Park Street Church 2014
Park Street Church has always been a shining light for intellectually vibrant Christianity in New England. As my husband and I left Boston, we traveled around the country as he fulfilled his obligations for study and service at the University of Rochester and Duke and spent time in Gallup, New Mexico (NHSC), and Dallas, TX. We have experienced various nondenominational churches, the SBC, and even a Christian Reformed church, although we are not Calvinists.
The devolution of evangelicalism
In our travels and experiences with churches, mostly good and a few bad, we always looked back to PSC as a benchmark with which to measure a church. I thought it was significant that the church had pastors who had taken the time and effort to achieve their Ph.D. It showed in their sermons and maturity. I am sorry this standard has changed in recent history.
Why does it matter? Evangelical Christianity has devolved into an “anything goes” faith. For example, read my post from Wednesday: Ash Wednesday Reflection: Did Crossroads Church (Ohio, KY) Go Too Far by Punting a Bible During Worship for ‘Kicks?’ I submit that many Christians would not be able to explain why this action is unacceptable.
One does not even have to go to college to be a pastor. Here is the sad example of CJ Mahaney (high school only,) who presided over this disaster: The Sex-Abuse Scandal That Devastated a Suburban Megachurch, “Inside the Rise and Fall of Sovereign Grace Ministries.” Many in the evangelical world still support Mahaney.
To put it briefly, the intellectual climate within the evangelical world is sadly lacking. We experienced it. Will PSC follow this slow and steady decline towards becoming one of those many ho-hum churches?
The erosion of trust in the church
As some know, I write about sexual abuse in the church. Sadly, victims of sexual abuse in this environment have been rejected by the church and often told to “never say a word” about what happened. The Southern Baptist Executive Committee kept a secret list of known sexual offenders, which was recently exposed.
This lack of trust, not only in sexual abuse matters, has eroded the public’s confidence in pastors.
Does silence lead to the erosion of trust?
In 2017, I wrote Mr. Ravi Zacharias Adds Pizzazz to His Bio and the Christian Industrial Complex Imposes the Cone of Silence. It was clear that Zacharias was not telling the truth about his resume. Even worse, the Christian community, especially well-known church leaders, imposed a “cone of silence.” Nice Christian people were not to talk about it.
According to the Christian Post, in Ravi Zacharias’ Ministry Responds to ‘Egregious Claims’ and ‘Slander’ About His Character, Accomplishments
Many Christian leaders “stood up” and defended Zacharias. Those of us who suspected further problems were aghast. If he lied about this, what else was he lying about? The truth was exposed and worse than any of us could have imagined. Leaders had to apologize.
God gave Christians a lesson. Have we learned?
Christians around the world were stunned and discouraged. In my own life, I have looked at the bad and integrated what I learned. I have some excellent pastors in my Lutheran church. They routinely remind us from the pulpit that they are sinners, just like the rest of us. As I look back on my Christian journey, I have seen pastors live out their sins by lying, concealing, abusing, and enjoying their reign in the local church and denominations.
I have taken Ronald Reagan’s simple “Trust but verify” advice as my bottom line in the trust department. I expect my pastors to be transparent when I ask them a question. Let me give you an example of what led me to leave a church when a new pastor arrived at Chapel Hill Bible Church. We had a Q and A night in which we submitted questions. My question was the only one that was not read or answered.
Are you a Calvinist.
The lack of response was an affirmative answer. There have been concerns about rising authoritarianism with what some call the New Calvinists, so we left. It was no surprise that within short order, the church was in disarray, and some from the church reached out to me, discouraged and filled with mistrust. His refusal to answer the question was key. He was a New Calvinist and instituted typical church takeover measures.
Indeed, the reader knows where this is going.
Mark Booker: Did he or others misrepresent his credentials? It appears there is no Master of Arts per se at Oxford. Yikes.
Here is what is known to many of the rank-and-file members. Mark Booker went to Oxford, which sounds even cooler than Harvard. I am thankful to “Jerome” for spelling this out clearly. Booker has, according to the elders:
“both a Master of Arts, Theology (First Class) and a Master of Studies, Theology (Distinction), from the University of Oxford (Queen’s College) in the United Kingdom”
There appears to be a problem. According to Wikipedia, there is no Masters of Art at Oxford. From what we can figure out:
The University of Oxford has no postgraduate “Master of Arts”, there it’s effectively an upgraded title for a Bachelor’s, and is bestowed upon payment, seven years after matriculation:
According to Wikipedia:
“In the universities of Oxford, Cambridge, and Dublin, Bachelors of Arts are promoted to the degree of Master of Arts or Master in Arts (MA) on application after six or seven years as members of the university…Within these three universities there are in fact no postgraduate degrees which result in the postnominals ‘MA’. No further examination or study is required for this promotion and it is equivalent to undergraduate degrees awarded by other universities.”
This is a damning article from The Oxford Student about this practice titled Degrees should be earned, not bought.
No, none of the above; I’m talking about the Oxford Master of Arts degree, the scheme by which once 21 terms (that’s seven years, fellow humanities students) have passed since their matriculation, holders of Bachelors of Arts or Fine Arts degrees can take their MA. The word ‘take’ pretty much sums up the process – you pay £10, and, err… that’s it. It seems an attractive chance for an upgrade, on the face of it, except as the websites of various colleges make clear, that’s not the right way of looking at it. “Please note the Oxford MA is about reaching a new status within the university and not an upgrade of your BA or an additional qualification,” the warning reads.
...Of course, having an MA might lend you an advantage – an unfair one, it scarcely merits saying – in the job market, as various studies show that many employers don’t know that the Oxford MA (nor for that matter its Cambridge equivalent) is not an earned degree. It might allow you greater social status, depending on the circles in which you move, or perhaps cheaper car insurance, I don’t know. It might just make you happy and give you a good day out should you choose to attend your ceremony. And to be honest, a bit of pomp, circumstance and a new accolade does seem somewhat attractive.
Let’s sum this up via Jerome.
seven years…have passed since their matriculation, holders of Bachelors of Arts or Fine Arts degrees can take their MA. The word ‘take’ pretty much sums up the process – you pay £10…that’s it…many employers don’t know that the Oxford MA (nor for that matter its Cambridge equivalent) is not an earned degree”.
- If one has a Bachelor of Arts, one can pay £10 and get the Master.
- Many employers do not know that one can pay $12.61 (today) and get a Master.
- The students at Oxford appear to know that this is a farce.
Question:
Did Mark Booker pay $12.61 in today’s dollars for his Master of Arts?
Let’s go a bit further. Pay attention to the B.Th description. According to Wayback in 2004:
“One of the biggest shocks to those coming to Oxford from another country is the difference in the educational systems….Most international students, especially those seeking to be ordained, will be choosing either the two-year Bachelor of Arts in Theology (BA) followed by the one-year Oxford Diploma in Ministry (ODM), or they will choose the three-year Bachelor of Theology (B.Th).”
“BACHELOR OF ARTS IN THEOLOGY [BA]. This is the standard Oxford University Course in Theology. It is a two year course (if you have a degree from another University) and it is focused mainly on academics.”
“BACHELOR OF THEOLOGY [B.Th]. This degree was created by Oxford University to offer…theological and practical training for Christian ministry. As such, it is a favorite of those seeking to be ordained as priests or deacons….this is an undergraduate degree, but…the equivalent of a Masters of Divinity (M.Div.) from an American university.”
Does this mean one needs to get a Bachelor of Theology to have the equivalent of a Master of Divinity? A Bachelor of Theology is a three-year degree, appearing more like our MDiv.
The big question.
Does Mark Booker have the equivalent of a Master of Divinity, which is a B.Th? Maybe not. This is confusing and problematic.
Why did the elders imply he had the equivalent of an MDiv?
I don’t know, so I can only speculate.
- Did they not do due diligence in figuring this out?
- Was the leadership conned and then surprised? Did they then need to cover it up to protect their image? Remember the “cone of silence.”
- Did someone they trust give them bad information?
- Did they not care enough to attempt to get a person with an MDiv after putting the Ph.D. aside since it no longer matters?
- Does a Ph.D. actually matter?
- Do they think the membership is too stupid to figure this out?
- Could a lack of training have led to the problems at PSC?
- Even worse, are they actively attempting to never answer questions on this matter?
- Why don’t all of the members ask? Have they been conditioned to “trust” the elders?
- Do members think that asking questions makes them a “bad member?”
- Are pastors and elders setting up two camps: those “with us” and those “against us?”
- Do the elders and pastors believe the church will fail if there is disagreement?
PSC has a problem. Once trust is broken, there will be a general belief that the leadership cannot be trusted. Look at the chart above. Trust in the church is declining. Will PSC lead the way in restoring trust in the church, or will PSC become one of those “typical” ho-hum evangelical churches by being led away from a congregational model to an elder rule model? I am betting on the latter.
Once the cone of silence is employed to avoid discussion of Mark Booker’s education, the devolution of PSC is inevitable. There will be turmoil, and it will continue under the surface as new members learn of the problems. If he misstated or misled PSC in this straightforward matter, would he do the same in other areas of his life and church? Only time will tell.
Elders, always be transparent and tell the church what is happening, even if it will cause a dispute. Trust, once broken, is hard to regain. Please do not contribute to the mistrust that many people have of the church. (See the above chart.)
My bottom line is simple. Unless PSC releases Mark Booker’s credentials, I believe an inconvenient truth is being withheld. I’m interested in hearing from readers who think I am wrong in my assessment.
A message to those who are hurting and concerned.
I have talked with long-term staff, members, former members, and leadership, and I want to be an encouragement to you. I have been in a similar situation, and I still remember the pain that was like a gut punch. Sometimes, I find myself putting my hand on my abdomen as I remember. Many church leaders and members have experienced pain and disbelief when they discovered their church was not what they thought it was or hoped it would be. During my situation, I remember thinking, “How can Christians behave like this?” Why don’t they see what I’m saying? Then I remember that we are all sinners, even our supposedly “kind of sanctified” leaders.
Keep talking even if you lose the vote. If people accuse you of slander, read why they’re wrong in Slander or an Inconvenient Truth. If they claim you are “misinformed,” ask them for proof. Ask them for proof that Michael Balboni didn’t tell the truth. What is wrong with his letter? Spotting a Few Possible Red Flags Using Dr Michael Balboni’s Memo to Park Street Church Leaders.
Keep asking questions, just like the Bereans. Keep praying. Look at this experience as a learning lab preparing you to serve Him in a new and fresh way. It happened to me, and the result is this blog you are reading. God’s ways are often a surprise.
My church service always ends with the Aaronic blessing. It is my hope and prayer for you and PSC.
The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. (Numbers 6:24–26)
There used to be a time in Southern Baptist life when a “pulpit committee” would require that those who submitted resumes “hold an M.Div. or equivalent from an accredited theological seminary.”
Those days are gone forever . . .
Dee, it seems clear, “the Rev” Booker presented his credentials with a two year masters, which was in fact a bachelors. At a holy moment of ecclesial discernment, he let everyone believe a deception without correction. Does he even have a MA and pay for it? Will the elder coverup continue? Just show the diplomas and make a comparison to his posted resume.
But momma, why can’t I just change a few letters on my CV? What’s the big deal? Reverend Booker did it, and the elders said it was okay. Why can’t I?
As I have said before who ever checked Mark’s academic degrees the local church or the two demoninations he is a part of failed.
As a longtime, former member of PSC, THANK YOU, Dee, for this post!!
Mark Booker’s educational credentials matter – first and foremost, for honesty’s sake.
Did he get one of these £10 “Oxford MA” degrees, and then claim that this was an actual master’s degree to the PSC Search Committee? Did the Search Committee then decide to commit to absolute loyalty to Mark Booker, despite legit questions being raised about his ed creds? The fact that Booker felt so “threatened” and “exasperated” in his Dec ’23 letter to the congregation, ought to raise some eyebrows.
“Keep talking even if you lose the vote. If people accuse you of slander, read why they’re wrong in Slander or an Inconvenient Truth. If they claim you are ‘misinformed,’ ask them for proof. Ask them for proof that Michael Balboni didn’t tell the truth.”
YES!! 100%.
According to this video by 2 PSC elders https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=II4_VMC3t7I (5:15 in), the VOCA Center that was brought in for PSC management consultant purposes claims that there was no evidence of spiritual abuse on the part of Mark Booker (even though the 2 elders also admit that VOCA didn’t really investigate / weren’t qualified to investigate).
So, the ministers & staff, 9 of whom felt threatened (according to Michael Balboni), were interviewed by VOCA, which then gave a confidential report to PSC’s personnel committee… that had fired Michael Balboni (the whistleblower about Mark Booker’s alleged spiritual abuse).
What could possibly go wrong?
(Someone currently on the inside at PSC, please correct me if I’m wrong on any of the above.)
YES, PSC congregation – PLEASE don’t stop asking PSC leadership tough and inconvenient questions.
I am constantly praying for the flourishing of PSC – for transparency, repentance and healing on the part of PSC’s leadership. And strength and comfort for the Balbonis, who fell on their sword for the good of PSC, and for the PSC petitioners, who have attempted every single internal church channel available to them per PSC’s bylaws, to get at the truth, and to heal this desperately hurting church.
He claims two Oxford degrees: “a Master of Arts, Theology (First Class) and a Master of Studies, Theology (Distinction)”
Note if he legitimately has the former, he also must have a Bachelor of Arts in Theology from Oxford (it does not imply a Bachelor of Theology because that can’t be upgraded to an MA, at least if I’m reading the rules right) and presumably with a First (First is only for those who did really well). Dee noted it was a two year course of study; however, only for those who already have a Bachelors (three years if not, note English BAs are usually three years, the American frosh year is more or less done in sixth form and English BAs are usually more focused). I think the Master of Studies, Theology would be the normal next step after a BA in Theology for those planning further academic study of theology with a PhD being a final step.
I suspect the Park Street Church committee or most of them would have assumed that the ACNA had vetted his having the equivalent of a MDiv before ordaining him.
I suspect you are exactly right.
So now people feel like this is spiteful nit-picking. And as far as qualifications go, I might be inclined agree.
But the question of honesty and the refusal of anyone to give a clear answer even now is a sign of the deeper rot.
It makes me wonder if the MA was purchased just for this job. Is there any way to tell when the BA was upgraded to an MA?
Watching,
Well said.
janiceg,
Did ACNA even care enough to check or were they in too much need for a pastor? And who in the world knows what PSC elders did?
Did Booker ever feel exasperated on the part of his congregants who were looking for answers? Or are his emotions merely limited to him feeling “threatened.” He is a big boy and should deal with the questions.
I think it is time to see the qualifications for those who interviewed for VOCA. I might try to do so in the near future.I would like to compare their insights in the reprot to those be a professional organization like GRACE and others.
You have been most helpful in the questions surrounding Booker’s credentials. Thank you. I agree with your suspicions in this regard.
One can be reasonably certain it was purchased in time for his job with ACNA unless ACNA doesn’t give a darn about credentials.
First and foremost: honesty, from a church leader. Basic.
dee,
Exactly!
Come and listen to a story ’bout a preacher named Jed.
Poor rural parson barely kept his family fed.
Then one day he went to Pastor’s School,
And when he returned, he was a Fundy tool.
(Gimmicks, that is. Proof texts. Lotsa rules.)
Well the next thing you know, the Mega Church looks great,
Buses everywhere throughout the Tri-State,
New Basement Bible College and Academy,
With just one man to rule so there is no anarchy.
(Dictatorship that is. Pastoral Authority. IFB heroes.)
Well, now its time to say goodbye to Jed and all his ilk.
Now that he is doing time his wife’s no more in silk.
You’re all invited to stop in on Thursday about noon
To commiserate with the former Fundy church tycoon.
(The Elm Street Embezzler. That’s what they call him now.
Property auction in two weeks. Ya’ll come bid now, ya hear!)
I do agree about the importance of a formal education for those who feel called to ministry. After all, the apostles in essence attended three years of “seminary” under Jesus! At the same time, I don’t believe that current higher education can solve the issues you are looking to address.
Most of my professors, though having served as pastors at some point, were primarily academics who had little emotional intelligence or heart connection to train in practical ministry skills. The one that was able was falsely ridiculed by students for not having enough intellectual horsepower or for teaching irrelevant material.
Seminaries focus on theological training not practical ministry skills. In four years, I had several preaching classes, a couple of counseling classes, and a few practical ministry classes. All the rest were theology classes. It was already a four-year degree… they aren’t going to add any more classes.
These are what I feel like are bigger issues:
1. Most times you have guys just out of college who don’t know what to do with lives considering seminary. Maybe they had a positive experience with a campus ministry as an undergrad and see seminary as a way to prolong that experience. Either way, they have little practical life experience and exposure to suffering. Then after 3-4 years, they will receive a degree and be put in a position of leadership in a church. This is a disaster waiting to happen.
2. Churches are looking for a corporate leader… not a pastor. This leads to a focus on administrative, communication, “leadership”, and management skills, instead of character formation and shepherding gifts. If I hear another “lead” pastor talk about how he doesn’t have pastoring gifts and that’s why they hired pastor so and so, I think I’m going to scream in the middle of the service. Seeking a corporate qualified pastor is a breeding ground that will attract and develop narcissists.
3. Current church goers have a consumeristic attitude towards the role of their churches. We select churches based on the branding/marketing strategies they employ and what services they can provide. This leads to.church leaders focusing on expanding the church machine (ie developing more and more “ministries”) than shepherding hearts and promoting lives that conform more and more to Christ’s. The resulting “bigger is better” corporate mentality leads to church sizes where it is impossible for leaders to effectively shepherd their people. It’s all one big dysfunctional and codependent mess.
4. Denominational leaders have dropped the ball. They are too quick to affirm someone’s “calling” to vocational ministry. If someone is winsome, appears passionate in their faith, and has a basic level of Bible knowledge, they have a calling. My former denomination required an internship before being ordained. I urged them to require that before seminary to vet people and dispel any romanticized visions they had of being a pastor. Didn’t happen.
These leaders need to require more life experience before sending young kids off to seminary. They need to focus just as much on character, as they do on theology during the ordination process.
As a former church institutional pastor and now licensed mental health professional, I think every candidate for ordination should have completed a psychological evaluation and at least 6 months of their own personal/marriage therapy before being ordained.
These are just a few of my scrambled thoughts on a Saturday morning.
Here’s a description of the “Master of Studies in Theology”:
https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/graduate/courses/mst-theology
Of interest is the paragraph toward the end headed “Graduate Destinations”.
“Pastoral Ministry” is not mentioned as a graduate destination. The Mst-Th appears to be training in “research” rather than “ministry.” (This has been noted previously in commentary in prior posts; I did not notice a link to the Oxford site. My apologies if this ground has already been ploughed.)
This page indicates the program duration is nine months.
https://www.theology.ox.ac.uk/mst-theology
The course of study appears to be “bespoke”, designed by the student and his faculty advisor.
Echoing a question raised in commentary on a prior post, I don’t think there is time in this program to master the original languages. That’s normally something that is an important emphasis in the first year of US MDiv programs (at least in seminaries that serve the parts of US Evangelicalism that I have had some visibility into). If MB did not obtain ancient language skills “on the side” either through individual study or as electives in his undergraduate study in a different field, it is hard to see how one could answer the OP question of “training equivalent to US MDiv?” with “yes”.
It is hard to see how any practical ministry skills, such as homiletics, counseling and basic “relationship with the flock” could be on the “menu” of such a brief course of study that is focused on research.
Of course, those can be learned “on the job”, but MB’s “prior to PSC” practical experience also IMO seems kind of “thin” for the assignment of senior minister of a flagship congregation like PSC.
Perhaps he really really impressed the pastoral search committee at interviews.
Tom Rubino,
Nice summary…
I’m wondering whether there was some sort of award of something equivalent to an “honorary Oxford BA in Theology” (on the basis of the work done for the earned Mst-Theology degree) in order to create the institutional connection that would make the “upgrade of BA to MA” even possible. It’s hard to see how Oxford could upgrade MB’s undergraduate degree (in a different field and at a different educational institution) to an “Oxford MA”.
“Evangelical Christianity has devolved into an “anything goes” faith. For example, read my post from Wednesday: Ash Wednesday Reflection: Did Crossroads Church (Ohio, KY) Go Too Far by Punting a Bible During Worship for ‘Kicks?’ … the intellectual climate within the evangelical world is sadly lacking”
Well, here’s the sad thing about that … Brian Tomes, Crossroads’ pastor has a Master of Divinity degree! https://peoplepill.com/i/brian-tome
“Anything goes” faith is not the sole property of the less educated. It is populated by church leaders who have it in the hearts to serve up whatever-it-takes to get nickels and noses in the house. It’s a rare thing these days to find “holy men of God who speak as they are moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21). Most who are stars in ministry (educated properly or not) have a touch of charisma, a gift of gab, and a gimmick or two. As I mentioned in another recent TWW post, most 21st century churchgoers want to be entertained … thus, an ungodly alliance is set up where the pulpit serves up what they want and the pew pays to have it so. Even the most seminary-trained can fall for this scheme if their hearts are not right before God.
Indeed! That shouldn’t be too much to ask from a pastor. Integrity matters.
dee,
Verbatim, from A Message from [Park Street Church’s] Board of Elders to prepare for our Annual Meeting https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=II4_VMC3t7I:
“There’s one slate of candidates vetted by the Nominating Committee, and another slate nominated by petition. We’re convinced this alternative slate being put forward was not a coincidence, but was organized by a group that seriously distrusts Mark and our current lay leadership…
Having just received the first report from our VOCA consultants:
1) That report has not caused the Board to question our assessment in July, that Mark is not disqualified for ministry.
Though VOCA did not conduct an investigation, they interviewed all of our ministers, and did not find evidence of any behavior rising to the level of spiritual abuse.
And, 2) The report has also shown that the path forward for healthy church leadership requires deeper growth, including empathy and humility–for Mark, for our Board, and for our staff.
Our Board supports Mark as our Senior Minister, and is sincerely committed to linking arms together with him in leadership for the flourishing of Park Street.
But that path forward is in your hands at the Annual Meeting. We are ready to submit to your will, as is Mark. If the congregation does not affirm Mark’s calling and if it elects the alternative slate, it would signal a serious lack of confidence in current leadership, and a desire to move in a different direction.
We’re not here to lobby you to vote for one candidate or another, but we are asking you to discern with wisdom…”
______________________________________
Ok, so let me get this straight.
These elders claim with a straight face that they’re not lobbying PSC congregants to vote for one candidate over another. No, they just want you congregants to understand that your choice is between either “healthy church leadership” (supporting Mark & current leadership) or a “different direction.”
C’mon, congregation. Don’t you want to vote for a healthy church leadership? Obviously, that means supporting Mark and current leadership! The VOCA consultants say so. The elders say so. But no, we’re not telling you at all what we think the right path is here.
The elders think “the path forward for healthy leadership requires deeper growth, including empathy and humility–for Mark, for our Board…” ??
What about Mark or the elders’ empathy and humility towards the petitioners??
Earlier in the video, the elders talk about confessing sin, including ascribing bad motives to others.
If you elders really are mature spiritual leaders, then how about confessing and apologizing for:
1) Attributing bad motives to the PSC petitioners, even in this video.
You are painting them as this shady bunch who don’t truly want the health of PSC. Instead, all of their work is heavily documented, and the petitioners have signed their names on the website. They aren’t hiding or refusing to be transparent. You are.
2) Trashing the reputations of 2 people on the petitioners’ slate of candidates. By not correcting the Nominating Committee’s ** comments on YOUR chosen slate (that these candidates “don’t best exemplify the qualities of” Moderator-Elect, etc.), you are publicly casting aspersions on their character.
Guess what? There is an alternate slate of candidates put forward by petition – as PSC’s bylaws allow – because the petitioners feel that the Nominating Committee’s slate don’t best exemplify the qualities of those offices. But they’re not saying so, the way you are.
“Though VOCA did not conduct an investigation…”
Ok. Stop right there. VOCA could not have conducted an investigation. They are not remotely qualified to do so, and you know it.
Here’s what real humility would look like, on the part of PSC elders.
You really want to clear Mark Booker of these allegations of spiritual abuse, and the cloud hovering over his educational credentials?
Then have the humility to take your congregations’ questions, concerns–and petitions–seriously.
1) Have Mark take pictures / photocopies of his actual diplomas. He shouldn’t have to feel so “threatened” and “exasperated” by these questions, when he can simply clear up the matter. When he clears up the matter, then he can be trusted.
2) Have Mark submit – and all current lay leadership – submit to a real, thorough, 3rd party investigation into spiritual abuse, by a org that is qualified to do so, and that is chosen by the petitioners.
If an org that really understands abuse dynamics and has the proper expertise to investigate (like GRACE) clears Mark of spiritual abuse allegations, THEN Mark is to be trusted.
And what’s more, you know better. You commissioned a 3rd party investigation into the Minister of City Engagement on identical grounds–spiritual abuse–only a year ago. You haven’t given a single reason as to why Mark Booker does not have to submit to the same treatment.
Have the humility to admit that there’s no way threatened ministers and staff would be fully open sharing their concerns with VOCA, if the only “healthy” solution allowed here is holding hands with Mark and the current elders.
3) Consider that trust is not owed. It is EARNED. You haven’t earned it. Earning it is actually pretty simple. You just don’t want to do it.
That’s not humility or empathy.
PSC congregation: you DO have a choice at the Annual Meeting. I hope and pray that you will vote for transparent and truly humble, empathetic leaders, who will not treat the congregation as little children who shouldn’t get answers to pressing questions, or try to treat a cancer like spiritual abuse with a band-aid like VOCA consultants, who will predictably give the church the party line.
And yes, I am openly lobbing here. And praying. As a longtime, former member, I really do want Park Street Church to flourish. Mark & the current elders are not the way.
Good comment … important considerations for this piece. Preparing for ministry does not necessarily equate to being called into ministry. During my long tenure of doing church in America, I experienced pastors with educational backgrounds ranging from high school diplomas to seminary Ph.D. degrees. I can honestly say the best pastor I had was the former not the latter. I don’t have a problem with education – I even have some! – but a pastor who is truly called by God trumps the most educated who ‘went’ into ministry, rather than being put there by God. You will know them by their fruit, not their resume.
Openly *lobbying*!
Must have been a Freudian slip… “Lobbing” seems to be how PSC leadership sees reasonable questions and challenges these days.
Max,
FWIW, Park Street Church has had other senior ministers without Ph.D.s in their past, such as Paul E. Toms (Ockenga’s successor).
The key question here is Mark Booker’s honesty.
Having looked at VOCA’s website, and read the “about us” for each of their staff, I also do not see the credentials to assess spiritual abuse. They are “business coaches” (their words) Only the founder mentions “training” in counseling and theology. (What exactly is “training?”) People who primarily do business coaching would be expected to have a different skill set than people who could make a proclamation that what Mark did did not rise to the level of spiritual abuse. They aren’t sharing what their definition of spiritual abuse is, for one thing. For another, most actual experts on spiritual abuse acknowledge the overlap with emotional abuse.
What they do note, are two areas that Mark needs to grow in, humility and empathy. If you are not humble, what are you? Arrogant, self-focused. Empathy is a word with a lot of overlap with compassion and love.
This is a double-sided sword because on the one hand, which of us can say that we don’t need to grown in humility and love? So there is a chance for sin-leveling here.
But to rise to the level of making it onto a business coach’s assessment, it is more likely that these were not occasional instances of arrogance and lack of empathy but patterns.
If it is true that these are patterns, then it’s important to know that these two qualities are correlated with narcissism. And if there is narcissism and if there were spiritual abuse then it’s also likely that the guy has two faces. A face that reflects what you expect in a shepherd, often with some charm, and a wolf’s face. If that is true, he is not going to show his wolf’s face to the Business coaches. He’ll play into their typical wheelhouse of he’s a new pastor, this is a transition, some people don’t like change, etc.
For your elders, it sounds like they made the decision ahead of time where they wanted this “assessment” to go, especially if they had previously commissioned a different kind of assessment for spiritual abuse. By hiring business coaches, it was going to be framed in those types of terms.
Yes. For the sacred office of pastor, integrity matters.
I’d like to correct something I said above –
“Guess what? There is an alternate slate of candidates put forward by petition – as PSC’s bylaws allow – because the petitioners feel that the Nominating Committee’s slate don’t best exemplify the qualities of those offices. But they’re not saying so, the way you are.”
In fact, I don’t know what the PSC petitioners feel about the NC’s chosen slate of candidates – and that’s the point, that the congregation should have an actual choice in the matter, which (seems to me) cuts to the very heart of Congregational polity.
FWIW, when I was a member of PSC, I seem to remember getting a newsletter before the Annual Meeting, with the bios of all the candidates we were voting on. In other words, the congregation had a real choice between candidates for elder, etc. Whereas today’s Nominating Committee was purposely trying to take that choice away.
Cambridge does have that but only upon petition and only for senior people who most people in their position would have a PhD (e.g., regular fellows at colleges or the vice-chancellor of the university [both actual examples in the requirements]). Not sure about Oxford. Note also that saying MA (First class) in such a case would be lying. (Actually it is wrong even if he had a BA (first class) upgraded to an MA though that might be excused as an American getting the terminology wrong.)
LOL, that’s brilliant.
“Mammas don’t let your babies grow up to be Pastors…”
With apologies to Ed Bruce.
Note for Oxford the terminology is “degree certificate”; he can also authorize Oxford to verify the info to specific people just as a job search would do (this would also be considerably cheaper if he never got a physical degree certificate [this seems to have been a common happening in the past] or lost it as getting a new one would probably cost around $100; Oxford verifying would also be more reliable). A diploma at Oxford is something else entirely.
Personally I would like an explanation of the MA (oxon). How did he get it?
Tom Rubino,
Awesome comment.
I bet he did. He can be charming but so can sociopaths.(I am not calling him a sociopath, just sayin…)
What are they teaching in seminaries these days?
You said it well. Sadly you have a pastor who appears to be playing and may not be telling the truth about his training unless this is all a plan the elders cooked up.
Great comment. I plan to look into VOCA for a potential post.
Eyewitness,
Good comment. I plan to look into VOCA and figure out why they would be “experts”. in identifying spiritual abuse.
Good night!!!!!!!! He was always referred to as the Rev. Dr Paul Toms. From Wiki: “Rev. Dr. Paul Toms Obituary”. San Luis Obispo Tribune. February 10, 2015. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
Did he get an honorary doctorate and then use it his title.? That is a no- no. My respect just took a nosedive. I was a pollyanna back in those days and took things at face value. I finally grew up around 17 years ago and I was already old!!
It would seem a simple thing to explain but he doesn’t want to in my opinion.
Max,
I’m officially depressed. Paul Toms was always called Dr Toms. He is called Rev. Dr. Paul Toms in his obit. he didn’t get a Ph.D. It looks like he got an honorary and used it in his title.
It has been common for pastors with a DMin to be called “Dr.”. I do not know Paul Toms degrees, but will understand. Things have changed since the Ravi Zacharias debacle.
Sadly, it’s the same for honorary degrees, especially in the SBC.
May I suggest that all this is “sound and fury, signifying nothing”. Anyone with any experience understands that to allow such a minor issue to fester when it is so easily clarified is proof that his credentials are non-existent or exaggerated. Do NOT play their game. I don’t care WHO they are. They should be given a date certain to produce or be fired by acclamation of the members.
dee,
I could be wrong. Wikipedia says he got a B.D. (Bachelor of Divinity) from Fuller Seminary. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_E._Toms
That’s not a Ph.D., is it?
Erp,
Mark Booker asking Oxford to verify is an excellent idea.
He shouldn’t think he’s above questions and concerns some in his congregation are raising. He is not owed automatic trust or loyalty, just because he’s senior minister.
Am I correct in remembering that Ravi also inflated his credentials using Oxford? What is it about that place?
The author of this pair of tweets, Timothy Isaiah Cho, had some kind of issue at a former church. I think this pattern sums up what is happening at PSC very well. It’s remarkable to me how often the “playbook” is replicated…. and it’s disturbing how often it works.
https://twitter.com/tisaiahcho/status/1755967338631876826
https://twitter.com/tisaiahcho/status/1755967338631876826
I am linking both tweets so that you can see them even if you don’t have a X/Twitter account.
Elizabeth Klein,
Per the obituary, there is a 3rd degree, conferred by Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/sanluisobispo/name/paul-toms-obituary?id=10834315
That was presumably either an earned degree, such as the D.Min, “Doctor of Ministry”, or an honorary degree, such as the D.D., “Doctor of Divinity”.
—-
I think that in church contexts, the use of “Doctor” as an honorific title has connotations of “esteemed teacher” rather than “academic scholar.” I’m personally not strongly opposed to this use in church contexts. The issue, IMO, with RZ’s use of the title in his speaking ministry is that in academic contexts (apologetical talks on college campuses, for example), the title implied more scholarly authority than RZ had earned the right to assert; perhaps it could be regarded to have been a form of “holy” deception in the interest of getting a hearing in secular settings. (Not endorsing; trying to understand).
A combo of Cambridge and Oxford but more at Cambridge. I think it is the name recognition. I suspect people outside the US do the same with Harvard.
On the other hand some people face the opposite problem. In 2010, the Korean pop star, Tablo, was accused of lying about having a Stanford degree which he indeed had. Large groups continued to disbelieve (up to some issuing death threats to him and those who supported him) despite the university and even the police who had officially investigated saying that he did have what he claimed.
Prestige … the very name arouses respect and admiration in the theo-academic community. Just give me a preacher/pastor who thinks more about Jesus than he does his resume.
Only those who have earned Ph.D.s should be titled that. TWW readers who went through that rigorous academic exercise, often over a period of several years, would shout Amen to that.
At SBC seminaries these days, they teach them lifeless theology, which dead and living Calvinist icons to model their ministry after, and how to takeover traditional non-Calvinist churches for the glory of the NeoCal movement.
We had a lead pastor like that once. He was too crazy busy to visit the sick in hospitals, pray with folks in nursing homes, marry and bury members, and assorted other pastoral duties … but he found plenty of time to tweet his life away with his dudebros at the coffee shop.
Eyewitness,
It’s the weirdest thing… christianity / christian culture seems predisposed to favor totalitarianism.
can’t think of anything more unlike Jesus of Nazareth.
(many things in christianity are antithetical to Jesus of Nazareth – i find it shocking)
Inflated egos always inflate their resumes. A pastor is never more perfect than what is written in his curriculum vitae.
elastigirl,
I agree… or at least modern “American Christianity”
dee,
It might have been more than charm. Perhaps there was a thrilling vision proposed. PSC is highly constrained in terms of its location and physical facilities. I would think that it must have a significant ministry to university students, of whom there is an abundance from elite universities a short subway ride from the church location (itself near a major subway station). IMO a church in this situation should think of “growth” not in terms of increasing its numbers but rather in terms of the influence it can have on generation after generation of professional workers in science, medicine, the arts, public service, etc., etc.
Perhaps MB had a more compelling vision of PSC’s path into the future than the competing candidates expressed.
A search seems to show a few cases of “D.D.” after his name which would mean Doctor of Divinity. In the US this is almost always an honorary title. In the Episcopal church it often is granted by seminaries when one of their graduates becomes a bishop.
At Oxford it would mean someone with an advanced degree applying and submitting work:
(a) of the absolute highest quality;
(b) substantial in scale and in the contribution it has made to knowledge;
(c) sustained over time and showing current and continued contribution to scholarship;
(d) authoritative, being able to demonstrate impact on the work of others;
(e) of global reach and international importance within the field; and
(f) of such breadth or covering such branches of knowledge appropriate to the field and in line with disciplinary norms and expectations.
https://examregs.admin.ox.ac.uk/Regulation?code=grforhighdoct
Note Oxford has suspended handing out any Higher Doctorates https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/academic/higher-doctorates
So in contrast to an Oxford MA an Oxford DD does mean something (even if connections probably played too much of a role hence the current suspension).
Eyewitness,
YES. I have seen Cho’s tweets & immediately think of PSC.
And MDs, if someone shouts ‘is there a doctor in the house’. However EdD and DMins among others seem to use “Dr” fairly frequently. Among academics “Dr” for PhDs is usually restricted to academia so one is “Dr. Smith” at a conference, publishing papers, within the university but “Ms. Smith” when helping out at a local civic organization.
Is it any wonder?
In the Bible, there is no such thing as The Rights of Man (Thomas Paine).
If anything, you (generic you) are at the whim and fancy of some potentate or another, up to and including the Big Kahuna in the sky.
So it’s really no wonder that some (but not all) Pastors run a dictatorship.
They (Pastor autocrats) are just following suit.
The Stick-Around No-Nevermind
OR
Shake-Dust-Off-&-Hightail-It-Outta-There
… moment.
Don’t let the door slam you in the back.
Decisions.
Churches constantly devolve or evolve, mostly according to leadership changes. Fact.
Churches are dynamic, as man-run things. Never static.
Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Also fact.
dee,
I think he had a D.D. (Doctor of Divinity?).
Exactly. Why let the selection committee believe a deception? Why now, when questions are justifiably raised, obfuscate and claim to be “saddened, and… exasperated” at what he deems “false accusations”? As Dee writes concerning a similar situation, “If he lied about this, what else was he lying about?” Is this a pattern in Mark Booker’s life? Has he done this before, in other situations?
I found this section from Michael Balboni’s 17-page memo (https://thewartburgwatch.com/tww2/wp-content/MB_Letter-to-Elders_07152023.pdf) interesting: regarding his plan to cancel PSC’s 4p worship service, Mark had said, “I plan to represent any dissenting voices” from the ministerial leadership team (MLT) to the elders. Michael was later approached by an elder who asked about him being the only member (of 5) from the MLT who objected to canceling the 4p service. Here are Michael’s words:
I thought to myself, “What does [this elder] mean ‘I’m the only person who was strongly opposed?’” I then started asking more elders questions about how the MLT was represented. It became clear that the MLT’s clear opposition (4 of 5) was diluted by Mark’s words so that at least some elders were given an impression of a spectrum of viewpoints rather than a large majority being against the proposal as it stood. Having later clarified this question with Julian, Ray, Damian, and Adam, it became clear that 4 out of 5 of us [believed this plan was] a mistake.”
This is fundamentally about honesty. Mark Booker had given a false impression that he failed to correct, and it was a deception which benefited him. In the case of his academic credentials, he allowed the selection committee to believe his academic credentials were equivalent to an M.Div. to further his candidacy for senior minister. As for the 4p worship decision, he created a false impression that led many of the elders to believe a falsehood in order that he could further his agenda—for the ‘good of the church’, as Mark would probably assert.
But creating a false impression and allowing others to be misled for one’s own benefit is not honorable, and speaks to a spirit of deception. Children have a name for this kind of person… perhaps Mark Booker ought to check if his trousers are aflame.
One thought; degrees, be they a high school diploma or GE.D., a doctoral degree or an M.D. matter not one whit to God. In the bigger picture, God will not be judging you based upon your academic accomplishments. They will count for ZERO in the final judgment.
They’re not, and they were never presented as such.
The (majority of the) Board had already determined that there was no abuse, only typical workplace disagreements and challenges. So the choice of business coaches was quite intentional.
I have no reason to think that VOCA didn’t do their best, but of course we don’t get to see their report.
So the Board determined the limits of what could be found by their ability to choose an agency to do an assessment. Common tactic.
But in this case, the elders are saying that VOCA determined that there was nothing that rose to the level of spiritual abuse, correct? If they said there was not any spiritual abuse, they were acting as if they were qualified to make that judgment. If they are not qualified, they shouldn’t be addressing it at all. They should have referred the church to an agency that is qualified to make that judgment.
“Does Pastor Mark Booker at Park Street Church Have the Equivalent of a Masters of Divinity? It Really Does Matter.”
Does truth matter? Yes. Truth matters. (Even in church, the Church.)
Do credentials, stated upon hiring, matter in a job? Yes. In any job. This isn’t “How do you take your coffee?” This is CREDENTIALS claimed and supposedly documented to be hired for a professional position. Duh.
Eyewitness,
“Back when Israel wasn’t content to live under God’s rule through his prophets, and wanted a king.”
++++++++++++++++++++++
i need neither a king nor prophets. No one does.
that will be very disappointing to career pastor folks.
i function as a pastor with my prayer group.
my main job is to make sure we start and end on time and take out the trash.
I also organize us to rally around those in need, and see that we all stick to the agreed ‘charter’
(focus on prayer rather than points of disagreement, all forms of prayer welcome within the time limits, no sectarian proselytizing)
no power, no glamour. it’s purely practical.
and zero overhead.
It’s hard to get a solid handle on the facts from anything they say.
I interpreted it as “we, the Board, believe ourselves qualified to identify spiritual abuse, and we found none. VOCA did not find anything further that we would consider spiritual abuse.”
But, as you’ve observed, they make it sound like VOCA found none, implying that was in their remit.
You can be sure they will insist at the annual meeting that there’s no need for any further investigation.
dee,
Like the SBC’s Dr. Johnny Hunt, who has an honorary Doctor of Divinity, as well as an honorary Doctor of Sacred Laws and Letters? (He should also be awarded an “honorary” Doctor of Gynecology!)
No. Anyone who uses ‘Dr.’ professionally, or claims to have a doctorate should have an earned degree!
I wonder how God feels about lying regarding one’s credentials…
Sounds about right. I plan to do more research on this matter. I learn so much whenever I write about these sad stories.
I want to shout out a great big amen, for the blood, sweat, and tears of those who have genuinely EARNED a real PhD.
But I think it has waaaay more effect to yell out, HELL YES!, for those intrepid souls.
“a lying tongue” is listed among the seven things that God hates in Proverbs 6
Muff Potter,
The world is full of pretenders.
I should know, I used to be one…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqRvJLH_-vU
dee,
Eyewitness,
Exactly! It seemed obvious to me what VOCA would conclude, even before they began.
Also, if there’s “no evidence of spiritual abuse,” then why did PSC leadership try to purchase Michael Balboni’s silence with a severance package, conditional on him signing an NDA (which Balboni refused)?
churches do not pay unemployment taxes.
Elizabeth Klein,
Samuel Conner,
Hmm… this article says Paul Toms’ degree from Gordon-Conwell was an M.Div. https://www.timesherald.com/2012/07/11/paul-e-toms-iii-retires-as-pastor-of-first-presbyterian-church/amp/
It might be worthwhile looking at the university’s awards framework where you will find that there is an MTh as well as an MStTheology listed. The former is credit level 7, just below a Doctorate. An MSt Theology is credit level 6.
https://academic.admin.ox.ac.uk/files/universityawardsframework1aug17pdf
The Queen’s College, Oxford has a variety of degrees in Theology as can be found here
https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/graduate/colleges/queens-college
Pastor Booker should take comfort from Rev Griffin’s sermon on 2 Corinthians 12:10 “When I am weak, then am I strong” (Sermon 14,vol. 2 Works) – “
In Paul’s absence from Corinth, false apostles had crept in, who charged him, among other things, with being a hireling, because he received a partial support from the churches. This put him upon vindicating himself and his ministry: and the supreme modesty with which he performed this task, is an example for all apologists for themselves. He does not boast of his heavenly call, his high authority, his many miracles, his superior eloquence, his unrivalled piety, and his equally unrivalled usefulness. If he must glory he chooses to glory in his infirmities, as attesting both his own sincerity and the power of Christ in the success of his ministry“.
Erp,
I think Paul Toms got a B.D. from Fuller and an M.Div. from Gordon-Conwell.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_E._Toms#cite_note-4
https://www.timesherald.com/2012/07/11/paul-e-toms-iii-retires-as-pastor-of-first-presbyterian-church/
Samuel Conner,
You cannot upgrade to an Oxford MA from a BA degree of a different university. The upgrade require the student to be a member of a college for 7 years.
Master of Study is not a bachelor/master degree. It is for someone to do in-depth study for a short period with guidance from faculty.
There are currently 13 oxford colleges offer theological degrees.
https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/colleges/which-oxford-colleges-offer-my-course
One can email each college to inquire about whether Rev. Brook is a member. College membership are life long.
From an Eternity perspective, credentials don’t count, lying does.
There are many examples of God calling and using His people without regard to credentials.
Gladys Aylward is a stellar example. “Not qualified,” she was told so she went to China on her own, with amazing fruits in her work.
However, would God do amazing work in the life and ministry of a liar? A deceiver?
Should a church hire and $upport such a character?
How does character figure into church leadership qualifications?
In the first century, only Jews preparing for the priesthood received theological training. There were no seminaries and theology degrees in the early Christian church. Men AND women were called by God to fill sacred offices; they were equipped by the church to do the work of the ministry (Ephesians 4). The Body of Christ was supplied with all the parts necessary to fulfill the Great Commission together … the Holy Spirit taught them what they needed to know, not seminaries … both pulpit and pew worked hand in hand with their unique giftings to accomplish God’s will. The Church was governed by the authority of the resurrected Jesus; it was not under the power and control of mere men.
Perhaps some Wartburgers will be fortunate enough to witness a real-deal New Testament model of doing church before Jesus’ return … I have a feeling that enough Christians will get sick and tired of the counterfeit church and will pray for the genuine again. In the meantime, we will fuss and fight over church systems, diverse theologies will compete, church leaders will fail, a separation of clergy and laity will prevail, abuse in various forms will happen, prayerlessness will characterize the people of God, the Done ranks will grow, the religious will continue to do church without God, the enemy of the Cross will come to church unchallenged, the Great Deceiver will deceive … and watchblogs will write all about the mess.
Max–you just gave the sermon of the century. Amen!
The rabbinic tradition certainly existed then and rabbis most certainly did not need to be priests (i.e., descendants of Aaron).
The wayback machine from 2003 for the Oxford theology department
https://web.archive.org/web/20030818182134/http://www.theology.ox.ac.uk/pg/pgcourse.shtml
states:
” Another option for those who have already been awarded a first degree (in whatever subject) is to study the undergraduate Theology course as a ‘Senior Status’ student, completing the course in two years rather than the normal three. Although from the perspective of Oxford this is an undergradate course, potential students should note that the degree which eventually results from the course is an MA.”
Note the last phrase. I’m betting this is how Booker thinks he is justified in saying MA without the BA (in such a case the misleading seems to have started on Oxford’s part).
Also from the page
“The purpose of the Master of Studies degree is to offer specialist postgraduate education in Theology for able students, possibly including an element of scholarly research and writing, which may constitute an introduction to a future research degree.”
so it is between a BA and a Master of Philosophy.
dee,
Exactly… and, I might add, so many fundies and evangelicals love to belittle academic learning as “worldly knowledge”.. O.K., fine, but then be consistent and not really care, or proclaim your “degrees”.. Calvary Chapel is known for this.. but what “gets me”, is downplaying “worldy learning”, but then taught your “degrees”.. whether turely earned, or lied about…
Tom Rubino,
It’s Sunday, and I’m eating my lunch 🙂 — I’ve only read as far as your comment. I stopped eating my lunch so I could reply to you. 🙂
I don’t think your thoughts are scrambled. 🙂 And you made some very good points. 🙂
Now back to eating my lunch…. 🙂
seneca,
Typical senec’ey obscurantism. One’s attitude to one’s qualifications both study ones as well as life / character ones (and Tom Rubino and others delineated areas all those should include) are going to be part of the commensurate picture. Whether Paul or the other apostles, their extremely extensive knowledge of teachings was underpinned by distinct Holy Spirit application. Your betters told you there’s no such Comforter as Holy Spirit so who are you to judge?
Irish RCC bishops get called “Dr” on promotion to bishop, with in some cases actual doctorates having been obtained through study at differing levels at institutions of differing status. I think something not dissimilar was normal in the circles which the late Dr Ian Paisley Senior moved in.
Is it not the case that, at the very general level, “D” in some qualifications roughly equates to “M” in some others? This is not to disparage the effort at various levels of most of those concerned in most of their jobs.
Ravi’s myriad senior hangers on fancied him as the equal of a bishop or a Paisley Senior. The religion establishment in England, thinking itself not yet sufficiently gimmick ridden, found in him the ultimate gimmick (deliberately abandoning their own true gifts as substitute, and I can name prominent names, some who get mentioned at TWW).
Banjo Atheist in 2015 – and he took the trouble in public (focussing on the qualifications issue as more easily understood) and I in 2011 – privately during 90 seconds at a bookshop shelf in my present town – noting along with nonsense about cricket (who else hated that?) RZ’s having been browbeaten into his false sense of duty on his hospital bed aged 17 (and it didn’t matter what he was in hospital for), smelled a rat around EZ’s stance on the book of Daniel (Steve B mentions this in a crucial footnote). It does NOT prove that Daniel was given the name “Cyrus” hundreds of ears before the event and by analogy strengthening what Daniel said about Messiah.
Only honest theologians not sidetracked by triumphalist superstition (and Steve B together with proper experts whom he consulted – see his footnote – comes nearest) could preach thereby to the public so Ravi got away with thing after thing to please his mummy. Just as throughout the worldwide totally hateful gender and dominionism disaster, secular institutions aren’t going to directly criticise the William James-like, Falwell Senior-like, materialist (“influencing”) maneouvring of religious ones, but rather copy it. RZ’s mummy pleasing is part of the dominionism push exhibiting typical sexual and gender effects.
elastigirl,
Exact. Please pray especially for the success of my project and after that, my welfare.
Muff Potter,
Fake it till you’ll never make it – and I mean PSC elders and those within ACNA promoting their people to outsiders and similar minded CCC elements – or, what you see is what you get?
Aflame for the Small Commission, the irrelevant mini-gospel!
Don’t forget Rev Booker’s promoters in ACNA. And take careful note of the names of the faction who are getting away with slanting the playing field for slates of candidates against the bylaws – and any in the wider CCC whom they have links with, and trace their attitudes towards many practical and theological issues going back years. Is there a parallel between their inclination to source someone from the unstable Anglican atmosphere, and Liam Goligher’s expressed leaning towards the mercurial NF?
Having bitten off more than they (let alone their underlings) can chew from top-down ecumenism, it has become impossible for any of these, let alone Mark Booker, to back out (as they haven’t heard of Holy Spirit help). What began as corner cutting or slick streamlining has resulted in God permitting their minds to actually become dull. I haven’t listened to Rev Balboni’s sermon yet for clues, but those closer to this pain must make all these reviews. Your grief will always be with you I can attest.
VOCA are foolish if they don’t insert a clause in their terms “we don’t do God”, knowing how corporate religion is. Ordinary public need coaching, and in genuine business, too.
Jeffrey J Chalmers,
“Tout” not “taught”… $&# spell checker
(middle paragraph) RZ’s
Erp,
If Booker’s MA is an almost MPhil, he shouldn’t have felt so particularly ashamed, even if it’s not that heavyweight for a major church. The wider snobbish public should be more grown up about letting differences in terminology, structure and status from one university to another be explained frankly.
Why would the p.s.c. (pastor search committee) want to look to the evangelical anglicans though? (The latter are notorious internationally around attesting qualifications, look at a recent bishop of Winchester and their loosely hanging around the Smyth clan and RZ).
“The very credentials these people are waving around as something special, I’m tearing up and throwing out with the trash — along with everything else I used to take credit for. And why? Because of Christ. Yes, all the things I once thought were so important are gone from my life. Compared to the high privilege of knowing Christ Jesus as my Master, firsthand, everything I once thought I had going for me is insignificant — dog dung. I’ve dumped it all in the trash so that I could embrace Christ and be embraced by Him. I didn’t want some petty, inferior brand of righteousness that comes from keeping a list of rules when I could get the robust kind that comes from trusting Christ — God’s righteousness.” (Paul, Philippians 3:7-9)
Not his MA but rather his MStT. He doesn’t seem ashamed of it given he does mention it. BTW I’m using the wayback machine in great part because procedures at Oxford change. I’m guessing he was at Oxford circa 2003 and given the claimed degrees must have spent three years there.
I note that your references in the second paragraph are somewhat obscure to a mostly American audience, but, I presume one is in reference to Tim Dakin, former Bishop of Winchester, and whether he had insufficient qualifications to be ordained a priest (or even whether he had been ordained as a priest, it was in Kenya if it did occur) much less a bishop. He was also considered a toxic bishop by many. He resigned in 2022. The other, the Smyth clan, is presumably John Smyth and his son PJ Smyth.
I get the sense from that there are many ex-PSC parishioners out there, even reading this blog. As someone deeply concerned about the future of Park Street Church, please, come back, if only for a while. Our annual meeting is coming up, and it may be the last chance for genuine change for years to come.
I know many of us have left in disgust or dismay, but what happens to those of us left behind trying to make things better? We are left fighting an uphill battle against leaders that, although not ill intentioned, are completely uncompromising and blind to their own faults.
I know God is in control of all things, and he has a plan for our beloved church; maybe this appeal is an overly human plea. But just in case someone reads this and it makes a difference, please come back and help fight for the institution that PSC once was.
… except my point was, if quoting from my comment, “From an Eternity perspective, credentials don’t count, LYING DOES.”
Lying. Deception. Not credentials. All of this credentials detective work on this blog has to do with LYING and DECEPTION. Not actual credentials.
The lying and deception would be ABOUT credentials, so the reality about this church leader is NOT “Does he have credentials?” but “Does he lie and deceive? Is he who he says he is?”
Ravi could have simply shared his testimony without lying about credentials. But no, Ravi was a liar and deceiver at his core, which places him in the company of the Father of Lies.
Who is this questionably credentialed pastor at his core? The question. Not credentials but core.
We agree.
My point being, credentials are not important in the Kingdom of God (as Paul points out) … I’m not talking “church” here, I’m talking Kingdom work (they are not always the same) … in the Kingdom where the true Church resides, you can preach and pastor without a thick resume – the key is being called by God to do so … but character (honesty, integrity) in the pulpit always matters; without it, God can’t use you, can’t speak through you.
There is a much bigger issue here, that few people seem willing to talk about–and that is the fact that Mark Booker has demonstrated patterns of behavior that disqualify him from serving the church as an Elder.
Mark Booker has a history of not being forthright when forthrightness is required.
He refused to post his CV. This meant that people like me, were unable to fulfill our duties as members. We were not able to perform a Due Diligence background check on him; we were not able to verify that he is who he said he is.
It appears that my concerns about his background have been proven out. Mark Booker is not being forthright about his background / qualifications. He is acting as if he misrepresented his qualifications that the Senior Minister Search Committee, that he does not have an appropriate level of academic training that the Senior Minister Search Committee set out as a necessity for this position. Until proven otherwise, he is not entitled to use the title Reverend, because he does not have the academic training that goes along with this title.
Mark Booker could have easily put controversy over his degrees to bead, but he refuses to do so. All he had to do is take pictures of his diplomas and posted them online. If he had mislaid or lost his diplomas (this happens), he could have let people know what the situation is, ordered replacement diplomas and posted pictures of them online once they came in. Mark Booker has not behaved forthrightly.
_____
I am concerned about Mark Booker’s non-church work experience. The Senior Ministerial Search Committee had a requirement that the Senior Minister have experience in a managerial role, where he had to contend with a budget, deal with personnel issues, etc. The Senior Ministerial Search Committee informed the congregation that Mark Booker fulfilled this requirement, in his first job, with an unnamed whitewater rafter company in Colorado, operated by friends. The Search Committee made a point that he had hired and supervised approximately 150 people, in a company that had only 14 full-time employees.
The Search Committee did not tell the members the name of the company. Mark Booker did not make his CV available to members. Members performing a Due Diligence evaluation of Mark Booker were unable to check-up on the whitewater rafting company, look at its web site, look at the qualifications of those currently working for this company, see if what Mark Booker says his job duties were makes sense, etc. Did Mark Booker hold appropriate qualifications to serve as a whitewater rafting guide? As the Outdoor Experience industry has become more professional, it is expected that trip leaders not only hold a Wilderness First Responder certification, but a third-party certificate in whitewater rafting appropriate for the trips led.
We must realize that Mark Booker admits that he was working for friends. It would be easy for Mark Booker to inflate his relevant experience and then have his friends vouch. I do not know if he did this; but where there’s smoke, there’s fire,
_____
I think the ANCA did not properly conduct a proper Due Diligence background check on Mark Booker. I wonder whether the ANCA ordered Mark Booker to receive an appropriate psychological evaluation prior to ordination… but then, this might have not been a requirement at the time he was ordained.
Given what has come out, it is clear that the ANCA was sloppy in their Due Diligence; that Park Street Church Senior Minister Search Committee relied solely on the ANCA; failed to perform its own Due Diligence.
_____
I find Dr Balboni’s, very reluctantly written, 15 page letter to the Board of Elders to be deeply troubling and believable.
So far, I have seen no credible evidence to refute any of the charges Dr Balboni has laid. I am especially troubled by Mark Booker’s repeated attempts to violate the sanctity of the ministerial study.
I am surprised that Dr Balboni did not mention how Mark Booker behaved when he was sick with COVID-19, how irresponsible he behaved, because it is documentable and yet another example of Mark Booker’s pattern of not being forthright when forthrightness is necessary.
_____
During Lent, 2022, immediately after an ill-advised mission trip with Julian L., Mark Booker got sick. Boston was in the grip of a COVID-19 epidemic. Mark Booker attended meetings that Friday, sick, exposing the entire Park Street Church staff to COVID-19. He preached all three services while obviously sick and held meet and greets after each service, again, exposing everyone to COVID-19. That Monday, he tested positive for COVID-19. The Meet and Greet event should have been treated as a Superspereader event, where one person who had COVID-19 came in contact with hundreds of people. Mark Booker had a moral and ethical responsibility to let the church know what happened AS SOON AS POSSIBLE after being diagnosed with COVID-19, because he had a duty to warn, a duty to inform, to be forthright with the entire congregation. Those whom he exposed to COVID-19 needed to know what to do.
I have had COVID-19, twice (2021 and 2023). The second time I had COVID-19, I had a very mild case of it. Both times, I was instructed to go into quarantine, to inform those I might have come in contact with that I have COVID-19 and to give them instructions as to what to do. I had a Duty to Warn–and warn I did (unlike Mark Booker)
Mark Booker thoroughly deserved to be fired for this. The fact that Mark Booker appears not to have been disciplined demonstrated that the elders of Park Street Church, along with the Personnel Committee, were delusional, were out-of-touch with reality.
_____
Those who bring up Reverend Toms are again, being most disingenuous. He joined Park Street Church in 1965 as Assistant Minister under Reverend Ockenga; was installed Senior Minister when Reverend Ockenga retired in 1975. In 1975, until 1990, he served as President of World Relief. He also served as President of the National Association of Evangelicals. Reverend Toms was a respected theologian, served as Dean of Chapel at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, served on its Board of Directors and has a chair named after him.
Reverend Tom’s Doctorate might be honorary, but it is well earned. It is disingenuous comparing Reverend Toms situation with Mark Booker’s. It appears that Mark Booker’s Master’s Degree is a courtesy degree. His career in the ministry does not compare to that of Reverend Toms.
_____
I am a retired software engineer; my father was a retired electrical engineer. We both worked at times when those who employed us cared more about getting the job done than whether we had appropriate degrees. I had an appropriate degree, because I saw my profession changing and that it was a matter of time that people in my profession would be required to be degreed. I had colleagues, like my father, who did not hold a degree, but were really good at what they did. They were all, like my father, self-educated. As experienced engineers, we were judged by the body of our work, not our degrees.
What bothers me about Mark Booker isn’t whether or not he has a degree, the fact that he has not been forthright.
_____
My experience with Park Street Church elders is that they do not hire competent, third parties to investigate problems within the church.
Park Street Church elders hired the Telios Law firm out of Colorado to investigate this situation. The report Telios Law Firm incompetence. In situations like that of investigating the behaviors of a minister who was forced out, a competent investigative organization relies on a team of experts, not just one. In this situation, the MINIMUM team should have consisted of: an attorney expert in law as it pertains to churches (including employment law), a theologian–preferably a conservative pastor who has successfully run an urban church with at least 500 members, an organizational psychologist and an expert in business development who has a strong CV as well as a respected MBA.
The Telios report to Park Street Church on the Minister of City Engagement’s departure was a whitewash. Attorney Sidehotham claimed that this minister had engaged in ‘Spiritual Abuse’, but did give the congregation even a vague idea of what had happened. Attorney Sidholm emphasised that this minister “Lacked Self-Awareness” as well as threw out other insulting pop-psychology terms. Attorney Sidebotham is not a trained mental health professional. Furthermore, Attorney Sidebotham did not provide the congregation with recommendations on how to reduce the risk of something like this happening again–which is considered an important part of a report like this. Attorney Sidebotham did not include a Conflict of Interest statement, which is considered routine. Telios Law Firm is in Colorado and has ties to evangelicalism in Colorado. Mark Booker is from the Front Range, where Telios Law Firm is located. Did Attorney Sidebotham or her colleagues know Mark Booker or others from Park Street Church prior to this investigation?
I am not surprised that Park Street Church, yet again, would hire an incompetent consultancy, VOCA. Again, the consultancy Park Street Church hired to conduct an investigation did not consist of a team of appropriate experts (as described above).
Most consultants have had the experience of taking a job that is beyond the scope of their expertise. An honest and ethical consultancy, which VOCA appears not to be, will inform the client and refer the client to a consultancy that better suits its needs.
VOCA is not an ethical consultancy. Their conclusions are completely worthless.
Again, Park Street Church Elders hired a consultancy that told the Elders exactly what they wanted to hear, not what they needed to hear. Yet another whitewash, just like the Telios Report.
_____
The Greater Boston Area does have a consultancy that is set-up to work with troubled religious organizations–The Freedom of Mind Foundation in Newton, MA. This organization, run by Steven Hassam, PhD, can easily assemble a team of experts to advise a dysfunctional religious organization, help the organization rebuild internal trust and heal. This organization takes a team approach, because no one person possesses the expertise needed in a complex situation. I’m certain that The Freedom of Mind Foundation would have charged a lot more for its services, because I’m certain its experts would have told Park Street Church that it is going to take many, many months to heal. I’m certain that they would have advised Park Street Church to require that Mark Booker undergo a through psychological evaluation (at Park Street Church’s expense) and the results will be shared with the congregation (within reason).
_____
Mark Booker is a hypocrite. Those who continue to support him are delusional. Unfortunately, this is too common in the ministry–ministers who pretend to be something that they are not.
The core issue.
But they won’t tell Pastor Superapostle what he wants to hear and what he paid to hear, so they went with one who would, ATTORNEY Sidbotham.
“I don’t pay a lawyer to tell me what I want to do is illegal. I PAY A LAWYER TO TELL ME HOW TO GET AWAY WITH WHAT I WANT TO DO!” — some 19th Century Captain of Industry (J.D.Rockefeller? J.P.Morgan?)
“There are those who say what we do is illegal. Before that can happen, make sure WE are the ones who say what is legal and what is not.”
— L Ron Hubbard
i.e. Jack the Whipper.
(Search this blog for “john smyth”…)
what does cv mean? Do you personally see Mark ill? or is that something you heard in the rumor mill?.
A Former Member of PSC: Mark Booker attended meetings that Friday, sick, exposing the entire Park Street Church staff to COVID-19. He preached all three services while obviously sick and held meet and greets after each service, again, exposing everyone to COVID-19. That Monday, he tested positive for COVID-19.
“I think the ANCA did not properly conduct a proper Due Diligence background check on Mark Booker” and ” He refused to post his CV. This meant that people like me, were unable to fulfill our duties as members. We were not able to perform a Due Diligence background check on him; we were not able to verify that he is who he said he is”
As I have stated in early posts on other posts the ANCA and the 4CCCC should have done background checks regarding Mark’s education especially for ordination in the ANCA. In one of the posts on line there was a link to a 2005/6 document that shows he was ordained by the ANCA. If you were involved in checking Mark’s degree you should have been persistent that before he was hired that he provide proof of his education. The members who did not do this are just to much to blame as the ANCA and 4CCCC.
CV = curriculum vitae … a short account of one’s experience and qualifications for an open position … essentially, his resume
He’s fortunate. A lot of preachers rebelled over public health warnings about Covid during the pandemic, contracted the disease, and died.
I totally support pastors who take out the trash! (Too bad there aren’t more of them!)
researcher,
Thank you!
Things can sound good in my head, but I often wonder how they translate!
janiceg,
This came from a deacon, who was warning people in her group that Mark Booker was sick with COVID-19.
What makes them think that they are exempt from contagion?
Is it faith?
Misplaced belief?
Or just plain stupidity?
I think it’s a combination of all three.
How many Bookers, Golighers, RZs, Copelands, Macarthurs, et al, go into religion because it is like whitewater rafting?
And how many of the crew of willing crew – Aaron Long, or Ortberg Jnr – gravitate in order to get a slice of the frisson?
What did Mark Booker think his mother thought when he entered this job path?
An old vicar of mine was always on about how “exciting” church is. His old parish still describes itself as “vibrant” (which means shaky in my dictionary).
Is the main axis of theology to “bring Disneyland down to earth”?
And a misinterpretation of “separation of Church & State” … “you ain’t going to tell us what to do!”. In this case, the State was trying to protect them from a pandemic.
Where I live the jab is seen as taking the mark of the beast. So is the mask. Both are seen as the evil one world government the rapture ready crowd are awaiting.
Even a local Calvinistic Fundy preacher pointed out publicly that you don’t get the jab on your hand or wear the mask on your forehead.
And none of it has to do with preparing for a one world government or as David Jeremiah said getting us ready to take the mark of the beast.
If these folks really believe in predestination then they should have obeyed the magistrates, what with the pandemic and how to manage it being predestined by God, right?
Crazy.
“BECAUSE I AM PROTECTED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT!”
— Mom who did NOT get demon-possessed when shown through a D&D game demonstration
Please pray for psc …there is a major article about the in CHristianity today
https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2024/february/park-street-division-vote-booker-balboni-congregationalism.html
Muff Potter,
Politics…. I still have contact with my fellow students from my fundy high school …. Many did not believe that there was a public health problem…. They thought it was the “liberal media” out to get the President…
In fact I saw a video with good old John Mac basically saying this..
The article echoes the concerns of many raised by TWW’s coverage of this … an unhealthy pattern of manipulation, intimidation and domination by Pastor Booker. The elder board should have done the right thing to protect PSC from this months/years ago.
Because of this nonsense, many (in both pulpit and pew) got to see Jesus a whole lot sooner than they expected! Local churches were super-spreaders of Covid in communities across America. I had people mock me for wearing a mask when I shopped, raced their engines when I walked across the parking lot, coughed in my face, one told me he hoped I didn’t die before I got to the car … I suspected some of them to be churchgoers. My wife has a chronic illness; I wasn’t about to bring Covid home to her.
Max,
The are some Elders that are pro-mark. There is the real problem. They are not pro-welfare of the congregation and staff.
janiceg,
I wrote this email below to the entire board of elders…On 1/8/2024…I did get a response.
“I write this with much love in my heart.
I agree 100% with the …. letter in December. The church has to do an independent review of any spirit abuse claim. Even if it does come from Michael an employee.
It sets a precendant if the church does not. That any future claims will not be taken seriously. As someone who has experienced spirit abuse from a Sr Minister you can not get this wrong. The risk is to high”
This is quite common in elder-rule churches … “yes-men” elders which are often hand-picked by the pastor. Based on my study of Scripture, congregational polity is the correct form of church governance. Elders/deacons are to serve the Body of Christ, not be overlords.
Everyone-read this article in CT. They were not kind to Mark Booker, IMO>
dee,
From the CT article:
“I think perhaps because of Mark’s Anglican background, he’s more authoritarian and more used to top-down decisions.”
Religious background is no excuse for narcissistic behavior. His treatment of staff does not demonstrate fruit of the Spirit. Pastors are supposed to have a servant’s heart, a loving spirit … not an overlord who wields power because of position.
Max,
Exactly
You are right. If the members vote for Booker, they know what they will get. I will stand by, waiting for the “problems” to occur, and they will.
“So He gave them their request, but He sent leanness into their souls.” (Psalm 106:15)
Wow! I wondered how things went at the Church of the Cross. Thank you for weighing in on this. If the folks vote for him, they are voting for continued chaos. As the saying goes “When someone tells you who they are, believe them.”
To be truthful, I am not in a good mood at this moment. I am shocked at what is happening to my former church, PSC. Then, Chapel Hill Bible is having money woes due to Jay’s “leadership.” And the SBC is falling on the job regarding sex abuse. Sometimes, I want to throw my computer across the room and scream. However, I don’t want to upset the pugs.
“Mark’s former co-laborer” and Dee: If what you are saying is correct, then will you go on the record and reveal what happened at CoC? For everyone’s sake, people who know what has happened in the past need to reveal openly bad behavior and lies. Booker has been a habitual liar, but also a very good one. For the sake of everyone who has been hurt by him and the elder board suppressing the truth, please verify what Booker told everyone about his education, and verify how he changed the “history” of CoC. Everyone at PSC was told that Booker started the church.
Jesus said He is coming back for “a church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless” (Ephesians 5:27).
Well, the institutional church certainly is not there yet! Our spots and wrinkles are showing! … in need of a good washing and ironing! No one would accuse the average church of being “holy and blameless”! It should be clear by now that many churches (in both pulpit and pew) are not the pure and holy Bride of Christ – they are doing church without God.
The pugs have a reason to be upset! All creation is groaning for the children of God to get this thing right! (Romans 8:22-25)
Good Lord! Is Mr. Booker really ‘that’ good of a preacher?! Is the ability to preach a good sermon worth all this grief?!! Christian character matters to God … there is no room in the Kingdom of God for narcissistic and deceptive leaders; they just don’t fit.
Previous comment by anonymous
Rez Church (under Dan Claire) is the only post online that shows that mark did not plant Cotc. It was originally called Boston Anglican Mission. It was started by Ben Rey, who, after this debacle, never returned to ministry and as the church plant attests, he was a very bright church planter. He was assistant pastor and within a year of mark moving to Boston, Mark had him fired. The people continually covering for Mark don’t want to believe what’s in front of them.
Given the close personal ties between the board, the personnel committee, and Booker, I wonder if there were any conflicts of interest during his employment negotiations?
The personnel budget doesn’t seem to have shrunk despite the departure of so many ministers.
Reading this post and many of the comments has been another reminder of how horrible the internet can be. I’ve known Mark for quite some time and there is no doubt in my mind that he studied theology at Oxford and earned the degrees attributed to him. In my view, the idea that he inflated his credentials will be completely absurd to anyone who knows him well or his story.
When I met Mark Booker, he was so dashingly, handsome and so well educated and had such a beautiful smile I immediately decided, hardly knowing him that he was a narcissistic, self-adoring egotist. And when I got to know him, I found him one of the most strangely meek and unaggressive people I’ve ever met, and I’m suspicious that you all are projecting on him, and hardly know him, and potentially see in him only a projection of your own selves.
dee,
http://rezchurch.org/boston-anglican-mission
Watcher on the wall,
Thank you. I saw that today and it will show up in a post tomorrow.
I have been laughing at this for the last hour. Thank you.
The Internet is still horrible,
So, I take it that he has shown you his credentials, such as his MDiv, or do you know this in your mind without any proof? Frankly, statements like this make me realize why people can get away with it. Anyone with real credentials would show it upon request, and he doesn’t. So, is he playing games?
BTW, you don’t know him unless you are his wife and live with him. Sometimes, even wives don’t know what is happening, as in the Liam Goligher and Aaron Ivey situation. Everybody thought they knew Ravi Zacharias, and when I first blogged about his apparent lies, I got uninformed, silly comments like this. Those people never came forward to discuss how they got it wrong. Be a Berean and do your research.
Your pastor refuses to show his church members his credentials. Something is wrong. Accept it.
I almost forgot. Ravi Zacharias said he spent time at Oxford as some sort of professor. (He didn’t.)
The Internet is still horrible,
Folks, it is comments like this that make me realize why I blog. The truth is not needed in many Christian groups today.
https://web.archive.org/web/20130810140054/http://www.cotcboston.org/history.html
“Truth is unkillable” (Balthasar Hubmaier)
Even Mr. Internet is Still Horrible can’t kill it.
Why would you want truth, when you can have dogma and medieval nonsense?
One does not “earn” an Oxford MA (at least not in living memory). I suspect he has earned an Oxford BA which he is not mentioning that was upgraded by the passage of time and a nominal sum of money to an MA. It certainly looks strange to anyone familiar with the Oxbridge system to claim an Oxbridge MA without the BA and on a CV I suspect most would just put BA (the MA is mostly useful for some internal university privileges).
An accusation has been made about the early history of the Church of the Cross and Booker. Using the wayback machine the history page as of January 2010
“We began in September 2008 with a vision to be a church community where we could follow Jesus and his kingdom vision, without reservation, and be a welcoming place for those who were investigating the person and work of Jesus. Our first formal gatherings, led by Ben Rey and a fellow seminarian, were evening prayer services in a home on Green Street in Jamaica Plain. These twice-a-month evening prayer services transitioned to twice-a-month communion services early in 2009 as the Rev. Mark Booker discerned, with the core team that God had assembled in Boston and the leadership of the Northeast Network (see Global & Local page), the call to move to Boston with his wife and three children to shepherd this community.
“During the first half of 2009, we continued building existing relationships and forming new ones through our formal worship gatherings but also through many informal gatherings, including a weekly women’s Bible study, visits to art shows, parties, BBQs, service projects, camping trips, and regular prayer gatherings.
“We began weekly worship services on September 13, 2009, and formed our first neighborhood groups in the fall of 2009. Our community and mission continues to be formed and shaped around regular worship, prayer and meeting together.
http://web.archive.org/web/20100123190736/http://www.cotcboston.org/History.html
The leadership page from the same time lists Booker and Rey (Rey just having completed his MDiv from Gordon-Conwell
Later pages no longer have Rey on leadership though the history still has him up to at least 2013. The next page in 2015 has
“We began in September 2008 with a vision to be a church community where we could follow Jesus and his kingdom vision, without reservation, and be a welcoming place for those who were investigating the person and work of Jesus. Our first formal gatherings, led by two seminarians, were evening prayer services in a home on Green Street in Jamaica Plain. These twice-a-month evening prayer services transitioned to twice-a-month communion services early in 2009 as the Rev. Mark Booker discerned, with the core team that God had assembled in Boston and the leadership of the regional network, the call to move to Boston with his wife and family to shepherd this community.
http://web.archive.org/web/20150125055445/http://www.cotcboston.org/history.html
The change might be nothing else than someone not knowing why Rey was explicitly mentioned (note the other seminarian was never named).
Agreed.
You beat me to my post today. I would be happy to hire you!! 🙂 Well, I do have some other things but I was going to discuss this specific situation. I have a couple of other documents as well.
BTW, Erp, I found that on Wayback. It was the first time I found something this far back and I was pretty excited about it.
Erp and you got this posted before me! Well done. I am going to add some info to that today. I spoke with a person who shalll remain anonymous who spoke to this history as well.
“One does not “earn” an Oxford MA (at least not in living memory). I suspect he has earned an Oxford BA which he is not mentioning that was upgraded by the passage of time and a nominal sum of money to an MA.It certainly looks strange to anyone familiar with the Oxbridge system to claim an Oxbridge MA without the BA and on a CV I suspect most would just put BA (the MA is mostly useful for some internal university privileges).”
If Mark is even aware of the accusations on this website, he probably would consider them too absurd to respond to. But if and when he does, I wonder if this website will publish a retraction and an apology?
in an email to park street church on Dec. 30th Mark insufficiently addressed the challenges to his academic claims. He provided no concrete evidence to refute those who are questioning his academic record. The accusations he addressed in this email were not coming from Dee. It was after this that Dee dug deeper and found his claims are not viable. If you are so confident in his academic credentials – keep living in the land of make believe. But if this is causing doubt – you can reach out to him and ask for his CV, pictures of degrees, etc. You seem to be close to him but just in case – his email is: mbooker@parkstreet.org
if someone was challenging my degrees – I’d simply take a photo of them and send them to those questioning. Wouldn’t be too hard and would take a few seconds of my time.
The Internet is still horrible,
Is there a reason why you continue to make nonspecific, dismissive remarks?
Do you think it’s improper to ask about someone’s credentials?
Why are you so certain about Mark’s credentials? What is the foundation of your belief?
What would this website even be apologizing for? Asking to see his graduation diploma?
If Mark knows the issues presented and considers them too absurd to respond too, I think that would reflects more poorly on Mark than it does on this website.
As a longstanding member since the days of Gordon, I find the discussion surrounding CotC and MDivs to be less pertinent compared to Micheal’s allegations. Is it true that Mark pressured Micheal into breaching congregant confidentiality? Is it true l that he’s enforcing gag orders pertaining to decisions such as the 4pm cancellation and subsequently misleading the elders? Is it true the that he is deliberately marginalizing other ministers?
Some things are confirmed, such as lying to the congregation regarding K.P.
I would like to give Mark the benefit of doubt, as I have enjoyed positive interactions with him and have appreciated his sermons. The most immediate is his explicit focus on creating a culture of welcoming and community. As I understand it, he has invited every member into his home for the regional fellowships, and in general seems to have more focus on regional fellowship as well (which is important at a church like PSC, where members may walk 5 minutes down the street, or drive 2 hours every Sunday).
I believe the Spirit of Control that former elder C.C. described is what the true problem is, and Mark is making it worse by exerting his influence. I have my suspicions on who the leaders of that are, and I do believe they think they are acting in the best interest of the church. I do have many concerns that have not even been brought up on any of these posts or comments. Regardless, all this smoke leads to one fire and it is does not seem healthy to keep that fire going.
As for other things, I do not believe he lied about his MA from Oxford. He has it, even if it is just based on a time period and fee. It is certainly misleading in an American context but at a factual level, it does appear logical and likely he has an “MA from Oxford”. Yet at this point it’s part of the “smoke” and not the focus of the fire. I also think it is very improper and slanderous to publicly speculate on plagarism without proof. Finally, I can also confirm he changed the motto from Evangelical, Congregational, International to Jesus Above All.
Worried and Anxious,
I agree with you. It is not absurd to ask to see someone’s credentials. IMO, it borders on wrong not to do so if one claims that their church is a good church. I have been doing this for 15 years. I have never once seen a church leader who did not share his eduction online. The question that should be asked, instead, is this.”Why does Pastor Booker refuse to show his credentials to the 900+ folks he claims to pastor?” Something is wrong.
I tried to contact him myself but have not received an answer.
Let me clarify one point. I have been told that the Search Com decided that they couldn’t gt a Ph,D so their bottom line was that the candidate had an MDiv. He told the committee that he had the equivalent of that training. The fact that you believe that he has a MA is fine. The problem still exists. Do you believe he has the equivalent of an MDiv? It seems to me that he might not have that. The MA you speak of does not answer the question. Why won’t he show that he has the equivalent degree? I wrote about what that degree would be at Oxford.
dee,
That is a fair question given the conversations you have had. Also, if it is not obvious, I appreciate the concern you have for our church.
One interesting thing I found this afternoon is the record of the search committee and interviews with the interim, JL, Micheal B, and KP on what they expect from the role. A lot of focus on strong preaching, but also noted a desire to be consensus seeking, which is in direct opposition of the Elders’ words.
Mark did this same thing at Church of the Cross. He fired the young seminarian who started and planted the church, and wiped the website so that it says that Mark planted it. Mark is a narcissist.
Also he told people he was working on his phd while at COTC, so its news to hear he “declined” the phd offer. Thats absolutely false. Looks like he did not finish, or maybe he never started. But either way its alarming how the board of elders are smoothing this over on his behalf. He cornered each church council member at COTC with one on ones to get them to agree to fire the seminarian who started COTC. Mark already won, his fruit is already public to see. Its the board of elders who are ultimately responsible for this fiasco. And they want their decision to keep mark to be affirmed- its why they are fighting this with him and willing to overlook discretions that in any other institution (if it were non religious) would not get away with.
Credentials, specifically, a Masters degree is not necessarily required in the ACNA for priests. There is at least one other option often available to ordinands that doesn’t require it. I have a priest friend who doesn’t have a masters degree who took this option. However, Booker was ordained in AMiA originally, which was notoriously loose in their requirements.
A UK Bachelor’s degree in theology is sufficient for ordination in most UK bodies (even a two year degree in some cases), including the C of E. One must understand that Bachelor’s degrees are structured much differently in the UK than Bachelor’s Degrees in the U.S. A “Bachelor’s” in theology in the UK will be three years of nothing but theology classes and will generally be academically more rigorous than a Bachelor’s in the US. The issue is not credentials – that misses the point. In my view, the Bachelor’s in theology in the UK is far closer to an M.Div. than one might think . . .