More Revisionist Calvary Chapel History
I rarely write about Calvary Chapel issues anymore…I’ve said all that needed to be said. I’ve neither the time nor the interest to keep up with any new issues.
However, this video is making the rounds and I’m getting asked about it…so here you go.
The speaker is one of Chuck Smith’s granddaughters from the side of the family that thinks everything about the patriarchs last years and the transition of Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa to Brian Brodersen was cloaked in dishonest dealings.
This side of the family thinks Chuck Smith was railroaded into appointing Brodersen, who they also think is unfit and unwilling to carry on the Calvary Chapel distinctives.
They point to the sparse crowds at CCCM and the non Calvary speakers Brodersen allows at the church and in conferences as proof of his apostasy.
Brodersen does not have the charisma of his late father in law, nor the same theological convictions.
Neither does his successor, his son Char.
What has hurt attendance at CCCM as much as anything is the changing demographic of the area around the church.
It’s no longer a white middle class suburb and the various ethic and and income changes have been to people with little interest in what a white boomer church has to offer.
The real history of the CCA/CGN split was told here…and here…and here…and in countless other stories I’m too lazy to link to.
This one was the clearest…and one of the most contested I’ve ever written.
The reality is that both sides are fighting over dust…the Calvary Global Network has yet to define what it is and why anyone would join them and the Calvary Chapel Association is quickly aging out.
Calvary Chapel was an important piece of American church history…but its time of making history is over.
It’s so sad when a church doesn’t realize that they either need to change, join another group (which sometimes works, but not always), or just sell the property and let the members disperse to a new congregation. When I was on a church hunt a number of years ago, I visited one church where everyone was over the age of 60. I was about ten years younger than everyone there and could already see what would happen. Ten years later, the congregation was dissolved and the church was sold to a new church start that has done well.
The neighborhood around my church has changed a lot (from mostly white to white/Indian/Chinese/Hispanic/Recent European immigrant. We’ve done lots of reach outs-special community events, a come to church and ask questions forum, and a licensed preschool, among other things. However, we’ve lost some of our older members because they don’t feel comfortable with the changes or (to be honest) they just don’t like non-white people. The church is doing well, though, and old members are always welcomed back if they have a change of heart. The older members are not forgotten, ever. They have a class taught equally by all the elders, at least two deacons assigned to them, and special activities. They also have their own class leadership so that their interests and needs are met.
I’m comfortable with the changes. I made up a mind years ago that I didn’t want to be an old fogey resistant to necessary change. I actually bounce between the English and Spanish congregations and multi-age groups.
linn,
This is mainly a brawl over money and legacy for the family…your points are right on.
I like what your church is trying top do…
Man, that was hard to watch.
The church I’m pastoring had a pastor from 1980 to 2000 who became their most beloved pastor. And then he retired, and the church went through 3 senior pastors because they weren’t the pastor who had retired. And then they split. I came to the church, and they wanted me to become their old pastor, but that was just wrong (and a bit creepy). I’ve been here now 15 years and its pretty much a new entirely new congregation.
This favorite pastor also had a radio program. On his deathbed he begged his son to keep it going, but his son didn’t really have the heart for it. He felt so torn. I really disliked that the pastor put the burden of “keeping his legacy alive” on his son’s back. Man, when I’m done, I’m done. I have no desire to control the church to make sure it meets my approval. Heck, they’ll probably do a better job than me. 🙂
Michael,
I just watched the video. It sounds just like the CC near me-lots of infighting, never coming to a consensus, fighting with the city over something…their one redeeming feature seems to be a fairly decent classical Christian school, and some of the students’ families end up in the congregation for a while. It’s led by Mike McClure, who I hear has deep CC roots.
When I was in the Air Force, a Chief Master Sergeant who I worked for told us in his goodbye briefing, “I should be missed until the door closes behind me.” People come and go, the focus needs to be on the mission, not personalities.
The board at CCCM appointed Brian as pastor. That is the basis for his oversight of that congregation. It matters not what the former pastor thought should happen. No man should be allowed the power to dictate what should happen (with the exception of a will) when they have passed on.
I’m speechless!
I guess the time to fire the board
Is before you go be with the Lord
In SoCal I compare CCs to a fast food chain. If the town is big enough for a Subway, guess what, there’s a Calvary Chapel. (I’ve never actually attended one on a Sunday). Most boomers I talk to remember going to services at the tent in Costa Mesa.
It’s a sad family feud. I attended Calvary Chapel Vista, where Cheryl and Brian ministered, for 25 years. I am struck how much this woman looks like a young Cheryl Smith -the genes run strong in the Smith family! I liked Brian’s teachings – I always felt that he was trying to faithfully teach God’s word. The whole Moses Model is a recipie for disaster, however. Also, the ‘Moses Model’ is ‘Old Testament based’. What about the new covenant of Jesus?. We have Jesus; why do they need the ‘Moses Model’ at Calvary Chapel?
Maybe they are not humble like the man Moses. Num 12:3
Linn, we quit CCSJ covid time. Just prior, they presented $800k in improvements, at least it was transparent. A new roof was understandable. Possibly the new gym floor. Most of it was vanity projects like tearing out the pews to send to So-Cal to be re-upholstered (they looked to me in good shape), and redoing the stage even if a lot of that labor was in-house volunteered. There was nothing wrong with the stage.
I was also “butt-hurt” as the kids say, when I volunteered my time, transportation and money to help shut-ins during covid. As an essential worker, I also had “papers” to allow my to roam freely. I was told they had it covered. Really?
Then the lawsuits by the city came… how many tens of thousands (hundreds by now?) Went to attorneys to fight them? Never mind the poor witness. A largest mega church in the south bay managed to survive. CCSJ flaunted rules (I’ll agree not all necessarily right), but CCSJ was flooded with enough new members that they added a 2nd service. $$?
I agree that Calvary Chapel was important in Church history, but only to the degree that it should point out to the rest of Christendom that it wasn’t that important. We are too close to our point on Christendom’s timeline to see it in context for what it may actually represent.
I would bet that, if it is included in a university textbook in 20 years, CCM will be a paragraph. In 50 it will be included in a list of Billy Bob Evangelical Megachurches. Calvary Chapel is not heretical, but passing,like McPherson, like others. A movement that started out well, but has gathered a number of birds (grifters) who feed off its fruit.
How important is it, really, when compared with Wesley, let alone Calvin and Luther? I hope all those families affected by its passing will find rest and comfort and growth in the arms of more substantial institutions, or that they are of the few that do home church exceptionally well.
Makes me think of Ecclesiastes 3:1.
God did a wonderful work back in the Jesus movement days. Let Him do HIS work today, HIS way.
The board clearly ignored Chuck Smith’s wishes for who would succeed him. Clearly this is why Chuck Smith felt he had to teach up until the very end.