Matt Chandler Took Nepotism To New Levels- Hired His Pedo Dad To Keep “The Village Church Denton” Clean!

“It is not grace to shield people from the consequences of their actions, to allow men or women who have been proven unsafe to have free access to vulnerable communities. It is not the gospel to treat abuse unseriously. Today’s story is filled with tension, grief, and uncomfortable truths.”
From Bodies Behind The Bus: “Whistleblowers: The Village Church Denton” w/ Anna & Chris, Jul 10, 2024


[Note from the Editor] I needed to add a big thank you to Chris and Anna. I appreciate their honesty and willingness to speak out. They are the heroes of this story. I hope their brave actions will embolden many others to speak out against sexual predators.

Yesterday, July 10, 2024, Johnna Harris and Jay Coile released a new episode on their podcast “The Bodies Behind The Bus.” The episode, titled “Whistleblower: The Village Church Denton” w/Anna & Chris broke the story that Steven Chandler, the father of Matthew Chandler, is a confessed child sexual abuser and despite this was hired by The Village Church to work as a custodian at The Village Church Denton.

Steven Chandler was hired in 2007 and continued working through 2012. I urge everyone to listen to the podcast and read the article. They are both well done and very informative.

Johnna Harris asked for help researching this story from the author of the blog “No Eden Elsewhere.” This individual does excellent work – you can find the results of her research here. I encourage you to read the article. The author of the “No Eden Elsewhere” article also stressed to me that all the credit for breaking this story goes to Johnna Harris and Jay Coile, her post was a companion piece.

This statement below was read at a quarterly members meeting of The Village Church Denton in July 2019. The podcast describes the event as attended by 50-100 members of the 1,000 member church.

 Question: Are there any current staff members with a history of sexual abuse?

 To our knowledge, there is no one currently on our church staff who has a history of perpetrating sexual abuse. We have staff members who are survivors of various forms of abuse, including sexual. But none who have perpetrated abuse. The only exception to this we are aware of, in the entire history of our staff here in Denton dating back to 2007, is our brother Steve Chandler, who served as the custodian of the Denton Campus from 2007-2012. Steve himself made us aware of his history through sharing his testimony of God’s transforming grace in his life. Steve first shared his testimony publicly with members of The Village Church in Highland Village through the Recovery Ministry, before he was hired on staff. Steve’s testimony included him vulnerably sharing many of his past sins, including his past sin of child sexual abuse 40 years ago. A sin and crime Steve had first voluntarily confessed to the District Attorney and court of law 40 years ago.

 When he was hired to serve as the custodian at the Denton Campus in September 2007, Steve’s past was not a secret; it was not hidden but something he had shared publicly. Yet, those who were directly involved and responsible for hiring Steve, including his immediate supervisor, had not heard his testimony. Per our hiring protocol in 2007, a background check was run, but his history of sexual abuse did not, and still does not, show up on his background check. This is because Steve was never indicted by the court due to his voluntary compliance with and completion of all the requirements set forth by the court, including a period of intense counseling for five years. The national sex offender registry was also not in place at this time, which is why a mere background report did not bring forth this information. Again, the reason that we knew, and know today, about Steve’s history is because he walked in the light about it and sought, based on pastoral encouragement given to him, to steward his testimony for the edification of the church.

 Steve’s testimony became more broadly known, to his supervisor, to the staff here at the Denton Campus, and then to all the staff of The Village Church, in April of 2009. At the point his testimony became known to his supervisor, specific safety standards and protocols were immediately put around Steve that he humbly and, to our knowledge, faithfully submitted himself to during the rest of his tenure on staff. This protocol was established and has remained in place to protect the church, as well as to protect and hold Steve accountable and above reproach. The protocol is above and beyond what the law requires of us to do. And it is protocol that he still today, as a member of our church, faithfully submits to and abides by.

 Though this protocol was put in place immediately after Steve’s testimony and past history of abuse became known to his supervisor, and the rest of the staff, the decision was made not to terminate Steve from the church’s staff. At the time, this decision was made based on the theological underpinnings of God’s redemptive grace and sanctification. These theological convictions led the Executive Staff of The Village Church to not terminate Steve from our staff but to place the safety protocol around him for the remainder of his time on staff. Again, Steve continues to abide by this protocol today.

 Question: Would our leadership ever hire someone or leave someone on our church staff who has a history of child sex abuse in their past?

 No. And that is a weighty statement.

 Question: What would our leadership do today if we received an allegation of sexual abuse against a staff member?

 We would immediately report the abuse to the authorities so that an investigation can begin. We would suspend the staff member from their active responsibilities as we work with the authorities to move forward in an investigation. Based on the direction given to us by the authorities, we would communicate with the church as much information as possible. We would also, until the investigation is done, place our parameters for “non-registered sex offenders,” around the individual.


There was a standing ovation given for Steven Chandler after the statement was read. Unfortunately, this seems to happen in many churches. The perp gets a standing “O” and there is nary a word about the individual(s) who was/were sexually abused.

Here is what a pastor said in 2012 about Steven Chandler on the occasion of his resigning from his custodian job, he sounds like a real peach!

As an aside, Matt Chandler’s mom was a paid executive secretary at The Village Church Denton. She remains a deacon.

Below is a video from 2009 of Matt Chandler describing his formative years to John Piper. Chandler chillingly describes his father as abusive, saying every kind of abuse you can imagine was in his home. (Remember, this was in 2009. Matt Chandler’s abusive dad had been working as a custodian at The Village Church Denton for 2 years at this point.)

This next clip is very disturbing. I am speculating here, but it seems very likely that Matt Chandler was abused by his father when he was 12.

[Update from the Editor] I was just advised that Steven Chandler’s admitted sexual abuse of a child was actually 40 years earlier from 2019, not 2007 so I changed my figures to reflect the correct dates. This means the child Steven admitted to sexually abusing may have been one of his own! That said, it remains statistically likely that Steven Chandler had more than 1 victim.

Steven Chandler 78 – Dec 1945
Janet Chandler 75 – Nov 1948
Sister #1 51 – Oct 1972
Matt Chandler 50 – June 1974
Sister #2  47 – Mar 1977

Abuse 2019-40 = 1979 Steven 34-35 y.o.

\

I find it amazingly stupid and dangerous for Matt Chandler to allow his father to be hired as a custodian at The Village Church Denton.

I wanted to end by reminding you of Matt’s 3 month disciplinary sabbatical for sins unknown, but not disqualifying.  While his subordinates advise church members of how diligently Matt had been following his restoration plan, for reasons unknown they didn’t find it necessary to advise the pew-peons that Matt’s restoration plan called for a week of elk hunting in Colorado.  Matt didn’t see any elk, but he and his guide were able to discuss “the dark things that can plague men.”

Finally, here is the video clip of Matt’s official restoration to the ministry, taken a few weeks after Matt’s hunting trip. You shouldn’t be surprised to see he was given a standing ovation!

Comments

Matt Chandler Took Nepotism To New Levels- Hired His Pedo Dad To Keep “The Village Church Denton” Clean! — 50 Comments


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    Brave macho hunters huh?
    Is it too much to hope for that there’s a hunter from outer space who will make trophies of them?


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    Is there a shortage of suitable workers, for pulpit and the premises, so that churches are forced to hire pedos?


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    Muff Potter: Is it too much to hope for that there’s a hunter from outer space who will make trophies of them?

    I hear you, Muff. I can’t say much though as I used to hunt. I gave it up years ago for personal reasons. The only thing I shoot now are photos!
    https://flic.kr/p/2hVBr37


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    Ava Aaronson: Is there a shortage of suitable workers, for pulpit and the premises, so that churches are forced to hire pedos?

    Really! This is so disgusting. Matt Houston or Brian Chandler. Sickos.


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    It’s only nepotism if it’s nephews 😉


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    Notice the strange hand symbol that Matt Chandler is displaying in the hunting photo.

    When I pointed out the upside down cross on Logan’s “eternal church” website, another commenter said that he doesn’t think such symbols are an accident, and that these symbols are included as signals for people who can read the signs.

    I wonder if Chandler’s gesture is another instance of this.

    Or possibly he’s just a dudebro clown displaying an odd hand gesture.

    In any case, I can’t picture solemn and dignified Christians such as CS Lewis or John Stott throwing up strange hand gestures like this.


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    In the social media post screen-shotted above, Matt Chandler says that there is something about hunting that replenishes his soul.

    Really?????

    Killing animals replenishes Chandler’s soul?

    That is very unsettling and disturbing.

    As a “Christian” pastor, Chandler should be replenishing his soul with Jesus and The Holy Spirit.

    He shouldn’t be getting a sense of spiritual fulfillment from killing animals.

    To be clear, I have nothing against hunting for food. I know that lots of people hunt animals for food, or as a traditional custom.

    I strongly disapprove of hunting for sport, but I guess some people find it appealing.

    Even so, I have a hard time imagining that even most avid hunters find hunting replenishing for their soul.

    Many hunters probably find hunting and the thrill of the chase exciting, challenging, and satisfying when they finally take down a deer or whatever. Maybe if they take down an especially big or rare animal they might even find it exhilarating. If they take down a 12 point buck they might even have the head taxidermized and mounted on their wall so they can show it off.

    But I strongly doubt that many hunters, even avid hardcore hunters, would describe hunting as replenishing for their soul.

    What an odd (and in my opinion disturbing) comment for Matt Chandler to make.

    Hunting is about tracking down and killing animals, most of which are largely defenseless and can’t fight back.

    Exactly what about killing animals does Matt Chandler find replenishing for his soul? Does he get enjoyment from killing animals?

    It’s a very disturbing comment in my view.

    If Chandler had simply said that he enjoys hunting, that wouldn’t really be a big deal. Lots of people enjoy hunting.

    But Chandler says that he finds something about hunting replenishing for his soul.

    I think that’s a very strange and very disturbing comment, especially for a pastor.

    Shouldn’t Jesus be the source of replenishment for his soul???


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    “Finally, here is the video clip of Matt’s official restoration to the ministry, taken a few weeks after Matt’s hunting trip. You shouldn’t be surprised to see he was given a standing ovation!”

    He’s being welcomed back to the pulpit, without it being explained to the congregation by either him or the elders, exactly what he did to be suspended from the pulpit in the first place.

    Sounds legit.

    I guess the congregation are expected to just trust Matt Chandler and his elders when they say that everything is fine, and the elk hunting trip replenished his soul.

    Back to business as usual everyone! Don’t ask any questions!


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    Commenter23: In the social media post screen-shotted above, Matt Chandler says that there is something about hunting that replenishes his soul.

    Remember Paige Patterson?
    Who used to travel the globe and shoot God’s beautiful creation left, right and center. If it moved, it was bagged, and stuffed, filling his living quarters with the stuffed cadavers of the animals he had killed: https://www.wallofcelebrities.com/celebrity/paige-patterson/pictures/xxlarge/paige-patterson_1916038.jpg

    There’s a reason why the only one of the stories in “Struwwelpeter” I liked as a kid was the one about the hare turning the tables at the hunter: https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/Struwwelpeter?uselang=de#/media/File%3AH_Hoffmann_Struwwel_15.jpg


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    Gus: nepotism

    They, the crowd people, don’t see it. The cult of personality in which they meet and worship. But whom do they worship? The Come to Jesus moment transitions to the attraction of gathering around their pastor-leader, and then it’s all about that guy. Gospel Bait and Switch.

    That guy with the mic describes his childhood, his neuroses, his this that the other thing. The codependency with his people, his audience, his congregation, is palpable. On video for an outsider, one wonders, where is Jesus in all this stage performance? Long gone.

    Hybels, Piper, Morris, Driscoll, Wilson … back in the day there was Graham, Swaggart, Swindoll, and the Bakers. Oral Roberts, Falwell, Chuck Smith, Wilkerson, Schaefer, Dobson, Gothard, Pat Robertson, and the Crouch family. The Houstons, Carl Lentz, household names.

    Books, conferences, radio, television, YouTube, CBN and TBN. Like a drug, you can pump yourself up on these guys 24/7.

    The printing press gave us the Bible for everyone everywhere, available to feed the soul 24/7. So we aren’t dependent on a pulpit guy. And yet we fall for the snake oil media industry of a pulpit guy (once in a while, a pulpit gal).

    From printing Bibles, we have transitioned to Grand Big Name Christian Media enterprises. $$$.

    The Kings of Christian media replace King Jesus, to the tune of $100M pocketed by Morris as he spins his vibe from his pulpit.

    OTOH, Jesus is free, no fee. The Gospel never collects money, no pay-to-play. As commentor Jack says, “Save 10%.” No fee Jesus.

    History records a revival in the Hebrides Islands after two sisters prayed, but the preacher did not end up with a dynasty cult of personality. That’s a work of God.

    Big name stuff is chaff in the wind, unless that name is Jesus. Jesus is the real deal. The only real deal. Once some guy’s name is the biggest voice in the room, the “influencer” is what we say nowadays – once that happens, the wheels have left the Temple is the way Ezekiel describes it. God is not in it. Kardashian Kristianity.

    Real Church checks the ego at the door. Jesus shares the podium, his platform, with no one.

    Personally, lately I like listening to John Lennox debate, to some degree, for a passing “season”. He’s no Kardashian. I’ve never made a purchase. The points he makes in teaching will be remembered long after he’s gone. That’s how God uses people. God keeps Himself only on the marquee. Seriously, I don’t quote the guy, no relationship with the guy, never need nor want to meet him. But I quote the Scriptures he points out – that’s memorable. Bible.

    Now, pull-ease, don’t tell us about your amazing small town preacher guy back in the day as the real deal. If that’s what’s notable about any church community big or small – the pastor dude – no thanks. That again, is simply a cult of personality, built around a wonderful pastor dude. God doesn’t do that. God help us.


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    Commenter23,

    It’s the Hawaiian Shaka (of friendship/greeting). Surfers use it a lot.


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    Ava Aaronson,

    There’s a lot of fiction mixed into your comments, not least the account of the Lewis Revival. a more accurate account can be found at RTKendalMinistries.com -look for the Hebrides Revival 1949-1952. The ladies played a significant part but so did the Rev Duncan Campbell.
    It’s also interesting to note that a Revival Conference has only recently ended there and it attracted delegates from all over the world. you should look up the Rev Kenny Borthwick of Martin’s Memorial Church in Stornoway.


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    Lowlandseer: There’s a lot of fiction mixed into your comments, not least the account of the Lewis Revival.

    Wide swathe. Tiny statement.

    The Kardashian Kristian of the Islands was a completely different type of Campbell, the darling Iain Campbell, who met his Maker by his very own hand. Very Hollywood, start to finish. Truth is stranger than fiction, as they say. Wikipedia notes that this Campbell had 3 children, “possibly more.” Just how does a faithfully wed preacher theologian have “possible” children?

    Jesus is free and knocks on the doors of our hearts to share a meal with us. Non-predatory. No collection. Even Jesus did not have a personality cult, the loving non-attractive by Earthly standards, Son of God.


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    Lowlandseer: There’s a lot of fiction mixed into your comments, not least the account of the Lewis Revival

    So which parts are fiction? Was there no revival? Or was it before, not after the sisters prayed? Did Rev Campbell indeed end up with a dynasty cult of personality? Maybe it was NOT a work of God? Which?


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    “a standing ovation given for Steven Chandler”

    “Matt’s official restoration to the ministry, taken a few weeks after Matt’s hunting trip (aka sabbatical). You shouldn’t be surprised to see he was given a standing ovation!”

    We never get any reports of the fallen weeping at the altar these days … only “restoration” and standing ovations. This is church?!!


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    The Village Church is not a church. It is a family business or a fiefdom with hereditary monarchs and divine right of kings. So the nepotism is a feature, not a bug.


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    Hired His Pedo Dad To Keep “The Village Church Denton” Clean!

    Focusing on His Family, I see.
    Not even Weekly World News or South Park could come up with a headline like that.


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    Max: “a standing ovation given for Steven Chandler”

    “THE VOICE OF A GOD, NOT OF A MAN!
    THE VOICE OF A GOD, NOT OF A MAN!”
    — Acts 12:22, NOT Acts 29


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    Commenter23: another commenter said that he doesn’t think such symbols are an accident, and that these symbols are included as signals for people who can read the signs.

    “Another commenter”s been having flashbacks of QAnon.
    Or the anti-Freemason types who occasionally show up in these comment threads.
    Any evidence for The Vast Conspiarcy; may as well be Prophesying End Times Indicators.


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    Ava Aaronson:
    Is there a shortage of suitable workers, for pulpit and the premises, so that churches are forced to hire pedos?

    Churches who can give the Saudi Royal Family and the Kims of North Korea lessons on Nepotism?


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    Muff Potter: Brave macho hunters huh?

    Well, the discomfort of Colorado Snow Country does reduce the odds that this was a Canned Hunt.


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    “Matt’s 3 month disciplinary sabbatical for sins unknown, but not disqualifying”

    We should all roll our eyes now when church elders determine for themselves what is disqualifying or not. Remember, Morris was not disqualified for sexual abuse of a child … Logan was not disqualified for sexually assaulting a teenager … etc. etc. The American pulpit has a lot of bad actors who by Biblical standard should be disqualified permanently from ministry.

    Some elder boards will wink an eye at just about any sin these days to keep a popular preacher in the pulpit. It seems the grace-this and grace-that boys have a particular problem in this area.


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    Lowlandseer,

    Because they are cool, surfer dudes!!


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    Commenter23: Killing animals replenishes Chandler’s soul?

    James MacDonald used to shoot deer at point-blank range … hard to find anything spiritually refreshing about that.

    Yep, America will put just about anybody in the pulpit … a touch of charisma, a gift of gab, and a bag of gimmicks are all it takes. And you can get all kinds of perks, like an elk hunting sabbatical or your own private deer herd to masacre.


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    Paige Patterson went on a number of African safari hunting holidays. On one he stopped off in Rome to see the Pope, whom he presented with a Criswell Study Bible! I remember seeing snapshot they put out of the meeting, his wife Dorothy’s headcovering wasn’t a veil, but a pith helmet!


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    Country girl/farm girl here…. (I learned to mentally categorize when I was very young.)
    In the world I grew up in, most of our meat came from the farm and the forest. Up until 10 years ago, we raised and processed much of our own meat. We still hunt, but not for trophy, or pleasure, but to, ahem, “replenish” our freezers and our dinner plates, and save a bunch of money at the grocery stores.

    (Pit viper exception: I will admit I do find pleasure in reducing their population. They’re bad for our puppies, and could be for us! But a mounted rattler creeps me out!)

    Appealing? I never find any part of the meat acquisition/processing appealing until I take the lid off the slow cooker, open the oven door, etc.

    Something is wrong with Matt Chandler. Apparently, one of the dark things that plagues him is the idea of killing for fun……. and, of course allowing his pedo-daddy to be employed at the church as a janitor – – where pedo-daddy probably has a key to all of the doors and free access to room room in the building….

    (I wonder….. would Macho Matt have the stomach to field dress his own game?….)


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    This is church?!!
    Max,

    Ever heard of The Church of Satan?


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    There is no excuse for this action on Chandler’s part. It should disqualify him from being a pastor. It appears he has daddy issues, just like Brian Houston.


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    Ava Aaronson: Wikipedia notes that this Campbell had 3 children, “possibly more.” Just how does a faithfully wed preacher theologian have “possible” children?

    That guy harmed the faithful and his family. The theology brotherhood wanted to reward him post-death with statues, etc, until a know-nothing blog got ahold of the emails between Campbell and his paramours.


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    Commenter23: He’s being welcomed back to the pulpit, without it being explained to the congregation by either him or the elders, exactly what he did to be suspended from the pulpit in the first place.

    Apparently he and his gal pal had one laugh too many. I dub it the weirdest LOA in modern evangelicalism.


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    Dave A A,

    Thank you so much for this link. The stories about revivals are inspiring, IF and when the story is about God’s work and God’s Kingdom. I’ve got one of the videos on now.

    Namebrand fame? Start a denom? Build a dynasty? Skinny jeans? Pastor planes? Latte life? “Reform”, Young & Restless style? Found a mega? Not so much.

    Two favs for me are Jeanne-Françoise de Chantal and Jean-baptiste de La Salle. De Chantal, 1572-1641, founded an order for destitute women. De La Salle, 1651-1719, trained teachers for schools that educated street children. I admire their work, which does not bear their names even. Their mission was about the work, and not about them, obviously. They were honored posthumously.

    Today, Father Greg Boyle is a Jesuit and the founder of Homeboy Industries, a gang intervention and rehab program in LA. I admire his work, too. Time will tell if everything is on the up and up.


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    dee: a know-nothing blog got ahold of the emails between Campbell and his paramours.

    LOL. Not quite the description I would use, about the blog, that is.

    Nobody needs the nosy details. But a pastor leader with paramours and “possible” children, on the church’s dole, leading worship, podium teaching, and publishing theology, well, let’s just agree that the larger grand topics of marriage and family lifestyle matter. Not the details, even. Just in general. It matters. Some situations that are legal are not worthy of the position. Be honest, and find other work more suitable for that chosen lifestyle.


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    Ava Aaronson,

    “Facts are chiels that winna ding” (Robert Burns) and contradict both your posts.

    dee,

    Do your research

    “‘S muse Clio mhór Leódhais,
    choisich mi cho fad ‘s a dh’fhóghnadh
    air an t-slighe eathlamh dheònach us
    á Bearnaraigh gu Steòrnabhagh.
    ‘S muse Chlio gun chion àrdain,
    oir chunnaic mi Faghaid na Pàirce:
    ‘s muse Chlio gheur-chùiseach:
    tha fhios agam có as Bach Dùsgadh.”
    (Sorley Maclean)
    Line 5 is for you, line 8 for me.

    Dave A A,


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    Lowlandseer,

    “Do your research was meant for Dave AA. Apologies


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    Jeffrey Chalmers:
    Lowlandseer,

    Because they are cool, surfer dudes!!

    Maybe from The Dude Hour (Tucson Public Access TV, circa Nineties)?
    The format was “Two Arizona Surf Bums” (Arizona is landlocked, by the way) just repeating “DUDE!”
    “DUDE?”
    “DUUUUDE!”
    “DUUUUUUUDE!”
    to each other for a solid hour.


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    Lowlandseer: Do your research

    I know more about Iain

    Lowlandseer: dee,
    Do your research

    I know more about Iain Campbell’s extracurricular activities than most people except the good people of the Isle of Lewis. Weird how that happened…


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    dee: There is no excuse for this action on Chandler’s part. It should disqualify him from being a pastor. It appears he has daddy issues, just like Brian Houston.

    It won’t. Remember he is a New Calvinist where “grace” covers everything … the dudebro elders have his back by stretching grace beyond its bounds, with the blessing (and standing ovation) of the congregation.


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    Max: It won’t. Remember he is a New Calvinist where “grace” covers everything …

    One of The Elect(TM), with his Get-Out-of-Hell-Free Card signed by God before the Foundation of the World.
    He Can Do No Wrong — “GAWD HATH SAID! SEE? SEE? SEE?”

    “We Believe in the Doctrines of Grace!”
    — spat out by a Fred Phelps relative/pewsitter during an interview


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    Lowlandseer: your posts.

    1. No. Not posts just comments.

    2. Another wide swathe tiny statement.

    3. More use of a non common language without translation. As polylinguals, we nevertheless all use the common language (or include translation) as a courtesy for inclusivity. We save our crossword puzzle clue searches and word games for the Variety section of the newspaper on a lazy afternoon in quiet solitude, over a cozy cup of tea. Followed by the daily sudoku.

    4. More commands: “you should” and “do your research.”

    That’s all. Simple observation. Good day, Mate. We carry on.


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    Wait… what??

    As quoted, the statement from TVC first explains at length that they had kept on staff a person with a known history of perpetrating child sex abuse. Then the *very next section* answers a flat “no” to the question “Would our leadership ever hire someone or leave someone on our church staff who has a history of child sex abuse in their past?” Maybe they really meant to say “no, unless your last name is Chandler”??

    Am I missing something? Was the statement edited for this post to highlight the inconsistency?


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    Headless Unicorn Guy: “We Believe in the Doctrines of Grace!”
    — spat out by a Fred Phelps relative/pewsitter during an interview

    Grace is a good thing except when it becomes a cover for everything.


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    Muff Potter: Grace is a good thing except when it becomes a cover for everything

    … then it is not Grace at all. The NeoCal grace-this and grace-that crowd have greatly distorted the meaning of the word, tossing it around like get out of jail free cards in a game of religious monopoly.


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    Ava Aaronson: Wikipedia notes that this Campbell had 3 children, “possibly more.” Just how does a faithfully wed preacher theologian have “possible” children?

    This is a case of Wikipedia being too easy to edit and someone adding it to the article with no supporting reference just speculation.


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    Nancy2(aka Kevlar): (I wonder….. would Macho Matt have the stomach to field dress his own game?….)

    Muff never had the stomach for it.
    That’s why he stuck to yellow perch from Lake Michigan, and bluegills and crappies from the inland water-ways. (all ‘clean’ fish according to the law of moses)


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    I’ve not yet finished reading the comments….and I’ve not yet read the new posts and their comments. I wanted to reply before I continue reading….

    Commenter23: In the social media post screen-shotted above, Matt Chandler says that there is something about hunting that replenishes his soul.

    Really?????

    Killing animals replenishes Chandler’s soul?

    That is very unsettling and disturbing….

    What an odd (and in my opinion disturbing) comment for Matt Chandler to make.

    Hunting is about tracking down and killing animals, most of which are largely defenseless and can’t fight back.

    Exactly what about killing animals does Matt Chandler find replenishing for his soul? Does he get enjoyment from killing animals?

    It’s a very disturbing comment in my view.

    But Chandler says that he finds something about hunting replenishing for his soul.

    I think that’s a very strange and very disturbing comment….

    That.

    Commenter23,

    Before I’d read very far in Todd Wilhelm’s OP, I’d thought that — perhaps — Matt Chandler had been sexually abused by his dad. Further down Todd Wilhelm’s OP, Todd Wilhelm suggested this possibility.

    Then I wondered….was the animal (or the animals) Matt Chandler shot a substitution for his father? And then I wondered….is Matt Chandler heading down the road where he “replenishes his soul” by killing more than just animals?


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    researcher:
    I’ve not yet finished reading the comments….and I’ve not yet read the new posts and their comments. I wanted to reply before I continue reading….

    That.

    Commenter23,

    Before I’d read very far in Todd Wilhelm’s OP, I’d thought that — perhaps — Matt Chandler had been sexually abused by his dad. Further down Todd Wilhelm’s OP, Todd Wilhelm suggested this possibility.

    Then I wondered….was the animal (or the animals) Matt Chandler shot a substitution for his father? And then I wondered….is Matt Chandler heading down the road where he “replenishes his soul” by killing more than just animals?

    Well presumably if that happens, it would be dear old dad. And reminds me of an Aerosmith song.


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    researcher: And then I wondered….is Matt Chandler heading down the road where he “replenishes his soul” by killing more than just animals?

    It is my fervent hope that Chandler’s captives can ‘replenish’ their wallets and purses instead of forking over their hard-earned greenbacks to Chandler.


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    I keep thinking about Jimmy Hinton, who, when he learned that his father was a child molester, *immediately turned him in to authorities*. I’m sure that was the hardest thing he’s had to do, but he did do the right thing.


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    Muff Potter: It is my fervent hope that Chandler’s captives can ‘replenish’ their wallets and purses instead of forking over their hard-earned greenbacks to Chandler.

    Apparently not. They’re doing a major expansion on the Flower Mound campus (which is the only one still under Chandler’s control, the other churches – including Denton – are now independent). They bought out a bunch of smaller buildings adjacent to the main building and knocked them down. That isn’t being done for free.