For those of you who came here hoping I'd pick up for Michael on the scandal front, I'm not going down that road anytime soon. Apparently even being caught with a prostitute isn't enough to bring down a Calvary Chapel pastor, so what more can be said on the scandals of CC?
Now if you want to discuss what is the real scandal, IE, the bad theology of Chuck Smith and Calvary Chapel then I'm in. But I find most people don't have much of a stomach for theological issues. Smith's heretical view on the resurrection should be more than enough to disqualify him as a Biblical teacher. Add to that Smith's naming of dates for the Return of Jesus Christ in 1981 was so blatantly foul that it would make even a JW cringe.
Now before Dave Rolph or someone else gets on here and claims Smith has changed, and that's all in the past, let me put forth a challenge. If you believe Smith has repented, post the tape number and time offset into the tape. Let's listen for ourselves and see. I don't think he has, but I've got better things to do than check if Smith is still spouting heresy.
Lest you think I'm just picking on an old man, he's been an old man a very long time and a lot of people have kept silent for years. Time for a clear way forward out of the heresy of the past.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Friday, June 18, 2010
Phoenix Preacher Cry for Attention - Another Swan Song
Yet another swan song and cry for attention came today from the Phoenix Preacher BLOG (June 2007 Swan Song). I've stopped counting the number of times that Michael has "shut down" the BLOG because of some alleged "word from god".
Today there is another swan song. Not sure when he will be back but you can be sure that someone with such a thirst for attention can't stay gone long!
I missed most of the events that led to the blowup this time, but gather it had something to do with a tiff between Michael and Stephen Hopkins. Hopkins and I have had our share of interactions in the past and I found him to be of a consistently poor character one rarely finds outside of the CC pastorate. Michael was publicizing the charges by family members of one of his archenemies, George Bryson, that Bryson was a spiritually abusive father. Michael's dislike of Bryson stemmed from Bryson's debates with Michael's personal hero, aomin.com cult leader, James White. For those not in the know, among other gifts Bryson is a strident anti-Calvinist.
In large part, it was Hopkins demands that I be banned from PP along with Michael's personal dislike of me that led to my permanent banning. Ironic since Michael made his fame taking other's ideas (calls for accountability, criticism of the Moses Model, etc). In fact, I can't think of a single original contribution Michael ever made to the subject of CC. He did come a long at a time there was a vacuum and had a nose for publicizing CC scandals. In short, he majored on scandal where others had majored on doctrine and church operation. There was pretty much a CC scandal of the month for the past few years. Perhaps that will remain as Michael's sole contribution to the arguments against CC - boys behaving badly.
I can say I have seen it all and predicted it all. I did. Holly came to be rejected by her pastor-crush Skippy Heitzig and has now turned on him. Michael came to be rejected by the very CC pastors he tried to compromise with.
Today there is another swan song. Not sure when he will be back but you can be sure that someone with such a thirst for attention can't stay gone long!
I missed most of the events that led to the blowup this time, but gather it had something to do with a tiff between Michael and Stephen Hopkins. Hopkins and I have had our share of interactions in the past and I found him to be of a consistently poor character one rarely finds outside of the CC pastorate. Michael was publicizing the charges by family members of one of his archenemies, George Bryson, that Bryson was a spiritually abusive father. Michael's dislike of Bryson stemmed from Bryson's debates with Michael's personal hero, aomin.com cult leader, James White. For those not in the know, among other gifts Bryson is a strident anti-Calvinist.
In large part, it was Hopkins demands that I be banned from PP along with Michael's personal dislike of me that led to my permanent banning. Ironic since Michael made his fame taking other's ideas (calls for accountability, criticism of the Moses Model, etc). In fact, I can't think of a single original contribution Michael ever made to the subject of CC. He did come a long at a time there was a vacuum and had a nose for publicizing CC scandals. In short, he majored on scandal where others had majored on doctrine and church operation. There was pretty much a CC scandal of the month for the past few years. Perhaps that will remain as Michael's sole contribution to the arguments against CC - boys behaving badly.
I can say I have seen it all and predicted it all. I did. Holly came to be rejected by her pastor-crush Skippy Heitzig and has now turned on him. Michael came to be rejected by the very CC pastors he tried to compromise with.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Holly Sikorski speaks out against CC
Some of the long term followers of all things CC, might remember Holly Sikorski. She was a rabid defender of Calvary Chapel years back and attended CC Albquerque. Holly now posts on PP as madison*bella. Not long ago, she disappointed her boyfriend (the owner of PP), by returning to Calvary Chapel. Now, it seems she has actually learned something with time. Here's a quote from a recent PP post:
I share your disappointment in Chuck Smith’s in-action. I don’t know the whole story there but I have learned over the years that my rosey-colored glasses of the whole CC movement was gravely misplaced. Not all that glitters was really gold and corruption abounds.Kudos to Holly. Now what are you going to do about those you misled over the years? Or for those you slandered in your defense of CC?Not all pastors in the movement, but some have done questionable things, ...
Never has there been a bigger hive of scum and villanery
Apologies to Star Wars...
Rip Tide. Isn't that what drags unaware people out to sea to die?
Saturday, April 03, 2010
Jimmy Kempner falling
Here's the Calvary Chapel scandal of the month.
The Story
Calvary Chapel pastor Jimmy Kempner was convicted of hiring a prostitute in 2008. Here's a link to the plea agreement. This story has broken in a number of places including OC Weekly and the Daily Pilot. From the Daily Pilot story:
Jimmy Kempner History
Jimmy was the primary Saturday night concern evangelist at Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa in the late 1970s. I came to Christ at CCCM in that time frame, although Jimmy wasn't the preacher on the exact night I came to Christ (ironically that was Chuck Smith who preached that night in Oct 1978.) While I have respect of Kempner's role in my own spiritual development, I don't believe that should give him a free pass for future misdeeds.
Thoughts on the Matter
It's impossible to know the inside story on what would cause a person to go outside their marriage for sexual fulfillment. Perhaps it was just that the thrill was gone. There are many pastor's marriages which are extremely stressed and dysfunctional. Unless the Kempner's open up their personal business, all that can be done is to judge by the act.
On the good side, Kempner wasn't having an affair with a woman in the church.
The question of whether this was a one-time event or a repeat offense is also unknown, although it immediately comes to mind. It is a fairly safe assumption that these things are rarely isolated events.
Defense By Calvary Chapel Pastors
Here's a mixed batch. Some CC pastors defend Kempner. Others denounce his actions and have called for him to step down. One pastor stated that this is a 1 in a 1000 situation in Calvary Chapel. Given that there are somewhere around 1400 CCs this seems like a vast underestimate.
Calvary Chapel Affiliation
Jimmy's affiliation was pulled by Calvary Chapel Outreach Fellowship. That is unqualifiedly good. There is no evidence that CC participated in any coverup or assistance to relocate Kempner to another CC.
Form of Church Government at Fault?
Kempner's board bears responsibility but not as much as the form of church governance at many CCs. In these churches, the pastor has a hand picked board and can hire/fire the board at will. That's well documented as being part of the CC Philosophy of Ministry (see the Korean pastor and his board example in Smith's booklet). There were many irregularites in this case.
The Three Consultants
Three CC pastors were brought in by the board. One of them was Dave Rolph. I've got a lot of respect for Dave, but for the three to have given anything other than a recommendation that Kempner be removed is unbelievable.
Entrapment Charge?
One man's sting operation is another man's entrapment.
From the news report this was a case where Kempner was in a hotel room alone with a prostitute. When he put a $100 on the dresser, he was busted. Whether it is legally considered entrapment is not relevant to the appearance of guilt.
Claims of Signing Paperwork to Avoid Expensive Legal Fees
One of the claims presented is that Kempner was "forced" into signing a false confession because it was the easy out is also not relevant. For this reason, a pastor must protect his legal reputation at all costs even if it means financial ruin.
Biblical Standards
One of the Biblical qualifications for being a pastor is that he be of good reputation with the world. Hard to imagine how this could not be the key issue in this situation:
Interestingly, this is the reason that many Calvary Chapel pastors are Biblically unqualified to be pastors. Taking someone who is a drug dealer one day (one such example among many) and making them a pastor shortly thereafter demonstrates poor judgment by Calvary Chapel.
Other thoughts to come as the facts come out.
The Story
Calvary Chapel pastor Jimmy Kempner was convicted of hiring a prostitute in 2008. Here's a link to the plea agreement. This story has broken in a number of places including OC Weekly and the Daily Pilot. From the Daily Pilot story:
Beach Cities’ pastor the Rev. Jim Kempner, who has presided over the church since 2001, was arrested as part of a special prostitution investigation conducted by the Tustin Police Department in May 2008, police said Friday.
Jimmy Kempner History
Jimmy was the primary Saturday night concern evangelist at Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa in the late 1970s. I came to Christ at CCCM in that time frame, although Jimmy wasn't the preacher on the exact night I came to Christ (ironically that was Chuck Smith who preached that night in Oct 1978.) While I have respect of Kempner's role in my own spiritual development, I don't believe that should give him a free pass for future misdeeds.
Thoughts on the Matter
It's impossible to know the inside story on what would cause a person to go outside their marriage for sexual fulfillment. Perhaps it was just that the thrill was gone. There are many pastor's marriages which are extremely stressed and dysfunctional. Unless the Kempner's open up their personal business, all that can be done is to judge by the act.
On the good side, Kempner wasn't having an affair with a woman in the church.
The question of whether this was a one-time event or a repeat offense is also unknown, although it immediately comes to mind. It is a fairly safe assumption that these things are rarely isolated events.
Defense By Calvary Chapel Pastors
Here's a mixed batch. Some CC pastors defend Kempner. Others denounce his actions and have called for him to step down. One pastor stated that this is a 1 in a 1000 situation in Calvary Chapel. Given that there are somewhere around 1400 CCs this seems like a vast underestimate.
Calvary Chapel Affiliation
Jimmy's affiliation was pulled by Calvary Chapel Outreach Fellowship. That is unqualifiedly good. There is no evidence that CC participated in any coverup or assistance to relocate Kempner to another CC.
Form of Church Government at Fault?
Kempner's board bears responsibility but not as much as the form of church governance at many CCs. In these churches, the pastor has a hand picked board and can hire/fire the board at will. That's well documented as being part of the CC Philosophy of Ministry (see the Korean pastor and his board example in Smith's booklet). There were many irregularites in this case.
The Three Consultants
Three CC pastors were brought in by the board. One of them was Dave Rolph. I've got a lot of respect for Dave, but for the three to have given anything other than a recommendation that Kempner be removed is unbelievable.
Entrapment Charge?
One man's sting operation is another man's entrapment.
From the news report this was a case where Kempner was in a hotel room alone with a prostitute. When he put a $100 on the dresser, he was busted. Whether it is legally considered entrapment is not relevant to the appearance of guilt.
Claims of Signing Paperwork to Avoid Expensive Legal Fees
One of the claims presented is that Kempner was "forced" into signing a false confession because it was the easy out is also not relevant. For this reason, a pastor must protect his legal reputation at all costs even if it means financial ruin.
Biblical Standards
One of the Biblical qualifications for being a pastor is that he be of good reputation with the world. Hard to imagine how this could not be the key issue in this situation:
1Ti 3:7 Moreover he [a pastor] must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
Interestingly, this is the reason that many Calvary Chapel pastors are Biblically unqualified to be pastors. Taking someone who is a drug dealer one day (one such example among many) and making them a pastor shortly thereafter demonstrates poor judgment by Calvary Chapel.
Other thoughts to come as the facts come out.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Calvinistic Baptistic
What a contradiction - Calvinstic and Baptistic.
Covenant anti-nomianism.
Calvinists baptize babies.
Baptists don't baptize babies.
Pre-mill (nearly dispensationalist) calvinists.
No wonder Michael spends so much time going around in circles. He doesn't know what he is.
Covenant anti-nomianism.
Calvinists baptize babies.
Baptists don't baptize babies.
Pre-mill (nearly dispensationalist) calvinists.
No wonder Michael spends so much time going around in circles. He doesn't know what he is.
George Bryson Dissects Michael Newnham
George Bryson takes on Calvinist webpager Michael Newnham. Here's some of the better quotes:
I would add that Michael is clearly enamored with himself.
Michael Newnham is the pastor of a Calvinist/charismatic church in Medford, Oregon called Sovereign Grace Fellowship.
The list of unflattering things Michael has said (on his website) about Calvary Chapel in general and Chuck Smith in particular (and a few others, yours truly included) is very long indeed. Because he is a Calvinist, I would consider and classify Michael as a theistic fatalist.
I would add that Michael is clearly enamored with himself.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
