Pastor expresses sympathy for church members 'hurt The lawsuit claims that the 2021 elder election violated the church constitution, The complaint further alleged that Platt and the current elders tried to purge the church of conservatives to win the elder election. MBC had told members that the suit was without merit since the petitions requested in the lawsuit are not mentioned in the churchs constitution and that such accommodations would contravene church leadership. An opposition group had organized and even formed a Facebook group called Save McLean Bible Church to air their complaints. The complaint further alleged that Platt and the current elders have sought to purge the church of conservatives. ", Last summer, MBC announced that three new elders Chuck Hollingsworth, Ken Tucker and Jim Burris had been affirmed by more than 80% of the church family in a congregational vote after a previous election on June 30, 2021, was marred by alleged "irregularities.". Bible Study. The church's motion to dismiss was granted, and a formal order was issued last Friday. The problem is, over recent years, weve shown our muscles arent strong and need to be strengthened by the Spirit of God., He summarized: We have such an opportunity to show a different way in the world that the Spirit of God leads us to do and the love of God leads us to do. These challenges are building a deeper unity and passion in all of us, and I cannot wait to see what God will do in and through all of our incredibly gifted and diverse church members in the new chapter ahead., Get ready: Theres a second wave of church conflict coming | Opinion by Mark Wingfield, Seven suggestions for preventing conflict before it happens | Opinion by Bill Wilson, When churches turn on themselves| Opinion by Bill Wilson. While the DC-area congregation celebrates getting to move forward, critics continue to accuse leadership of a liberal takeover. David Platt preaches at McLean Bible Church in June. T he year-long legal fight between McLean Bible Church and a faction who accused leaders including David Platt of a theological takeover has come to an end. Senior Pastor | ALFC - Abundant Living Family Church The vote was shot down and the elders could not be confirmed so during the next sermon on July 4 Platt took several minutes to scold members of his congregation for coordinating a divisive effort to use disinformation to take control of the church., On July 8 Mark Gottlieb, aformer elderof MBC, wrote an open letter to the church's members saying we were historically a conservative church and David is left of center hes taken our church down paths we never anticipated. He went on to explain that thousands of our brothers and sisters in Christ have left our congregation, and over a hundred writing letters to the Elders as they went.. WebDavid Joseph Platt is an American evangelical Baptist pastor. Word and Way posted David Platts Dreams for McLean Bible Church Sour as Members File Lawsuit Over Elder Vote Platt has claimed that the church is trying to fight off a hostile takeover and that Satan is trying to divide the church. McClean Bible Church Pastor David Platt addresses his congregation on July 4, 2021. All active members were allowed to vote. "As a result, the new board is now officially serving and leading alongside Lead Pastor David Platt," the statement shared by MCB reads. Some church leaders and supporters claimed the critics behaved in unethical ways in spreading rumors and rounding up inactive members to come back to church to vote against the slate of elders. Help keep The Christian Post free for everyone by making a one-time donation today. For now, David Platt has won the battle against internal I know that many churches across America have faced and are facing similar challenges during these days, and it is vitally important that we move past division and live out John 13:35, demonstrating love for one another and love for a world in need of Jesus.. Join thousands of others to get the FREEDOM POST newsletter for free, sent twice a week from The Christian Post. Because the plaintiffs would not agree to meet or discuss a dismissal, MBC filed a formal motion on June 10 asking the court to dismiss the lawsuit and to recognize the clear desire of the MBC congregation to move forward in unity under the leadership of elders who were nominated and elected by church membership.". David Platt (pastor) - Wikipedia On information and belief, some of these staff persons voted against the proposed slate of Elders at the Meeting. Does this All rights reserved. Youd be left with a remnant, with no clear plan on how to move the church forward, Gottlieb wrote. And those things can't divide us if Jesus is what unites us. Just to hear all the buzzwords and scare tactics they were using, MBC would be gone, down the road leaving the Gospel behind, leaving the Bible behind, embracing liberal theology and cultural Marxism, he explained. Platt has made changes at McLean Bible Church, and some members of the independent church also fear that the churchs ties to the Southern Baptist Convention have become too great. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Lawsuit seeking to overturn elder election at David Platts McLean Bible Church dismissed. (Clockwise from top left to right) McClean Bible Church elders, Chuck Hollingsworth, Ken Tucker and Jim Burris. Wade Burnett, a pastor on McLeans leadership team, said the congregation decided to move forward together in a difficult time. The churchs constitution requires that new elders receive 75% approval and for the first time in McLeans history, a new group of elders failed to reach that margin. "Where the Bible is less clear or less direct, we're not looking to unite there [because] we're united around Jesus and the authority of His Word and what the Bible is most clear about, at the core of the gospel," he added. WebMcLean Bible Church logo bug Tysons McLean Bible Church logo bug for mobile view. We believe the same thing would happen on appeal in this matter, as our church has now voted and revoted in ways that are crystal clear. Copyright 2023, ChristianHeadlines.com. ", "We believe that although Satan intended to harm and destroy McLean Bible Church, God intended it for good," another Facebook post reads. [3], In 2014, Platt was elected president of the Southern Baptist Convention's International Mission Board. Wade Burnett, lead pastor for executive leadership, put the situation in a national context: The conflict at MBC is just one more picture of the larger differences we see all over the country. Read our republishing, terms of use and privacy policies here. Platt acknowledged there are issues that divide the church but said Christians must always practice charity. He told Religion News Service that the church believes it will prevail if there is an appeal. Barely Anyone Reads the Bible in Germany. 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COVID-19 also played a role. A group of critics that runs a Facebook group called Save McLean Bible Church claimed that church leaders had substituted critical race theory and social justice for biblical teaching. Platt added that many members told him later that they regretted their no vote and wish they could have it back. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Hope youll give us another try and check out some other articles. David Platt, pastor of McLean Bible Church near Washington, D.C., and founder of Radical, a resource ministry that serves churches, preaches during the Im incredibly grateful for the courage of our church in staying together and persevering, in pursuing peace in ways that required numerous steps of faith, and for trusting God all the way through to the actual dismissal of the lawsuit, said Wade Burnett, a lead pastor at MBC. Help keep The Christian Post free for everyone by making a one-time donation today. I know that many churches across America have faced and are facing similar challenges during these days, and it is vitally important that we move past division and live out John 13:35, demonstrating love for one another and love for a world in need of Jesus. Subscribers receive full access to the archives. What are the connections between the North American Mission Board and McLean Bible Church leaders? Back in 2018, Platt was interviewed on hisdecisionto repent for racial blindness. I look at my life and ministry and, in so many ways, my world has been so white, he stated just because we have a 106 different nations doesnt mean we are pursuing the kind of diversity and community that God designs for us to., It was clear from the beginning that Platt would be bringing a political agenda with him while he was preaching the gospel. "We still are churches segregated in so many ways by the color of our skin.". Im incredibly grateful for the courage of our church in staying together and persevering, in pursuing peace in ways that required numerous steps of faith, and for trusting God all the way through to the actual dismissal of the lawsuit, he added. In our country, the realities of racial division in the church we want to turn the tide on, he explained in a recent interview. My goal in this book was to hit the prominent issues that Ive walked through. The lawsuit can move forward with the court applying neutral principles of law to the dispute over McLean Bible Churchs Constitution. 2005-2023, Media Research Center. Critics said that violated church policies, which led to the lawsuit. The election came amid simmering unrest at the church, where political polarization in the wider culture seeped into the congregation the larger woke war in the evangelical world. Platt, the author of Don't Hold Back: Leaving Behind the American Gospel to Follow Jesus Fully, told the Stetzer ChurchLeaders Podcast that he wants to see Christians unite around Christ and to practice charity on issues where "the Bible is less clear or less direct.". After the failed election, a second election was scheduled a few weeks later, but this time members were required to sign their ballots. Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. Pastor and author David Platt says in a new book that too many Christians have bought into a political-centric "false gospel" that has led to discouragement and division within the church and has pushed younger generations away from Christianity. GLOBALIST EVANGELICALS: HOW DEEP IS I dont want to be like the world and just isolate ourselves from each other. David Joseph Platt is an American evangelical Baptist pastor. It does not store any personal data. Bart Barber, Majority of pastors love to preach but few like counseling and discipling believers more: study. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. 12:00pm. The rift at McLean comes amid concerns over Platt's and other pastors' approaches to racial justice issues. It wasnt long before he became a nationally prominent preacher and Bible teacher. David Platt is the popular pastor who heads the Radical and Secret Church brands among other movements. Lawsuit against McLean Bible, David Platt dismissed Plaintiffs pray this Court to enjoin Defendants from taking numerous threatened actions to deny Plaintiffs those rights in a congregational vote scheduled for the morning of Sunday, July 18, the members argued. From 2014 to 2017, Platt was president of the International Mission Board. Pastor and author David Platt says in a new book that too many Christians have bought into a political-centric false gospel that has led to discouragement and I dont want to hold back from that. At our most recent congregational meeting on June 30, there were a number of voting irregularities that prevented us from declaring a clear outcome. "Instead of an eagerness to unite in the church around Jesus, we are quick to divide over the idolatry of personal political convictions instead of enjoying this multi-ethnic beauty Jesus is made possible for us in the church," Platt added. Pastor Diego, Families and friendships and congregations and countless other foundational parts of our lives have been upended and changed in ways that have been both painful and disorienting. Remember God goes before you. A lawsuit has been dismissed against McLean Bible Church in suburban [8], In February 2017, Platt began serving as interim teaching pastor at McLean Bible Church in Vienna, Virginia. The pastor was among many who participated in protests against police brutality following the 2020 death of George Floyd. They will stop at nothing to force individuals back into a time when everyone noticed race and judged others based on their physical attributes. Approved by a substantial majority of the church, that plan included the resignation and a re-vote for the three elders. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. David Platt The election came amid simmering unrest at the church, where political polarization in the wider culture seeped into the congregation the larger woke war in the evangelical world. If Im being honest, I hope the vote does not go in your favor on the 18th, because I think it will completely destroy whatever is left of the church and, at the same time tarnish the name of Christ across this nation, Gottlieb wrote in the letter that was shared on a Facebook page called Save McLean Bible Church which has more than 400 followers. The motion to dismiss is deniedWhile the defendants do scatter terms such as theology, prayerfulness, doctrine, specific books of the Bible and interpretation of the Scripture throughout its papers to put really what is a round dispute over the church constitution and adherence to that constitution into the square hole of the First Amendment. Those dissident members argued that church leaders, including senior pastor David Platt, a best-selling author, had violated the churchs constitution. David Platt Im a work in progress. Amidst a divisive culture around us, members of our church family have clearly stated that they want to move forward together as a thriving, united church bringing hope to the nations, starting here in Washington, D.C. (Clockwise from top left to right) Recently elected McClean Bible Church elders, Chuck Hollingsworth, Ken Tucker and Jim Burris. "By God's grace, our church family has come together in ways far beyond what I could have imagined to resolve conflict as biblically and peacefully as possible," noted Platt. WebView David Platt results in Newport Beach, CA including current phone number, address, relatives, background check report, and property record with Whitepages. We are more equipped than any other people in our culture to think about these issues. All six elders on the ballot received at least 86% approval. We can experience it., The result is Dont Hold Back, a book his publisher says encourages followers of Jesus to take necessary risks and find unimaginable reward.. "The final step in the Plan for Lawsuit Resolution involved pursuing the actual dismissal of the lawsuit in light of the church's clear desire to move forward under the leadership of the new board. The runup to this dispute overlapped a period of tremendous divisiveness in American politics and religion, including the 2020 presidential election, COVID-19 and a summer of racial reckoning sparked by more police murders of unarmed Black citizens. [3][4], He served at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary as Dean of Chapel and Assistant Professor of Expository Preaching and Apologetics. One post quoted Ephesians 6:12 and said, Praying for the remnant. Its time for the church to lean into these issues with our Bibles open and to see the beauty of the gospel come to bear on a church that for centuries has been divided according to the color of our skin. The Plan proposed to allow a new vote on the Elders but one that would not only include the hundreds of new members selected by the Board in December, six months after this action sought to preserve the status quo, but would also conveniently elect hundreds of new members selected by the Board in May, just before the sham Elder vote in June," the plaintiff's motion reads. Platt said the campaign mainly targeted the Tysons campus of the multisite megachurch as the other four campuses Arlington, Loudon, Montgomery County and Prince William were almost unanimous in their affirmation of the three elders. Pastors announced the outcome across its locations on Sunday. McLean Bible Church filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit by claiming the dispute involved religious issues. At McLean, this dispute spilled over into the election of elders. David Platt preaches at McLean Bible Church in June. The leaders of McLean Bible, one of the D.C. regions largest and most high-profile evangelical churches, are facing attempts from its own members to spread Return to homepage. David Platt preaches at McLean Bible Church in June. WebRaul Ries is the Senior Pastor of Calvary Chapel Golden Springs and President of Somebody Loves You Ministries. David Platt I want you to listen closely to the words I am about to say, Platt said. "The biblical gospel exalts Jesus above everything in this world," Platt said. Pastor and author David Platt says in a new book that too many Christians have bought into a political-centric false gospel that has led to discouragement and division within the church and has pushed younger generations away from Christianity. Platt also has faced a highly publicized church schism, including a lawsuit brought against him by a group of former church members regarding his leadership style and handling of issues related to culture and race. Enrollment numbers, financial challenges, and the pandemic spelled the end. At McLean Bible Church on June 2, 2019, Pastor David Platt prays over then-President Trump.. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin). Court Dismisses Suit Against Platts McLean Bible Church Todays ruling is a critical first step in restoring the rule of law and ensuring that critical voting rights protected by our church constitution will be preserved for all McLean Bible Church members.. After his miraculous conversion in 1972, Raul began to We are incredibly diverse, with different backgrounds, perspectives, and personal convictions on a variety of issues. They attempt to avoid this at all costs, filed false motions with the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, Scandal plagued James Merritt resigns as visiting professor at SEBTS, SBC seminary intends to enforce Biden vaccine mandate, Vivek Ramaswamy & James Lindsay on winning the Culture War, Snowflakes at TBR ban a Christian Nationalist, McLean Bible Church hid financial dealings with SBC from its Treasurer, Johnny Hunt sues Southern Baptist Convention. McLean Bible Church - Wikipedia He noted that he had been fighting to challenge the church on these points for about two years without success and urged Platts critics to quietly walk away instead of tarnishing the churchs reputation. ", The church says it made efforts to resolve the complaint and invited the plaintiffs to pursue "Christian mediation and reconciliation." McLean Bible Church McLean Bible Church announced that three new elders, Chuck Hollingsworth, Ken Tucker, and Jim Burris, had finally been affirmed by more than 80% of their church family in a congregational vote last Sunday, after a previous election on June 30 was marred by irregularities.. The factions at McLean, as CT previously reported, reflect broader political and cultural tensions within evangelicalism, particularly around racial justice, with pastors participating in a Christian march following George Floyds death in 2020. David Platt is not just a three-time New York Times bestselling author, he is the former president of the Southern Baptist Conventions International Mission Board and current pastor of McLean Bible Church in the Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C. The dispute at McLean centered around a failed June 30, 2021, election. Rick Boyer, attorney for the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, said his clients plan to appeal. New Age Thinking Lured Me into Danger. If David Platt was upset in July, just wait for the next couple of months. (David Platt's resource ministry) simulcasts. I think about a group in our church that just went through a multi-week journey where they were diving into all these different kinds of issues together, and people sharing passionate disagreements with each other, with tears, borne out of a lot of personal experience and even hurt, but they were listening to each other. In a statement to The Christian Post, MBC's three lead pastors, David Platt, Mike Kelsey and Wade Burnett, expressed their delight with the court's decision. The plaintiffs contend that the church board sought to disqualify members from voting, "attempting to purge members by designating them 'inactive' on an arbitrary basis, with no record that the members had missed eight consecutive Sundays, and without investigation into whether the members had 'reasonable excuse,' such as missing services for fear of the coronavirus, or even from the Church's own cancellation of in-person services due to the coronavirus. "But through it all, God has been both present and faithful, and in His Word we are provided with a clear call to pursue peace so far as it depends on us. While both Platt and the church itself would appear to outsider observers as well on the conservative end of the political and theological spectrum, some members accused Platt of trading biblical teaching for social justice and Critical Race Theory. We are pleased that the Court is allowing this case to move forward. ChristianHeadlines.com is a member of the Salem Web Network. Wade Burnett, a pastor on McLeans leadership team, said the congregation decided to move forward together in a difficult time. Accusations Surround Elder Selection at McLean Bible Church He wrote the acclaimed book Radical: Taking Your Faith from the American Dream and started the Secret Church bible study events. Leadership - McLean Bible Church | McLean Bible Church To enjoy our website, you'll need to enable JavaScript in your web browser. Since 2017, McLean has been led by Pastor David Platt, former president of the Southern Baptist Conventions International Missions Board. The multi-site churchs constitution states that the body is to remain independent, unaffiliated with any denomination. Being a pastor in Metro D.C. is a never-ending lesson because of the joys and challenges of trying to shepherd a church with a hundred-plus nations represented, in this city, amidst political tensions, amidst racial tensions and trying to promote the supremacy of Jesus above it all and shepherd the church to be the bride were created to be, he explained. The three elders recently resigned at the direction of a churchwide vote and were put up for a new vote along with this years nominees; all six were elected on June 6 with more than 86 percent in favor, the church said. Platt is currently the pastor of McLean Bible Church in Virginia. But through it all, God has been both present and faithful, and in his word we are provided with a clear call to pursue peace so far as it depends on us. Five longtime church members Steve Gaskins, Michael Manfredi, Roland Smith, Deborah Ash and Kevin Elwell alleged in the dismissed complaint that McLean Bible Church and its board of elders denied members the opportunity to cast a secret ballot in the elder election held July 18, 2021. Any member who had changed churches due to the tainted election of June/July 2021 would be required either to lie or not be allowed to cast a vote despite the fact that they would have been entitled to do so at the tainted 2021 election. But when she aligned herself with Gods purposes, she became the Mother of All Living.. We are voting again so that the entire body of MBC has an opportunity to speak into this critical moment in the life of our church, the church said in a statement on their website about the first election. And I think the effects of that are all around us. A religious liberty newsletter that is a must-read for people of faith. To no surprise to anyone, the elders put up by David Platt and the MBC leadership win in a landslide, one post remarked. All rights reserved. This book is just the overflow of those joys and challenges in my own life, conviction in my own life, things Im learning along the way that God is sanctifying me, and at the same time encouraging me through his word.. According to a church census released in 2018, it claimed a weekly attendance of 10,510 people and 5 campuses in different cities.