First?

Tim Armstrong had the Trustee Board “under his spell.” They weren’t allowed to talk to pastors other than Tim. That allowed Tim to paint whatever picture he wanted of pastors and staff, and there was no way for the trustees to verify with anyone. There was a toxic loyalty to Tim.

While this worked, and allowed Tim to fire many staff and pastors at the Akron campus that didn’t “share his vision” or “caused disunity”, it didn’t work when he came after Mike Castelli. While Mike was grilled for hours in front of the trustees, Tim, and an attorney hired by the trustees, he suddenly made the trustees begin to question Tim’s decision making. Mike is an extremely godly, humble, intelligent man. However, the trustees do not have employment responsibility over Mike. By the Constitution, Tim was allowed to fire Mike.

Tim’s action came as a surprise to the trustees, though. There was still a lot of disagreement among the trustees with Tim regarding this decision. In the rush to get a communication out to the congregation, a whole lot of people, including Tim’s legal representative, were allowed to edit that first letter. That’s why it’s a case study in awful communication.

Essentially, the trustees have come to realize since May 22 that they were completely bamboozled by Tim Armstrong.

If you’ve ever read “A Church Called TOV”, the first half of the book describes Tim Armstrong’s organization. On the other hand, the second half of the book, talking about the “circle of TOV”, describes perfectly the Green Campus under Mike Castelli. Somehow, Mike was able to filter nearly all of the toxicity coming from 10 minutes up I-77, take it upon himself, protect his staff and congregation, and lead a loving, fruitful, gracious congregation. I literally don’t know how he didn’t have a heart attack or mental illness.

I’m confident Mike will be back leading Green, as long as he and the trustees can come to an agreement that the campuses will have autonomy in the future. This is the second time the pastor in charge of Central Administration had tried to take over at Green. It happened under Paul Saratarelli, also. Mike needs assurance that this won’t happen again. He needs to be free to shepherd his people without fearing he’ll be replaced by the next guy who thinks he can just take over a large congregation in the suburbs. As a Green attender, it amazes me that there’s more to Green than a nice building and a large congregation. We actually love each other and get along and are excited to do ministry together because of the way that Mike lives out the scriptures for us, surrounds himself with great people who love Jesus and love Mike, and shows us how to extend God’s love to others.

As far as Jim Mitchell, no one seems to know what will happen. The generally consensus is that Jim was also under Tim’s spell, and did his bidding as Executive Pastor. This doesn’t excuse what happened, and only the Constitution Committee and Trustees know the depth of Jim’s guilt in the many firings, demotions, heavy-handedness, etc. However, I can’t see how Jim will ever be able to continue as Executive Pastor.

One major concern right now is for the Staff and congregation in Akron. Unfortunately, they were mostly unaware that the investigation had anything to do with toxic leadership by Tim, and now they’ve lost their pastor. The lack of transparency from the Constitution Committee has been hurtful, but I think that might just be a continuation of Tim’s culture of secrecy. It would have been helpful if they had signaled this before so Akron wasn’t blind-sided.

The Chapel has a lot of healing to do.

A new name in the sexual assault category of “pastors.” And now GRACE is involved in the investigation: https://julieroys.com/pca-min-joshua-chung-alleged-misconduct/

The constitution is there for the difficult circumstances. If the elders ignore it, especially when ignoring it bypasses the authority of the congregation established in the constitution, I believe it indicates that something similar to an insurrection has occurred.

A Church Constitution that cannot, and indeed fails to restrain the ambition of a strong-man, is no Constitution at all.

Mr. Jesperson: A new name in the sexual assault category of “pastors.” And now GRACE is involved in the investigation: https://julieroys.com/pca-min-joshua-chung-alleged-misconduct/

The linked article is similar to so many “church” abuse articles (very big sigh, and no offense intended by what might sound like my “ho hum” attitude).

One difference I noted in the linked article was the lack of multiple quotes by “church” types of accountability and / or transparency (which lack and / or omission could have happened for any number of reasons).

Headless Unicorn Guy: Pastor/Rapists

Has any pastor or teacher ever preached on this evil?
Do any churches offer training on how to do church and protect yourself and your loved ones?

Is this the elephant in the room type of deal?
Heads in the sand?

The whole issue of constitutions, by-laws, etc. in church government is laughable. When I served as a state demoninational executive charged with working with ministers and churches (Pre-fundie SBC), I was astounded how regularly these documents were ignored when issues with ministerial staff came up.

For instance, most by-laws directed that an issue should be brought to the deacons and if not resolved there, then taken before the congregation for a vote. The reality in most situations is that staff were fired by the deacon board, a few powerful deacons, or some folks in the church who “had money” and paid the minister to “leave quietly.”

Thus, the efficacy of any “document” lies in the integrity of those are entrusted to administrate it.

“Several members and former members of The Chapel have told me that Senior Pastor Tim Armstrong has been abusive of staff members for years!”

In the news today, additional allegations came forth about a leading politician who created a work environment that was “toxic, hostile, and abusive.” TWW continues to report the same thing about about ministers and ministries. This ought not to be.

Ava Aaronson: Imagine the seminary courses that could be offered, were seminaries sincere about doing church safely, godly:

-protection from & dealing with predators who use church as their hunting ground
-what is a church predator
-predator pastors among us
-wrongful use of the Bible for misogyny
-equality of race & gender as supported by Scripture
-pastor or snake oil salesman (not using the church for $$$)
-youth pastors or statutory rapists
-supporting those dealing with DV
-supporting those dealing with CSA

What else?

Almost everything TWW covers could be written up as a course in seminary. What aren’t seminaries covering these topics.

Care for career too often trumps care for the flock. With the worst of them, the former can be the main priority and the latter can be all but obliterated

Todd Wilhelm: Thanks for your comment, Chapel attendee. I don’t doubt Pastor Jim made a favorable impression on you, but it’s hard to gauge a pastor on one face to face conversation. Hopefully the Constitution Committee will get the facts as they continue their investigation.

I have known Pastor Jim Mitchell for as long as he has been at The Chapel (30 years). He has always been an honorable and caring person. Even when TA began the “protection” of the pastoral staff by making it so that they weren’t so accessible, Pastor Jim was always available if one needed to talk.

I believe that he too was sucked in to TA’s act like the trustees were and pray that he will be reinstated.

Anita Levy: The right decision was made. It is not necessary to go into detail the abuse from Armstrong. It serves no purpose. Now is the time to trust God and His guidance for the future of the Chapel. The decision was made after a thorough investigation and much prayer. To criticize will only cause more disunity instead of peace.

Why are you trying to silence people who are hurting, and who will benefit from solace?

If the right decisions have been made, what harm can come from talking in great detail about the church’s brilliant solutions? Surely God wants his people to understand precisely what happened and to know in detail how they are now being protected.

Silence is not the same thing as trusting God. Silencing a whole congregation? I’ve been in a congregation that was told by mere humans not to talk about something painful. The experience harmed people and drove many families away from the church altogether.

I also note that you think this church will receive God’s guidance. Precisely how is God going to transmit this guidance, if everyone has been banned from using words?

Friend: Silence is not the same thing as trusting God. Silencing a whole congregation?

“For everything there is a season … a time to keep silence, and a time to speak” (Ecclesiastes 3)

Anita Levy:
GPH,

The right decision was made. It is not necessary to go into detail the abuse from Armstrong. It serves no purpose. Now is the time to trust God and His guidance for the future of the Chapel. The decision was made after a thorough investigation and much prayer. To criticize will only cause more disunity instead of peace.

As far as purpose, the verse cited in the article appears to point to a purpose: “But those sinning, rebuke before all, so that the rest might have fear as well.” (1 Timothy 5:20)

JDV: so that the rest might have fear as well

The fear always strikes the wrong people, though. Abusers know no fear except that of the loss of power, and their fellow elders and pastors will make sure that is never a threat.

Meanwhile the pewsitters have learned all too well the power of fear, because they have been threatened with Hell if they dare speak up.

It’s a tired old trick.

Pray for Dee and her family:

“My mother has been in the hospital with heart failure. My daughter’s wedding is next week. Needless to say, I’m a bit overwhelmed. That’s the reason I have not been posting on social media. If you have a moment, please pray for my family.”
11:34 AM · Aug 5, 2021·Twitter Web App

drstevej: Pray for Dee and her family:

“My mother has been in the hospital with heart failure. My daughter’s wedding is next week. Needless to say, I’m a bit overwhelmed. That’s the reason I have not been posting on social media. If you have a moment, please pray for my family.”
11:34 AM · Aug 5, 2021·Twitter Web App

Thinking of you, Dee….I know what it’s like to feel overwhelmed.

I just prayed for you Dee. Praying that your daughter’s wedding will be a joyous occasion and that your Mom will be stabilized.

Chapel Choir Member: I have known Pastor Jim Mitchell for as long as he has been at The Chapel (30 years). He has always been an honorable and caring person. Even when TA began the “protection” of the pastoral staff by making it so that they weren’t so accessible, Pastor Jim was always available if one needed to talk.

I believe that he too was sucked in to TA’s act like the trustees were and pray that he will be reinstated.

Thank you for your comment Chapel Choir Member. I got the same feelings from pastor Jim too and appreciate the validation. In my meeting with him, I expressed how I was unwelcomed at other churches in the area. Pastor Jim sat with me for 45 minutes discussing this and said I was welcome to attend services at The Chapel. He easily could have asked me to leave, but I felt nothing but acceptance and understanding from him.

I do not attend bible study groups at The Chapel, so I am not as involved as others to notice many staff changes. If I did not check the staff listing on the website from time to time, I probably wouldn’t have noticed these changes other than some on the worship team. Because I’m unfamiliar with larger churches, I thought this might be normal for them, but now I’m thinking it could be because TA forced some people out. One thing I did notice was that many times TA wasn’t present when the service started and would walk in late. Normal for other churches this size? I’m not sure. Hope I’m not being judgmental in this regard and if I am, I apologize.

Friend: the pewsitters

It’s my hope that one day the “pewsitters” will realize they are the Church. On Roys’ recent podcast, Rebecca Davis talked about going upstream to stop people from falling into the river in the first place. I think one of the cliffs “pewsitters” are falling off is the abdication of their collective authority as the Church and their submission to self-appointed leaders who think the Church exists to serve them, instead of the other way around. I think “pewsitters” are so accustomed to thinking this way at this moment in evangelical history it will be 5-10 years before large numbers even begin to entertain the thought they don’t have to be slaves to their leaders.

Chapel attendee: Pastor Jim sat with me for 45 minutes discussing this and said I was welcome to attend services at The Chapel. He easily could have asked me to leave, but I felt nothing but acceptance and understanding from him.

How awful that you felt unwelcome at other churches. Granted, every group has its quirks, but a church will wither if it wards people off.

I do not think that any pastor could “easily” ask a visitor to leave. I understand that you are saying he treated you kindly, but you sought a pastor to discuss participation in that church. You were not committing a crime or even a small violation of etiquette. You were offering to be a part of the congregation! Any pastor should express THANKS to you.

May God bless you as you continue your earnest quest for fellowship.

More generally (not about you)…

All of us need to hold pastors to a far higher standard.

A pastor is not a bouncer at a disco.

We are the people of God, and the church is supposed to be God’s house.

Chapel attendee: Thank you for your comment Chapel Choir Member. I got the same feelings from pastor Jim too and appreciate the validation. In my meeting with him, I expressed how I was unwelcomed at other churches in the area. Pastor Jim sat with me for 45 minutes discussing this and said I was welcome to attend services at The Chapel. He easily could have asked me to leave, but I felt nothing but acceptance and understanding from him.

You are welcome! Pastor Jim was the associate choir director for many years then was the head of the music department from 1998 until TA came in 2014 and Jim was promoted to Executive Pastor. So I am very familiar with him. He has always been a very humble man.

I have not been in the choir since 2017 when I had to move back to the area I grew up in to take care of my Dad. But even then he was always accessible.

Just recently I texted him in March to see if I could call him with a prayer request. He was in meetings but said he would get back with me.
A couple weeks later I stopped in at the church to see if I could talk with him. His secretary said he was in meetings but she would let him know I had stopped by.

Before I even got out of the church building he came to find me apologizing for having not having gotten back with me. I shared my prayer request and he immediately prayed for the situation.

That speaks volumes to me of the kind of man he is. I truly pray that he is reinstated. I pray the same thing for Pastor Mike.

Friend: I understand that you are saying he treated you kindly, but you sought a pastor to discuss participation in that church. You were not committing a crime or even a small violation of etiquette. You were offering to be a part of the congregation! Any pastor should express THANKS to you.

Yes, you are correct. My wording was a little backwards. After my 45 minute discussion with Pastor Jim Mitchell, I felt nothing but acceptance and understanding from him and he welcomed me to worship there. Jim easily could have said The Chapel wasn’t for me, like other churches have done. Thankfully this was not the case.

Friend:May God bless you as you continue your earnest quest for fellowship.

Thank you Friend for your encouragement and support!

Chapel Choir Member: Before I even got out of the church building he came to find me apologizing for having not having gotten back with me. I shared my prayer request and he immediately prayed for the situation.

That speaks volumes to me of the kind of man he is. I truly pray that he is reinstated. I pray the same thing for Pastor Mike.

I agree, what a good story that shows who Jim Mitchell is. Thank you for sharing more details. Any time I would see Pastor Jim on Sundays either walking in/out of church, he always went out of his way to say hello to me. Also pray that Pastors Jim and Mike are re-instated after the committee’s investigation.

Todd Wilhelm: servant leadership

What even is that?

Paul K: I think “pewsitters” are so accustomed to thinking this way at this moment in evangelical history it will be 5-10 years before large numbers even begin to entertain the thought they don’t have to be slaves to their leaders.

Sheila Gregoire and co. speculated today that the church is going through another reformation. That was oddly encouraging to hear.

Fast forward to the 44:20 mark to hear this section of the podcast: https://tolovehonorandvacuum.com/2021/08/podcast-on-sex-new-reformation/

PSA, if you listen to the earlier part of the podcast with young children around, there will probably be some awkward questions to answer later on.

Todd Wilhelm:
Ava Aaronson,
That’s a fairly complete list. Perhaps a few hours could be spent on servant leadership!

Based on a lifetime of church. and time spent working in a denominational organization, my impression of “servant leadership” is that it sounds great but in actual practice becomes, “You be the servant, I’ll be the leader.”

Jesus never told his followers to be leaders. He told them, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” (Mark 9:35)
Paul called himself a “servant of Jesus Christ.” (Romans 1;1,Philippians 1:1)

It’s not Scripture, but I like this definition: “Leadership is not about being in charge. Leadership is about taking care of those in your charge.” (Simon Sinek)

emr: my impression of “servant leadership” is that it sounds great but in actual practice becomes, “You be the servant, I’ll be the leader.”

Christianity has built-in paradoxes. Unfortunately some among us invent more and more of them, and abandon all attempts at thinking. Why stop at life overcoming death, when you can say that red equals green? Sure, that’ll preach.

And likewise here with the servant leader trope. I’ve long suspected that adding “leader” was the only way to get 100% all-male authority class to call themselves servants.

Friend: What even is that?

Latest buzzword for Clergy Holds the Whip, Laity Feels the Whip.
Making long prayers for justification.

Todd Wilhelm:
To “A Lawyer,”
Thanks for your comment, …

Thx for the clarification on what you see as the legal issues, TW. I still think the removal process here does not indicate impropriety in the context of US common law or organizational law as scoped by the church constitution. There may be fair comment to be offered on how this removal occurred, on the basis of scripture, principles of transparent leadership, or other moral/leadership grounds. But I think an assertion of legal error or impropriety would not survive summary judgment in any court or employment commission in the land.

As in every case, for the right fee there is always a lawyer willing to make the contrary argument. 😉

linda,

Excellent comments, linda. That’s very much what I was thinking, that Jesus is saying, “The problem is that you want to be ‘first’ at all!”

This is not to say that there’s no place for leadership in the church or elsewhere. I just don’t think that situation is addressed by the verses under discussion. Good leadership is much more about a combination of high character and high competence, and affixing “servant” to that really isn’t helpful.

linda,

Well said linda, and I agree.

Muff Potter,

Gregoire makes handsome bank off of what she sells, and she does it by tapping into insecurity and the very human desire for validation.
I think Eurythmics put it best in 1983:

Sweet dreams are made of this
Who am I to disagree?
I travel the world and the seven seas
Everybody’s looking for something…

linda: The first to get their hands dirty WITHOUT the view or approval of other human beings.

IOW, no camera crew.

Cynthia W.: Ms. Gregoire

Comment on the very interesting side topic discussion of Ms. Gregoire:

Her message of mutuality during intimacy is good. Both the guy & the lady should experience pleasure, equally. If not, something is wrong.

However, the pinnacle of human experience, emotionally & everything else, IMHO, still goes back to Jesus’ recommendations to:
1. Love God with all your heart, soul, mind, & strength
2. Love your neighbor as yourself.

Neither of these requires marriage and often have nothing to do with marriage; marriage has its place, nothing more or less. The sex focus (focus!) is a myth, a rabbit hole, maybe even a black hole. There’s more to living than life in the sack; it has its place, nothing more, nothing less. “Wide my world, narrow my bed” some say.

Max: … and “taking care of” folks in church doesn’t mean getting rid of anyone and everyone who gets in the way of ‘your’ “vision” … as a hit man “taking care of” those whom the crime boss doesn’t like.

If a person is attending a church, and they are not part of the vision of that church/leadership, then leave the church.

IOW, if a person is an orphan or a widow, for example, and the church they attend has NOTHING (not even encouragement) for orphans & widows, then that person should not feel guilty or unseen or shame, they should just LEAVE.

Cynthia W.:
For example, at the beginning of Chapter 12, she says orgasm is “the pinnacle of human emotional experience.” That is JUST SO MULTIPLE EXPLETIVES WRONG.

*drily* as an middle aged single woman who is not in a sexual relationship and not interested in being in a sexual relationship, I guess I’m just doing it wrong. And I don’t think the orgasm is the “pinnacle of human emotional experience.” I do think that the pinnacle of my human emotional experience is best expressed by 1 Corinthians 13:12: “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.”

I have had those moments, they are overwhelming and unforgettable. The orgasm doesn’t really match up to that.

Cynthia W.,

I can’t speak for Sheila, so I’ll just provide some additional context from Chapter 8 of “The Great Sex Rescue,” if this is the book you happen to be referring to, since a similar statement to what you quoted appears on page 140.

“If you are continuously choosing video games, Netflix, or anything else over your spouse and your marriage, your marriage will seriously suffer long-term” (pg 141.” I note that Gregiore’s examples are choosing entertainment and personal gratification (video games, Netflix, pornography, etc.) over an emotionally intimate encounter with one’s spouse. The example you chose of changing a dirty diaper is at least contributing to the healthy functioning of the household, but that’s a bit of an apples-to-oranges comparison.

“Nevertheless, let’s not be quick to assume that a spouse withholding sex is always doing so for selfish or sinful reasons” (pg 143). The remaining 13 pages of the chapter touch on topics such as sexual abuse and trauma, physical sexual dysfunction of both men and women, emotional abuse, lack of emotional intimacy (“Many sexless marriages have, at their root, not a selfish refusal on the part of one spouse but rather an attempt at emotional protection,” pg 147.), and even marriages in which intercourse takes place but is one-sided in the pleasure department (so, more like a clean toilet than a stash if ice cream in the freezer, if we’re comparing to household products). In fact, when talking about their survey results, “almost no sexless marriages were caused by women giving up on sex WITHOUT CAUSE” (pg 152, emphasis mine).

Was there a particular place in the book that states that great marital sex is “the pinnacle of human relationship”? I saw it described as a fulfillment for emotional connection in the context of MARRIAGE (as you noted, she IS addressing a niche market), but not a hierarchy of the marital relationship compared to those with one’s parents/siblings/BFFs/children/etc.

Wild Honey,

Yes, that was the book. I read it over strong feelings of revulsion, just to be fair.

She used the words that orgasm is the pinnacle of human emotional experience. Now, it is true that not everyone gets stone-cold fixated on the actual words of texts the way I do. Other people would say, “Oh, I get what that’s intended to convey; don’t be so literal, Cynthia.”

However, I think the intense emphasis on the marvelous magnificence of sex, and the constant connection of that to “What God Wants For You,” is … what’s a good word … really “niche” … and denigrating to all one’s other relationships and even to all one’s non-bodily-function-related intimacy in marriage.

It is also true that Ms. Gregoire’s ministry and books may be just the thing for some people.

Wild Honey,

Right. Balance. IMHO, she does good work, in particular the fact that she references some interesting studies. Research.

Wild Honey: shouldn’t we also balance this particular sentence with the number of times she mentions the guiding principle of living like or being like Jesus

Yes, we should. There are many good points among the ones with which I disagree.

JDV,

“Care for career too often trumps care for the flock. With the worst of them, the former can be the main priority and the latter can be all but obliterated”
+++++++++++++++

as i see it, it’s become standard practice, such that even the best of them don’t really question it. it’s assumed to be biblical & God-sanctioned.

I see pastors everywhere simply accepting everything their peers are doing and everything endorsed with a big name — without scrutiny.

it’s amazing to me how professional christians are so easily taken in, without consideration for how ethical, how destructive to human lives…

the lack of awareness of consequences is staggering.

(and now i’m going to make a very plain-spoken observation: women in leadership do not miss the spectrum of consequences)

Cynthia W.,

“She keeps saying, “God wants you to have amazing, mind-blowing, toe-curling sex!” (Where is that in the Bible?)”
+++++++++++++++++++

an argument from silence.

“if that’s what you want, great! if you don’t, ‘tcha, fine. Let’s just work together to create something good.”–God

elastigirl: if that’s what you want, great! if you don’t, ‘tcha, fine.

Yes, moderation rather than browbeating. I think I might be overreacting due to trauma and a categorizing and syllogizing habit of mind. However, even a few people’s somewhat understanding is encouraging: maybe I’m not completely crazy!

elastigirl,

Google turns up a remarkable number of correlations of “Sheldon” and “income tax.” I did not include “root canal” in the search ;-).

elastigirl,

“new levels of awareness”
+++++++++

…which, really, just serve to resort it all with obvious common sense taking *at least* the top 10 spots.

Cynthia W.,

no need for 53 new christian books, 87 different blog post articles from 87 different professional christians to come up with what everyone else already knows.

What a sad and hurtful time for so many of us who called the Chapel our church! Not only do we hurt, but Christianity experiences such harmful damage. Heaven must be weeping over this also. All things work for good for those who love the Lord ~ in his time and will.
But my main concern and heartache are for Pastor Burnham and Pastor Larson! I am assuming this situation has not been kept from them. Their hearts must be breaking as they see this turmoil going on where they spent so many successful years serving our Lord and a growing, Christ loving congregation. My prayers are for those faithful men as they grieve over what has happened after 80 plus years to The Chapel in Akron!

Cynthia W.,

ok! then i might be on a distant planet after all!

elastigirl,

crap – i meant to say might “not” be on a distant planet after all.

guess that ship has sailed.

Beverly Bertka,

Beverly, I really feel bad for you and all the members of your congregation who are going through this. I hope you come out at the end with pastors who really care for you and are part of a positive experience of Christ for everyone in the church.

Paul K: The only way to do this IMO is for the collective congregation to be the ultimate authority in every church or denomination. Service always flows upward to the highest authority. If pastors have more authority than their congregation, the congregation will serve the pastors, not the other way around.

Roman Catholicism and the Lutheran Church have done this for centuries with strong central governments.
Perfect?
No, I am not saying that, the Catholic Church has had its own set of problems over time, but they’ve learned from them, what works and what doesn’t.
Chapel Church, like so many in the fundagelical landscape are pastor-centric, the pastor answers to no one but himself.
By contrast, the Lutheran polity has safeguards that prevents a tribal strong-man from taking over a pulpit and ruling as an autocrat.

elastigirl: no need for 53 new christian books, 87 different blog post articles from 87 different professional christians to come up with what everyone else already knows.

They don’t call it the CIC (christian industrial complex) for nuthin’…

Tim was not at The Chapel even a month and wanted to upgrade or remodel parts of the church. I didnt like the idea , but who was I to argue. LOL a grma! Then no more Christmas concerts , no more Operation Chr. child, no more Labor of Love runs, and it goes on! wow! That was just from what I as a 47 yr member I saw. I didnt like it. I used to volunteer a lot! A greeter with my family in freezing weather, rain, or hot outside! After Tim never once said Thanks, we quietly faded out. This is just what I observed from the beginning of his,monarcy.

Wabbitwady: Tim was not at The Chapel even a month and wanted to upgrade or remodel parts of the church … no more Christmas concerts , no more Operation Chr. child, no more Labor of Love runs, and it goes on! … we quietly faded out

You were wise to leave when you did. The only way a narcissist can gain complete control of a church is to do away with the old in order to establish the new. He needs his own framework to manipulate, intimidate, and dominate … the system must revolve around him. All the things you mention were red flags that should have been dealt with decisively by the Board of Trustees, not to mention that they let him have his way for seven more years! When the fingers start pointing at TCC, they need to be squarely in the face of the Trustees.

Muff Potter: They don’t call it the CIC (christian industrial complex) for nuthin’…

CIC is sick and wrong.

Max: The only way a narcissist can gain complete control of a church is to do away with the old in order to establish the new.

“It is not only necessary to destroy the Old Order, the New Order must be previously set up.”
— Adolf Hitler, cult leader

Cynthia W.: She keeps saying, “God wants you to have amazing, mind-blowing, toe-curling sex!” (Where is that in the Bible?) It’s fine, I guess, if she believes that, especially if it’s stated contra the opposite, such as, “God doesn’t want you to,” or “God wants you to have unpleasant sex.”

Her mind is Tiffany-twisted, she got the Mercedes bends
She got a lot of pretty, pretty boys she calls friends
How they dance in the courtyard, sweet summer sweat.
Some dance to remember, some dance to forget…
— Henley, Frey, and Felder 1976 —

Why did TA leave his previous church to take basically a lateral move? I never liked that from the beginning. Also I know from conversations with leaders and staff at the church he definitely played favorites and didn’t mingle with the “underlings”. Some barely knew him and I’m not talking about parishioners. Seems the only thing really important to him was his radio show the Worthy Walk. Kind of ironic.