Being an ethical minister

Here's a prototype of an Ethical Standard for Ministers.

Why is this relevant?

1. Apparently CC has no ethical standards.
2. This standard makes it unethical to participate in a church that was formerly pastored.
   

Thinking About Forgiveness

Here’s a way to think about forgiveness that might be a bit challenging to how many of us were taught to think about forgiveness. Personally, I fought this idea tooth and nail until I did a Biblical survey of all of the relevant texts and reached a conclusion that was surprising to myself.

Unilateral vs Bilateral Forgiveness Models
There are two basic models of forgiveness. One is the unilateral model and the other is the bilateral model.

The Unilateral Model
Most of us were raised with the unilateral model of forgiveness. We learned that forgiveness is the responsiblity of the sinned against. In fact, we may have even told people ourselves that if they don’t forgive someone who has sinned against them that they are in sin themselves. We took the words of Jesus about forgiveness in part, because we did not see them in whole. In the process, the people we told to forgive were often revictimized by us when they were unable to forgive their offender.

We said that the person who does not forgive is only harming themselves taking our lead from the pop-psychology movement.

We short-circuited the God given sense of justice that is in the sinned against person. We may even have suggested some sort of secret ritual where suggested forgiving a person without even communicating that in any way to the one who was forgiven. We did not leave judgment to God.

I no longer believe that the unilateral model fits the whole counsel of Scripture. What really fits the Biblical record the best?

The Bilateral Model
The Bilateral model of forgiveness sees forgiveness as an exchange. It involves the repentance of the sinner and the forgiveness of the one who was sinned against. The goal is reconciliation. It recognizes that God has placed in every person a need for justice. Repentance produces works which show the repentance. Repentance is a change of mind which results in a change of actions.

In the bilateral model forgiveness is an exchange. Forgiveness should always be offered by the sinned against. It may not be received by the sinner. As Christians we must be willing to offer forgiveness, but we cannot grant it until the other person repents. Our sin comes if we do not accept their repentance.

God is our Model
God is our model in all of this. God offers forgiveness. Jesus died for the sins of the entire world. But not everyone is forgiven? Why not? Because it has to be received with repentance. If forgiveness with God is the form of an exchange then why should it be different with us?

If we are always to forgiven then why would the Scriptures say this? John 20:23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

David Allender's newer book on forgiveness covers this subject quite well.

Phoenix Preacher moves

Phoenix Preacher has been following all things Calvary Chapel. In the recent days that means that they have been concentrating their efforts on Skip Heitzig and the unravelling of Calvary of Albuquerque.

Phoenix Preacher have moved off blogger and onto a different host. Their address changed to here. There's always a lively chat going on in there. Be sure to say hi to my buddy Tundra Man if you go in there.

It's official - Skip has left the building

The official word came from Calvary of Albuquerque yesterday. Skip Heitzig has officially resigned the board of Calvary of Albuquerque. No word yet on whether or not he will remain at Ocean Hill Church.

Skip resigns, sorta?

There was word in the Albuquerque Journal yesterday that Skip Heitzig has resigned from his position as head of the Calvary of Albuquerque board of directors. It was also reported on TV news yesterday.

The Journal article left it open for future involvement in the church.

This has not yet been confirmed by the church.

The Place of Judgment

Why Does God Judge
I was reading an interesting verse as I have been reflecting on the scandals around Skip Heitzig.

1 Peter 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

The Barnes Commentary had an interesting comment on this verse.

The judgments which God brings upon his own people make it certain that the wicked will be punished. If he does not spare his own people, why should he spare others?

That is a powerful point.

Rejoicing at judgment
There is a general belief that it is wrong to rejoice at someone's downfall. Yet, the New Testament shows examples of believers being commanded to rejoice at the downfall of the wicked. One such example is when Babylon falls and the church is told to rejoice. It's even a given as a command to rejoice, taking the Present Active Imperative in the Greek.

Rev 18:20 Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her.

Local group meets with Skip calling for his resignation

Following the spirit of Matt 18, a group composed of people who are local to Calvary Albuquerque met with Skip Heitzig and presented the demand that Skip Heitzig resign from the board.

Skip refused to resign. In retaliation he banned the members of the group from the church grounds.

What will it take to get Skip Heitzig to resign from the board? Will it take a promise not to prosecute him later for his actions?

The Big Scandal

This one is not going away, it's not just the scandal of the week, but it is probably the scandal of the year for Calvary Chapel. What is shows is insight into the structure of church governance at Calvary Chapel.

Resignation of Nelson Just the First Salvo
The resignation of Pastor Pete Nelson from Calvary (Chapel) of Albuquerque was just the beginning of revelations. Usually these things are handled quietly and nobody knows much about what is going on. In Pete's case somebody leaked a draft copy of his resignation to the press. Not only that but it gives a lot of details into the secret workings of the Calvary Albuquerque (CA) board of directors. Then the press got ahold of a letter from a former board member outlining charges of impropriety.

Skip Held Onto Power at CA
Turns out that when Pete took over the Senior Pastor role at CA he didn't get what he was promised. Usually CC pastors get to control the board. Problem in this case was that the former pastor, Louis "Skip" Heitzig didn't want to give up control (we find out why later on). He was founding pastor and thought he should keep his hand in the pie.

A Clear Ethical Violation
This is highly unusual in other denominations. There are explicit prohibitions in the Ethical Standards of most other denominations which make it clear that pastors are not to involve themselves with the actions in their previous churches. It's considered an unethical practice. But Calvary Chapel has no written ethical standards and the unwritten standards don't seem to include such a prohibition.

The Scandal Grows
This scandal has wider lines than just the resignation of a pastor at a megachurch. Turns out that the board which was handpicked by Skip "gifted" Skip with a termination package (remember Skip quit, he wasn't removed) of almost a half a million in cash and door prizes. Allegations have been flying that some of these were stolen by Skip on the way out the door.

Skip's Defenders Line Up
The legions are lining up to defend Skip. He had Franklin Graham (a one-time CA board member it turns out) defending him at a recent service. Greg Laurie of Harvest Riverside (CC by another name) also served on the board and wrote a letter of character witness for his friend Skip.

How it broke
This story was unusual since it broke outside the traditional lines due to a series of articles published in the Albuquerque Journal. If you want to on-line subscribe it will cost you $8, but thanks to some folks the articles are available at other places.

What are the other charges?
Some of the charges include:

• Heitzig took a $300,000 severance check from his hand-picked board (considered self-dealing).
• Heitzig took equipment for the radio station, a laptop and a couple of cars worth a total of about $166,000 as severance. (Usually somebody gets severance when they are let go, not when they quit). (Again considered self-dealing).
  
• Skip tried to take the radio station away from CA and put it into his own hands at the same time that the radio station was being used for security of loans at CA.
• Skip fired people from the board who were not in agreement with Skip's actions (Greg Zanetti).
• The CA board was made up of people who did not attend CA. Some of them are CC pastors in other churches (again an ethical violation in most denominations).
• Most of the CA board was made up of people who don't even live in New Mexico including Franklin Graham, Raul Ries, Greg Laurie and Paul Saber.
• The absentee board members showed more loyalty to Skip as an individual than they did to CA. They had a fiducial duty to watch out for CA.
  
• Heitzig's daily half-hour radio program, "Connection Ministries" cost the church nearly $7 million between 1994 and 2004.
• CA had about $7 million in debt when Heitzig "left" for Ocean Hills in California, roughly equal to the losses from Connection Ministries.
• Calvary leaders were unwilling to inform the congregation of their intentions or plans for the church's future.
• Employees such as Chip Lusko were paid by CA but did work for Skip's "Connection".
  

List of the links
Here's a list of the links to the stories.

• Albuquerque Journal - $8 registration charge to view articles. (search for Heitzig)
  
• Heitzig, Heitzig and Others Asked to Resign; Group Seeks Local Control of Calvary - March 5, 2006
• Nelson's Draft Resignation Letter - March 3, 2006
• Letter from former board member Greg Zanetti - November 8, 2004
• Ex-Board Member Says He Was Forced Out for Challenging Direction - March 3, 2006
• Heitzig Severance More Than $300,000 - March 4, 2006
• Website Calls for the Return of Pete Nelson - March 2, 2006
• Calvary Chapel Power Struggle - February 26, 2006
• Calvary Looks for Successor: Resignations Shock Church - February 21, 2006

As you can see, this story is not going away any time soon. This story is being followed in the Phoenix Preacher BLOG.