It is obvious that jason, the elders, mission treasure and personnel committee members have never intended support any other minister other mark.

We have all sin and come short of doing what is right at times. Who can cast the first stone?

Richard Basham:
Ed. note: The courts? The law? It is against the law to molest a child. How’s about that for the first stone? Do you guys read your Bible?

We have all sin and come short of doing what is right at times.Who can cast the first stone?

This is the most common thing that good church people say when they condemn those who point out that their pastor is NOT Biblically qualified, who is accused of systematic abuse, who appears serious deficits in character that disqualify him from the ministry.

I am a successful corporate whistleblower. In my case, there were only two people who were not involved in the corrupt activities of my former employer, but who became privy to damming information. The other lady was married with children. If it wasn’t for the strong support network I had in New England, I wouldn’t have been able to whistleblow (and advise the other lady on the risks of whistleblowing–that she wasn’t in as good of a position to do it and stay safe as me). I am grateful to the people who stood beside me, who supported me. Many of my supporters are people I met afterwards (because it was not safe). I strongly agree with the sentiments expressed by JJallday.

I would hope that someone makes arrangements to honor the three pastors who just left with a farewell luncheon. I made farewell gifts that we gave to the Thorns. I would be happy to supply a farewell scarf to each of the pastors who left. (There are now many Park Streeters who will now know my identity, based on this offer.) If info on this could be posted and a sign-up be created, I would certainly go.

Richard Basham:
We have all sin and come short of doing what is right at times.Who can cast the first stone?

This shtick is getting as old as using David to excuse sexual abuse.

Richard Basham,

“It isn’t my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning. God will judge those on the outside; but as the Scriptures say, ‘You must remove the evil person from among you.’” I Cor. 5:12-13 NLT

As they say, read the whole thing. Sometimes it seems like some of the posters here have only been exposed to a couple out of context verses about stoning and judging. Conveniently for nefarious leaders. Please, fellow Christians, read your whole Bibles. I Cor. 5 would be a good place to start.

Elizabeth Klein,

Well said.

Susan Lane:
Richard Basham,

Revised typo:
(e.g. Mark and his elder board should never think that they operate in a vacuum, and even the walls have ears.)

Richard Basham,

Ironically Mark preached on Lev 21-22 a few years ago why priests and pastors should be held to a higher level of accountability. Obviously that isn’t being applied to Mark here – or rather, they would say it is and Mark hasn’t done anything that bad. I can say based on public accounts and what I’ve heard, Mark himself actually doesn’t believe he has done anything wrong and has not made a real effort to reconcile with those who have felt sinned against. Unrepentant sin and narcissism in a church leader is a big problem.

The leadership of PSC claims to have listened, learned, and changed their authoritarian, anti-Congregational ways. Here’s the evidence. Mark and Jason paid a surprise and unsolicited visit to a recent missions committee meeting. Some would call it a courtesy. However, given the current mood of the church, others may call it an intrusion. The committee made the mistake of openly and honestly discussing the possibility of holding their own version of an executive session i.e. no pastors or elders. Given recent events, that seems like a reasonable strategy. What was the response from the new policy of listening and consensus building? The entire committee was told that if they met without these leaders present, the elders would seriously consider completely disbanding this group of faithful servants. They were also informed that Mark is now the “Pastor to Park Street Missionaries.” Who spread that vicious rumor that Mark wanted to take over the missions committee?

BTA:
The leadership of PSC claims to have listened, learned, and changed their authoritarian, anti-Congregational ways.Here’s the evidence. Mark and Jason paid a surprise and unsolicited visit to a recent missions committee meeting.Some would call it a courtesy. However, given the current mood of the church, others may call it an intrusion.The committee made the mistake of openly and honestly discussing the possibility of holding their own version of an executive session i.e. no pastors or elders. Given recent events, that seems like a reasonable strategy. What was the response from the new policy of listening and consensus building?The entire committee was told that if they met without these leaders present, the elders would seriously consider completely disbanding this group of faithful servants. They were also informed that Mark is now the “Pastor to Park Street Missionaries.”Who spread that vicious rumor that Mark wanted to take over the missions committee?

This totally tracks with what I’ve heard —

Mark has successfully put every leadership committee under his control: the Personnel Committee, the Nominating Committee, the Board of Elders, the Membership Committee, and the sub-committee of Deacons.

But the one part of the church that Mark doesn’t yet control is the Missions Committee. He is “rabid” to get control of it & the multi-million dollar budget.

In that light, it’s interesting to look back at Julian Linnell’s reasons for resigning, from his May 31 letter:

“Despite how much I value my ministry at Park Street, it has become clear that I can no longer continue under our present leadership. Despite bringing my concerns to VOCA, the Vicinage Council, and our present leadership, I have not seen movement towards a healthier community. When I have communicated alternative viewpoints, particularly over issues of right and wrong, these have been consistently met with defensiveness and rationalization rather than a genuine effort to listen, or they have been ignored and dismissed altogether. I have witnessed a violation of the law of love in the treatment of God’s flock, the sheep of his pasture, who have earnestly desired honest conversation and places to be heard and understood. Furthermore, there has been an inability to do the hard work of resolving interpersonal conflicts, a pattern of saying one thing publicly yet doing something differently afterwards, and a violation of several bylaws by the Board of Elders without accountability. Given this environment, I cannot be an effective minister who cares for the congregation, equips the saints for ministry, and expands the Gospel.”

I wonder what Julian’s “alternative viewpoints” over “right and wrong” would have been?

To me, it sure looks like Mark & pro-Mark leadership are happy to play fast & loose with right and wrong. As long as they get control. It’s the only “right” that they know.

Elizabeth Klein,

I just perused the membership handbook and it seems that since 1997 PSC has 30 or so missionaries who are solely supported by them. So I guess technically MB could be their pastor. Without a missions pastor does this make MB also their supervisor? Are they considered staff and subject to the same loyalty oaths and dismissal threat that other staff have endured and been victims of? Or does PSC donate to their agencies in their name as their sole means of support? I’ve done a cursory search for the names of these missionaries but have come up empty. The membership handbook also mentioned other types of missionaries who may receive only partial support. Perhaps some Park Streeter more in tune with how this works could enlighten us.

Former Boston Girl:
Elizabeth Klein,

I just perused the membership handbook and it seems that since 1997 PSC has 30 or so missionaries who are solely supported by them. So I guess technically MB could be their pastor. Without a missions pastor does this make MB also their supervisor? Are they considered staff and subject to the same loyalty oaths and dismissal threat that other staff have endured and been victims of? Or does PSC donate to their agencies in their name as their sole means of support? I’ve done a cursory search for the names of these missionaries but have come up empty. The membership handbook also mentioned other types of missionaries who may receive only partial support. Perhaps some Park Streeter more in tune with how this works could enlighten us.

the 2023 Annual report may have more info on this. I think in the past, the funds were distributed via the specific sending agencies. In addition to the current missionaries that PSC supports, I think there are several retired missionaries that receive a small monthly donation from PSC as well – which I truly appreciate (James 1:27 … to look after orphans and widows…)
Not sure if that provision will continue if the budgets are being sliced

A little birdie told me that MB, Jason, Goeff, & another elder have “requested” to meet the chair of the Missions Committee urgently. I believe the meeting is tonight. The chair has fought hard for the truth & the missions program and could be hanging on by a thread. Has the takeover of the MC begun? I hope not. One long standing member of the MC was also removed by the BoE in the past few days. Are more to come?

Observant Outsider:
The budget will be a big issue with the trajectory they are taking. Some bigger donors have already indicated they will no longer be giving to the church. Last year’s budget shortfall was $500,000. I would expect this year to be $1mil or more less than the budget unless they can get some big donations. Difficult decisions are going to have to be made and staff positions and missionary contributions will have to be eliminated. There’s not much that can be done about that.

Given all this, why oh why are the elders, with the help of VOCA & the VC, insisting, “BUT WE NEED HIM!!!!!”

I don’t get it. Not only the “bodies behind the bus” human toll that Mark’s ministry has caused, but the $.

Churches often ignore bodies behind the bus. They totally shouldn’t!! But they do. As long as their reputation looks clean and the $ is good, then that (to them) justifies the bodies behind the bus.

But at PSC, you’ve got a bodies behind the bus problem, AND a $ problem.

So what makes Mark THAT special? So special, that the elders must cling onto him almost like he’s God in the flesh, come to save PSC, while every other human is expendable?

I just don’t get it. And I say this, having observed a whole lot of Christians happy to defend abusers if those abusers are personal friends, and/or seem successful in their ministries, doing “great work” for the Kingdom (always defined as butts in the pews and $$$$, never simple, quiet growth in Christlikeness).

But Mark has so obviously unleashed chaos at PSC, so he can’t even claim $$$$ “Kingdom” success!

Right???

Elizabeth Klein,

“For there is hope for a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that its shoots will not cease.” Job 14:7

You have to understand that there is a cult-like affinity for Mark among a group of PSC leaders. Mark has been chosen by God to lead the church and everything that’s been happening is the work of Satan trying to destroy him. I don’t think they expected the church to vote that way and for the “sustained resistance” to go on this far. They’re making a calculation that they convince enough people to stay they can survive. They WANT people to leave the church at this point. I think they don’t realize how much it will cost them.

I am really sad for what is happening at our church. There has been so much doubling, tripling, quadrupling down. The BOE knows that Mark has not been following VOCA recommendations and still choose him over VOCA, the 4Cs, and the congregation.

Observant Outsider: there is a cult-like affinity for Mark among a group of PSC leaders

The PSC mess really can’t be explained any other way at this point. There must be some sort of pact between pastor & elders that involves moving the church in a totally different direction than the good people at PSC want to go … with the BoE viewing Mark as the only one that can take them there. TWW has seen this sort of thing a lot in Southern Baptist ranks when New Calvinists take control of a church by stealth and deception … always results in an initial membership decline with older established members exiting, leaving the church and its resources in the hands of the new reformers.

Are there still uniformed police officers at Park Street’s Sunday services?

Observant Outsider:
The Vicinage Council has begun meeting with people. Some have refused to participate in the farce, having already given their testimony and being disregarded. I would expect the VC to double down on what they said in their previous report, probably emphasizing “insubordination” and “disobedience.” They proclaimed “the truth has been discovered” before when it obviously was not, they have already proven themselves to be biased and inadequate in assessing this situation.

You’re probably right re: the VC, but I of course hope that you’re not. Common sense would tend to tell them, hey, no matter how much we think the poor Senior Minister is being wronged here, he’s just too polarizing to be able to bring healing to PSC.

I mean, they’ve gotta at least notice that the congregation is only becoming solidly less enamored of Mark… right??

BTA: ook at what he’s doing to the missions committee….are you really that blind to reality?

What happened with the missions commmittee. Especially now that it does not have Julian as leader.

BTA,

A week or so ago I posted a link ( found on the WayBack Machine) outlining how PSC relates to the missionaries they support from 80% to full time. Even though they are on the field with an independent mission agency Park Street views them as employees. So, if MB sees himself as “Pastor to the Staff” then he could state this about the missionaries, especially in the absence of a Missions Pastor. The link now leads to nothing but perhaps the policy could still be found on archived internet pages. Perhaps someone with intimate knowledge of the work of the Missions Committee over the last 25 or so years could enlighten us about if this policy still exists and how it is enforced.

Observant Outsider:
Elizabeth Klein,

The fact that they feel adequate to reassess things and have gone ahead despite pleas from the congregation and a petition submitted by 117 members to prevent them from reconvening tells you all you need to know about how much they respect the congregation. Remember what the elders said: “this narrative that has taken hold of many of you.” I would guess that VC believes the same: Good Guy Mark needs to be defended from the vicious attacks. If this is how 4C’s operates they really take the “Conservative” to be more important than “Congregational” (or “Christian”).

Only time can tell. The report they submitted in May was awful, I wouldn’t be surprised to see even more inflammatory statements come now.

Nor would I. Sadly.

There seems to be this automatic, (forgive me, old guard) “Just trust us” way of thinking, on the part of church leaders who believe that they are owed such trust.

They’re not.

Observant Outsider,

The VC report was more than awful, it was atrocious….simplistic, superficial, narrow, and biased. They dismissed the Park Street Five as unreliable witnesses when they had the most trustworthy characters, the most PSC experience, the most theological training, and the most familiarity with Mark Booker. But they chose to trust the person who lied about his education, weaponized the personnel committee, bullied his best five pastors, lied to the congregation, lost the vote of the congregation, and then ignored it. Tell me VC, why is he qualified to remain as the senior pastor of Park Street Church? How do you justify pronouncing him fit for this position? Just be honest enough to admit it….he just isn’t the right man for this job.

Does anyone know who wrote this? It wasn’t Pastor Julian… that’s for sure!
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It is super problematic and bizarre in many ways! Just to be clear, supporting people who are serving anywhere as missionaries is not problematic. Writing or speaking about missions as going “down into a pit” is outdated, horribly prejudiced, and totally disrespectful! You all know people in India have internet access and can read this rubbish, right? You want people from South Asia heritage in Boston to be welcome at Park Street Church? Maybe don’t call their area of the world “a pit” into which a person can “descend”… Honestly, Park Street Church needs missionaries FROM elsewhere to come to Boston to preach the Gospel to those who’s priorities are not Jesus-centered!
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The fact that Mark Booker and Jason Abraham and their obsequious followers have managed to take the focus off of the Gospel (the ONLY reason church makes sense) is totally infuriating! The insults to other places as “pits” is just fitting for their self-centered and self-righteous agenda.
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https://mailchi.mp/parkstreet.org/tgvr1wx9pq-2512742
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JULY 2024
Missionary Care Teams: Holding the Rope
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William Carey [ https://www.imb.org/2018/07/31/missionaries-you-should-know-william-carey/ ] is considered by many to be the “father of the modern missionary movement.” The year was 1792 and the story goes that he and some friends were considering Carey’s upcoming endeavor to India, which they likened to a “deep mine, which had never before been explored.” One of those friends, Andrew Fuller, later shared that it was as if Carey told his friends, “Well, I will go down [into the mine], if you will hold the rope.” He then took an oath from each of his companions standing at the “mouth of the pit,” that while they lived, they “should never let go of the rope.” (baptistworldmission.org/holding-the-ropes)
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Park Street’s Missionary Care Teams are “holders of the rope!” They hold on to provide moral, spiritual, and relational tethering to our missionaries living abroad in often challenging environments. They are essential for strengthening and developing our church’s participation in God’s mission. Missionary Care Teams (MCTs) are part of his unique way to connect us in Boston with his work around the world. They also connect our missionaries to the life of the church here in Boston.
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The MCT ministry is a tangible expression of Park Street Church’s commitment to support our sent ones. These teams are organized by team leaders and are usually made up of eight to twelve individuals. They are deeply committed to the missionaries whom they serve and they are advocates on their behalf to the church. They serve through knowing their missionaries and communicating with them on a regular basis. They pray for them, usually meeting together monthly in person or online to lift up their needs. They help them in practical ways, most often during their visits back to Boston.
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The New Testament contains many intriguing examples of how early believers held the rope for the first missionaries in the expansion of the gospel across the ancient world. One inspiring example is the church in Philippi. This congregation had adopted Paul and were active in supporting his missionary work. They were a source of joy to Paul because of their “partnership in the gospel” (Philippians 1:5). There was an emotional closeness between them. Paul said to the church: “I have you in my heart and…how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:7-8). There was an active two-way prayer connection between them (Philippians 1:9-11). And there was a practical aspect to their support for Paul (Philippians 4:16). Clearly, this congregation was alert and informed about Paul’s needs and fully engaged in this enriching mission partnership for the sake of the gospel.
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Missionary Care Teams can reflect this biblical example of God’s mission conducted in God’s way and experience the joy of partnering in the work of the gospel. Park Street Church supports 30 missionaries serving 12 countries. Each of these sent ones are in need of prayer and connection. They need partners who will hold the rope for them!
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Would you consider joining one of our Missionary Care Teams? Take a few minutes to complete this interest form [ https://parkstreet.churchcenter.com/people/forms/647406 ] to find out more about MCTs.
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[…]

The latest abuse and gaslighting from CEO and non-pastor Mark Booker… no mention of the petition signed by 117 people. Stay turned for more rubbish from the board of “elders” as promised in this cruel email.
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Also… is greeting in the Name of Jesus and then lying a form of blasphemy?
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Subject: A Message from our Senior Minister
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Date: Wed, 3 Jul 2024
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From: Park Street Church
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https://mailchi.mp/parkstreet.org/message-from-the-board-of-elders-may-7227467
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July 3, 2024
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Dear Park Street Community,

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Greetings in the name of Jesus. I hope you are finding time this week to be with family and friends for the 4th of July tomorrow. I want to share with you about our plan for staffing for our ministries at PSC as we walk through this time of transition.

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Before doing this, however, I would like to share with all of you what I believe faithfulness requires in this present moment. We need to acknowledge and attend to two realities. First, we are a church in pain that desperately needs the healing only Jesus can provide. It will take months, even years, for us to rebuild fully from all that we have just walked through (and are still walking through in various ways). We need to attend to that, and I am encouraged that the Elders held processing sessions throughout June, that they have each pursued a significant number of one-on-one conversations, and that they are thinking carefully about how to provide additional space for bringing our hurt and pain to Jesus as we seek his healing. We will communicate more about this as we have updates. Second, we are a church who must continue faithfully in the stewardship that has been entrusted to us. By God’s grace, we share together in his mission to the world. Much good ministry continues to happen in our midst. Newcomers, who need to be welcomed and embraced, join us week after week. Small groups continue to meet. We are regularly serving our neighbors who experience homelessness. In all of this and more, we must continue to faithfully serve these current ministries as we sow seeds for the future, remaining committed to making disciples who become like Jesus together. Faithfulness in this present moment requires attentiveness to both realities.
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For any of you who feel especially disheartened, I want to remind you of what I shared in the introduction to the sermon on Sunday: we are called to do the next thing that Jesus is asking us to do and to do it well. Each of us has a role to play in the life of this church. Each of us has gifts. Each of us is needed. Each of us can be conduits of God’s grace and mercy. We are to step into each new day and do the next thing faithfully. As we do, I trust that Jesus will be exalted and honored and that our community will be strengthened and experience more of the healing we need.
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One of the primary “next things” for me has been ensuring that our ministries have adequate support during this time of transition. The resignations of Julian Linnell (Minister of Missions), Ray Kam (Minister to Internationals), and Damian Long (Minister of Community) have left gaps that need to be filled. While their resignations have not been under conditions that they or I would have preferred, I do want to thank and honor each of them for their service to our community and to encourage all of us to continue praying for God to bless them and their families and to lead them to new ministries that glorify him. Addressing the gaps from their departures will be a continued focus over the next months, but, for now, I would like to outline some of the more immediate things we are doing: 
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– Missions: We are thankful to Andrea Zvara, Director Global Outreach, for extending her excellent support for missions. Andrea has agreed to transition from 4-days a week to 5-days a week and she is providing continuity for our missionaries and our Missions Committee. I am working closely with Andrea and providing pastoral oversight to our Missions program at this time, including working with the Missions Committee and meeting with missionaries who are in Boston this summer.
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– Internationals: David and Roselle Heckendorn, our Van Baay House directors, have graciously offered to ensure that our Park Street International Fellowship ministry—generally less active in the summer—is prepared for a kick-off retreat from August 16 to 18. The international residents at the Van Baay House are helping with this preparation as well. 
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– Community: Assistant Minister Randall Wetzig is ensuring that we have a clear, attainable plan for small groups and regional fellowships heading into the fall. We’ve had a PSC member who has lots of experience in small group ministry graciously offer to assist us in this. We are still thinking through the wisest approach to support Café right now. 
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– Additional support—Dan Verrengia: As we announced in the eNews last week, Dan Verrengia has rejoined our ministerial staff in a part-time capacity until November 1 when Adam Herndon, Minister to Families, is scheduled to return from his six-month deployment as an Air Force chaplain. In addition to assisting on Sundays, Dan is taking responsibility for a few key elements of the pastoral care ministry from Randall’s plate to give Randall space to attend to our ministries of community. Specifically, Dan will be providing oversight to our Visitation ministry (capably led by Annette Aureli who took over from Stuart Delorme when he stepped down a year ago), offering pastoral oversight to our pastoral support groups (like Divorce Care, Friendship Bible study, etc.), as well as sharing his wisdom to our overall team approach to pastoral care. It is important to note that Dan is not resuming his pastoral counseling role that he most recently had. For pastoral counseling, we continue our partnership with Harbor Counseling, and we do subsidize the cost of this for members. 
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These immediate steps will help ensure that each of these important ministries continue to receive the support they need during this period of transition. They will also give us space and time to better evaluate our long-term needs and assess our financial resources. One area where we are seeking more immediate ministerial support is with our ministry to internationals. For that reason, we have initiated an active search for a Minister to Internationals. Please pray for God’s blessing and direction over this process and additional staffing decisions that we will need to make over the coming months.
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As important as staff and ministers are, I want to remind you, the members of the church, that you are the primary agents in doing the work of ministry for the building up of the body of Christ (Eph 4.12). God empowers ALL his people by the Holy Spirit to enable us to engage in his mission together, and I hope we grow into that even more as we emerge from this challenging past year. In short, fulfilling our mission requires all of us to love, to serve, to pray, to take risks, to engage. It takes all of us, playing our different roles, yes, but aiming collectively at the goal of making disciples who become like Jesus together.  
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I am committed to communicating with you all regularly as we walk through this time of transition. More of the present challenges in the church will be addressed by the Board of Elders soon, and they will share some of what they have heard during the processing sessions in the month of June.
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May God be honored in and through Park Street Church. Let’s keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and do the next thing he is asking us to do…and do it faithfully.
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In Christ,

Mark

Job Posting: Minister to Internationals
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As Pastor Mark’s letter mentioned yesterday, we have begun to search for a Minister to Internationals. Applications are currently being accepted through Friday, July 19. The job description can be found here. All interested persons are encouraged to send their resume and cover letter to Debbie Gallagher at clerk@parkstreet.org. Please pray for this process.

Friend of Park Street Church: Your platitudes and insults and you show that you seek to deceive newcomers.

Typo… it should be:
Your platitudes ARE insults and you show that you seek to deceive newcomers.

Friend of Park Street Church: The latest abuse and gaslighting from CEO and non-pastor Mark Booker…. no mention of the petition signed by 117 people. Stay turned for more rubbish from the board of “elders” as promised in this cruel email.

(The bold was done by me.)

That.

Friend of Park Street Church,

I love your description of Mark Booker as a non-pastor. 🙂

And your reference to Mark Booker as CEO is apt — and he’s not acting like a good CEO. From his email, it’s apparent he’s going to replace people with the people HE wants (including the congregants)….no one else’s input matters.

To keep my comment short (and polite) 🙂 ….I’m intentionally omitting all of the many things I said out loud to my computer as I was reading Mark Booker’s email.

From Mark Booker’s email:

More of the present challenges in the church will be addressed by the Board of Elders soon, and they will share some of what they have heard during the processing sessions in the month of June.

I hope no one expected anything they said in the processing sessions (or anywhere else, for that matter) would remain confidential….especially given Mark Booker’s history.

Friend of Park Street Church: One of the most concerning updates yet….Bylaws Committee….The Board of Elders voted in May 2024 to form a Bylaws Committee to review the Bylaws of Park Street Church.

That.

Please note the date — May, 2024 — and compare it to the rest of the timeline, including the “processing sessions”.

Observant Outsider:
Susan Lane,

I’m sorry to say Susan but there is almost no chance this is true. On June 20th the petitioners wrote to the VC asking them not to convene again until a special meeting a vote was conducted. This letter did mention “cease and desist” and “consider their legal rights” in their letter posted above. The VC began interviewing people last week already, so clearly they don’t think the vote, the pending petition, or the bylaws should prevent them from doing this. Ray, Julian, Damian, Tim and Tammy all shared their stories to the VC and we all saw what they concluded. The rottenness extends to 4C’s leadership, it seems. Remember that their recommended best practice for a senior minister transition is for all associate ministers to leave.

Observant Outsider I don’t have a lot of hope, it’s true, especially now that 3 of the Courageous 5 have left, but the bottom line is Mark Booker does not deserve to rebuild this church. He had the nerve to ask in his most recent letter to the Congregation, (now that he has decimated our ministry team) that we just reunify around him, and bring back our tithes to the one who destroyed our church. He has the nerve to act like he had no intention of any of this happening. And look at the title of his upcoming sermon: “Shout for Joy,” as we mourn the loss of three more ministers. Is that some kind of sick joke? It’s like he and his cronies are this little pack of hyenas sitting there laughing at us.

The path seems dark and hopeless when he has the elder board wrapped tightly around his finger and they won’t even hear reason at this point. One of the main things that needs to happen at the next special meeting is Jason Abraham needs to be sidelined and somebody who can actually consider a differing opinion (and one that isn’t necessarily positive toward Mark Booker) should be allowed to Moderate. Jason doesn’t have an objective bone in his body, and he runs these meetings exceedingly unprofessionally. But there again, that would require the BoE admitting that something they did was wrong and then doing something to change it, which isn’t likely to happen.

“It will take months, even years, for us to rebuild fully from all that we have just walked through (and are still walking through in various ways).”

“Months and years” rebuilding with whom, sitting in the senior pastor’s office?

Months

and years

with

whom?

Anyone?: “Each of us is needed.” – M. Booker

Good quote to highlight! I think Mark made a few typos in his email… “each of us (except those pesky 5 ministers and Michael Balboni, and the long list of “departures” since 2020 and their spouses and kids…. THOSE people are NOT needed… nor are the 47 or the 117!)… is needed in this sinking ship to keep bailing out the water while I, Mark Singularly Holy Booker, keep puncturing more holes in the hull. You are all needed with your buckets to keep bailing and bailing. It’s my right and prerogative to poke holes as I see fit because of the High Calling I alone have to ruin, I mean rule, I mean run, this ship. So don’t point out the holes or my puncturing… those are not your business. Your noble work is to use whatever bucket God has given you to bail. So shout for joy at your humiliating, I mean humble, role on this ship. After all, each one of us is needed!”
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Ugh… I can see why “Screwtape Letters” was a tough thing to write and why Clive Staples Lewis declined to write a sequel! Even a short story from the perspective of a sick, sick non-pastor is exhausting!
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John 10:12-13
[12] He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. [13] He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

Having the by-laws changed is a sign that a take over is planned. It is about the last thing psc should be doing right now. What about healing the wounded and hurting community and the ministers and there families first.

Susan Lane: Is he trying to say he’s taking over the “Pastoral” part of Julian‘s duties as counselor and confidant to the missionaries? To pray for them, counsel them, and look out for their safety as needs arise?

I can confirm this is what he is doing. He might want to eliminate that position altogether and have direct control, I’m not sure.

Interesting that the application deadline for Ray’s old position is July 19th or two weeks after posting. With such a short turnaround they MUST have someone in mind. There’s no way two weeks in enough time to find qualified candidates. Who would even apply for the job with everything that’s happening? I know Mark has been trying to get Andrew Zeigler to work for him for awhile, maybe Andrew will fill this or another of the recently vacated ministerial positions. There’s no way much of PSIF will stay with Ray gone.

Also of note: Evan Burnham of the Bylaws Committee shows up as someone who signed the open letter supporting Mark and chastising those critical of him. Not surprising, but it should be noted where each of the members of this committee is coming from.

shellshocked: The reason for the bylaw committee could be more simple, at least in part. I’m expecting them to make it impossible for members to call a special meeting without approval from the elders, or to otherwise make it impossible.

Yeah !
Tomorrow he will ‘SHOUT FOR JOY’ with open fists from the pulpit of MARK SPEAK CHURCH
‘Everyone is needed’ to shout aloud —- MARK ABOVE ALL PASTORS !
then participate in the ‘love’ feast administered by the only pastor qualified to lead.

Friend of Park Street Church:

Bylaws Committee
.
The Board of Elders voted in May 2024 to form a Bylaws Committee to review the Bylaws of Park Street Church.The Committee began meeting in June. Members of the congregation may submit revision suggestions to the Bylaws Committee by emailing bylawscommittee [at] parkstreet.org. The members of the Bylaws Committee are David Rix (Chair), Evan Burnham, Julie Halvorsen, Sarah Schaffer Raux, Jim Bruce (consultant) and Herman Smith (consultant).

Why are revision suggestions supposed to be emailed to this committee
when Article VIII of the current bylaws instructs that proposed amendments should be provided to the clerk:

ARTICLE VIII: AMENDMENTS
These Bylaws may be amended at any Annual or Special Meeting by a two-thirds vote of the members present and voting. Proposed amendments, submitted in writing over the signatures of twelve members of the church, shall be provided to the clerk at least sixty days before the meeting at which the matter will be considered and be published in the notice of such meetings.

Janiceg: What about healing the wounded and hurting community and the ministers and there families first.

That is all Of Ehe Flesh and PSC is Walking In The Spirit(TM).

So In The Spirit they float around in mid-air, carried everywhere by Angels lest they dash their foot against a stone.