Things I Think…
1.Rob Moll passed away in an accident last week. Rob was a former editor at Christianity Today and we worked together on three big stories about Calvary Chapel. Two were about Skip Heitzig and Calvary Albuquerque, the last was the best single article synopsis of Calvary Chapel ever written at the time.
He was reviled by both Calvary Chapel pastors and their followers…a reaction that he didn’t expect and that impacted him both spiritually and professionally. The CC culture baffled him and that caused him to work even harder to get his stories right…and he did. May he rest in eternal peace until we meet again without the need for another story…
2. The Potters Field scandal and Rob’s death have opened up some old wounds here. We see clearly again the difference between a biblical, “family” model of ministry and the “entrepreneurial” model of today. In the family model of ministry the first concern would be those who have been harmed by the leaderships actions. In the entrepreneurial model, all we see is a transfer of assets after a change in CEO’s…
3. When I signed up (actually, I was drafted) for the ministry, my hope was not that someday I would have a big church and unlimited authority, but that God would enable me to do what I thought I was called to. That calling was to sacrificially love and serve a group of people that He would gather and in doing so “extend the Incarnation”. Even after all I’ve seen I still believe that is the calling of the pastor/priest and everything else is probably a satanic diversion…
4. The people doing “pastoral” work in the Potters Field scandal haven’t been the high and holy leaders of the “movement”, but the survivors themselves. It’s been soul enriching for me to watch Jesus in them taking care of each other…
5. The only way we’ll know exactly what happened in this debacle is if secular agencies like the IRS and state labor boards get involved. Transparency is considered a sin in these circles, where the top dogs are the only dogs that matter…
6. Pray for those whose faith has been shattered by abuse. If you don’t think that “real” faith can be shattered by such, keep your ignorance to yourself…
7. The principal actors in this case have remained silent “out of respect for the interns and employees”. That is a lie. They have remained silent out of cowardice and to avoid responsibility and liability…
8. Too often I have referred to the survivors as “kids”. It is a term of endearment, but a gross error. My apologies to them as they are young adults and their families whose strength and determination deserve far more than such a dismissive term…
9. Now that Rob McCoy has swooped in to “clean up the mess”, we’re supposed to consider the case closed and move on. I’m not going anywhere….
10. It is heartbreaking to know that there will always need to be blogs like this to watch over the church…that’s what I thought pastors were for…
I had such hopes for the PFM scandal actually being taken care of in a godly way by the CC leadership. Such high hopes……..but instead, my heart hurts over it. I truly hope I am wrong, but it appears that it is really all about the $$$, rather than wounded brothers and sisters. I cannot even imagine how hurt and wounded you are over this, Michael. God bless you.
JOOHL,
It’s a bit of a shock to do it all over again, but I’ve met some wonderful folks and watched them do wonderful things…these people have restored me more than the others have hurt me..
Unfortunately, the link to the CT article requires a subscription to read the whole thing.
That’s too bad..that was the point where I think the ground shifted in covering CC…
Hi Michael…I am sorry to read about your friend and co laborer Rob Moll. You were so kind to send me your copy of his book….which I loved and will return to you in the mail…. thank you.. May the Lord comfort you and minister to your wounds, inside and out.
The PFM scandal… heart rending and disgusting, yet not completely surprising.
“Shepherd the flock of God, which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion, but willingly, not for dishonest gain, but eagerly. Nor as lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock, so that when the chef Shepherd appears, you will receive the Crown of glory, which does not fade away” 2 Peter 5: 2-4
False ‘shepherd’ and those who devour have been around since the beginning.
The Lord knows those that are His…
Michael,
There are two Families here: The Calvary Chapel pastors consider themselves an extended family (in mob kind of way) who must always stick together against the other family the sheep. CC pastors believe the devil at times uses the sheep to attack them and their ‘ministry’. So now we will most likely see the CC pastors move to protect their family and ‘ministries’ and the sheep family will try to help each other heal from their wounds… except the sheep that will surely be scattered. Without this blog, many more would most likely be scattered… IMO
https://www.gofundme.com/f/love-for-the-moll-family
Many articles about Rob Moll in a google search, beyond the limited CT one.
I am sorry to hear about Rob Moll. I did not know you or your blog yet and, back then, was even told that CT was staffed with a bunch of liars. I have had to conclude that those that “warned” had an agenda and were not above looking away from the real truth of the sordid activities that were going on inside of CC. It reminded me of what Ezekiel saw. You are likely accurate, Michael. The article you reference (2007?) was probably responsible for the ground to shift regarding how at least some people saw CC. I look back and realize that, for me, it exposed just how deep and wide was the complacency and downright stupidity of many who wouldn’t or just couldn’t identify the sin they were seeing in the CC camp.
We do offer our sincere condolences for this loss, Michael. I hope there is a place where you can post your kind remembrances of him. Sometimes things like that can be a comfort to those of us left behind.
Joshua Harris apparently has deconverted:
https://www.patheos.com/blogs/chorusinthechaos/farewell-joshua-harris/
Yes, Brian D…I saw that too and almost posted it here… Strange times.
Good responses all, thank you. We’ll talk about the Harris mess later this week…
A politician distances himself from any scandal. He does not run towards it and enfage in cleanup. There is something wrong with the PFM wrap-up.
I think Jesus alluded to the fact we’d see more hirelings in the last days (apologies to some for the hyper eschatological term), lettings wolves in the gates. I don’t the CC folk see themselves, nor even the leaders at PFM, as such. But as Michael said, this is a corporate and an entrepreneurial enterprise, rather than family. Like a spiritual Chevron as opposed to the Mom n Pop stop. The more we see a lack of transparency, the more the leadership resembles a collective wolf.
Paige @ 9:45 … regarding false shepherds . Absolutely, amen … Perhaps, we need to teach the newborns better… The letters to the seven churches in Revelation could be life lessons for all of us…
Pray for pastors who are known by our Lord and for discernment
Isn’t the Phoenix Preacher an interesting work of God? Seems do to me… .?
Em…
the only way to teach a newborn is to let them imprint off a parent or caregiver… this is the main issue with our church catholic today… There is basically no value placed upon interacting with one another for more than ten minutes once or twice a week. That’s considered neglect on the natural plane.
Never thought of it that way……..the CC shepherd IS often afraid of the sheep getting out of line. They decide to protect the “other shepherds” rather than the sheep. NOT. GODS. PLAN!!! This isn’t over and shouldn’t be.
We can’t let ourselves off the hook for messes like this. If there were enough people telling these young adults and families that their lives, their daily interactions, their vocations are, in fact, what qualifies as missionary work in the place God has purposed them to be, they may have felt no need to be there in the first place, and the Rozells may be on a different spiritual track than they currently find themselves on.
Em…
let’s pray also for pew sitters that seek discerning, transparent pastors that prefer the bottom of the staircase, rather than the top.
Good words, Jerod… Sitting in a pew isn’t the same as sitting on a bench at a bus stop. ?
Sorry to hear about Rob. Memory eternal. ?
I have always wondered why it is the calvary chapel pastor / teachers Greg Laurie included are all above all others in their ability to attract such large numbers and they seem superior in their technique in teaching ability …almost like they are programmed …any answers to my question ? thanks
Michael , I am sorry to hear of the loss of your good friend, colleague, and mentor.
#7 is spot on. Still going to pray for a change of heart and mind… So many dots are connecting from years of watching, and the Holy Spirit speaking. The whole PFM fiasco is tragedy enough. The response being void of true and earnest care and appropriate compensation for the wounded, from the ‘shepherds’ of the Calvary Chapel Association, is unbearable.
Sorry for my absence…been really tired today. I’ll be back in a bit…
Michael, what you’ve put together here, including your support folk, can survive a couple days without you – no apologies and no guilt necessary. ?
“5. The only way we’ll know exactly what happened in this debacle is if secular agencies like the IRS and state labor boards get involved.“
Unless you’re part of a denomination that includes accountability, I don’t see accountability happening except in the Christian witness, fellowship and relationship with other (probably mostly local ministries).
I’ll never forget local pastors (and a few from other towns) who asked me some pointed questions and made some good statements to me in a dispute about facts in a controversy.
The separation of church and state actually precludes the level of accountability that most of us which occurred in these instances. As I understand it legally.
“I’ve met some wonderful folks and watched them do wonderful things…these people have restored me more than the others have hurt me..”
I rejoice with you! Great to hear!
Blessed be Rob’s memory.
The believers whose lives inspire me to hold on, love others, and stumble on in faith are generally anonymous, entry-level, unsophisticated, and genuinely surprised I find them inspirational. If one keeps his attention focused on those who crave notice and notoriety, he will generally be disappointed and disillusioned.
I read the Harris article, his instagram confession and while it borders on gossip he sounds like a man about ready to “come out.”
I guess I’m too old to understand this obsession with all the trans/gender/marriage equality issues. I’m just tired of hearing about men who after years of marriage to a women, fathering multiple children, and then dumping it all for whatever.
All I could think of as I read Harris’s Instagram and looked at the picture of him admiring the landscape was this, “what wickedness.” And many people think it’s a good thing.
I’m tired, it’s late and thank you Michael for your work.
filbertz,
“ The believers whose lives inspire me to hold on, love others, and stumble on in faith are generally anonymous, entry-level, unsophisticated, and genuinely surprised I find them inspirational. If one keeps his attention focused on those who crave notice and notoriety, he will generally be disappointed and disillusioned.”
Such a great point, and I couldn’t agree more!
So many of these CCA “pastors” aren’t living in reality. They stay in the bubble so they can keep on pretending. Everyone on the outside is “persecuting” them. I pray the Holy Spirit continues to convict them. This is far from over.
Doug, well said and, sadly, the description you will find of someone in a cult.
“So many of these CCA “pastors” aren’t living in reality. They stay in the bubble so they can keep on pretending. Everyone on the outside is “persecuting” them.”
Amen to filbertz’ observation… There are teachers that have blessed me with increasing understanding and a frame of reference, but…
Over the years my faith has been encouraged and blessed by a handful of folk who have lived their lives quietly walking the talk – people in whom i’ve seen Christ alive (amd well)