jim Burris, and Ken Tucker had failed to receive a clear 75 percent majority, the margin required for elder election. Christians must reclaim Jesus from his church. The largely conservative northern Virginia church across the Potomac from Washington had grown from a group of five families in the 1960s to a congregation of more than 10,000 spread across several campuses, attracting politicians and business leaders to the churchs evangelical message and values. INSKEEP: I was astonished by some of the conspiracy theories that you described that surfaced during that election campaign. In the course, Platt fuses Christian teachings with the worldview assumptions of Critical Race Theory. David Platt, who has been aligning himself and his church closer and closer to the Revoice "gay Christianity" movement over the last year or so, has been making headlines as he continues to partner . And depending on how the provisional ballots were adjudicated, those elder nominees got either just below or just above the 75% threshold. Sal Cordova (church member &. Why is that? Also, there are close ties to the SBC since the NAMB . The document says that Platt says one thing about Critical Race Theory but clearly does another. At Bethlehem Baptist in Minneapolis, the successor to influential pastor John Piper resigned over the summer after ongoing internal conflicts in the church and a school Piper founded. It must be an unprecedented group of divisive liars and racists! After my seminary and doctoral work, I fully . (RNS) A yearlong legal battle over a contested election at a prominent Washington, D.C.-area church appears to be over for now. Also, Sadly, within evangelicalism, and the MBC pulpit, we see the following principle at work: the presence of preaching/teaching based on the wrong assumptions, resulting in wrong conclusions, thereby leading to the wrong solutions. [Picture was posted on Facebook, but was removed after a couple months]. David Platt, pastor of McLean Bible Church near Washington, D.C., and founder of Radical, a resource ministry that serves churches, preaches during the second session of the two-day 2019 Pastors' Conference held June 9-10 at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". This letter urged Platt and the current elders to reject the Woke path. Online posts on blogs, Facebook, and email charged Platt with pushing critical race theory, revising biblical teaching on sexuality, and aligning with the SBC despite McLeans constitutional prohibition of affiliating with any denomination. They gave out some provisional ballots. Accuracy and availability may vary. Brothers and sisters, I think we see all over Scripture that the Bible speaks of both sides of this picture, Platt said. Kelsey is now Pastor of Culture at McLean. Video screengrab via MBC. Lon Solomon was born and raised in a Jewish home in Portsmouth, Virginia.. Solomon earned a B.S. That follows the 2020 budget being about $1.5 million below the 2019 budget, according to a member of McLean Bible Church.