Also, there are close ties to the SBC since the NAMB . This is extremely important, Platt said with the sound of desperation. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our. It took repeated requests from a few conservative Elders to take down Facebook photos of staff holding BLM signs. NPR's Steve Inskeep talks to journalist and pastor David Roach about an ideological rift at a Washington, D.C.-area church that highlights similar divisions in evangelical groups across the U.S. We have a story now of divisions within a single church that suggest wider divisions in many churches. On Friday, a Fairfax County, Virginia, judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by dissident members of McLean Bible Church who sought to overturn the results of an election for church leaders, known as elders. (Reformation Charlotte) A sad sight to behold is the trajectory that David Platt has been on over the last several years as the Evangelical racial reconciliation movement a movement rooted in Marxist Critical Race Theory has consumed him in nearly every aspect of thought and decision. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. And that leadership is not listening, he said. And depending on how the provisional ballots were adjudicated, those elder nominees got either just below or just above the 75% threshold. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. He ranted, To those of you (esp. It couldnt be that David Platts Woke rhetoric has driven about 40% of church members to attend church in other non-Woke evangelical churches in that part of Virginia! 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. Save McLean Bible Church. Platt knows many McLean members including former church leaders opposed his teachings that appeared to be causing racial divisions by the promotion of Critical Race Theory. Subscribers receive full access to the archives. They gave out some provisional ballots. Many Christians look at the Bible and then look at the picture of American Christianity around them and think, This doesnt add up. Under Solomon, the congregation had been known as a holy destination for GOP senators and Bush aides. Tensions ramped up the past two years amid political turmoil in the DC area and nationwide. We just want to give believers freedom to disagree on things that aren't essentials. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Lon Solomon made one statement in opposition to the Social Justice heresy. Thus, McLean is spending about $4 million less in 2021 than in 2019. Steven Furtick is the lead pastor of Elevation Church, based near Charlotte, North Carolina. Platt taught the course to about 1,000 church members. Pastor David Platt of McLean Bible Church said many of those within his congregation were 'hurt' with his decision to pray for President Donald Trump on stage during Sunday's service. If youre the church of Jesus Christ, thats really problematic.. As if those sources of information are anywhere close to the authority of this Word.. Is this David Platts Stop the Steal moment? McClean Bible Church Pastor David Platt addresses his congregation on July 4, 2021. The church was rocked by controversy in 2019 when President Donald Trump stopped by the service for prayer . It quickly became one of the 50 largest churches in the country, with over 12,000 . If you *really* care about gospel unity, racial reconciliation, and the least of these, do better.. Thanks so much. David Roach has been following this. We are zealous in the present not to prolong or replicate in any way racial injustice from the past. David Platt, the President of our International Mission Board, recently became the preaching pastor at the Mclean Bible Church, a megachurch in the DC area. NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. A group of five former leaders at McLean including a former elder, former staff member and lay leadership warned David Platt in a letter dated February 3, 2021, about numerous moves by Platt and his elders to divide the church along racial lines. According to the letter sent to Platt in February, t the congregational meeting on 12/9/20, in response to a question, David strongly disavowed Black Lives Matter. NO POPUPS. Because of the nature of a lawsuit, unfortunately, we cannot provide any further comment at this time, the elders said in a statement. After graduating from the University of Georgia with two bachelor's degrees, he earned an MDiv, a ThM, and a PhD from the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary; he completed his education in his early 20s, becoming one of the youngest students, if not the youngest student, to ever earn a terminal degree at NOBTS. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". In response, Platt accused his critics in a sermon of spreading disinformation and stuffing the ballot box with votes from former members and inactive church members. Assume this is true for a moment, wouldnt that make someone pause and ask what is going on here? 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, Platt said in a statement Monday. It must be an unprecedented group of divisive liars and racists! July 20, 2021. Are the budget cuts and declining attendance a message that Platts Social Justice Theology is unpopular with churchgoers? The document says that Platt says one thing about Critical Race Theory but clearly does another. The letter describes McLean as a partner with the SBC but not affiliated denominationally with the SBC.. Critics say the churchs leadership has become woke and has substituted critical race theory and social justice for biblical teaching. The course lasted about 15 hours of direct discipleship teaching. Pastor David Platt preaches at McLean Bible Church, July 11, 2021, in Vienna, Virginia. During a sermon on July 4, David Platt very intentionally addressed some of those concerns. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. McLean Bible Church is one of the largest and most influential churches in the nation. From 2014 to 2017, Platt was president of the International Mission Board. But its pastor says a group . Bob Smietana. If people were motivated to drive from Maine and Florida to McLean Bible Church in the suburbs of Washington, D.C., to vote against David Platts Woke agenda, maybe the problem is not with the dissidents but with David Platt? with Max McLean: C.S. ], Subscribe to CT Platts 2020 book Before You Vote also drew criticism from some church members as being soft on traditional evangelical issues like abortion and sexuality. The letter warned, Thabiti Anyabwile, despite promoting progressive talking points at the expense of Christian truth, dividing the body of Christ across racial lines, and promoting the political agenda of Black Liberation Theology, has been used to train the MBC staff and played a prominent role within MBC church life.. CBN-backed candidate Mike Stone received 48 percent of the vote in last months SBC presidential election, finishing second to Alabama pastor Ed Litton. David Platt, pastor at McLean Bible Church in Virginia, speaks at the Pastor's Conference at the Southern Baptist Convention on Monday in Birmingham. The largely conservative northern Virginia church across the Potomac from Washington had . Rumors had begun to circulate around the church that Platt and other leaders planned to sell a church building to a local Muslim congregation for a mosque. The church approved a 2021 budget slashing $2.5 million from what it budgeted in 2020. The level of suspicion around such leaders appears to have grown during the Trump administration and during the reckoning over racism following George Floyds death last year. He also wrote an article equating support for President Trump and support for BLM as equally acceptable for a Christian.. Congregants dance and pray with the church band before Pastor Andy Wood gives a sermon on Sunday, Oct. 16, 2022, at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif. Stacie Wood, the woman pastor at the . Even before Dr. Bauchams book, other Christians were critiquing the David Platts Social Justice sermon. degree in Hebrew and Old Testament (1975, summa cum laude) from Capital Bible . David Joseph Platt is an American evangelical Baptist pastor. Of course, not. We glorify God by making disciples and multiplying churches among all nations beginning in greater. They have several campuses. COVID-19, Frazer said, has made that rule unenforceable. Platt, the author of Radical, is known for his passionate call to evangelism, missions, and Scripture. The churchs constitution describes it as an independent church that shall not, and cannot, be affiliated with any denomination. But in 2016, under Solomon, the church began to give money to SBC church planting programs and it has donated about $100,000 a year as a cooperating church. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Its first service was held on Easter Sunday at Chesterbook Elementary School in McLean with Pastor J. Albert Ford. Longtime member Bill Frazer, 69, believes Sundays election violated the churchs constitution, which states that any member who misses services eight weeks in a row can be designated as inactive. Brothers and sisters, I think we see all over Scripture that the Bible speaks of both sides of this picture, Platt said. (He recently preached one funeral in the building.) Sarah Merkle, an attorney and professional parliamentarian, said the incident highlights the importance in any church of establishing and following sound voting procedures. Those inclined toward CSJ found it inspiring. Michael Kelsey rebuked people offended that some were upset at praying for the President of the United States. McLean Bible Church, originally nondenominational, is a recent member of the Southern Baptist Convention. Because of its proximity to Washington, D.C., many government officials, Capitol Hill staffers, and thought leaders are members. Platt later posted a letter on the churchs website, since removed, and on social media, saying that his decision to pray for the president had angered some church members. Nope. Let us know how we can help, and we'll direct your inquiry to the right person. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin). (RNS) A yearlong legal battle over a contested election at a prominent Washington, D.C.-area church appears to be over for now. The constitution of the church requires a 75% threshold. David Platt asked the remaining Elders to approve the GCJR course curriculum as the main theological underpinning of all other teaching and worship activities at McLean Bible Church. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. That church in the past has been called a hub for Republican senators and Bush aides. Why is David Platt undermining elections? Why does church leadership refuse to answer question. We have walked through tumultuous days over the last year in the world, surfacing many challenges in our lives, families, our country, the world, and the church, Platt told CT. We all need Gods grace to love one another well and to live for the spread of his love in a world that desperately needs what only he can give. View article . It is unclear whether McLean Bible Church is part of the Southern Baptist Convention or an independent congregation. Wait. I don't think that it was about the specific elders so much as the direction of the church. This letter urged Platt and the current elders to reject the Woke path. We recognize the need to examine each of our hearts humbly and continually with the help of the Holy Spirit and the encouragement of brothers and sisters who enable us to see sin in us and sins effects around us in ways that we might not see ourselves., Notice the racial Gnosticism contained within this paragraph. While the church is slashing spending on a variety of things including missions, discipleship, outreach, and church plants, one area of increased spending in 2021 is in the Senior Management salaries. Similar to Naples, McLean Bible Church recently held a vote to confirm three elders the first vote failed. However, Solomon cannot state his opinions publicly because of a separation agreement he signed with the church. The latest controversy revolves around who was eligible to participate in a June 30 vote on elders and has resulted in a lawsuit. From 1980-2017, I had the honor of serving as the Senior Pastor of McLean Bible Church (MBC) in McLean, VA., in the suburbs of Washington, DC. Kelsey is now Pastor of Culture at McLean. Which enabled a small group, just to put it in perspective, less than seven percent of our current membership on Wednesday night, including some people who we know are not actually members, less than seven percent kept elders from being overwhelmingly affirmed by our church family for the first time in our history.. If youre the Red Cross, thats problematic. Disposition definition, the predominant or prevailing tendency of one's spirits; natural mental and emotional outlook or mood; characteristic attitude: I'd like to thank the general manager for his hospitality, kindness, and always cheerful disposition. . Bart Barber, a Texas Baptist pastor who is writing a book on congregational forms of church governance, said that church voting is aimed at finding consensus about what God wants the congregation to do. The conservative voice and Christian content are being silenced more and more. Your daily news briefing from the editors of CT. Evangelical Seminary Explains Why It Enrolled First Muslim Student, I Was the Proverbial, Drug-Fueled Rock and Roller, Everything Everywhere All at Once and the Beautiful Mystery of Gods Silence. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. The letter warned, "Thabiti Anyabwile, despite promoting progressive talking points at the . In June 2019, then-President Donald Trump showed up at a worship service and Platt prayed for him from the stage, an action that drew criticism from some in the church. Sal Cordova (church member &. Strange events are afoot at McLean Bible Church, a multisite megachurch in Washington D.C. pastored by David Platt. But threatening McLean now is a group that has spread all kinds of rumors, Platt said. Platt went on to call the church to give up everything for the glory of God, echoing the message of his 2010 book, Radical, a bestseller that called Christians to give up the American dream in order to serve Jesus and transform the world. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. On Friday, a Fairfax County . Because of the mass exodus McLean cut spending. Just like the Democrats blame racists, so too David Platt. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Platt said in his July 4 sermon that people told voting members, in person and by email, that the elders up for nomination would have sold the churchs Tysons location to build a mosque, with proceeds going to the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). McClean Bible Church is or . In a complaint filed Thursday (July 15), five McLean members allege that Platt and other leaders illegally barred them from voting at a recent congregational meeting to approve new church leaders. Members of David Platt's McLean Bible Church have filed a lawsuit against the church, claiming that leadership violated the church's constitution and used church dollars for controversial financial purchases. David Platt, who has been aligning himself and his church closer and closer to the Revoice "gay Christianity" movement over the last year or so, has been making headlines as he continues to partner . According to the church constitution, elders must be approved by a three-quarters majority, but that day the vote failed, a first in McLean history, according to a church email. Plaintiffs hope that a court will declare Sundays election void and require the church to hold a new election. Some say it is now a running joke that McLean refugees are showing up in other area churches looking for the truth and the Gospel instead of racial identity politics. But David Platt has emphasized that everybody, regardless of their political views or their ethnicity or anything else, should be welcome to hear the gospel and be a part of the church. McLean Bible Church was once the biggest in Virginia. We urge you to sign upto receive our FREE need to read articles. One of the churchs pastors expressed outrage over it. No. Saddleback Church doubles down on support for female pastors, Mormonisms slow shift away from demonizing working mothers, Faith leaders urge Biden to sign executive order for reparations study by Juneteenth, For many congregations, wiping out medical debt has become a popular calling, Woke Wars infiltrate Christian colleges, prof under fire for racial justice unit, Professor Joeckel on why his contract, teachings on racial justice are under review, Hamline University retracts Islamophobia charge as instructor sues, Vineyard USA founders widow, board members sue breakaway Anaheim pastors, alleging fraud. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. SBC Elites cite distinguished lawyer and Southern Baptist Matthew Martens; however, Martens has written persuasively, Supporters of a constitutional amendment to ban women pastors in the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), New intel points to Covid origin in a lab leak, remember when this was a, NAMB PR VP Mike Ebert emerges as key witness in McRaney v. NAMB What will, David Platt explodes at McLean Bible Church, plays the race card, the man responsible for dividing McLean Bible Church by teaching Critical Race Theory, It couldnt be that David Platts Woke rhetoric has driven about 40% of church members to attend church in other non-Woke evangelical churches in that part of Virginia, Ed Litton Plagiarism Scandal: A Sermongate Timeline, Baptist professor strongly suspects former SBC President J.D. Thats led to accusations that Platt and others have become woke and liberal. Some reports indicate it is, while others indicate it isn't. . And then even within the Southern Baptist Convention more broadly, there is a group called the Conservative Baptist Network that has charged some convention leaders with advocating critical race theory and downplaying the Bible's sufficiency. They cited Platts use of Woke resources as further proofPlatt required for his course on Race books likeDivided by Faith: Evangelical Religion and the Problem of Race in America. McLean Bible Church (MBC) was started in the Metro Washington, DC area in 1961 as a non-denominational church. The Washington-area megachurch led by best-selling author David Platt has affirmed three new eldersbut only after a public tussle over politics, race, and alleged liberal drift, plus a lawsuit . The bullseye of the controversy is pastor and best-selling author David Platt, a former president of the Southern Baptist Convention's International Mission Board. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. According to Dr. Baucham in his book Fault Lines, David Platt, then head of the Southern Baptist Conventions International Mission Board, delivered a message from Amos 5, then repented in tears for his white privilege, silence, and inaction. Platt lied about the extent that Critical Race Theory and the Black Lives Matter movement influences McLean Bible Church leadership. He became pastor in 2018 after resigning from the IMB, where his tenure had been disappointing and included the loss of almost 1,000 missionaries to resignations and early retirement. Welcome to the Arlington location of McLean Bible Church. Platt was forced to defend himself in 2019, when then-President Donald Trump showed up on a Sunday morning at McLean Bible with little notice and asked Platt to pray for him. He claimed people were upset by efforts at racial reconciliation. All rights reserved. McLean Bible Church refuses to conduct meeting according to any established rules of order. The conflict at McLean Bible Church is significant not only because of the congregations size and influencewith several thousand attendees and a prominent place in the DC church landscapebut also because the incident marks the latest salvo in an ongoing clash within American evangelicalism. Almost all of the questions we have heard are less about Gods Word and more about what this blog or that Facebook post says, Platt said. (The Roys Report) McLean Bible Church, the multisite megachurch in McLean, Virginia near Washington, D.C. where David Platt pastors, confirmed three new elders Sunday in a revote where members labeled their ballots with their names. Church members were required to show identification, and ballots were labeled with members names. ROACH: It was a tumultuous time. Instead of defending President Trumps visit, Platt seemed to apologize for publicly praying with Donald Trump. Pastor David Platt, left, prays for President Donald Trump at McLean Bible Church, in Vienna, Virginia, on June 2, 2019. At that time, the vote was too close to confirm the new elders because the Church's constitution states it must have at least a 75-percent . The Washington-area megachurch led by best-selling author David Platt has affirmed three new eldersbut only after a public tussle over politics, race, and alleged liberal drift, plus a lawsuit filed by dissenters. Similar to Naples, McLean Bible Church recently held a vote to confirm three elders the first vote failed. And even though people who take the Bible seriously and as the inherent word of God should think certain things about certain issues, then they might prioritize those differently when they go into the voting booth. The church in question is a prominent one, McLean Bible Church, where many Washington Republicans worship. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Ministry partnerships: If you represent an organization which would like to partner with MBC, please fill out the International Partnerships Form or the Local Partnerships Form. Many of its members come from the top ranks of government, media, and business. 2-minute video satire of the present McLean Bible leadership through animating the graph above. 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. But he argued that Virginia law does require churches to follow rules outlined in their constitutions. Any church member on McLeans inactive list was given a provisional ballot. A beloved Bible teacher and speaker, Platt inspired younger Christians to pursue missions work or other ministries. degree in chemistry (1971) from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a Th.M. Platts silent embrace of the radical Black Lives Matter movement and the promotion of Kelsey along with Social Justice Bible studies including Platts own book legitimizing Christians who vote for Pro-Abortion Democrats, conservatives are leaving the church for new homes. It's great to be with you. The suburban DC megachurchs recent scuffle over race and politics is symptomatic of a broader evangelical rift. When you dont follow the rules and it has an effect on a consequential vote, you have now created a huge distraction from your mission, Merkle said. Video screengrab via MBC. All six elders on the ballot received at least 86% approval. Originally, the church's . This past spring, hoping to resolve the dispute, McLean leaders decided to discard the results of the July 2021 elder election. I think were going to work through this, he said. You've read 0 of 5 of todays most popular posts. Greear and Texas megachurch pastor Matt Chandler, have been outspoken about racism and social justice issues, saying that the Bible teaches them to address those issues. Platt and other leaders, they say, have abused their. Yes, the typical political ploy used by Democrats in every election cycle has now entered Evangelical megachurches. McLean Bible which is seen as a conservative evangelical congregation and once had more than 16,000 attendees has long been an important church in Washington with four locations near the . Opponents of McLeans current leadership wrote in a blog posted by the right-wing Capstone Report that Plattwho became pastor of the DC church full time in 2018was attempting to purge conservative members., Platt also described one email circulating that claimed MBC is no longer McLean Bible Church, that its now Melanin Bible Church., I know its so ugly and painful to even hear, but I want to point out the approach thats being used by people giving leadership to this group in these meetings, he told the congregation, calling the claims made about him and the incoming elders unquestionably untrue and in many cases completely unreasonable.. We want to move forward in unity and we do not believe any appellate court would restrict us from doing that., RELATED: Woke war: How social justice and CRT became heresy for evangelicals, Pastor David Platt preaches at McLean Bible Church, July 18, 2021, in Vienna, Virginia. The weeks between the two votes were tumultuous. Barber pointed out that voting is usually donein a public way, by voice vote or raising hands, so theres no historic expectation of privacy, but using a ballot with a church members name on it, especially for a leadership role, would be unprecedented, in his experience. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.