CCSPC 14 Summary
The last day of the conference ended as it should…with something old and something new.
That was Greg Laurie’s theme for the conference, but one that hung in the balance before the event began.
A few weeks ago in Philadelphia, Joe Focht and Don McClure tested their vision for the movement out on the pastors at the the Calvary Chapel East Coast Pastors Conference.
It was a vision of a return to old line, hard line, CC distinctives and a rejection of the “progressive” ways of the West Coast, particularly Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa.
It was well received by most in attendance.
To be honest, this observer believed that they would be successful in taking the movement “back”…I expected a behind the scenes bloodletting with an “old” CC emerging from the war with McClure and Focht leading the way back to the 1970’s.
This would have led to some quiet and not so quiet departures from the movement as a whole.
That’s not what happened.
Brian Brodersen, Laurie, and the CCCM staff put on a tour de force of Ā “new” ideas and a new openness combined with the familiar marks and faces of CC that simultaneously reassured traditionalists and excited those ready to move forward.
They did so…while letting the whole world watch.
If you knew what I know, you’d venture the possibility that The Holy Spirit moved in an unexpected and dramatic fashion in Santa Ana this week.
Alistair Begg presented the “new” at the conference closing…that being a willingness to fellowship and learn from those who are from other tribes.
Ricky Ryan then officiated over communion, an old guard guy who had been caught in the middle of the crossfire for a few months.
The issues we’ve discussed with Calvary Chapel in the past for so many years have not been resolved.
What happened this week is that those who have given an ear to reformers and critics in the past are in a much better position to effect change than at any time in the history of the movement.
That gives me hope.
I saw the Spirit move…that means our hope is sure.
We’ll talk more aboutĀ all this next week…
The issues weāve discussed with Calvary Chapel in the past for so many years have not been resolved.
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Resolved is a strong word and I don’t disagree with you….
However, as one who has been on this blog for several years, and one who was at almost all of the conference, I can tell your readership that a whole lot of the complaints and criticisms that pop up here were spoken to at the conference. There would be a lot of “amens” stated by the readers to some of the examples, comments, or instruction offered throughout the week.
I spoke to several who thought it was an excellent conference…and I for one have an idea or two how it could be better next year
It was definitely unique in its freshness and openness, no question. Having Alistair Begg close out the conference was a stroke of genius, and his message was clear, deep, and relevant.
I have to say that, amidst all of the fresh, honest messages, Joe Focht appeared to be a dinosaur, mired in the sludge of the past. Just an observation.
I too have hope for the future of CC. I wasn’t too sure a couple of years ago, even a year ago.
I absolutely love listening to Alistair Begg on Truth for Life. His radio program is one of my favorites.
I was taken aback that virtually the last comment in the conference by Alistair Begg was along the lines of “there, I got through the entire thing and didn’t say the name of the brother we are praying for”…. (forgive me if that isn’t exactly it, but it is basically what he said). Especially since nothing was said about it by any CC pastor. Well done sir. Thank you for addressing the elephant in the room.
This was my favorite conference in 8 years of going to them. I most closely reflected what I have experienced in the last 14 years of being a Calvary Chapel Pastor. The stiffness and fear in the conferences the last few years were not present in my ministry or the pastors I personally know. It was the love of Gods Word and ALL His people that drew me from the SBC to Calvary in 2000. I realize that there are behind the scenes battles and disagreements, but they are so rare for the average Calvary.
Of course, this year had the added benefit of meeting Steve Wright – next year I hope it leads to a meal.
Family business… not my family but if they came closer instead of farther apart then I applaud. Let’s find reasons to love one another. But lets keep our swords sharp and engaged. Let’s fight without dying.
I thought Begg’s comment at the end was very appropriate. He is not a CC pastor, thus it is not his “job” to address Coy by name, but, on the heels of a brilliant message to pastors about retaining one’s integrity and reputation, his reference to Bob Coy was done tastefully. I doubt that there was a man in that room who didn’t know of whom he was speaking. In fact, throughout the message, one could not help but think of Bob Coy.
Hermanos
I personally was truly blessed at the conference. The teaching was exactly what we needed and most importantly the new relationships we made are priceless. We were received with open arms and extended great love by those at the conference. Was also blessed by the number of brethren who traveled great distances from Latin America and elsewhere to attend the conference. It was also a very healthy thing to see and connect with a good mix of both aging Pauls and younger Timothy’s at the conference. This was my first time at the conference and I truly look forward to attending again next year. The conference was a huge answer to prayer.
In Him,
Francisco
The spirit might have been moving on the new CC — but the Holy Spirit moved upon Don and Joe.
Meeting and chatting with Shaun and Francisco were two of my highlights.
I had a chance to also meet several young pastors (and of course saw far more walking the grounds)…and I also personally met young guys ministering in China, Wales, Germany, and Italy – all of whom but one were American natives that left here to plant a CC overseas. I’m talking mid 20s to 30 max. Which is sobering to me given my 21 years in CC.
Indeed, “old and new” š
Jackie,
Don and Joe still have a place in the movement…just not the one they wanted.
It’s a bigger tent now…and people can either get used to it…or not.
I thought Ken Sutton and Josh Turansky stole the show from the CC pastors up on the stage.
Perhaps CalvaryChapel.com should run the operation. I like yesterday at the end when Ricky Ryan got up to speak, they cut away and Ken and Josh took over.
The real conversations, the real questions and the most information flew out of the CalvaryChapel.com tent. They were not a bit cautious of what they brought up to discuss.
A funny story, I was watching Josh on the first day and his back was to the tent window and I saw a familiar guy walking in the parking lot. I ran it back a couple of times and it was Steve Wright. I sent him a text just to let him know I was spying on him.
I watched some of the messages on the big screen in the hospitality room/ fellowship hall so I could move around a little. However, I was very interested in what both Don and Joe had to say and made sure I was in the sanctuary for theirs.
I enjoyed what they both said, especially Don. However, I find it a bit ironic that the two most experienced preachers there both made errors – Don in preparing way more than he had time to deliver, and Joe in far too many long readings of quotes from others.
MLD…I was honored that you recognized me and only could describe Justin Alfred who was with me as the “older guy with gray hair” next to me š
Likewise was blessed to connect in person with both Steve and Shaun. Perhaps next year we can break bread over dinner if the Lord does not come sooner.
Be blessed.
As one who was in on the very beginning of CCCM and remained until invited “to go and maybe start your own church” in the late 90’s, because I had a few unsanctioned complaints of my own ; I believe Calvary Chapel lost it a long time ago.
My pin point would be around 1972 when after Tom Stipe had declared that “even though Lonnie Frisbee has left, the Holy Spirit is still here and moving.”
Pastor Chuck Smith got up immediately after Tom finished speaking and declared, “No…Calvary Chapel will never be known as a Pentecostal church.”
And sure enough the things that used to happen stopped happening, ( Those who were there when Lonnie Frisbee had his Wednesday night meetings will understand ) .
Pastor Chuck Smith then proceeded to carefully groom and mold the facade of CCCM into a seemingly perfect example of the ultimate “non denominational” example of the Church as he perceived it to be.
We all know that there were the Alex G’s and others who were cloaked behind that perfect curtain of Oz like unreality.
Pastor Chuck Smith saw the full extent of his Calvary Chapel family with his own eyes…
Anything beyond his graduation will not be “Calvary Chapel” Per se.
Indeed we see that something new and unlike the Calvary Chapel that was under Pastor Chuck Smith’s watch is gradually emerging.
I am very proud of Greg Laurie ( having known him since our high school days ) and believe that he holds a lot of cred. The revelation of the ‘new CC has been given to him by the Holy Spirit I believe.
Greg is the one that I will be watching closely in days to come. I don’t think that the world has seen what the Holy Spirit is capable of doing through this man of God.
There is a second wind coming to Greg in his latter years that will come totally unexpected. God is speaking rejuvenation to him in ways that Greg has not experienced since the days of his youth.
The preconceptions and the man-made confinements of the constructs of past leadership are shattered.
There is now only the Holy Spirit to follow in place of the well intentioned restraints formerly positioned by the past that have hindered what is about to take place at CC.
These are indeed very interesting times! I have waited O so long for this…
My parting thoughts on this topic in a radio interview I did today — I also speak to the Chuck Jr situation.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/prophetic-news/2014/07/12/jackie-alnor#.U78VXVzRfK0.facebook
davidsurfer51,
Greg did well…and Brian is having Sunday night afterglow type services.
Pray for both of them…
Jackie,
I heard that this morning…too tired to comment on it tonight.
Jackie,
Chuck is dead and Jr. has been out of the movement for years.
This doesn’t need to be recounted continually.
David’s post reminds me a little of what Chuck taught about the work of the Spirit in the teaching of the word into the hearts of the people. If I am reading you correctly, David, you seem to equate the movement of the Spirit with visible, supernatural indications and are discounting the power of the Spirit at work to change people through the word. Which has continued and does continue to take place throughout CCs throughout the world
Apparently Steve you never heard Brian speak about how CCCM gave lip service to the gifts of the Holy Spirit but when it came to the exercise of such CCCM were more like the cessationist in actual practice.
i would provide the youtube link but don’t have it at the moment.
There is an excellent book written by Paul Cain And R.T. Kendall called “The Word And The Spirit” that addresses this topic well.
Romaine said to me, in 1973 just prior to the occupation of the new santuary, “Too much of the Word and you dry up, too much of the Spirit and you blow up, a balance of both and you grow up.”
Steve , you seem to equate the movement of the Spirit with only the Word and are discounting the power of the Spirit to change people with visible, supernatural indications…
http://shekinahfellowship.blogspot.com/2014/07/from-prophetic-school-scriptural.html
Steve,
Here is the Brian Broderson video I mentioned above, note what is said at 16:30.
As a CC pastor I am surprised you may have not seen this:
david,
That was Romaine’s opinion. Why would you be so surprised that a CC pastor hasn’t seen this clip above? We are independent churches.
davidsurfer51,
“Steve , you seem to equate the movement of the Spirit with only the Word and are discounting the power of the Spirit to change people with visible, supernatural indicationsā¦:
That would be the Christian position – but before you disagree with me, would you please point to where you think the word is deficient or incapable of – ” to change people with visible, supernatural indicationsā¦?”
I find that to be the word’s primary function.
Steve , you seem to equate the movement of the Spirit with only the Word and are discounting the power of the Spirit to change people with visible, supernatural indicationsā¦
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Hardly, and as most here know I wrote my Masters Thesis on the proper understanding and exercise of the spiritual gifts the cessationists have ignored and/or criticized (like MacArthur)
Greg is the one that I will be watching closely in days to come. I donāt think that the world has seen what the Holy Spirit is capable of doing through this man of God.
There is a second wind coming to Greg in his latter years that will come totally unexpected. God is speaking rejuvenation to him in ways that Greg has not experienced since the days of his youth.
The preconceptions and the man-made confinements of the constructs of past leadership are shattered.
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David, maybe a better attempt would be to ask you for a specific explanation of what you are talking about here. I for one think the Spirit has done and continues to do incredible things through Greg and his ministry. I have no doubt He will continue to work through Greg, but in the same manner as always….
Are you suggesting that Greg will start having people line up for healings, encourage people to pray in tongues, shout out prophesies or something similar. Slaying them in the spirit and so forth? And that if he did then this would be the “second wind”? Even more direct, is it your belief that Chuck’s life on earth was the only thing holding back Greg from already doing such things (your 3rd paragraph above)
What are you getting at, since obviously it must be something beyond a continuation to preach Christ crucified in the power of the Spirit to the lost of all ages and generations.
The answers to these questions may explain my initial post from last night,
Well, I doubt many care, but I found this to be the most discouraging PC in the past several years. The idolization of youth from balding old guys was utter hypocrisy, and the exultation of LL as the prototypical ideal signals (IMO) the beginning of the end. CC for a while now has seemed like an over-the-hill high-school star QB constantly reliving “the good old days back in ’71.” This past week it transformed into an old man groping desperately for vision, but unable to find his own prescription is relegated to wearing his wife’s ‘cus “they’re better than nothing!” Personally, I do not have a ton of hope for “establishment” CC in the next 10 years. I pray I am wrong, but from my perspective, I see nothing that offers substantive potential. The prophetic voice is gone–maybe it is no coincidence that the Dove is too.
FWIW, I still love the idea of CC, the heritage, and am grateful for the the faithful “nobody” pastors that make up the majority of the movement. I just hope for legitimate vision to be given, and until such, honesty from the leadership.