I Visited the Packed Restoration Fellowship and Found that the Heart of Park Street Church Is Found on the 15th Floor of a Boston Hotel.

Expressions of pain and hope by PSC attendees now attending Restoration Fellowship. The sticky notes point in the direction of PSC.

“Here I am going to say something which may come as a bit of a shock. God doesn’t necessarily want us to be happy. He wants us to be lovable. Worthy of love. Able to be loved by Him. We don’t start off being all that lovable, if we’re honest. What makes people hard to love? Isn’t it what is commonly called selfishness? Selfish people are hard to love because so little love comes out of them.”
William Nicholson, Shadowlands: A Play


Well, Mark Booker, Park Street Church elders and leaders, the Vicinage Council, and certain seminary leaders blew it. They thought applying the left boot of fellowship to an overwhelming number of pastors, elders, and other leaders was a biblical response and would lead to spreading the Gospel in Boston. Mark Booker’s seeming appetite for being the man in control was safe.  Some of those left behind are fearful of losing their jobs. They should be. I once heard one of the Gospel Coalition leaders say that they didn’t care if their church membership dropped to 3 members so long as those three upheld the vision and authority of the top dog. It looks like PSC is well on its way downhill regarding numbers and the ethos that drew so many to the faith.

Over the last few months, I have felt a loss as PSC changed. It was not the positive, loving culture that I remembered. Over the last 15 years on this blog, I have positively mentioned PSC. This church body was essential in educating me, a young believer, in the faith. Many friendships were formed as a diverse group of Christians learned the basics without emphasizing tertiary issues, something I would go on to experience in the South. I even met my husband at a PSC function.

Last Sunday, after visiting with family, I decided to drop into the Sunday meeting of the Restoration Fellowship. I had heard that the attendance numbers were unexpectedly high. I decided that by the fourth meeting, the “Let’s see which losers are here” folks would have begun to move along. I was surprised to see greeters at the door, good coffee available, and plenty of seats…at the beginning of the service.  I sat near the front with some friends. The music was appealing and accompanied by instruments. There was also so much hope offered. I loved the selection of songs, traditional, contemporary, and one I had never heard. I tried to figure out what I was feeling. Five minutes after the service started, we were asked to move to the middle so people could find seats. I began to feel something that I couldn’t yet define. As we stood to sing, I was the one towards the front who kept turning around to look, stunned by the number of people. There was standing room only. Somebody told me there were 250 seats and 30 more were added. I had heard that perhaps 300 folks had attended in previous weeks, and I believe it was at least that number last week. I told several folks:

This number is not normal for a startup church/fellowship thing in Boston.

Many evangelical startups would give their eye teeth to see such numbers. There was something different about those in attendance. They sang as if they meant it. People seemed comfortable when it came time to pray in small groups during the service. I appreciated the leaders telling those who didn’t want to pray to feel comfortable moving about the room and even looking out the window at the city of Boston. The leaders were sensitive to the needs of those attending. There seemed to be a shared understanding that many had had their spiritual world shaken by the uncomfortable change in atmosphere that a friend of mine once defined as “hardball religion.”

The service was moving, and Dr. Balboni’s sermon, which was from the book of Ezra, was intellectually and personally stimulating. I was surprised to see how this Scripture was easily applied to much of what many faced as things heated up at PSC. I am stunned by the number of well-trained people, some with advanced academic and medical degrees, who attend this church. Why did Booker and his friends push all of this Godly talent away? Were they too threatening to those who were not so gifted?

As the service ended, the leaders discussed different teen and college gatherings, and specialized training was offered to help those who had recently experienced upheaval define and deal with it. I saw kids of all ages playing together. There were no pews and historical architecture. There was no balcony like where I used to sit, looking down to see “who came today.” Sometimes, I would sneak out of the balcony, trying to quietly go down that confounded staircase to sit next to a friend. That used to feel like home. But after the service this Sunday and as a few people came up to greet me, I suddenly realized what I was feeling. On the 15th floor of a hotel meeting room, I felt I was again at the “old” Park Street Church, the real PSC. While waiting for my Uber, I must admit I brushed a few tears away.

We often say that the church is not a building but a gathering of God’s people. However, I often remembered PSC as a remarkable historical building on the Freedom Trail. As my kids grew up, I took them to see where “mommy and daddy” met. I would see the building and get warm feelings inside. However, the building had little to do with this. It was the memories of Jim, Steve, Andy, Diane, Nancy, Jan, and others who continue to serve Jesus worldwide. I remember the sermons by Dr Toms and seeing the little (but giant) Corrie Ten Boom standing on a lift in the pulpit, giving me goosebumps as she shared her story. Of course, there were parties and trips to the beach, but it was always with those friends who made me laugh and encouraged me to grow and learn.

Mark Booker and assorted hangers-on have lost so much. The talent pool in Restoration Fellowship is stunning, and the depths of faith are apparent. I believe that this era at Park Street Church will be remembered as a dark time, demonstrated by the leaders’ inability to love well and prevent a divisive split.

I am also aware that some attendees of Restoration Fewlloship may be getting letters of excommunication. I hope to post one soon. Their ugliness doesn’t stop, does it? I guess it won’t until…Let’s just say the story is not finished.

Those who remain in leadership in the Park Street Church building have demonstrated a lack of great love, humility, kindness, and mercy necessary to bridge and repair the divide. They have lost the heart of PSC, which is alive and well on the 15th floor of a hotel in Boston. I am so grateful to the brave souls who have endured so much. Church was never meant to be like the last few years.

I am so glad God let me see how He can turn pain into something beautiful.

PS: Mark Booker, post your credentials. That act would demonstrate some humility, wouldn’t it?

I enjoyed eating with friends at the Union Club in Boston. I hear pastors from PSC have breakfast meetings here. The food is fantastic, and the atmosphere is unique. What a perk!

Comments

I Visited the Packed Restoration Fellowship and Found that the Heart of Park Street Church Is Found on the 15th Floor of a Boston Hotel. — 172 Comments


  1. Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127

    I recently rejoined my shooting club and to get on the large complex they give you a badge. According to the rules any member can request to see your badge. The club president stated that it makes sure that only members are using thr facility and their obeying the rules so don’t take it personally. If a secular gun club can ask its members to do that why not the pastor? Is it that difficult to post a copy of your credentials on your church website. Scripture says to be at peace with all men ( and women) if possible , so just do it and move forward.


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    The “Heart of Park Street Church” is not found at Mark Street Church 🙂


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    That is a great redemption story. Too bad it comes with such a high cost in heartache and distress to so many.

    I was fortunate enough to have seen Corrie Ten Boom on a couple of occassions when she visited the church I attended as a teenager. I wish I was a bit older to better appreciate those visits.


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    Dee,
    Your experience as a young adult at PSC seems to parallel mine. It was so instrumental in forming my young adult identity and instrumental in helping me spread my vocational wings. I, too, mourn for what it is becoming. I often tell people that when I need to remember who I am I need to go stand on the corner of Park and Tremont. Thank you for keeping what is happening there in the forefront.


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    Dee, you started out the post by saying:
    ‘Well, Mark Booker, Park Street Church elders and leaders, the Vicinage Council, and certain seminary leaders blew it. They thought applying the left boot of fellowship to an overwhelming number of pastors, elders, and other leaders was a biblical response and would lead to spreading the Gospel in Boston.’

    In God’s mysterious ways, this may indeed lead to the spreading of the Gospel in Boston by means of Restoration Fellowship.

    Made me think of the hymn – The Church’s One Foundation – verse four:
    4 The church shall never perish!
    Her dear Lord to defend,
    to guide, sustain, and cherish,
    is with her to the end;
    though there be those that hate her,
    and false sons in her pale,
    against the foe or traitor
    she ever shall prevail.


  6. Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127

    “I Visited the Packed Restoration Fellowship and Found that the Heart of Park Street Church Is Found on the 15th Floor of a Boston Hotel”

    What happens when you cut the heart out of anything? It dies.

    The American church is dying in many places due to a spiritual leadership crisis … not for a lack of “leaders”, but due to a dearth of God-ordained, truly-called, Gospel-preaching, Spirit-filled leadership.


  7. Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127

    Max,

    I think that there are diverse views of what “leadership” means in church context. PSC currently is controlled by people who seem to have a highly “hierarchical” understanding of leadership, along the lines of “God gives ‘vision’ to the people at the top, and they ‘lead’ the rest toward the fulfillment of the vision (through various means ranging from persuasion to, if needed, coercion)”.

    Decades ago, I read a book by, IIRC, Henry Blackaby, titled, IIRC “Experiencing God”, that offered an intriguing and refreshing alternative. HB made the entirely reasonably point that God is already at work, and it may not be obvious to us what He is up to. The question “what is God already doing and how is what we are doing cooperating with or hindering what God is already doing?” is an important question in HB’s vision of church life and “how to lead a congregation.” I don’t recall much more, but it seems a plausible implication that church officers should be keenly interested to understand what God, through the Holy Spirit, is already doing in the group. I would think that wise leaders would be hesitant to radically change things that are already working well.

    I console myself with Paul’s remark that disagreements and differences in practice are (his word) “necessary”, in order that it may be made manifest who (and, presumably, what practices) has God’s approval. It has a bit of the ‘feel’ of Hegelian dialectic, applied in church context.

    It will be intriguing, and, one imagines, informative and even edifying, to observe the futures of these two groups.


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    Thank you for this thoughtful piece, Dee. As Michael Balboni said at the start of that sermon, “God has taken lemons and make not lemonade but a 7-course meal.”

    You can read Michael’s extensive sermon notes/discussion questions on Ezra 4 here: https://restorationfellowshipboston.org/podcasts/media/2024-09-29-ezra-4

    Yes, the chapter is remarkably pertinent to the events of the Park Street’s past year.

    Also, great phrasing, Dee: “Those who remain in leadership in the Park Street Church building …” No longer Park Street itself.


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    “Why did Booker and his friends push all of this Godly talent away?”

    They couldn’t control them, even after applying manipulation, intimidation and domination.


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    Alisa Leaves,

    “God has taken lemons and *made* not lemonade but a 7-course meal.”


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    “I felt I was again at the “old” Park Street Church, the real PSC”

    Would the ‘real’ PSC please stand up! Sounds like it did … it stood up and walked across town. Nice church buildings ain’t all that if the Body of Christ is told to sit down, shut up, get behind the ‘vision’.


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    “I believe that this era at Park Street Church will be remembered as a dark time, demonstrated by the leaders’ inability to love …”

    You will know them by their love for one another … or lack of it.


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    Word is that Mark is obsessed with RF. He talks about them a lot, and is desperately trying to find out the names of everyone attending RF services so they can be “purged” from every aspect of the PSC community. Now that Chris May and Andrea are leaving, the original Missions team will be reduced to one person: Carol Scott. They have also only hired one replacement, Polo Kim, and promoted Randall.

    The latest bulletin shares some financial information, though the way they present it obfuscates the actual accounting:
    https://www.parkstreet.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Morning-Worship-October-6-2024.pdf

    By my calculations, giving is down 10% from projected YTD or by about $270k. They gladly shared that the expenses are down, likely due to lower payroll from people leaving. There is an error in the bulletin: they say the Missions expenses were $122k less than projected, but $1.44m – $1.27m = $170k. The decreased expenses would only cover $170k of the $270k giving shortfall. I also know that most people waited until May and June to stop giving, so I wonder what the month-to-month looks like (and how bad it will be by the end of the year).


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    I always worry when pastors fudge their credentials. In 2017, I wrote a post calling into question Ravi Zacharias’ résumé. I questioned if he was lying about a lot. I was correct, sadly. It was worse than I could have imagined. If someone will fudge their credentials, what else might they be hiding, including personality defects? https://thewartburgwatch.com/2017/11/29/mr-ravi-zacharias-adds-pizzazz-to-his-bio-and-the-christian-industrial-complex-imposes-the-cone-of-silence/


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    Observant Outsider,

    It is wise to keep an eye on expenses. Accounting can be somewhat of a game, and finding someone like you who gets it will be helpful.


  16. Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127

    Max,

    Great answer.I think they pushed them away because they feared the talent in the room.


  17. Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127

    Samuel Conner: Decades ago, I read a book by, IIRC, Henry Blackaby, titled, IIRC “Experiencing God”, that offered an intriguing and refreshing alternative.

    I loved that book,


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    A quick apology;
    For some reason, I keep saying “Reformation” instead of “Restoration.” There must be a reason, and I’m trying to figure it out.


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    Samuel Conner,

    I sat through an “Experience God” seminar at my Southern Baptist church in 2008 and found it so doctrinally bad that I resigned from the Southern Baptists in 2010 after doing more research and finding people who taught the Bible with more precision.


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    Troy: finding people who taught the Bible with more precision

    What theology would those sort of folks teach?


  21. Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127

    dee: I keep saying “Reformation” instead of “Restoration.”

    There must be a reformation before there can be a restoration … you must make changes before you can bring back … there must be repentance before you can experience revival.


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    dee: I think they pushed them away because they feared the talent in the room.

    Booker has a history of getting rid of those who stand in the way of personal glory … IMO, he views anointed preaching by others as a threat to his position. He should, instead, embrace those God sends his way to work together to fulfill the Great Commission.

    My daughter taught first grade. One year, she had a little girl who was always disrupting the class during Q&A time … as my daughter looked at the raised hands, the little girl kept shouting “What about me?! What about me?!” One day, my daughter took the little girl aside and addressed this problem. She said “Honey, this class is not about you. It’s about us.” The girl thought about that and got it … she wasn’t a problem any longer. Mr. Booker hasn’t learned that lesson yet. He’s just one cog in the Body of Christ, no different than anyone else on staff or in the pew … we must work together; this is about us glorifying God not ourselves.


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    Max,

    Thanks for helping me to see why I am having a brain hiccup.


  24. Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127

    Max: he said “Honey, this class is not about you. It’s about us.” The girl thought about that and got it … she wasn’t a problem any longer. Mr. Booker hasn’t learned that lesson yet. He’s just one cog in the Body of Christ, no different than anyone else on staff or in the pew

    I would be in a church with you any day.


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    Max: What theology would those sort of folks teach?

    I’m curious as well. I liked the book.


  26. Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127

    Not Togolese this list but came across this in my NYT’s subscription. I would have never expected to have this happen in my lifetime.

    In a First Among Christians, Young Men Are More Religious Than Young Women

    and there was another article titled “ Young women fleeing organized religion.”

    You should be able to hopefully look them up, I didn’t provide the because you have to be a subscriber. I wonder how much all of this SBC stuff and sexual abuse is causing this.


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    Chuckp,

    Sorry for my poor spelling, I need to proofread before I send.


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    Dee,

    I was in the city yesterday. Took a loved one to Mass General for an appointment.

    Drive by PSC on the way to visit Boston Common, the Theater District, Chinatown, etc.

    As you may know, I grew up and currently live west of Boston.


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    dee: I would be in a church with you any day.

    You are! … every day on The Wartburg Watch!


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    Max: a history of getting rid of those who stand in the way of personal glory …

    On the other hand:

    “…happiness is not a matter of lording it over one’s neighbors, or desiring to have more than weaker people, or possessing wealth and using force against one’s inferiors… ”

    As Christians we “condemn the deceit and the error of the world, when you [we] realize what is the true life in heaven.”

    … from “The Epistle to Diognetus and the Fragment of Quadratus,” written circa 117-120CE, by an unnamed Church Father of the 1st-2nd Century AD.

    Furthermore, this 1st-2nd Century unnamed writer observes and notes that 1st-2nd Century Christians, “share their food but not their wives. They are in the flesh but do not live according to the flesh.”

    So then, “walk by the Spirit and you will not fulfill the desires of the flesh.” from Galatians 5.


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    dee: I would be in a church with you any day.

    You can check out any time you like
    But you can never leave…


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    Why did Booker and his friends push all of this Godly talent away?

    Simple.
    Smartest Man in the Room Syndrome, a characteristic of jerk bosses.
    Because Booker and his BFFs cannot stomach the presence of anyone smarter and/or more talented than Their Anointed Selves.


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    Troy: I sat through an “Experience God” seminar at my Southern Baptist church in 2008 and found it so doctrinally bad that I resigned from the Southern Baptists in 2010

    Bad Experience, Huh?


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    I once heard one of the Gospel Coalition leaders say that they didn’t care if their church membership dropped to 3 members so long as those three upheld the vision and authority of the top dog.

    Observant Outsider: the original Missions team will be reduced to one person: Carol Scott. They have also only hired one replacement, Polo Kim, and promoted Randall.

    I think we now know the names of the Loyal Three.


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    I called it Reformation Fellowship in my previous post also! It is indeed a Reformation:From Park Street Church!

    dee:
    A quick apology;
    For some reason, I keep saying “Reformation” instead of “Restoration.” There must be a reason, and I’m trying to figure it out.


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    Ras al Ghul:
    Dee,
    I was in the city yesterday.Took a loved one to Mass General for an appointment.
    Drive by PSC on the way to visit Boston Common, the Theater District, Chinatown, etc.
    As you may know, I grew up and currently live west of Boston.

    Nostalgia:
    * “Drive by PSC along Tremont St”— I did that every weekday AM for 40+ yr to get to work.
    * Park in front of State House (no ticket) every Sunday AM for 30+ yr to worship @ PSC

    Having retired from work 2022, and now waiting to be ex-communicated from PSC——
    I am free at last– the truth has made me free ! Praise the Lord


  37. Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127

    “I once heard one of the Gospel Coalition leaders say that they didn’t care if their church membership dropped to 3 members so long as those three upheld the vision and authority of the top dog.”

    A message, of course, you never heard preached in the New Testament … a bark from a top dog which rings hollow … a reminder that the Gospel Coalition is populated by leaders which don’t love as they ought. However, it would be helpful if these guys preached their churches empty so folks would go elsewhere and find Christ, who is love. Yep, they preach another gospel which is not ‘the’ Gospel at all.


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    Thank you so much. There in the 80s. And then our son in the Hugenburger era. So so sad.


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    Max: dee: I would be in a church with you any day.

    You are! … every day on The Wartburg Watch!

    🙂


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    Perfectly stated Max. Thank you.

    _______________________

    “Mr. Booker hasn’t learned that lesson yet.He’s just one cog in the Body of Christ, no different than anyone else on staff or in the pew … we must work together; this is about us glorifying God not ourselves.”


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    OT:

    Pardon my commenting on this post….I’m not intending to draw attention away from what sounds like a beautiful new church. 🙂

    I’m commenting here because you’re my TWW family. 🙂

    My mother died yesterday, but I’m OK. 🙂 I don’t mean to sound heartless….my mother was one of my abusers, and I’ve been indifferent to her for years.

    I was happy she died….the last few years of her very long life were definitely not how she wanted to live out her life (she had dementia), although she was fortunate to be very well looked after by the excellent staff at the personal care home in which she lived.

    While I’m indifferent to my mother’s death, I’m profoundly grateful that she was so well looked after. 🙂


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    Troy,

    Interesting, Troy.
    I certainly believe doctrine is important, even vital, but it doesn’t overshadow or usurp the absolute necessity of Christlike character.
    Having sat in class with Dr. Blackaby at SWBTS (Russell Dilday era; before the Calvinista takeover), I can say he had Christlike character in spades. Also, I had NO issues with his teaching OR book, as far as doctrine goes.

    The hypocrites who crucified Jesus had pure doctrine (which they did NOT live, or practice, hence the reason Jesus called them “hypocrites” — wearing a mask and playing a part like an actor). Character, however … not so much.

    In truth, if one has Christlike character, their doctrine, theology, praxis, speech — LIFE in other words — will also reflect that time soaking in His presence.
    Spare me the “doctrinally precise” hypocrites who are “inwardly whitewashed tombs”.


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    researcher,

    Condolences, Researcher.
    I can’t know all that you are experiencing, I can tell you that I am praying for you as you and the Lord navigate this time together.


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    researcher,

    I prayed for you just now … for peace.


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    NAAH: now waiting to be ex-communicated from PSC

    Congratulations!

    (God never excommunicates anyone from the Kingdom … such practice only happens in the churches of men … when Jesus invites us in, He doesn’t kick us out)


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    researcher,

    I completely understand… ( or, should I say, I can understand “where you are coming from”)


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    Max,

    Exactly Max…. Just heard in church today a passage from an epistle of Pauls, talking about being Christ like…. These clowns are so far from being Christ like…. Sigh..


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    PapaB: Having sat in class with Dr. Blackaby at SWBTS (Russell Dilday era; before the Calvinista takeover), I can say he had Christlike character in spades. Also, I had NO issues with his teaching OR book, as far as doctrine goes.

    Dr. Blackaby was a solid teacher. Dr. Dilday was a faithful leader. Both were gifts from God to Southern Baptists. The SBC I knew and served for decades ceased to exist when Mohler and his Mohlerites took over.


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    Jeffrey Chalmers: Just heard in church today a passage from an epistle of Pauls, talking about being Christ like

    The New Calvinists must have skipped past that one! They have darn near distorted everything Paul said.


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    PapaB: Dr. Blackaby

    I guess the new SBC would rather experience Mohler.


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    Max,

    There are actually quite a few passages that are attributed to Paul that fundamentally conflict with what the New Calvinist both say and practice….
    Growing up in my Fundamentalist/evangelical world, I use to dislike people playing the “proof texting”, or throwing verses at you… BUT, I now appreciate some of it given these New Calvanist clowns contradict so many passages that was hammered into me… I do appreciate some of my upbringing…


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    Max,

    I was an agnostic until 24. My wife and I both came to faith in Christ soon after getting married and joined a large SBC church in S. Florida (again, neither of us knew anything really, but we grew there, made lifelong friends, and went from there to seminary).

    I grieve at what has been hijacked by the YRR and the Mohlerites; the priesthood of the believer, “whosoever will”, soul competency, missions and evangelism (SWBTS actually had a concentration in their M.Div program for M&E when I was there)… so much more.
    My diploma is in a box somewhere and won’t be displayed unless and until the SBC repents of its abuse, its misogyny, its neo-Calvinist heresy, it’s financial mismanagement, and on and on.
    I certainly made clear that they will never receive one penny from me as an alumnus, either.


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    PapaB: I grieve at what has been hijacked by the YRR and the Mohlerites; the priesthood of the believer, “whosoever will”, soul competency, missions and evangelism

    Those are the very reasons I joined the “Done” ranks after 70+ years as a Southern Baptist … done with SBC, but not done with Jesus. Mohler & his Mohlerites are certainly passionate about their movement, but it is a misplaced passion. After the Civil War, SBC was distinctly non-Calvinist in belief and practice for 150 years … until Mohler began dragging it back to its pre-War Calvinist roots without asking millions of non-Calvinist Southern Baptists if they wanted to go there!


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    dee: I think they pushed them away because they feared the talent in the room.

    “Talent”? When did Jesus say he was looking for “talent” in his apostles or disciples? I assume the Restoration Fellowship participants have something much more meaningful than “talent,” or their organization will be down the drain sooner rather than later.


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    NAAH: Nostalgia:
    * “Drive by PSC along Tremont St”— I did that every weekday AM for 40+ yr to get to work.
    *Park in front of State House (no ticket) every Sunday AM for 30+ yr to worship @ PSC

    Having retired from work 2022, and now waiting to be ex-communicated from PSC——
    I am free at last– the truth has made me free ! Praise the Lord

    Have y’all ever thought about going hardball back on them? What are they going to do, excommunicate you?


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    Max: until Mohler began dragging it back to its pre-War Calvinist roots

    Including a certain Peculiar Institution regarding Animate Property?


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    researcher,

    I understand.


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    dee:
    A quick apology;
    For some reason, I keep saying “Reformation” instead of “Restoration.” There must be a reason, and I’m trying to figure it out.

    Maybe over all these years blogging you’ve OD’d on Calvinistas The Truly Reformed of the Continuous Reformation (similar to Comrade Trotsky’s Continuous Revolution.)


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    Cynthia W.: I assume the Restoration Fellowship participants have something much more meaningful than “talent,” or their organization will be down the drain sooner rather than later.

    Jesus talked about the gitfing He has given us. I look at that as our :talents.” The Body of Christ is loaded with God given talent from those who care for the children or set up the hospitality center to those who preach. I am sorry if I didn’t say it in a way that made sense.


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    PapaB,

    I would love to hear your story!


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    Ras al Ghul,

    It sure has a graet location to be noticed in Boston. Such awesome history as well. So frustrating to me. I hope your relative is doing well.


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    NAAH: Having retired from work 2022, and now waiting to be ex-communicated from PSC——
    I am free at last– the truth has made me free ! Praise the Lord

    Let me know if you wish to share your “letter or excommunication.” These guys are eating the faithful.


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    Cynthia W.,

    ““Talent”? When did Jesus say he was looking for “talent” in his apostles or disciples? I assume the Restoration Fellowship participants have something much more meaningful than “talent,” or their organization will be down the drain sooner rather than later.”
    +++++++++++++++

    hmmm…. certainly God is delighted with anyone & everyone who’s ready, willing, and able to open the door to God’s knocking. And God uses anyone/everyone.

    talent is a God-given thing. Using one’s talent in combination with God (our ability + God’s power) is an exponentially powerful thing.

    and let’s face it – churches are vying for market share. i think church attendance is largely the same mass of believers rotating around. ‘

    so, it seems to me that talented leaders, teachers, organizers, compassionate carers, etc. availing themselves to God in the territory of other church leaders would be a trigger to whatever insecurity they have.


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    researcher,

    i completely understand. I have an aunt and uncle in this category and i felt exactly the same. it can be a relief, and that’s all there is to say on the matter.


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    dee,

    Thank you, Dee.
    I will email you.

    By the way, this blog (along with others) has helped us help others who are struggling with the trauma of spiritual abuse.


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    Did some more calculations of the budget and looked back at previous annual reports. If we assume the giving will follow the same rate as the previous year (and it certainly won’t) then we can expect the giving by the end of the year to be $1.46M and $2.55M. 2023 saw a 12-14% lower than expected giving. In a better-than-expected situation, PSC is looking at another 12-15% drop in giving in 2024. I think it will be more like 20-30% by the end of the year.


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    PapaB: Condolences, Researcher.
    I can’t know all that you are experiencing, I can tell you that I am praying for you as you and the Lord navigate this time together.

    Thank you, PapaB. 🙂


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    Max: I prayed for you just now … for peace.

    Thank you, Max. 🙂 ….I do feel more peaceful now than I have in the last few days. 🙂


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    Jeffrey Chalmers: I completely understand… ( or, should I say, I can understand “where you are coming from”)

    Thank you, Jeffrey Chalmers. 🙂


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    elastigirl: availing themselves to God in the territory of other church leaders

    I live in small town America (population 12,000). There are nearly 100 churches here! I’ve always thought it interesting when churches in the New Testament were referred to as ‘the’ Church at Ephesus, ‘the’ Church at Corinth, ‘the’ Church at Laodicea, etc. etc. There were no “territories” in which pastors competed for pewsitters and market share.

    Perhaps, it was the divine model to have only one Church per community in which the Body of Christ met in unity of faith … and we’ve messed that plan up over the last 2,000 years. In New Testament days, there weren’t denominations of various expressions of faith, there were just Christians who believed and practiced the same way. Which begs the question “Why can’t we just all get along?!”


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    Max,

    Because I am, of course, “correct”, and you are obviously “wrong”… Oh, and I am more pious than you are.. ( being very sarcastic here)..


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    dee: Jesus talked about the gifting He has given us. I look at that as our :talents.”

    Talent + Anointing = Gift

    Without the anointing, it is just a talent. During my long tenure of doing church in America, I’ve known many preachers who had communication talent, but only a few who were gifted Gospel messengers. I’ve also noticed a vast difference between the spiritual condition of pewsitters who sit under talent vs. gift. “It’s by My Spirit, thus saith the Lord.”


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    Jeffrey Chalmers: I am, of course, “correct”, and you are obviously “wrong”… I am more pious than you are.. ( being very sarcastic here)

    Yep, therein lies the problem. There are thousands of Christian denominations in the world; hundreds in the U.S. All of them claiming to be ‘the’ expression of faith which is 100% correct … some of them even professing to be the one and only true church. Such division! United we stand, divided we fall.


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    Chuckp: Is it that difficult to post a copy of your credentials on your church website.

    Should it ever be published, I wonder if it will include an entry on the planting of Restoration Fellowship?


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    SNB alum: planting of Restoration Fellowship

    I figure most churches in America are the result of inadvertent “planting” as the result of church splits. I can think of at least five SBC churches in my community which were “planted” from the mothership First Baptist due to contentious division among members resulting in a split. Southern Baptists have a history of fussing and fighting over things ranging from color of the carpet to color of the preacher! The primary driver of current splits in SBC ranks are the proliferation of New Calvinism. I suppose that’s why so many cities have First Baptist, Second Baptist, Third Baptist, Whatever Baptist, etc. … folks just need to get along in Jesus’ name and get back to the Great Commission, rather than their mission.


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    dee: These guys are eating the faithful.

    Remember what Obi-Wan said:
    “There’s always a bigger fish.”


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    Max: folks just need to get along in Jesus’ name and get back to the Great Commission, rather than their mission

    which is impossible if you don’t have good leadership … such as PSC


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    Max: Perhaps, it was the divine model to have only one Church per community in which the Body of Christ met in unity of faith … and we’ve messed that plan up over the last 2,000 years. In New Testament days, there weren’t denominations of various expressions of faith, there were just Christians who believed and practiced the same way. Which begs the question “Why can’t we just all get along?!”

    I don’t think this was ever the case. Paul broke with the Jerusalem church run by James (Jesus’ brother) and the other apostles. Paul took the gospel to the gentiles and his version was more successful due to his ease of travel (as a Roman citizen) because it is likely the Jerusalem church was destroyed/scattered when Jerusalem was levelled by the Romans in 70CE.

    The bible that was passed down to us was what a meeting of church leaders agreed to because there were too many other books that did not agree with each other, each with their own set of adherents. From what I read, the Nag Hammadi scrolls were preserved because somebody couldn’t bear to destroy them when the word came down they were heretical – they meant something to this particular believer.

    My personal favorite lost gospel was the one where the Toddler Christ smited his playmates and turned them into birds – Mary and Joseph had no clue what to do with him! I’m sure the PTA was thrilled. (spoiler alert – Jesus turned them all back into children and promised to be a good deity, just working some Old Testament frustrations, I guess).

    And this is where the creeds become essential. In the Anglican church I was raised in, we either recited the Nicene creed or the Apostle’s creed every service. In the pentecostal church I attended, never heard the creeds recited event once (maybe they were too liturgical). I might have been more amenable to evangelicalism if they had been recited – they would have felt more like “my people”. Instead I was told I was not a christian and eventually that became true.

    Without a touchstone then christians will bicker about everything (just like people, or chimpanzees for that matter) – when you were dunked becomes a deal breaker, what sort of end time becomes a deal breaker, wearing blue and green together becomes a deal breaker (ok not the last one but certainly the frilly dresses at the vatican have broken some sort of deal)

    I prefer the gospel according to Bill & Ted – Be Excellent to each other….and party on, Dude!”


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    Jack,

    Yeah, Paul and other disciples had a bit of a hiccup starting out, but they worked it out eventually. Unfortunately, Jesus had to scold some of their churches in the Book of Revelation for straying off course.


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    dee,

    I see your point, Dee. What I was thinking was the Carl Lentz has “talent.” Bruxy Cavey has “talent.” Diddy has “talent.” Harvey Weinstein … “talent.”

    This is what “talent” means in modern English. The “talent” in the parable was simply an amount of money. We can use the cognate in interpretation, but it can lead us astray.


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    Max,

    ““Why can’t we just all get along?!””
    ++++++++++++++++++++

    sigh…. i dunno. hmmmm…

    i’m thinking of a Norman Rockwell illustration – it was something where perhaps the boss was yelling at the husband, the husband then yells at the wife, the wife then yells at the kids, the youngest then yells at the dog….

    but it seemed to me, aside from passing on one’s frustrations to another person, the point was also taking on the power to exert over someone else.

    …and how it is base human nature to want to have power (or control) over (first choice is a living being).

    seems to me religion is an avenue for someone to have Supreme Being-sanctioned power over another.

    hard to see how that many napoleans can get along…

    (hope this made sense)


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    Max,

    In some circles, Paul is the gold standard, Paul is everything.


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    Muff Potter: In some circles, Paul is the gold standard, Paul is everything.

    Paul would be greatly dismayed at how much he is worshipped in some corners of the church (e.g., New Calvinism).


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    Max: Paul would be greatly dismayed …

    He would be “Appalled Paul”


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    nmgirl: I understand.

    🙂


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    elastigirl: i completely understand. I have an aunt and uncle in this category and i felt exactly the same. it can be a relief, and that’s all there is to say on the matter.

    (The bold was done by me.)

    🙂


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    elastigirl: hard to see how that many napoleans can get along…

    “First thing to know is hese guys do NOT hang out together. The Universe cannot have Two Centers.”
    Kooks Magazine


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    Cynthia W.: I see your point, Dee. What I was thinking was the Carl Lentz has “talent.” Bruxy Cavey has “talent.” Diddy has “talent.” Harvey Weinstein … “talent.”

    In Showbiz, “Talent” means the pretty faces performing in front of the camera. “Craft” means all the rest of the crew doing the behind-the-scenes work of making the show.


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    Max: There are thousands of Christian denominations in the world; hundreds in the U.S. All of them claiming to be ‘the’ expression of faith which is 100% correct … some of them even professing to be the one and only true church.

    “For in the Devil’s theology, the most important thing is to be Absolutely Right and prove everyone else to be Absolutely Wrong. This does not lead to harmony among men.”
    — Thomas Merton, “Moral Theology of the Devil”

    “My position in Solid, my Logic is Strong,
    And I’m Always Right, so you must be Wrong!
    Hooray, Hooray for The One True Way,
    The One True Way, The One True Way,
    Hooray, Hooray for The One True Way,
    It’s the song of Lobotomized Fandom!”

    — Filksong from a Seventies D&D Fanzine, during a slo-mo flamewar between Glenn Blacow of Boston and most of the Dungeonmasters/gamers on the West Coast


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    Can we just talk about psc issues here the last 25 posts have nothing to do with the on going conflict.


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    Janice,

    Thank you, Janice. This thread has really gone off the rails. I like it when people stay on topic.


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    Janice,

    Yeah, I guess some of the comments did go off-rail a bit. I think it began to drift when a possible connection was considered between Mr. Booker’s authoritarian leadership-style, arrogance, spiritual abuse of staff, and his theological leaning. Do you know if he is a New Calvinist in belief and practice? Such behavior is characteristic of NeoCal church leaders.


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    Janice:
    Can we just talk about psc issues here the last 25 posts have nothing to do with the on going conflict.
    Former Boston Girl,
    Thank you, Janice. This thread has really gone off the rails. I like it when people stay on topic.
    Max:
    Janice,
    Yeah, I guess some of the comments did go off-rail a bit.

    Hello Janice, Former Boston Girl, Max:

    Thank you for steering us back to “Square One”
    Dee has diligently, dutifully, truthfully and lovingly prepared for and presented this post as an eye-witness report of RF for all TWW bloggers to review and comment.
    We may also refer to the RF President’s proclamation on 8/27/24 on the goal of RF as a one-year initiative: “We commit to fellowship in worship, prayer, healing, and restoration with the help of the Holy Spirit. Whether you have a history with the church, or none at all, all are welcome….. We worship a God who loves us and has promised to restore us, to lead us in paths of righteousness, confirm us, strengthen us and establish us (Psalm 23:3,
    1 Peter 5:10-11)”

    God moves in a mysterious way; His thoughts are not our thoughts. I venture to hope against hope and pray earnestly for a miracle, that our SM and BoE will join and reunite with us at RF, by the grace of our Father Almighty, empowered by the Holy Spirit, to bear witness for Jesus Christ our Lord in Boston and beyond. Amen


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    Max
    For what it’s worth I listened to the 2023 “Wellsprings of Faith” interview with Mark Booker again tonight. He referenced his study at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford when Alister McGrath and Michael Green supervised. He was then asked about his move from his non-denominational background into the Anglican communion and he mentioned being ordained by a Rwandan Bishop. This would have been, I think, Bishop Emmanuel Kolini who was a prominent figure in GAFCON and Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans, both very conservative organisations. So I think it is fair to say that Mark Booker is coming from conservative, reformed, hierarchical position which is at odds with the Congregational origins of PSC. Wycliffe Hall at that time was also staunchly conservative and reformed.


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    Lowlandseer,

    “Staunchly Conservative” and “Reformed” are pretty good descriptors of Park Street too, at least the Park Street I knew (2003-16).

    And I really really do think “but he’s Anglican! Not suited to our Congregational polity!” is a red herring. If anything, Anglican clergy should be more used to checks and balances. I’ve had outsiders see what is going on at PSC and ask me “why isn’t the bishop sorting this out?!” and well there isn’t one of those. It might be helpful right now if there were!

    One thing I’ve learned in the two-plus decades since the Spotlight reports hit the news is that any theology and any polity is susceptible to abuse. When we’re seeing pretty much exactly the same patterns of circling the wagons and covering up, in both the Catholics and the Southern Baptists, the problem is not polity.

    However you structure things, at the end of the day it’s always a “who watches the watchmen?” problem.


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    Lowlandseer: it is fair to say that Mark Booker is coming from conservative, reformed, hierarchical position which is at odds with the Congregational origins of PSC

    Thanks Lowlandseer.

    It’s clear that Mr. Booker has also been at odds with a majority of the PSC congregation and staff. Elder-rule has replaced the long-time congregational governance at PSC … a congregational vote not affirming him was overruled by the elders.


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    Janice,

    we typically have one or two side conversations happening at the same time that are usually relevant tangents to the main post. they’re helpful to those engaging in them.


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    Trigger warning: blasphemy from CEO Booker and lackey Jason Abraham
    .
    This putrid rubbish was just emailed out about the “Solemn Assembly” or “Stupendous Abomination” coming to the building that used to house a community of disciples called Park Street Church. Now that Screwtape and Wormwood have planted their muppets in the pastor’s office and in the board of “elders” they can carry on with their pageantry.
    .
    Oh, yes, Mark and Jason, go ahead… cry your eyes out! Fast and pray! Until you confess your actions and plotting and scheming are for your own fame and prestige, you are only digging yourself deeper into a pit… into Sheol, to be specific. Your father below continues to be well pleased with your performances and progress. Your self-deception is still working well!
    .
    To those in the Boston area: go if you can stomach the ongoing abomination that will be particularly flagrant on that cursed day. And if you do go, please take a video of it so that those who are not present can see what a modern pit of vipers looks like in its most self-flagellating and horrifying form!
    .
    Feeling nauseous just rereading this bile… get your trash bin out before you read on! Ugh!
    .
    https://mailchi.mp/parkstreet.org/solemn-assembly
    .
    From: Park Street Church info@parkstreet.org

    Date: October 9, 2024

    Subject: Preparation for the Solemn Assembly: Fri, Oct 25

    Dear Park Street Community,

    Greetings in the name of the Lord Jesus. As most of you know, we are gathering for a Solemn Assembly on Friday evening, October 25, following the recommendation of the Vicinage Council (a group of seven congregational pastors from our “vicinity”) which aided us in our time of need this spring and summer. While less familiar to us, the Solemn Assembly is a historic practice of the people of God (see Ezra 9-10, Nehemiah 9, or Joel 2 for biblical examples) that was commonly used by New England churches in the 17th century and beyond. Those churches would often call a “fast day” in which they would gather for a time of repentance, hearing from God’s word, and prayer. In line with this tradition, our Solemn Assembly will be a time for humbling ourselves in repentance and confession, for lamenting the brokenness of our church body, for seeking the healing of the Lord together—calling out for his mercy and his grace—and for renewing our covenant with the Lord and with one another. Members of the Vicinage Council will be present with us as well.

    To intentionally prepare, we are planning to engage in the following spiritual disciplines over the coming weeks, and we invite all of you to join with us in this preparation, as you are able:

    First, scripture reflection and journaling. You are encouraged to read and reflect on the following texts: Psalm 13, Psalm 51, Ezra 9:1-10.17, Nehemiah 9, Joel 1:13-2:17, Matthew 7:3-5, Luke 5:29-32, John 5:6, 2 Corinthians 9:8, James 4:6-10, and James 5:16. As you read these texts, consider journaling in three areas (with a particular focus on the past year at Park Street Church):

    1. Confession and repentance: this is about acknowledging where you—and where we—have transgressed the Lord and his ways. How have you sinned against him? In what ways have your thoughts, words, and deeds failed to be expressions of love for God and love for others? Be specific.  

    2. Lament: this is about bringing our grief, disappointment, sadness, distress, and complaints before the Lord. This is being honest with God about our sorrows and pain, about the brokenness of the world and our community and our lives. What are you grieved over? What are you distressed by? What is your heart sick about? Be honest with God about these things. Bring them to him.  

    3. Healing: this is about coming to the one who has the power to heal. Do you want to get well? Do you want for us as a church body to get well? What pain, specifically, do you need to bring to Jesus for him to heal? What relationships remain diminished by sin or lack of reconciliation in which you need his healing and reconciling power to intervene?

    Our Solemn Assembly will have time dedicated to each of these three areas. Reading and reflecting upon scripture and the above questions will be helpful preparation.

    Second, prayer. You are encouraged to be in prayer for this time, asking for God to meet us in power and for his Spirit to move among us. We will be praying about this during corporate worship on the next two Sundays. Our staff are dedicating time to pray for this at our weekly staff chapels and the Board of Elders are dedicating time to pray for this as well. This will be a specific topic of prayer during the Zoom morning prayer gatherings at 8:30 AM on weekdays, especially during the week of October 20th. We will also be hosting lunchtime prayer gatherings from 12:15-12:45 PM on Tuesday-Friday, October 22-25. You may enter the Tremont Street doors to join in this time of prayer. We also encourage small groups to commit to praying for God to bless this gathering.

    And, third, fasting. Fasting is the practice—a spiritual discipline—of giving up something, usually food, for a time, and it is associated with humility and repentance throughout scripture, an expression of sorrow over our sin (e.g. Joel 2:12). In fasting, we are reminded of our frailty and our need for and dependence upon the Lord, and we redirect our craving and desire for food to the one whom we most deeply desire and upon whom we completely depend: God himself. Fasting also allows for a clearer focus upon the Lord, as we forego the normal (and good!) practice of eating to prioritize the Lord and seek him more fully. Time we would normally spend eating can be spent in prayer and reflection upon God’s word.

    We invite you to join us in fasting on the Fridays leading up to and including the Solemn Assembly: October 11, 18, and 25.We encourage you to skip breakfast and lunch on those days, if you are able, and to set aside extra time for prayer and devotion. If you are unable to fast from food, consider refraining from something else that you normally consume (music, coffee, TV) on these Fridays. On October 25, we will break our fast after the Solemn Assembly with a meal in the Welcome Center.

    One thing is certain: we need the Lord. That is always true, of course, but it is particularly true as we seek to process and grow through the painful and sorrowful parts of the past year. May the Lord meet us in power. May he lead us to true repentance, to humility, to dependence. May he build the house that is Park Street Church (Psalm 127:1). As we humble ourselves in confession, lament, and crying out for his healing, we can be sure that he will lift us up—at the proper time. That is his promise in 1 Peter 5:6.

    Let’s enter this time of preparation with a confident expectation that the Lord will move among us. We hope you will all share with us in this time, even if you are new, trusting that as we prepare and seek him together, he will be merciful and gracious to us—individually and corporately.

    Grace and peace in Jesus,

    Mark Booker, Senior Minister
    Jason Abraham, Moderator


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    Former Boston Girl: Thank you, Janice. This thread has really gone off the rails. I like it when people stay on topic.

    Ok, will do. My advice is avoid church drama. Stay home Sunday, save 10 percent.


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    Friend of Park Street Church,

    This is from the diary of the first pastor of PSC which the present incumbent should pay attention to.

    “ Under date of March 27, 1817, he writes in his diary as follows:
    A day of private fasting and prayer agreed upon by both churches in the town, to implore the continued influences of the Divine Spirit. Having of late years entered more largely into the public business of the church, I have spent too little time in my closet, and in consequence find that it is not so easy today to fix my thoughts in these private exercises as it formerly was. It is my desire from this time forth to return to the more full practice of private devotion, and to a renewal of my journal. I have tried the world; I have been too much devoted to honor; but I found it all vain. Never was I so restless and unhappy as when most elevated in view of the world. I was tired of such public life, and longed to retire. I have retired, and during the year and nine months which I have spent here, have been the most tranquil that I ever was in any situation. Convinced by experience of the vanity and even torture of worldly distinction, I seem to have given up all desire for it. I am sure I would not exchange my present seclusion for any more public sphere that could be offered me. My trials, I trust, have not been in vain. For more than six years past, (the former part of which was the most trying period of my life,) I think I have been enabled to obtain an ascendancy over some of my constitutional sins. If I do not deceive myself, I have of late years become more conscientious in regulating my feelings towards my neighbors, in avoiding resentments when I am injured, and in studying the things which make for peace. I think I am more vigilant against the collisions of selfishness; less bigoted in favor of a party, and can more truly rejoice in the advancement of religion in other denominations around me. I have far less distressing conflicts than I had in former years. At the same time I have far less exalted ideas of my own sanctification. Some things are certainly improved within me, and yet I have a more steady sense of my general poverty and short coming.”

    Griffin, Edward D. 1838. Sermons by the Late Rev. Edward D. Griffin, D.D. Vol. 1. Albany: Van Benthuysen & Co.


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    Lowlandseer: So I think it is fair to say that Mark Booker is coming from conservative, reformed, hierarchical position which is at odds with the Congregational origins of PSC

    Dr. Hugenberger was theologically conservative, and definitely reformed, and those didn’t seem to clash with PSC or its Puritan origins. I think we can narrow the cause of friction to the hierarchical (and authoritarian) mindset, along with various personality traits of the SP who holds it.


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    Max: SNB alum: planting of Restoration Fellowship

    I figure most churches in America are the result of inadvertent “planting” as the result of church splits.

    The point being, this wouldn’t be the first time he took credit for a planting that might have been done by someone else.


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    SNB alum: he took credit for a planting that might have been done by someone else

    Mr. Booker is really something!


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    Lowlandseer,

    Too bad that Pastor Griffin wasn’t around to mentor Mr. Booker before he hit the pulpit at PSC.


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    Jack: My advice is avoid church drama

    PTCD (post-traumatic church disorder) is a real ailment … a lot of TWW commenters suffer from it.


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    Friend of Park Street Church: “Confession and repentance … How have you sinned against him? In what ways have your thoughts, words, and deeds failed to be expressions of love for God and love for others? Be specific.”  

    Would Mr. Booker and the BoE be honest in this regard or would they shout “Repent? Repent of what?!” Do they personalize these missives to the members? When they point a finger to the pew, do they know that three are pointing back at them?

    A solemn assembly is a serious thing before God … are they solemn enough themselves? Or is this simply a show of the right thing by church leaders to cover their wrong things?


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    Friend of Park Street Church,

    Pious Christianese boilerplate with lotsa Chapter-and-Verse Zip Codes.
    Wonder if there’s a “Just like ChatGPT, Except CHRISTIAN(TM)!” app they all use to write these?

    “Solemn Assembly”?
    Am I the only one who reads those words pitching my voice real deep like Kat Kerr Prophesying?


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    Friend of Park Street Church,

    Thanks for posting the Evite from PSC 10/9/24, summarised as follows

    Grace and peace in Jesus, from Mark Booker, Senior Minister, Jason Abraham, Moderator .
    * acknowledging where you—and where we—have transgressed the Lord and his ways.
    * a confident expectation that the Lord will move among us
    * the Vicinage Council (a group of seven congregational pastors from our “vicinity”), which aided us in our time of need, will be present with us

    *********************************************************************************
    It is blasphemous for current PSC leaders to lean on the SEVEN 4C PASTORS in the vicinity of Boston as judge and jury of the transgressions of ‘YOU and WE’ in this so-called Solemn Assembly. They have forgotten JESUS IS ABOVE ALL.

    Here is an excerpt from THE SPIRIT OF GOD by G.C. Morgan 1900

    Many men have lost their gift of power in service and become barren of results. They have prostituted a heavenly gift to sordid, selfish service, to the glorification of their own lives, attempting to work in their own strength, hoping God would step in and make up what they lacked. God will not come and help men do their work. This is no mere idle play on words; the difference is radical. The spirit is quenched by disloyalty to Christ, or when His gift is used for any other purposes upon which the heart of God is set. RESIST NOT, GRIEVE NOT AND QUENCH NOT THE SPIRIT. May the Spirit Himself reveal the deep meaning of these solemn warnings to all the Spirit-born children of the Father.


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    I wonder what specific sins Father Mark, Brother Jason et. al. will confess? Everyone will self-righteously admit their general sins…pride and selfishness, etc. What specifically did they say or do over the last year that makes them feel guilty? They denied their dishonestly, their abuse, their hostility and their mistreatment of the staff and congregation. Given their past public statements, my guess is that they feel great about every position they took and every person they hurt. Father Mark has told many people that he can justify every decision he made. So, any “repentance” and “lament” is just Pharisaical showmanship. These leaders don’t feel badly about anything…except that people have a better church option. But they will read their texts and prayers and their laments, and just like the Pharisees believe that their formal rituals and sterile rites will impress God and the congregation.

    The theological justification, they say comes from the practices of 17th century New England churches. When will the distortions cease? In 1146 Pope Engnius IV asked Bernard of Clairvaux to call a solemn assembly on Easter Sunday. Together with the promise of indulgences, this powerful “spiritual” event raised the armies that launched the second Crusade to retake Muslim territory. Our modern Solemn Assembly comes directly from spiritual disciplines of Ignatius Loyola…the hero of Spiritual Direction. Ignatius was Pope Leo 10th’s #1 anti-Protestant crusader. The reason was that he had faith in religious rites and ceremonies and persecuted anyone who taught grace through faith. The Church of St. Ignatius in Rome has a huge statue of him looking up to heaven with his foot on Martin Luther’s neck. The church of Gesus contains The Triumph of Faith over Heresy, where Mary is casting Martin Luther and John Huss into hell, while an angel tears their translations of the Bible and their writings to shreds.

    What is the connection? It’s simple….liturgy or the Spirit; law or grace…earn God’s favor by following the assigned techniques. Just follow the prescribed religious schedule, the prescribed religious steps, and the right religious formula and eventually God will reward your effort. It’s just a matter of reflecting and journaling and confessing and repenting and lamenting and praying and fasting more and more and harder and louder. Faith in the religious process…rather than the living Person. There is a reason why these kinds of formulaic “spiritual rites “ are only mentioned in the Old Testament . There are reasons why a pastor would abandon Evangelicalism and become a liturgical semi-pelagian Anglican. Goodbye Calivin….hello Ignatius!! Goodbye CCCC and hello Church of England. What would Harold John Ockenga say??


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    BTA: Mark has told many people that he can justify every decision he made

    Confess?! Confess what?!!

    Repent?! Repent of what?!!

    So why go to the Solemn Assembly?


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    Max: would they shout “Repent? Repent of what?!”

    Things are going to slide, slide in all directions
    Won’t be nothing
    Nothing you can measure anymore
    The blizzard, the blizzard of the world
    Has crossed the threshold and it has overturned the order of the soul
    When they said repent repent
    I wonder what they meant
    When they said repent repent
    I wonder what they meant
    When they said repent repent
    I wonder what they meant
    When they said repent repent

    Songwriter: Leonard Cohen


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    Most of the Missions Committee resigned in protest this week. The last holdouts in the power structures of the church are gone. Mark should be happy to have the church he always wanted, but he can’t help but covet thy neighbor’s church and fruit RF is bearing.


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    Sandy: Sandy on Thu Oct 10, 2024 at 07:19 PM said:
    Max: would they shout “Repent? Repent of what?!”

    Things are going to slide, slide in all directions
    Won’t be nothing
    Nothing you can measure anymore
    The blizzard, the blizzard of the world
    Has crossed the threshold and it has overturned the order of the soul
    When they said repent repent
    I wonder what they meant
    When they said repent repent
    I wonder what they meant
    When they said repent repent
    I wonder what they meant
    When they said repent repent

    Songwriter: Leonard Cohen

    Speaking of Leonard Cohen:

    https://www.challies.com/articles/seems-so-long-ago-nancy/


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    Observant Outsider: Most of the Missions Committee resigned in protest this week.

    Do you reckon the BoE will ever wake up and smell the coffee? At this rate, PSC membership will dwindle down to You-and-Me … and who’s going to pay the light bill?


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    Max: At this rate, PSC membership will dwindle down to You-and-Me …

    Which will be taken as PROOF of their Superior Godliness, a Godly Remnant who alone hath not bowed the knee to Baal.
    And “You and Me” lasts only until “Me and DIE HERETIC!” The Universe cannot have Two Centers.

    and who’s going to pay the light bill?

    A new crop of Tithing Units, who else?


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    Max:

    Would Mr. Booker and the BoE be honest in this regard or would they shout “Repent? Repent of what?!”

    Why should they “repent” when God’s Speshul Pets Can Do No Wrong?


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    I was trawling through the TGC website and I came across an article which offered up 2 interesting quotes
    1 “ Connections and opportunities outside of D.C. are being forged as well. Mark Booker and his family left Resurrection in 2009 (turning down an opportunity to do doctoral work in Oxford) and settled in the heart of Boston to plant the Church of the Cross.”
    2 “ Claire looked for partners to help plant but found little interest. The older “parish” model of church planting wasn’t finding much support among evangelicals in the late 1990s. But around this time, orthodox Anglicans in the Global South worked with their Western friends to start the Anglican Mission in America. The mission, created in response to doctrinal and ethical crises in the mainline Episcopal Church as well as North America more generally, was designed to be primarily a mission to unchurched, unreached North America. Thus, church planting was a major priority.

    Through AMiA, Claire became a Rwandan missionary to Washington, D.C., and started the Church of the Resurrection on Capitol Hill.”

    Here is the link

    https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/to-renew-d-c-church-planting-in-the-nations-capital/

    Is it beyond the realms of possibility that the insertion of Mr Booker into PSC is part of their global mission to return the wayward into the evangelical fold?

    I’m sure there are lengthy of intelligent sleuths in Boston who could find this out.


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    Lengthy = Plenty


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    Max,

    Perhaps, they may wake up if the Spirit brings upon them some form of pain that they can no longer deny.

    “No doubt Pain as God’s megaphone is a terrible instrument; it may lead to final and unrepented rebellion. But it gives the only opportunity the bad man can have for amendment. It removes the veil; it plants the flag of truth within the fortress of a rebel soul.”

    CS Lewis, The Problem of Pain


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    Max,

    Max: Confess?!Confess what?!!
    Repent?!Repent of what?!!
    So why go to the Solemn Assembly?

    Sandy,

    Hmmm—
    For practical purposes, the 3 week prep activities involve fasting, reading scripture and prayer. These are done in private most of the time, plus some zoom meetings and in person lunch meetings, until the last day: Oct. 25 evening. The critical part will be the PUBLIC PRAYER of the PSC leaders, who are responsible for CORPORATE confession and repentance

    ” What pain, specifically, do you need to bring to Jesus for him to heal? What relationships remain diminished by sin or lack of reconciliation in which you need his healing and reconciling power to intervene? ”

    Whoever plans to attend this event is prepared to support the content of the PSC leaders’ public prayers for the distressing events at PSC in the past 4 years—– (in addition to seeking the Lord’s mercy on his/her own private sins/pain)

    Presumably the proceedings will go on public record as a major event at the Historic PSC, and then become available to social media including TWW.

    “They also serve who only stand and wait.”


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    Watcher,

    No doubt that God has lots of ways to get our attention … but, when He turns up the heat on religious folks, they always blame it on the Devil.


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    dee,
    Keep up the fantastic work—it’s truly valuable!


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    SNB alum: Dr. Hugenberger was theologically conservative, and definitely reformed, and those didn’t seem to clash with PSC or its Puritan origins.I think we can narrow the cause of friction to the hierarchical (and authoritarian) mindset, along with various personality traits of the SP who holds it.

    Actually, Pastor Hugenberger is quite egalitarian and, I believe, was the reason we had females in leadership at every level: Ministry leaders, Deacons, Elders, and Ministers. The only position a female could not hold was the Senior Minister position, and that was because the church would lose to great a percentage of its congregation if a woman became the head pastor. The thinking was that considerable progress had been made in the placement of females in leadership roles within the church, and this concession was made so that the two sides would learn to worship as a whole in spite of their differences. That wasn’t an easy battle, especially with regard to the elder board because some of the old guard believe that the Bible MANDATES that women shouldn’t be elders. I’ve spoken with Pastor Hugenberger on this issue before, and there is no position within the church, including Senior Minister, that he feels a woman should not be able to hold. Of course that’s a decision that would have to be supported by the elder board and by the congregation, so it’s not something he was in control of.

    One of Gordon’s most memorable sermons for me was when he discussed women in leadership and explained that not every woman written about in the Bible was a waif. Of course, he spoke about Jesus first appearing to women upon the most important event in history, which was his resurrection, even though women were not respected as witnesses, and in fact, could not appear as witnesses in court. He also spoke of Debra, and the fact that men would come to her from all over to seek her prophecy. A very interesting story however, was one that he told about the story of Jael. It was interesting because it was a story that I had never heard in my 40+ years as a Christian. I think it was suppressed intentionally, in the interest of maintaining the idea that male supremacy was backed by God.

    The story of Jael, found in the Book of Judges, talks about a woman who killed the commander of King Jabin’s army in Canaan, with whom the Israelites were at war. The man’s name was Sisera, and Jael was the wife of a prominent city leader, so she had entertained people at Sisera‘s level and above. I don’t remember the whole backstory, but Jael’s husband had favor with Sisera. So, she greeted him and offered hospitality as was the custom, beckoning him into their home and offering him some milk and a place to rest. She knew that Sisera was particularly brutal, and had been going through the towns along with his army, raping the women and destroying the towns. When he was fast asleep, she grabbed a large tent spike and a sledgehammer and drove the spike through Sisera’s head.

    Gordon noted that God didn’t call her murderer, but later in scripture praised her decisiveness and swift action. She didn’t wait for her husband‘s permission. She acted of her own volition. Gordon said the inclusion of the story in the Bible shows that God doesn’t expect women to be waify, weak, and fragile, especially when standing up to abusers. Not that I think Gordon was advocating the killing of abusers, but the story was vindicating to me. In the back of my mind, I had always thought that God had sort of a “put up and shut up” mentality toward men who abuse, in the hopes that they would change. Now I know that is not the case.
    Putting up with a husband who is a nonbeliever, and maybe even someone who’s difficult, in order to lead him by example with your beautiful character, as as described in the Bible, is one thing, but God draws a line in the sand when it comes to abuse. Gordon’s sermon on women’s intended role in society was very much healing to me.


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    BTA:
    I wonder what specific sins Father Mark, Brother Jason et. al. will confess?Everyone will self-righteously admit their general sins…pride and selfishness, etc.What specifically did they say or do over the last year that makes them feel guilty?They denied their dishonestly, their abuse, their hostility and their mistreatment of the staff and congregation. Given their past public statements, my guess is that they feel great about every position they took and every person they hurt. Father Mark has told many people that he can justify every decision he made. So, any “repentance” and “lament” is just Pharisaical showmanship.These leaders don’t feel badly about anything…except that people have a better church option.But they will read their texts and prayers and their laments, and just like the Pharisees believe that their formalrituals and sterile rites will impress God and the congregation.

    The theological justification, they say comes from the practices of 17th century New Englandchurches. When will the distortions cease?In 1146 Pope Engnius IV asked Bernard of Clairvaux to call a solemn assembly on Easter Sunday. Together with the promise of indulgences, this powerful “spiritual” event raised the armies that launchedthe second Crusade to retake Muslim territory.Our modern Solemn Assembly comes directly from spiritual disciplines of Ignatius Loyola…the hero of SpiritualDirection.Ignatius was Pope Leo 10th’s #1 anti-Protestant crusader.The reason was thathe had faith in religious rites and ceremonies and persecuted anyone who taught grace through faith. The Church of St. Ignatius in Rome has a huge statue ofhimlooking up to heaven with his foot on Martin Luther’s neck. The church of Gesus contains The Triumph of Faith over Heresy, whereMary is castingMartin Luther and John Huss into hell, while anangel tearstheir translations of the Bible and their writings to shreds.

    What is the connection? It’s simple….liturgy or the Spirit; law or grace…earn God’s favor by following the assignedtechniques.Just follow the prescribed religious schedule, the prescribed religious steps, and the right religious formula and eventually God will reward your effort.It’s just a matter of reflecting and journaling and confessing and repenting and lamenting and praying and fasting more and more and harder and louder.Faith in the religious process…rather than the living Person. There is a reason why these kinds offormulaic “spiritual rites “ are only mentioned in the Old Testament .There are reasons why a pastor would abandon Evangelicalism and become a liturgical semi-pelagian Anglican. Goodbye Calivin….hello Ignatius!! Goodbye CCCC and hello Church of England.What would Harold John Ockenga say??

    I’ll add to your list of hypocrisies, speaking of the PSC situation:

    Mistreat your staff and brazenly terminate or force out people who offer contrasting opinions, but fuss over the candle placement on the altar.

    Promise to maintain women in the minister role at PSC, but position yourself on the side of your long-term friend who’s launching allegations of spiritual abuse against a female minister (one of Mark’s employees obviously, so he never should have taken sides but should have recused himself from the investigation), and then attempting to destroy evidence that supported said female minister.

    Forcing a large, diverse congregation into a narrow traditionalist mold to satisfy your own preferences, and that of a privileged few within the church.

    And on and on ad nauseam. But yes. I’m sure we’ll hear the leadership give a generic and meaningless offering of their own repentance. There is no true spirit of contrition among the leadership at Park Street Church, and it sad to see, but they are the ones who will suffer.

    I’m very happy to see and feel the true welcoming of the Holy Spirit and to witness a true sense of community at Restoration Fellowship.


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    Susan Lane,

    I love the bad girls of the Bible!
    (but not Jezebel)


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    But the saddest and most ridiculous thing of all is, the damage is already done! What is the point of your repentance now, PSC Leadership? You say you’re sorry now that your agenda is completed! It’s no different from when petitioners brought issues that they wanted raised during the annual meeting, and the PSC leadership gave them a date two months after the annual meeting to discuss these issues. What false humility and false show of concern for your congregation’s voice. Hypocrites!


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    Max: Confess?!Confess what?!!
    Repent?!Repent of what?!!

    Max

    Your question triggered my memory of some TWW blogs in April which I am unable to find now. But I can recall watching and listening to our SM’s prayer of confession:

    It was Easter Sunday. just before our SM’s sermon, a lay member asked him “where are the Five Ministers”. The Moderator escorted this member off the stage, and SM started to mumble: Susan, Susan, shaking his head. Then he closed his eyes to pray: (I cannot remember the exact words, but he would) DEAR LORD, PLEASE FORGIVE US! SUSAN HAS SINNED, I HAVE SINNED, ALL OF US HAVE SINNED. PLEASE FORGIVE US !

    His facial expression and voice, with eyes closed, convinced me he was truly sorry and willing to repent. I truly treasured that critically and precious moment when our SM sincerely confessed to the Lord in public, that he has sinned (together with all other sinners in PSC, including myself). Many minutes later, our SM preached a ‘normal’ Easter sermon.

    Later, per TWW bloggers, I found out that section of the PSC worship video (before the sermon) was deleted from social media (per request of the Minister of Music, claiming PSC copyright– even though it is public domain).

    Psalms 33:13-15, 34: 13-16

    If that section of the video can be retrieved and presented at the Solemn Assembly, it will certainly help the SM and BoE and the Vicinage Council identify all the people and their words and actions which caused progressive, persistent pain, grief and broken relationships in the PSC community. It requires not just confession, but repentance and practical reconciliation as guided and empowered by the Holy Spirit, seeking mercy from our heavenly Father, to heal and restore PSC as His Beacon of Light in Boston and beyond.


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    NAAH: I HAVE SINNED, ALL OF US HAVE SINNED

    Ahhh, but would Mr. Booker confess specific sin … such as his history of narcissistic behavior unbecoming of a pastor, spiritual abuse of staff, and not heeding the rebuke of his congregation?


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    NAAH,

    PRELUDE FOR PSC SOLEMN ASSEMBLY

    I Peter 5:8-10
    (The Vicinage Council determined the Devil has a foothold at PSC; the BoE concurs)
    * Your enemy the Devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, stand firm in the faith…The Lord of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

    Psalms 66: 10-12, 33:13-22, 28:1-2
    * For you, O Lord, tested us; you refined us like silver, you brought us into prison and laid burdens on our backs. You let men ride over our heads, we went through fire and water….If I Had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened
    * From heaven the Lord looks down and sees all mankind. He who forms the heart of all considers everything they do. The eyes of the Lord are on those who fear Him, whose hope is His unfailing love.
    * To you I call, O Lord my rock; do not turn a deaf ear to me. For if you remain silent, I will be like those who went down to the pit. Hear my cry for mercy as I call to you for help, as I lift up my hands towards your most holy place.

    Amen


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    NAAH: The Vicinage Council determined the Devil has a foothold at PSC

    I think frequent commenters on TWW who have experienced such leadership oppression in their own lives and churches, including many ex-PSC staff and a multitude of ex-PSC church members would agree with that!


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    Muff Potter:
    Susan Lane,

    I love the bad girls of the Bible!
    (but not Jezebel)

    Lol! They say only brazen women make history! *smirk*

    Mother Mary is the exception though. Not all of us can be like Mother Mary. I love her but I am very grateful that other female personalities got into the good book. *another smirk*


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    Susan Lane:
    But the saddest and most ridiculous thing of all is, the damage is already done! What is the point of your repentance now, PSC Leadership? You say you’re sorry now that your agenda is completed! It’s no different from when petitioners brought issues that they wanted raised during the annual meeting, and the PSC leadership gave them a date two months after the annual meeting to discuss these issues. What false humility and false show of concern for your congregation’s voice. Hypocrites!

    I honestly don’t think they expected the church split to be so extreme. They probably thought that 100 or so would leave after their pre-ordained Vicinage Council report came out and scatter to churches around the area. But could they have seen that a new fellowship right around the corner would have numbers rivaling their attendance? No, narcissists never expect bad outcomes. I wonder how those left will feel when it’s shown the cost of this trajectory to their giving when the annual report comes out. I don’t see a situation in which the shortfall isn’t >$1mil. Especially since Mark got people to make their big annual donations earlier in the year this time.


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    NAAH: DEAR LORD, PLEASE FORGIVE US! SUSAN HAS SINNED, I HAVE SINNED, ALL OF US HAVE SINNED. PLEASE FORGIVE US !

    What ‘sins’ are we talkin’ about?


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    Observant Outsider: I honestly don’t think they expected the church split to be so extreme.

    There should be some serious soul-searching by the PSC leadership group at this point.


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    NAAH: Later, per TWW bloggers, I found out that section of the PSC worship video (before the sermon) was deleted from social media (per request of the Minister of Music, claiming PSC copyright– even though it is public domain).

    I’m not sure how it falls into public domain? The video would by default be under copyright (exceptions would be a US government produced video, but, that is almost certainly not the case here), and, the copyright would be held by the organization or person doing the video.
    In some cases there would be some other copyrights involved. For instance if the video was of a piece of music which itself was under copyright and PSC did not have the proper license to broadcast it (unlikely given that PSC almost certainly got the proper license for performing and broadcasting music given its size). Also we aren’t dealing with a piece of music. However that would explain why the Minister of Music was making the claim; they probably know the most about copyright since they have to deal with getting those permissions.


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    Muff Potter:

    What ‘sins’ are we talkin’ about?

    Questioning authority? Attempting to correct a Brother in Christ? Holding one another accountable?

    Max: There should be some serious soul-searching by the PSC leadership group at this point.

    One would think so. I still have a hard time grasping that those (few) who are left haven’t reflected upon the wreckage of the past few years and reevaluated whose side they have taken, even if they personally haven’t been mistreated or seen what others have reported. They can’t all be lying!


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    Muff Potter: What ‘sins’ are we talkin’ about?

    Hi, Muff Potter
    This quote is from my memory of the opening phrases of the PSC SM’s 2024 Easter prayer at the pulpit. (i.e. it is NOT ‘we’ who was talking). As a human (not a robot) I saw and heard and was impressed– then the sight and sound were deleted from the video.
    BUT THE ALMIGHTY OMNISCIENT GOD KNOWS AND SEARCHES THE HEART FROM WHICH THE WORDS EMERGED.
    God’s thoughts are not our thoughts.

    “And earthly power doth then show likest God’s, when mercy seasons justice. …In the course of justice, none of us should see salvation: we do pray for mercy; and that same prayer doth teach us all to render the acts of mercy.” — Merchant of Venice

    Amen


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    SNB alum:
    They can’t all be lying!

    Erp,

    Hi Erp and SNB alum

    The info and comment about copyright came from the TWW blogs early in April 2024. (I cannot find them now, but Dee may have them on file)

    The deleted section of the video was retrieved retroactively by a blogger (AB), who posted a link. I used the link to see and hear what I reported above. Next day the link stopped working. Another blogger(CD) posted the info that the Music Minister contacted the media to forbid further use, based on copyright law. Then AB said any church worship service is public domain, not protected by copyright. (I guess it means you can look and see for free but cannot sell it for profit ?!) I have no further knowledge or comment about this video— I am just an innocent bystander reading TWW blogs, 99% ignorant in computer science and legal issues.

    Everyone staff and lay member at PSC knew the fact: since 2020 when SM arrived, 9 PSC ministers have left PSC, one by one, with or without a variety of official reasons.
    Is it possible for our heavenly Father to season Justice with Mercy for every one of the ten ministers if he/she repents? Nothing is impossible with God! Thereafter, will every one of these ten ministers, devoted servants of God, forgive each other as well ?


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    SNB alum: Questioning authority?
    I still have a hard time grasping that those (few) who are left haven’t reflected upon the wreckage of the past few years and reevaluated whose side they have taken, even if they personally haven’t been mistreated or seen what others have reported.They can’t all be lying!

    SNBalum:

    Yeah, I do have a hard time understanding why some of my closest friends who are also respected PSC staff and leaders are still staying .e.g. (1) my LDI group leader when Kris Perkins was conducting LDI, (2) my Christian Formation teacher who, together with the beloved late David Freeman, always defended fiercely every word from Dr Hugenberger’s sermons if I ventured to explore alternative ideas during class (3) a busy legal expert who joined PSC on the same day as I did, and continuously volunteered to serve in PSC admin. for decades (which I did not) (4) the devout and amazing loving parents of a special needs tween whom I baby-sitted at PSC for several years when Kris Perkins was the Families’ Minister. This boy has reached adulthood and enjoys singing hymns during Sunday worship (like Zack) sitting with parents one pew in front of us until dismissed to children’s church.

    My prayers will not stop for the above fellow pilgrims and personal friends— that ultimately we shall reunite as beloved brothers and sisters in Christ.


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    It’s fascinating to hear about your visit to Restoration Fellowship and the unique space they’ve created. The sense of community and heart found on the 15th floor sounds incredible. It’s inspiring to see how Park Street Church’s legacy continues to thrive in such an unconventional setting!


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    Erp,
    The video would by default be under copyright

    The gist of the matter is not the exact words or copyright—

    WHY DID PSC LEADERS WANT THAT SECTION DELETED?
    Did the Vicinage Council see the original script?
    Where did they find Satan’s foothold at PSC?

    References–
    * Abraham Lincoln: you cannot fool all the people all the time
    * Chinese Proverb: one word already spoken– even four horses cannot catch up w/ it
    * Jesus said to the Pharisees: If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. If I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you…… Out of the overflow of heart the mouth speaks…. I tell you that men will have to give account on the Day of Judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words, you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned. (Matt 12:34-37)

    Oh Lord! Have mercy on me for every careless word I have often posted at TWW which escaped Dee’s editing. Amen


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    NAAH: My prayers will not stop for the above fellow pilgrims and personal friends— that ultimately we shall reunite as beloved brothers and sisters in Christ.

    Amen—with certainty in Rev 21:1-4, but hopefully sooner.


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    NAAH: Yeah, I do have a hard time understanding why some of my closest friends who are also respected PSC staff and leaders are still staying .e.g. (

    I can relate and have tried to empathize. I believe our well natured friends see this like David M laid out – all this arises from disgruntled employees who are not okay with Mark’s management style. I believe if they truly listened to these disgruntled employees, they would recognize that Mark’s behavior goes beyond management training and ventures into manipulation of others, manipulation of facts, dishonesty, an insatiable thirst for power and control… Some may be aware, but similar to a cult, see this as a way to gain power and influence within the church. Others are happy to remain blissfully unaware, either intentionally or not.


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    Stayrene Management Sdn Bhd: It’s inspiring to see how Park Street Church’s legacy continues to thrive in such an unconventional setting!

    It may very well be that the ex-PSC members who find fellowship in Christ in that setting will conclude that there is more to faith than a nice old building and the traditions of mere men.


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    Sad: – all this arises from disgruntled employees who are not okay with Mark’s management style.

    Hi, Sad Blogger friend
    May be the term ‘disgruntled employee’ is more applicable to the SM than the 9 other ministers who were coerced to resign. Did you see the report submitted by one of those ministers before the 6/2/24 meeting ? He was willing to do or change anything in order to stay. He asked why SM wanted him to leave. SM’s reply was “IT IS MY GUT FEELING; THERE IS NO OTHER REASON” Who knows if this is the same reason behind the firing of the other 8 ministers. As a lay member, I have not heard of any misconduct or offenses by these 9 ministers who worked united w/ joy and peace under the previous SM and interim SM. It seems the new SM’s management style originated from an inner feeling of disgruntling, never explained to the PSC congregation.


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    Max: I think frequent commenters on TWW who have experienced such leadership oppression in their own lives and churches, including many ex-PSC staff and a multitude of ex-PSC church members would agree with that!

    Yeah, the Devil is always lurking around us, we all agree, inside and outside the church
    But the bone of contention is:
    Can you identify who in the church is serving Satan instead of serving God ?


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    NAAH: Can you identify who in the church is serving Satan instead of serving God ?

    You will know them by their fruit. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23). The fruit of the flesh which are driven by the devil includes: total irresponsibility, lack of self-control, hostility, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, and other really bad stuff (Galatians 5:19-20). Look for fruit, but beware of deception that looks like good fruit … the enemy knows how to work the crowd.


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    Honestly gang, the words I spoke at the Easter service are less important than the many ministers, elders, and now missionaries, as Adrian and Becca have now resigned from their ministry in Japan, are 1000X more important than the few words I spoke at that Easter service. I’ve only dealt with Mark intermittently over his almost 4 years as pastor, but the ministers worked with him everyday, and know much more about the inner workings of his leadership. All I did was to awaken a major portion of the congregation to the issues and tell them to pay attention. Yet, I believe it gave the courage for many to speak out, and the leadership could no longer hide behind closed doors. What truly turned people’s hearts were the written statements from the current and former ministers and elders who confirmed my concerns about Mark.

    So don’t worry about the video, it’s not necessary. The testimony from the former ministers and elders, and the resulting Church split, is more than enough.


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    Curious if anyone has gotten a membership reaffirmation from PSC? I don’t ever recall there being an in person requirement before. The cynic in me says it is another way to cut down on dissenters.


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    Liz,

    I am going to write about this tomorrow. This is an ominous move on the part of PSC.


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    Liz: Curious if anyone has gotten a membership reaffirmation from PSC? I don’t ever recall there being an in person requirement before.

    PSC leadership keep digging themselves into a deeper hole.


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    NAAH: Hi, Sad Blogger friend
    May be the term ‘disgruntled employee’ is more applicable to the SM than the 9 other ministers who were coerced to resign. Did you see the report submitted by one of those ministers before the 6/2/24 meeting ? He was willing to do or change anything in order to stay. He asked why SM wanted him to leave. SM’s reply was “IT IS MY GUT FEELING; THERE IS NO OTHER REASON” Who knows if this is the same reason behind the firing of the other 8 ministers. As a lay member, I have not heard of any misconduct or offenses by these 9 ministers who worked united w/ joy and peace under the previous SM and interim SM. It seems the new SM’s management style originated from an inner feeling of disgruntling, never explained to the PSC congregation.

    Mark knew exactly why he wanted Kris gone: because Kris applied to the SM role. He lied to Kris. You know how obviously bad this was because even the Vicinage report acknowledged that Mark “could have done better” or whatever responsibility-deflecting wording they used.

    Susan Lane,

    Any missionary affiliated with PSC church should be looking to move on if not for the moral necessity but the reality is that they will need to secure support if PSC is no longer able to provide it. Missions has been totally gutted, I would expect to see more letters like this in the future.

    Liz:
    Curious if anyone has gotten a membership reaffirmation from PSC?I don’t ever recall there being an in person requirement before.The cynic in me says it is another way to cut down on dissenters.

    It’s so they can identify anyone who has any affiliation with Restoration Fellowship. As I’ve commented before, Mark is obsessed and has already “cleansed” leadership, now they need to perform the “great purge” of the congregation. This is the final step in their consolidation of power.


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    Liz,

    The last one they sent was January 2023, which is presumably “the great purge”, in Mark’s words. I cannot recall any previous reaffirmation requests.


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    Sad,

    It seems the in-person requirement is new. From the previous letter, it reads that anybody involved in ministry would have been welcomed to retain membership (H.O.M.E. is an example that comes to mind).
    .
    From last year:
    .
    Inactive membership means that you are not currently involved in or committed to the ministry and mission of the church, but you are not yet ready to withdraw or transfer your membership.
    .
    Even if you’ve been distant from Park Street Church for some time, I warmly invite each of you to reaffirm your membership and to join us afresh as we follow Jesus together.


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    Susan Lane,

    Susan:
    The interesting part about the deleted segment of the video is:
    SM publicly confessed he has sinned, before starting the Easter sermon. Then the record of that confession was deleted within a short time. Plus an official complaint from PSC to the media which allowed it to be accessed retroactively.

    Whether that confession was sincere or not, PSC leader(s) wanted to erase it from human memory. But we (and they ought to) know: God hears and remembers all our prayers 24/7, a
    dee,

    nd will respond with amazing grace— even if we keep changing our minds.

    Thank you Lord !


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    dee,

    Hi Dee
    Although they mention regular attendance, there is no specific requirement for documentation. So I guess it is not a big issue. It is impossible to ID everyone walking into PSC every Sunday.


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    Liz,
    Max,
    Sad,

    Liz, Sad and Max, and any PSC member for renewal of membership / attend Solemn Assembly

    It is standard practice to encourage regular attendance when you join any society or club, why not church? When you got baptized, did you vow to pray and read the Bible REGULARLY? Did we always keep that promise. O Lord! you know my score—have mercy on me!

    However: if you plan to attend the Solemn Assembly w/ lunch meeting etc, read the
    meticulous instructions and practical guidelines.
    e.g. set your GPS to PSC, then park, then walk to the entrance….WHICH ENTRANCE ?

    Our retired SM used to admonish us: Although our church is called PARK St. Church, you MUST NEVER PARK alongside the church building— you will get ticketed!

    But we can choose which entrance to walk in. I always prefer walking thru or being dropped off at the Park St. side entrance, into the Ockenga Lobby, It has a handicapped ramp for baby carriages/wheelchairs, benches between double glass doors where you can wait for family/friends, cheerful reception desk where you can validate parking tickets; park carriages, relax and look out to the historic burial grounds next door etc. Then pass restrooms & water fountain, to Welcome Center with smiling greeters and coffee etc.—- before walking up spiral staircase / take elevator to the sanctuary for worship.

    But on October 25, the BoE instructs you to use the Tremont St. front door entrance.
    Even in my younger days, I found it difficult to climb up those steep steps (esp in winter/rain/snow) then immediately up the beautiful spiral staircase into the Sanctuary.

    Presumably this is a security measure for a solemn function, not Sunday worship. The friendly greeters will welcome you, check your ID and give you a name tag etc.

    .


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    Coming in the Tremont Street entrance for the solemn assembly:

    “Presumably this is a security measure for a solemn function, not Sunday worship. The friendly greeters will welcome you, check your ID and give you a name tag etc.”

    However, if you are one of the dissenters who refuses to sell their souls to the leaders, the rules and the regs of the institution, a friendly armed officer will quietly escort you out the side door on the Park Street side! I think they refer to this procedure as the left boot of fellowship?? No nametag for you!!

    .


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    Pleasee come over to my new post involving PSC. How much do you know about membership covenants which I call contracts.? PSC is well on the way.
    “Immanuel Baptist Church Wants to Control Members’ Speech. Is Park Street Church Trying to Do the Same Thing?”
    https://thewartburgwatch.com/2024/10/18/immanuel-baptist-church-wants-to-control-members-speech-is-park-street-church-trying-to-do-the-same-thing/


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    THE MEMBERSHIP PURGE IS HERE!

    Trigger warning: gaslighting and a textbook example of doublespeak from George Orwell’s 1984. And sickening salutations as well!

    The Park Street Church Membership Reaffirmation (the membership purge) has started! New this year is a removal of the distinction between “inactive membership” and “withdrawn membership.” Too bad none of CEO Booker’s cabal understands active verses passive categories!

    Is my bank account inactive or did I withdraw my money? Where is my money? According to these buffoons, “there is no practical difference in the effect of either status.” Counterpoint: yes there is.

    I’m also getting flashbacks from a John McArthur church plant (a weed, not good seed growing in good soil, to be clear) that I attended in college… we had a friendship register we passed down the pew and signed each Sunday… a literal attendance record!

    “In the 2023 membership reaffirmation process, a distinction was made between inactivation and withdrawal of membership. As there is no practical difference in the effect of either status, we have not continued the distinction here. This merely reflects a simplification of terminology and not a change in policy.”

    Just tagging the abusers here for the record… good luck with the membership purge, you all! Hope you don’t accidentally purge a lawyer or judge! Or anyone who has a lawyer who is interested in justice and truth! You are individually liable for the laws and bylaws you are violating.

    Membership Committee
    Jeff Collier
    Debbie Gallagher, Clerk
    Mark Halvorsen
    Megan Ibekwe
    Dorothy Saunders
    John Saunders
    Andrew Ziegler, Elder & Chair
    Randall Wetzig, Assistant Minister

    ————————————

    Subject: Membership Reaffirmation 2024
    Date: Thu, 17 Oct 2024
    From: Park Street Church

    Dear Park Street Church Member,

    Greetings in the Lord! I am thankful for how God is continuing to bless our worship and life together this fall. It’s been a particular joy to meditate on the Ten Commandments with many of you on Sunday mornings. May God help us to walk in the ways that he has prescribed for us as his children.

    As we enter the last months of 2024, it is time for our annual reaffirmation of membership (accessible here (a link to the Church Center app)). Our membership reaffirmation process serves to remind us of the commitments we have made to God and to each other and helps the Membership Committee maintain an up-to-date list of active members.

    Membership at Park Street Church requires a continuing commitment to affirm and uphold the truths of scripture as summarized in our Confession of Faith and Covenant of Faith and Government. Membership also requires each of us to make and honor commitments to each other as fellow members of a local body of believers.

    By reaffirming your membership, you are affirming that you:
    1. Continue to profess faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior,
    2. Subscribe to the personal confession of faith (parkstreet.org/about-us/beliefs) adopted by Park Street Church,
    3. Commit to the church’s Covenant of Faith and Government (parkstreet.org/about-us/bylaws), and
    4. Regularly worship in person at Park Street Church or are unable to do so due to health, temporary absence from the region, or other similar impediments that unavoidably prevent your regular presence in worship. (If you are not able to regularly worship in person at Park Street Church for any reason but would like to maintain an active membership, please briefly explain in the reaffirmation form.)

    If these commitments remain true of you, we warmly invite you to reaffirm your membership and recommit yourself to our common life together under the lordship of Jesus. We want to grow together into greater maturity in Christ, so that we more clearly reflect what we really are—a local expression of the body of Christ.

    After a difficult year in the life of our congregation, we recognize that this will not be an easy decision for some. These are not abstract commitments, but commitments to a particular and very imperfect flesh and blood community. The fourth commitment clarifies what has always been true but is not always well understood—that active membership ordinarily requires regular participation in our gathered worship of God. For a variety of reasons, we realize that some members may no longer be able to make this commitment. If this is true of you and you have decided not to  reaffirm your membership, you can use this form to withdraw or transfer your membership.* If you would like to discuss this decision with a minister or an elder, we would be very happy to speak with you.

    As you consider reaffirming your membership, I encourage you to prayerfully consider the following commitment that you made to the Lord and this community, and that this community made to you. These commitments date back to the origin of Park Street Church, and they were used in the service in which you were welcomed as a member.
    – Minister: In the presence of God and this congregation, do you acknowledge your faith in the Triune God: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit? Do you pledge yourself in a covenant of love and obedience to allow Christ to control your life, to commune with him in prayer, to worship him faithfully in his sanctuary, and to support the work of the church so that the Gospel may be known throughout Boston and the world?
    – New Members: I do.
    – Minister: Do you, the members of this church, affectionately receive these candidates into this communion of believers? Do you welcome them to join you in all the blessings of the Gospel, and on your part, engage to watch over them, bear their burdens, and seek their edification, as long as they shall continue among us? Do you covenant to hold their peace and welfare dear to you, and to help them, as the Lord may enable you, by your sympathy, Godly counsel, practical acts of love, and your prayers?
    – Existing Members: We do.


    Our prayer for Park Street and for all of Christ’s churches in Boston is that the God of endurance and encouragement would grant us all to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together we may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. We are not yet who we ought to be, but we look forward in faith and hope that God the Father is working in us by his Holy Spirit to conform us to the image of his Son.

    We thank you for your partnership in the gospel and your love for God and for Park Street Church.

    Andrew Ziegler
    Membership Committee Chair

    Fill out the form (links to the Church Center app)

    *In the 2023 membership reaffirmation process, a distinction was made between inactivation and withdrawal of membership. As there is no practical difference in the effect of either status, we have not continued the distinction here. This merely reflects a simplification of terminology and not a change in policy. 


Our mailing address is:
    Park Street Church
    1 Park Street
    Boston, MA 02108

    Copyright (C) 2024 Park Street Church. All rights reserved.

    ——————————————-

    Form on Church Center

    Membership Reaffirmation 2024

    Please review the information below and reaffirm or change your membership status by checking the appropriate box below.

    By reaffirming your membership, you are affirming that you:
    1. Continue to profess faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior,
    2. Subscribe to the personal confession of faith (parkstreet.org/about-us/beliefs) adopted by Park Street Church,
    3. Commit to the church’s Covenant of Faith and Government (parkstreet.org/about-us/bylaws), and
    4. Regularly worship in person at Park Street Church or are unable to do so due to health, temporary absence from the region, or other similar impediments that unavoidably prevent your regular presence in worship. (If you are not able to regularly worship in person at Park Street Church for any reason but would like to maintain an active membership, please briefly explain below.) 

    My information

    Name

    Affirmation *
    Use the dropdown to affirm your membership or request a change in your membership status.

    I hereby reaffirm my membership status as an active member.
    I would like to transfer my membership.
    I would like to withdraw from active membership.

    I would like a minister or elder to contact me.

    Anything else

    Please use this field to write down anything else you’d like to let us know.

    Phone number
    Phone type
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    HomeWorkOther
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    Street Address

    Apt/unit/box (optional)

    City

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    Submit

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    Friend of Park Street Church: By reaffirming your membership, you are affirming that you:
    1. Continue to profess faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior

    Membership in no church … I repeat, no church … affirms a believer’s faith in Christ. When you came to faith in Jesus, you became a member of the Body of Christ … no church membership required. Likewise, you don’t have to subscribe to a church’s confession or covenant of faith to maintain membership in the Body of Christ. There is freedom in Christ from such teachings and traditions of men … “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery” (Galatians 5:1).


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    Max: Membership in no church … I repeat, no church … affirms a believer’s faith in Christ.When you came to faith in Jesus, you became a member of the Body of Christ … no church membership required.Likewise, you don’t have to subscribe to a church’s confession or covenant of faith to maintain membership in the Body of Christ.There is freedom in Christ from such teachings and traditions of men … “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery” (Galatians 5:1).

    That is the best comment I have ever read here.


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    In the 2001 movie Monsters Inc. the CEO was held accountable for his actions. That was to inform the audience that the movie was a work of fiction.


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    Friend of Park Street Church,

    Friend of Park Street Church,

    Thank you for including everything in your comment — I read it through this morning. 🙂

    I noticed many really bad things when I read the Park Street Church expletive-deleted through, but I’ll only comment on a couple of them here. The reaffirmation expletive-deleted sounds like a mixture of a baptism and a wedding ceremony.

    I’m intentionally leaving my comment brief because — as I’d hoped when I read your comment, as well as when I read one of the last TWW posts on Park Street Church (including that post’s links) — Dee has done a post on Park Street Church and membership agreements / covenants.

    I’ve started reading that new post of Dee’s….hopefully people will continue the discussion there(s)…. 🙂


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    researcher: I’ve started reading that new post of Dee’s….hopefully people will continue the discussion there(s)…. 🙂

    Oops. Typos….I placed the plural in the wrong place. 🙂

    What I wrote should read: I’ve started reading that new post of Dee’s….hopefully people will continue the discussion(s) there…. 🙂


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    Yes, yes, let’s all continue this discussion over on Dee’s new post. I pasted the entire membership purge text there as well so that people could quote it in comments if desired.

    See you over there!

    dee: Pleasee come over to my new post involving PSC. How much do you know about membership covenants which I call contracts.? PSC is well on the way.
    “Immanuel Baptist Church Wants to Control Members’ Speech. Is Park Street Church Trying to Do the Same Thing?”

    https://thewartburgwatch.com/2024/10/18/immanuel-baptist-church-wants-to-control-members-speech-is-park-street-church-trying-to-do-the-same-thing/


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    It seems that the CCCC has won a great victory. They have forced out all the dangerously educated pastors. They have kept their Anglo-Catholic sycophant in power. They have engaged in a Stalin-like purge of all who would not pledge their absolute faith to Bookerism and have compelled them to form an authentic Christian congregation. One would think that the Hamiltonian 4Cs would be anxious to move on.

    But no. Enter the CCCC Vicinage Counsel 2.0. This one seems to be more of a Clannish Inquisition. The abused victims have been commanded under threat to appear before yet another CCCC tribunal. Of course, there is a difference between the Spanish Inquisition and the Hamilton-Conwell Inquisition. Tomás de Torquemada, the first Grand Inquisitor sought to stamp out the sin of heresy…those who overly taught false doctrine. This Inquisition with its Gordon-Conwell bishops and cardinals is seeking to stamp out the mortal sins of accountability commanded by Mathew 18 and Corinthians 5 . How dare you continue to question the integrity of our priest who lied about his credentials, and whose hostility and domination alienated almost all of his most senior staff!

    What would Pope Francis do if nearly all of his best and long-term Bishops of a diocese said that they could no longer work with the Cardinal he had appointed? Would he blame the previous Cardinal, fire all his best Bishops in order to keep the dishonest and hostile Cardinal? Of course not! That would be an act insanity. I think that even Tomás de Torquemada would have told his pope that the real trouble maker has to go. But not the Hamilton-Conwell Inquisitors. Ruining their careers isn’t enough. Excommunication isn’t enough. They had to protect their fellow senior pastor at all costs. Clearly, the destruction of the first Vicinage gave them a new experience of ecclesiastical power. So now they are out for blood. In order to feed their ravenous episcopal egos, they are demanding more humiliation, longer confessions, better genuflection, more painful penance, and slightly louder groveling. Will the inquisition end here? Will these actions satisfy their lust for authority and power? Don’t hold your breath. The Spanish Inquisition lasted 356 years.


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    BTA,

    Maybe you could explain what is actually happening instead of using metaphor. The pastors who have left Park Street or (all of them? or just the last five?) are being called before the Vicinage Council? Have the meetings taken place? Are they obligatory? It would seem not since the former pastors are no longer employed at Park Street, most are probably no longer in a 4C church.
    Couldn’t this be an opportunity to speak candidly? After all, what do they have to lose?


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    dee,

    He was lying about Daniel before 2011 (as Banjo Atheist saw) because he didn’t point out Daniel is telling us to repent by proxy for the ills of our forebears and betters.


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    BTA: What would Pope Francis do if nearly all of his best and long-term Bishops of a diocese said that they could no longer work with the Cardinal he had appointed? Would he blame the previous Cardinal, fire all his best Bishops in order to keep the dishonest and hostile Cardinal? Of course not! That would be an act insanity. I think that even Tomás de Torquemada would have told his pope that the real trouble maker has to go.

    It doesn’t work like this. Dicasteries have Prefects, Secretaries and Undersecretaries who have to be appointed from alternate factions. Any Torquemadas still living will say trouble makers have to stay to compromise themselves more. Protestant fundamentalists work much the same way.


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    Babe in Woods,

    i attended park street church for some time during periods of interim and then hired pastors late 1990s and early 2000s…have to say i am appalled at all that has transpired. any self-respecting pastor would have resigned when first realized the rift and am shocked he is still there. no longer congregational, the dry, dirge-like anglican hymns do not represent the joy of christianity in any way…so sad to see the decline of such a previously strong bastion of evangelicalism in boston…