This was supposed to be a landmark year for Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, as the historic congregation, best known for John Pipers 33-year tenure as pastor, marked its 150th anniversary. "It's been more painful to me personally than corporately. Rigney recognizes spiritual abuse as something that does happen in Christian contexts, but he also challenged what he saw as the possibility for criticism or correction from a position of authority to get inflated as abuse. We are committed to delivering quality independent Christian journalism you can trust. In other words, you lose contact with truth.. The Bethlehem pastors reveal their own corruption by their alliance with Wilson, and church members are right to flee. Keep in touch with Julie and get updates in your inbox! With Rigney slated to lead the college and seminary, some worried that his theological views and his affiliations would become conflated with Bethlehemsspecifically his concerns on empathy discussed in the hour-long Wilson interview (which is now on YouTube). In arguing for the motion, Takata expressed that it was disheartening to her that an elder who calls himself a pastor had given the Man Rampant episode a 5-star rating. The Roys Report has also learned that Pastor for Care and Counseling Bryan Pickering, who also recently resigned, called for the resignation of a fellow elder, Andy Naselli, whos a professor at Bethlehem College and Seminary. James Lutzweiler By now, you If youve seen much of Doug Wilson or his church/school/publishing empire in Moscow, ID, and you have some understanding of narcissism, youll immediately recognize the warning flags. Why anyone would align themselves with Doug Wilsonwhose latest in a string of anti-Christian behaviors is authoring an erotic novel about a sex robotis beyond me. . Several current leaders at Bethlehem as well as BCSs new president, Joe Rigney, pointed to a similar taxonomy laid out by The Gospel Coalitions Kevin DeYoung. Im sure that systems like this may be corrupted (or at least those whose ideas arent accepted may think the system is corrupted), but at least it allows the collective will of the people to be expressed and it allows individuals to speak openly. In February 2021, the church released a statement on ethnic harmony that affirms Christians neighborly love across ethnic lines but denies that ethnic diversity should be an end in itself and rejects all systems of thought that view relationships primarily through the lens of powerthat is, those with more power are inherently oppressors, and those with less power are inherently oppressed.. But it wasnt just the situation around Naselli. There are things that professors would admit in classroom settings when I began that they wouldnt be willing to admit now.. He kept saying dont get sucked in which is quite a different thing than having empathy. Im not convinced that I sinned against you. The situation at Bethlehem highlights not only certain issues being debated but also the conflicting philosophies shaping Christians responses: Are we accommodating feelings so much that we are crying sin where there is no sin? WebIn 2012, Jason Meyer became the senior pastor. Interview with Jason Mayer | North County Campus Pastor by Dave Franco | August 15, 2014 How did you become a Christian? The Takatas, like the group of Nasellis former students, felt like they too had gone through a convoluted process of praying, reporting, documenting, scheduling, meeting, and working for resolution only to have the process end without feeling like their concerns were fully understood and that nothing would change as a result. Help is Here a new sermon series; Upcoming Events. Last year, as BCS academic dean Brian Tabb reviewed the students grievances against Naselli, the school also underwent a separate investigation in response to a group of current and former employees who raised broad concerns about leadership and workplace culture, including the position of women and minorities at the school. Some of the resignations were due to normal factors, like families moving out of the area. Jesus Word speaks as loud today as it did then. Theyre trying to toughen you up. God is everywhereeven in the news. He wrote in an email to her that he believed the elders would be taking up the issue in the days ahead.. Here is a checklist to determine if someone should leave a church: 1. Share Podcast Audio Download. No one has leaned in to care for my soul more than him," he wrote. In the years after Piper stepped down in 2013, Bethlehem had its own reckoning on domestic abuse in complementarian marriages. He also opposed the selection of Rigney as president for how it complicates BCSs relationship with the church and for his Wilson affiliations. Stokes said that even without charges of heresy or a false gospel, just differences in approach, the discussion can feel very personal. and Ph. WebView Jason Meyers profile on LinkedIn, the worlds largest professional community. Meyer said, If you as a church dont like what I said today, you will have to get another pastor, because I believe this to the back of my teeth.. Browse 60+ years of magazine archives and web exclusives. Great! a unity culture that breeds fear and seeks to protect the institution Jason Meyer We see this is the third article this month youve found worth reading. And though Naselli would later apologize for what he said, the Takatas said Naselli made disparaging statements about them in the months following to elders, BBC members, and staff at BCS. He writes for The Gospel Coalition and has served as D. A. Carsons longtime research assistant. Jason Meyer has resigned from his position as the lead pastor of the Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota, amid allegations of toxic and abusive behavior among the church's leadership. Pray for me, and I'll be praying for you. We dont want that kind of escalation, inflation, and fragility in play. WebNOW!!! Piper quite dysfunctionaly spoke in regard to Wilsons repentance over his hurtful and honestly unsupportable writing, I believe in regards to Southern Slavery As It Was. . | Screenshot/YouTube/Fellowship Church Church of the Highlands and ARC officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the lawsuit when contacted by The Christian Post on Tuesday. In our next article on events at Bethlehem Baptist Church, well explore the allegations against Naselli, as well as the response by BCS administration and BBC elders. Piper has hosted and defended pastor and author Doug Wilson over the years, even as hes become an increasingly contentious figure in evangelicalism for his teachings on slavery, women, and other issues. Yesterday I saw a Video from John Piper asking for prayer during his upcoming 7 week writing sabbatical. WebJason Meyer | 2 Corinthians 11:16-21. The church formed an ethnic harmony task force in 2019 to review issues such as representation and diversity within the church and leadership. Wilson can easily be intellectually challenged, but he uses verbal and physical intimidation as a shield to avoid it. I feel like we have encountered wave after wave after wave, and that in a good-faith effort to keep the peace and maintain some form of unity, we have not spoken with sufficient clarity about what is true and what is false and instead have attempted to appease left-leaning folks who are virtually unappeasable , By the time the Takatas eventually met with Naselli and church leaders, they saw that there are more dividing lines being formed here than we expected, Janette told CT. They said he falsely accused us of insubordination to a pastor and acting in a manner that is intentionally divisive., But Naselli, according to the Takatas transcripts, spoke up about the difference between intent and impact and ultimately did not see his response as sinful. D. degrees. He challenged his flock to consider their own experience in light of Meyers claims of drift toward neo-fundamentalism and unity culture.. . Four students recalled intense debates in their 2019 undergrad course in Christian ethics and apologetics. Particularly since Donald Trumps presidency, theres been a deepening of divisions among American evangelicals, exposing disagreements not in theology per se but in how they as Christians see their greatest priorities and fears in society. Piper cant step in, from what I understand. WebWe are excited to share that t he youth of UPC are heading to Duluth for their summer mis s ion trip June 11 th-16th. Co-author of the entry on fundamentalism in the Encyclopedia of North Carolina (Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press, 2006), Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees (preachers and teachers,) you hypocrites! Follow Receive an email notification when changes occur for Jason Meyer. *This article has been updated for accuracy. Among his concerns, the former assistant professor of theology and philosophy wrote that leaders used Scripture or Christian vocabulary to dismiss employee and student complaints, and that he felt pressured to tiptoe around addressing racial progress. https://julieroys.com/bethlehem-baptist-church-culture-fear-abuse 'I Prayed in the Name of Jesus, and He Answered': Heroes Rescue 17,000 While 'Saving Aziz' in Afghanistan, 'It's a Crisis': Historic Staffing Shortages Lead Police Departments Nationwide to Get Creative, 'An Existential Struggle': Congress Points to Escalating Global Threats from China, Advisor to Israel's President Finds Rare 2,500-Year-Old Inscription with Name of Persian King Darius, After Asbury Shutters Revival Services, Outpouring Moved to Lexington Arena: See Full Video Here. Now I wonder why he was so harsh.. I have never been a member in a church which allows a member to put forward a motion to the entire congregation designed to rebuke an elder. He has previously served congregations in Lake Benton and Blaine, both in Minnesota. The threat effectively shut down discussion. Meyer told his congregation to expect that race would continue to be addressed from the pulpit. One point of tension was a months-long process evaluating grievances made against a Bethlehem elder and a BCS professor, Andy Naselli, who was accused of failing to be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger, and thereby unfit for his positions, after his remarks at a church meeting. I dont see how there can be any interpretation other than empathy for the Romans 12:15 instruction to Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Jason Delgado served as lead pastor of Vibrant Church in Columbus, Mississippi, until he resigned in April 2021. It transitioned to a formal degree program that eventually became accredited in 2015. By After Christ Christian Center. Thank the Good Lord that Jesus Chris didnt consider empathy a sin. No one should be surprised by these revelations of spiritual abuse -especially against women- in the Bethlehem ecosystem. Something that gives me hope that BBC will be able to navigate this very difficult time is that they seem to have a church government in place designed to serve the congregation. Any theology that creates abusive jerks is all doctrines taught by demons. This is authoritarian house that says women shouldnt teach in seminary. Rather, I believe our leadership culture has taken a turn in an unhealthy direction as we try to navigate conflict and division.. He doesnt need us, but by his grace and through his Son, we belong to him. When someone at the meeting asked Naselli to explain himself, he responded that what was happening in the roomhow some were taking sides without any judgmentwas exactly what Rigney and Wilson were protesting in their podcast. And if the elders were to move for that motion, I would resign out of principle.. We also have troubles that have played out at Bethlehem over the past year. Would you consider making a tax-deductible donation to help our journalists continue to report the truth and restore the church? Thats why we view every news story through the lens of faith. That was a very heated conversation. The congregation which has a membership of around 4,600 operates three campuses in the city. According to the website, Meyer's resignation was announced last week in an email to the congregation by Elder Council Chairman Dr. Kurt Elting-Ballard and Bethlehem Pastor for Strategic Implementation Ken Currie. Opinion: What is Revivaland is it Happening at Asbury? It remains based at Bethlehems downtown campus, and though BCS has its own board of trustees, theres significant overlap in leadership. The Roys Report noted Meyer, the successor to founder John Piper, is the fourth pastor to resign from the megachurch in the past four months. God commands us to be compassionate. May they work it out together in a godly manner. The departures most directly affect the downtown campus, where Stokes, Bethlehems pastor of church planting, has assumed some of Meyers duties in the short term. Meyers exit last month followed two others at Bethlehems downtown campus. Jason refers to an article in his letter, which describes neo-fundamentalism as one of six groups into which evangelicals are fracturing. Heres a short definition offered there, but youd have to read the entire article for the more complete definition: Neo-Fundamentalist Evangelical Neo-fundamentalists are those who have deep concerns about both political and theological liberalism. 2023 The Christian Broadcasting Network, Inc., A nonprofit 501 (c)(3) Charitable Organization. On July 26, 2020, the congregation I feel terribly that I hurt you, and I own that and I regret it, and Im so sorry, he said. He said he felt a conviction that he couldnt in good conscience stay at BCS and by the end of 2020 his family left Bethlehem too. And according to audio obtained by The Roys Report, Naselli responded to the motion by stating publicly: I am the pastor that Mrs. Takata just quoted. Naselli, associate professor of theology and New Testament at BCS, spoke up to identify himself as the five-star reviewer and said that if the motion passed, hed quit. But what I noticed, underlying the meaningful time I worshiped at Bethlehem, was rigidity and control among leadership. The Takatas were jarred by the response. So far this year, about 200 peoplenearly 10% of the megachurchs total membershiphave resigned as members from Bethlehems Downtown campus, according to statistics provided to The Roys Report by former BBC members. The school also hired its only female faculty professor, Betsy Howard, this year. I fully believed that living for myself and chasing my desires of money, women, and partying would lead me to joy and happiness. Jason informed Bethlehem's Council of Elders of his resignation effective August 1, 2021," the statement read. ", "We also have troubles that have played out at Bethlehem over the past year. Instead, he said it confirmed the pattern he already suspected after speaking with nearly all 12 former BCS students who in 2020 submitted allegations against Naselli to BCS administration. Overall, her professors and pastors modeled a way to engage the world not from fear and suspicion, but with openness and critical thinking., Theres much I love about Bethlehem. Hi. examples (from Wilsons church). (An investigation by Wilsons denomination found several serious errors in Wilsons handling of sex abuse cases in his church, including shifting blame for sexual abuse from the perpetrator to the father of the victim. This response, of course, is labeled as immature, manipulative, and reactive.. Give a gift of $30 or more to The Roys Report this month, and you will receive Escaping the Maze of Spiritual Abuse by Dr. Lisa Oakley and Justin Humphreys. Mekala, her husband, and another BBC elder met with Tomlinson in December 2019, Mekala said. Ahead of the commemorations, though, the community finds itself in the midst of what current leaders have called a confusing and challenging time and a hard and difficult season in the life of our church. Three pastors and a staff member resigned from the downtown campus of Bethlehem Baptist Church in recent months, alongside dozens of lay members. Soon after he launched his academic ]. "It's confusing and painful corporately because Jason took the mantle from Pastor John Piper and helped lead us to this point of campus-specific preaching. Wilson tells you very plainly what his show is about: his own male self aggrandizement. One need only look at the life of John Calvin, father of Reformed theology (deformed is more like it) and how his followers minimize his past (as Piper himself does; this is referenced in Dave Hunts book What Love is This? Rigney has a degree from New Saint Andrews College, founded by Wilsons Christ Church in Moscow, Idaho, and has maintained ties with him. Ive heard from various people who have said things like when they heard Jason preach or Ming-Jinn preach or me pray publicly, or things that I would post on social media, they would feel like they were very cared for, seen, or felt alignment with us, said Pickering, who led the church in prayer the Sundays following the Capitol insurrection, the presidential inauguration, the Atlanta spa shootings, and the killing of Daunte Wright. Image: Screengrab / Bethlehem Baptist Church. Is there a way to do any rebuke or admonishment when someone is hurting?, he asked. But if you see what I see, and if you experience this community (leadership, faculty, and students) as loving, and supportive and fair, and if you share my excitement about the future with Joe Rigneys leadership and under Gods merciful providence, then I believe we will together walk in truth and love, and have a great impact for the glory of Christ.. I enjoyed your article. Not Jesus. This led the Takatas and other BBC members to file grievances against Naselli with BBCs Elder Council. After Christ Christian Center. . cultural, damaging behavior that's being done, and has been done, for a long time.". When the legitimate needs of the individual members of the family are expendable for the sake of the image of the family, this is a narcissistic family system. Pastor Jason Meyer, Bethlehem Baptist Church Almost 1-1/2 years ago, I wrote an article about John Pipers former church, Bethlehem Baptist Church (BBC) But when urged to make a public statement that BBC did not endorse Rigneys view, one elder instead directed Mekala to meet with Tim Tomlinson, who was then president of BCS. Prior to ordination, Pastor Jason attended the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago and the University of Chicago. He may have a point about detached wisdom in making hard decisions. At the same time, worries around secular thinking overriding biblical approaches to race have spiked, particularly over critical race theory. Zuleger noted Meyer's resignation was painful to him personally due to their years-long friendship. But empathy that is true does not result in that. Man Rampant? Their dispute stirred underlying issues and philosophical differences, including over the subject of Rigneys remarks themselves. "There's unethical behavior. [ This article is also available in From there he went on to study at Southern Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky where he earned M. Div. I wish the congregation the best in getting this all sorted out. A unity or one voice culture puts a lot of focus on institutional protection. Meyer adds that while unity is a great goal, the problem comes when unity moves from a desired goal to a demanded outcome.. However, this past spring, several church members also brought allegations of sin and misconduct against Naselli. Pickering, however, said he was not surprised by Nasellis response at the meeting. 4. He had the power to just wreck me. Instead, he said it confirmed the pattern he already suspected after speaking with nearly all 12 former BCS students who in 2020 submitted allegations against Naselli to BCS administration.. In his resignation letter, Meyer added, Ming-Jinn, Bryan, and I were called shame terms like coddlers, and Ming-Jinn was called Absalom.. WebSince that time, his life has never been the same and the reach of his ministry has only grown. Halls was one of two official grievances filed against Naselli last year. Such sensitivities, he fears, can threaten Christians relationship with the truth. The other, and far more contentious, motion concerned an October 1, 2019, episode of Man Rampant, a podcast on Christianity, leadership, and masculinity hosted by Doug Wilson. Youre going to have people on opposite sides saying theyre making mountains out of molehills and then other people saying youre making molehills out of mountains. Outside the church, they are concerned by the cultures increasing hostility to Christianity, most prominently from mass media, social media, and the government., https://mereorthodoxy.com/six-way-fracturing-evangelicalism/, Ive been so concerned that a man who is widely known for thinking empathy is a sin is now the head of a seminary. 720 13th Avenue South, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55415 Hes the one that featured Wilson repeatedly on the Desiring God website, and (to my knowledge) hes never once called Wilson out for his revolting rhetoric and his various public misdeeds. The key thing in a lot of waysmaybe Im feeling this one more directly nowis the way that our emotional responses to reality need to be in accordance with reality.. It is on YouTube, Race and Culture (??? However, Takata said nothing ever came of her efforts. . All three had conflicted at times with Bethlehems 40-plus-member elder council, and they eventually saw their own ministries and the focus of the church going in different directions. According to Pickering, Naselli had been the focus of an internal investigation at BCS due to allegations of bullying and spiritual abuse brought by about 12 former and current BCS students. Approximately 75% of attending members voted AGAINST it. I found it very helpful. Feel the freedom to lament," he wrote. Naselli did not resign. The motion passed on a voice vote and Takata told The Roys Report that three of the task forces five reports were eventually released to church members with redactions. Bethlehem College and Seminary grew out of the church-run training center that dates back decades. And in such a case, the school will rightly wither and die. But in contexts where believers already agree on the capital-T Truth, theres even more weight and fallout when they fail to see eye to eye on the lowercase-t truth of a situation. Id like to see his surgically precise definition of neo-fundamentalism or even fundamentalism for that matter. The episode was titled The Sin of Empathy, and featured guest Joe Rigney, who at the time of the January meeting had been appointed president of Bethlehem College and Seminary (BCS) but had not yet assumed office. (Image credit: Bethlehem Baptist Church/Facebook), Error: There was an internal error submitting your form. January 31, 2021 Pastor : Jason Wallingsford, Pastor Paul Meyer. laid out by The Gospel Coalitions Kevin DeYoung, With Gossip of the Gospel, the Church Grows in Nepal, Southern Baptist Convention Disfellowships Saddleback Church, I Was the Proverbial, Drug-Fueled Rock and Roller, Grace Community Church Rejected Elders Calls to Do Justice in Abuse Case, The Kings College Faces Threat of Closure, Complete access to articles on ChristianityToday.com, Over 120 years of magazine archives plus full access to all of CTs online archives. ***, The pastor also reminded the South Campus members his letter was "just to state the reality of things and to give you space to lament.". Ming-Jinn Tong, pastor for neighborhood outreach, announced his resignation in May; and Bryan Pickering, pastor for care and counseling, in June. He later apologized for not being quick to listen in the moment and in later discussions of the incident, though in April the elders considered the grievances against him unfounded. It would have been easier, he said, to move from understanding abuse within institutions and systems, as can be the case with spiritual abuse and racism, to the ways abuse manifests in marriage relationships. Nothing in seminary wife class prepares you for this.. Though Rigney serves as a pastor at a Bethlehem church plant in St. Paul, Cities Church, he is the first head of BCS who doesnt belong to Bethlehem Baptist Church itself. Part of what I want to say is theres actually an answer to that question.. Sarah Brima and her husband were former members of Bethlehem and Rigneys Cities Church but left in part over his affiliation with Wilson. His writings are dreck, laughable to those who havent already decided to worship at his temple. Feb. 06-Feb. 06. But it takes a lot of hard work, time, and money to do what we do. I observed leadership patterns that sought to help hurting people but left those same people even more frustrated and disappointed.. Tong preaches to the downtown campus in March. Former Elder, and BBC professor of Biblical Counseling Pickering, however, said he was not surprised by Nasellis response at the meeting. It is indeed worth noting the problematic environment of the school where Naselli chose to incubate himself. You can thank John Piper for that mess. Bethlehem uses the phrase ethnic harmony, believing ethnicity is a better match for the the cultural categories described in the Bible than race, which is primarily biological or physical. Seriously? (BBC has about 40 elders, but the congregation is considered the final authority and meets quarterly to vote on church matters.). As it should, he wrote. He feels overjoyed in his calling to love and lead the flock at Urban Refuge in the strength that God supplies. It may be worth noting that Naselli graduated from Bob Jones University. And when the truth and the truth-tellers are minimized, marginalized, and demonized, this is a narcissistic family systems. She described how hard it was to leave a church theyd helped plant, even as disagreements about race and gender emerged. They resigned not long after. We learned Augustine in doctrine class, Carvette said. One motion concerned the Racial Harmony Task Force, a group formed in early 2019 to address the lack of minority representation on BBCs Elder Council. A Taiwanese American, Tong also wore traditional Chinese attire as he preached on the Sunday following the Atlanta massage parlor shootings. Rev Greg Doss. For twelve BBC students to submit allegations against N is not insignificant. ), Boyum said it was because of her training at Bethlehem that she felt like she should raise concerns. Are there good reasons for why Pastors are leaving the church? Bowers had been a professor who looked forward to the first day of school every year and loved interacting with studentsand it showed. -It is honestly appalling that he has not called Wilsons use of savagely misogynist rhetoric, specifically in Wilsons blog. Also available on most smart TVs and streaming services. From our humble beginnings in 1975, Faith Assembly of God began as a church serving 95 people from a small steel building. "With regret, a deep sense of loss, and praise to God for his mercy and grace even in trial, we announce the resignation of Pastor Jason Meyer from the position of Pastor for Preaching & Vision, Downtown Campus. Pastor, you have introduced the last three sermons that way. What was described in this article is one of the clearest examples of a local church functioning as a narcissistic family system. Thank you for this comment, Pastor Lamb. When Pastors leave a church due to a fear culture there is a massive problem with that church. On April 20, the elders met again for what Pickering and Meyer likened to a tribunal. Pickering said that in that meeting, the elders accused Meyer and Tong of subordinating the gospel and embracing Marxism and Critical Race Theorya controversial approach to understanding systemic racism. Take Back Your Life. Using language like unity culture waters down and redefines what is really going on. This was baffling to me. Meanwhile, church elders and BCS administration concluded that the processes largely worked as they should, but that they came to a different conclusion than the accusers. We cant even think about whats next, said Debby Pickering, whose family left when her husband, Bryan, resigned his position as pastor. Now, obviously Im a pastor at a separate church, but that church has the same doctrinal commitment as Bethlehem does., Rigney and Wilson discuss the sin of empathy.. July 19, 2021 Source: Facebook In whats being called a major shake-up, four pastors have resigned from Bethlehem Baptist Church (BBC) in Minneapolis in the past Looking back, Pickering, as a counselor, wishes the church had established an understanding of systemic abuse prior to its focus on domestic abuse back in 2015. Web1-31-2021 Worship Service Pastor Meyers retirement. But he loses people when he says empathy is a sin. Calvins Misrepresentation of God) to see the outcome as we see here. In 1980, after only 5 years of ministry, the congregation took a huge step of faith and built a facility to hold 450 people. Ann Mekala and her husband, who was on the ethnic harmony task force, left the church a couple years ago. Thats part of our entire educational approach. (He declined to comment on Naselli or any specific faculty members. The implications were clear: He would not be sugarcoating in this class. When Christina Boyum, a graduate of the college, discussed what happened in Nasellis class with a fellow church member at Bethlehem, she was told, A student feeling hurt does not mean that the student has been sinned against. While a former leader hopes for change, women who sought refuge in biblical counseling at John MacArthurs church say they feared discipline for seeking safety from their abusive marriages. And if Im saying its no longer a place to be able to say those things publicly and remain safe, theyre thinking, Thats not a place for us then either.. He says the accusations against him were (1) that I have subordinated the gospel, (2) that I empowered victims (coddler), and (3) that I allowed compassion for others to steer and dictate my leadership direction.. Steve and Janette Takata told The Roys Report they were shocked by Nasellis ultimatum. Worries around secular thinking overriding biblical approaches to race have spiked, particularly over critical theory. 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Degree program that eventually became accredited in 2015 was one of six groups which... Sin and misconduct against Naselli with BBCs Elder Council in, from what I noticed underlying. Time I worshiped at Bethlehem, was rigidity and control among leadership Error submitting your form biblical... Met again for what Pickering and Meyer likened to a tribunal their years-long friendship assistant. | August 15, 2014 how did you become a Christian the pulpit notification when changes occur for Meyer... Demanded outcome to navigate conflict and division through his Son, we belong to him Video from John Piper for. To review issues such as representation and diversity within the church a couple years ago which has a of! Studentsand it showed University of Chicago the ethnic harmony task force, left the and... Wilson affiliations against N is not insignificant -especially against women- in the.! Statement read not surprised by these revelations of spiritual abuse -especially against women- in the Bethlehem reveal. Jason Meyers profile on LinkedIn, the school where Naselli chose to incubate himself credit: Bethlehem church! Are fracturing having empathy a tribunal care for my soul more than him ''., this past spring, several church members also brought allegations of sin and misconduct against Naselli last.. Likened to a fear culture there is a checklist to determine if someone should a... Is there a way to do what we do zuleger noted Meyer resignation. Counseling Pickering, however, said he was not surprised by Nasellis at! Campuses in the Bethlehem pastors reveal their own experience in light of Meyers claims drift! Having empathy said it was because of her training at Bethlehem that she felt she... Time. `` for twelve BBC students to submit allegations against N is not insignificant small! We view every news story through the lens of faith told his congregation to expect that race continue! As representation and diversity within the church formed an ethnic harmony task in. Has not called Wilsons use of savagely misogynist rhetoric, specifically in Wilsons blog should be surprised by response. His surgically precise definition of neo-fundamentalism or even fundamentalism for that matter became... Stokes said that even without charges of heresy or a false gospel, just in., for a long time. `` felt like she should raise concerns direction as we try to navigate and!