Whitewashed Tombs: The Reputation Laundering of Park Street Church

Posted on by April 21, 2025avatar

Park Street Church 2014

Everyone makes mistakes, but only a person with integrity owns up to them.” – Nicole Guillaume

On April 30, 2025, my former church, Park Street Church in Boston, is hosting The Church and Human Flourishing Summit. The event promises to offer “frameworks” and “tools” to help churches “engage the community,” “strengthen thriving churches,” and “transform communities.”

Keynote speakers include:

  • David Kinnaman, CEO of the Barna Group
  • Dr. Richard Blackaby, President of Blackaby Ministries International

On the surface, it sounds noble. But underneath this summit’s glossy language lies something far more calculated: reputation laundering—a tactic used by institutions with damaged credibility to appear righteous again without true accountability.

Let’s stop and ask: Why does Park Street Church need to rehabilitate its image in the first place?

When Image Trumps Integrity

This is a church that has steadfastly refused to hold senior leadership accountable, even in the face of credible allegations of deception, manipulation, pastoral misconduct, and authoritarian control. Instead of repentance, we’ve seen PR statements. Instead of transparency, we’ve seen stonewalling.

Still Waiting on the Oxford Diploma

It’s been over a year since questions were raised about Rev. Mark L. Booker’s claim that he earned a Master of Arts in Theology from Oxford. To date, no one has seen the diploma. No photo. No certificate. Just silence.

Ask yourself:  If he has this degree as he claimed on his CV, then why won’t he publicly respond?

This isn’t a complex request—it’s basic accountability. Why won’t leadership insist on a simple answer?

The Exodus They Won’t Acknowledge

At least six ministers have either been fired or resigned due to concerns over Booker’s leadership. As far as I know, none of their allegations have been addressed. Five ministers resigned last year without having a job to go into.  Who would do that if their allegations were not serious and very likely true?  They’ve simply been swept under the rug—right next to the growing pile of unresolved issues.

And now, at least six missionaries have severed ties. In a letter sent to many members, one missionary couple wrote:

Despite our deep gratitude and love for the body, we were compelled to resign for the integrity of the gospel we’re called to proclaim. … What has transpired over the past two years clearly showed that the leadership has lost sight of the call and became devoid of God’s power.

Let that sink in: missionaries—known for endurance and loyalty—felt that remaining associated with Park Street Church would compromise their witness.  Though serving in a hostile foreign country, they forewent financial support and are now actively raising financial support to continue their ministry.  This kind of integrity is worthy of our respect.

Silent Removal and the “Great Purge”

More disturbing is how hundreds of members have quietly disappeared from the rolls—often without warning, notice, or explanation. These are not casual attendees. Many had been active for years. Their removal felt surgical and strategic.

And then there’s the now-infamous 17-page memo, where Booker reportedly referred to these actions as the “Great Purge.” Let’s be honest—if a secular CEO used that phrase in a termination strategy, it would make headlines.

With support from compliant elders and denominational protectors, the purge seems nearly complete.

Let this be a warning: if you raise concerns at Park Street Church today, you may not be met with dialogue—you may be met with erasure.

A Vote That Was Silenced

On June 2, 2024, the congregation held a binding vote. The majority concluded that the elders should review their decision that Booker was fit for ministry. It was a moment of clarity and courage by a church body trying to stand up for itself.  A majority could see that the leadership was off in their conclusions.

But rather than honor that vote, the elders and the Conservative Congregational Christian Conference (CCCC) chose silence and suppression. The voice of the people was ignored. The dissenters were scapegoated. The decision was buried.

When Park Street Church published its annual report, they mentioned the special meeting, but then somehow failed to mention that there was any official vote or its outcome.  How can they look themselves in the mirror and justify such a basic deception in their own record keeping?

This is institutional deviousness, plain and simple.

Christianity Today: Watch the Shift

Initially, Christianity Today covered the Park Street crisis with some integrity. Their first article gave voice to those impacted. But after the annual meeting, a strange shift occurred.

Their second article omitted critical details:

  • Testimonies from ministers opposing Booker were suppressed
  • Booker’s non-binding vote of confidence was emphasized
  • The June 2 vote—arguably the most important development—was completely ignored

Sources have shared that CT even drafted a third article after the June 2 vote… but chose not to publish it.

This is how powerful institutions protect each other. It’s not journalism. It’s PR.

Reputation by Association: The Summit’s Real Purpose

Let’s talk about this upcoming Flourishing Summit. By inviting high-profile figures like Kinnaman and Blackaby, Park Street is borrowing credibility from trusted evangelical names to prop up its own damaged brand.

This is a textbook case of the affiliation effect—when associating with respected names lends legitimacy, even if it’s undeserved.

If CT or other institutions report on this summit without naming the unresolved wounds beneath the surface, we will all be witnesses to a modern-day whitewashing.

Even if the invited guests don’t realize it, they’re lending their halos to cover systemic harm.

Financial Fallout: More Than Coincidence

Recent reports suggest that Park Street is financially strained. There are rumors that the church is now dipping into reserve funds built by faithful givers of previous generations.

This is not just a season of economic hardship. It’s a consequence of eroding trust. When churches choose spin over integrity, the flock eventually stops giving.

You can’t expect people to fund a fog machine.

The Playbook of Reputation Laundering

Sadly, what we’re seeing is not unique. Churches in crisis often follow a familiar playbook. Here’s how it works:

  1. Public Acts of Charity Without Reform
  • Hosting food drives, conferences, or service events to generate positive headlines.
  • Pointing to good works while leaving rot in leadership untouched.
  1. Selective Storytelling
  • Sharing sanitized testimonies.
  • Ignoring or deleting the voices of those harmed.
  1. Platforming Influential Figures
  • Inviting celebrity Christians to share the stage.
  • Co-branding with ministries that lend borrowed legitimacy.
  1. Rebranding Without Repentance
  • Launching new logos, slogans, or websites.
  • Claiming a “fresh start” while never addressing the past.
  1. Deflection Through Theology
  • Labeling critics as “divisive,” “bitter,” or under spiritual attack.
  • Urging quick forgiveness as a shortcut around justice.
  1. Polished Social Media Campaigns
  • Projecting vitality through curated photos and cheerful captions.
  • Masking internal decay with digital filters.
  1. Silencing Dissent
  • Quietly removing critics from leadership or membership.
  • Using NDAs, peer pressure, or spiritual manipulation to maintain control.
  • Scrubbing archives of anything that challenges the narrative.

These tactics may fool outsiders. But those of us who have lived it—who have been erased, ghosted, or gaslit—see it clearly.

This is not biblical reconciliation. It’s damage control.

Final Thoughts: When Flourishing Isn’t Flourishing

You might attend Park Street this Easter and see flowers, hear the organ, and feel the music swell. It might even feel like resurrection.

But if you listen closely beneath the surface, you’ll hear the silence of voices that were once part of the body and are now gone. You’ll feel the weight of stories untold, truths unspoken, and justice denied.

This isn’t flourishing. It’s a tomb with a fresh coat of paint.

As Jesus warned:

Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.”
—Matthew 23:27–28 (NIV)

Let the reader understand.

Comments

Whitewashed Tombs: The Reputation Laundering of Park Street Church — 66 Comments

  1. Recent reports suggest that Park Street is financially strained. There are rumors that the church is now dipping into reserve funds built by faithful givers of previous generations.

    If Mr. Booker is the type of person that he appears to be, based on his behavior when “challenged” and his inexplicable obfuscation (except that the truth would expose him to be, in the spirit of charity, a gross exaggerator) over his self-reported graduate degree, then the financial collapse of PSC will do what others have failed: dislodge him from his pastoral office.

    In my brief experience in and around professional ministry, what is consistent across the board is not a unified theology, but rather a desire to be successful. And that is almost always defined by financial success rather than the growing spiritual maturity of the flock. This is true regardless of whatever particular stripe of theology to which the pastor and church adhere.

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  2. Here we go again. The shallow mindset of bringing in and paying profile consultants/
    speakers – hired guns – when its within the churches leadership capability to bring about some degree of healing and restoration through genuine contrition, empathy, honesty and repentance on their part.
    Or as any pragmatic Dutchman might say,”why waste money when you can do it yourself”

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  3. In my over 45 years in higher ed ( undergrad through my current position) I have not seen first hand ( only heard second hand) of any exaggeration ( i.e. downright lying) about a person academic degrees. ( and we routinely double check.. )

    However, went it comes to fundamental and evangelical world.. I have seen false/misleading credit many, many times….
    And, for those of you that “blow this off” a degree in my field is many years of hard work…. So lying about it is BIG DEAL….
    This “preacher” should be bounced …

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  10. Former Boston Girl:
    I read the financial reports from the 2025 Annual Meeting and they are indeed drawing from their endowments at an unsustainable rate in order to meet financial obligations.

    This breaks my heart; for generations, people donated (often more than they reasonably could afford) to build the church and endowment into what it is. Then, in a couple of years, poof, it is gone.

    This spring, I bought a farm.

    For a long time, our family has been looking to buy back ‘the homeplace’ where my family first settled in the early 1800s.

    It has not come up for sale. But a neighbor’s farm did. We knew the family. Grandparents, parents, kids. When the kids (my age – mid-fifties) parents died 15 years ago, the kids inherited the farm debt-free. They spent the last 15 years buying new trucks, boats, and fancy vacations… all paid for by loans against the land. Finally, the bank said enough and foreclosed when the kids could no longer service the debt payments.

    So now, they lost what could have been the family legacy, paid for by decades of sweat and toil, to an investor whose family moved off the land 40 years ago.

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  11. Headless Unicorn Guy: Maybe they can turn the property into an Amazon delivery warehouse.

    Considering the location and size of the footprint, not likely. It is on the corner of Boston Common and right next to the statehouse on Beacon Hill. But I do see it being it being demolished and turned into either some sort of condo/apartments or high-end commercial building. As a concession to Jeff Bezos, an Amazon pick up and drop off location would be at ground level.

    Of course, a number of historic churches have been turned into restaurants and brewpubs.

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  14. “But if you listen closely beneath the surface, you’ll hear the silence of voices that were once part of the body and are now gone. You’ll feel the weight of stories untold, truths unspoken, and justice denied.”

    This really spoke to me. It could be written about events in any number of churches, and it can be hard to articulate what’s wrong with this approach.

    I think public image will always be something religious institutions take into consideration. Where this falls on the spectrum between stewardship and brandwashing depends on the context and is open to debate.

    But I believe modelling transparency, empathy, and repentance not only pleases God but will do far more for their own interests in the long term. God sees all those stories and hears all those voices, and he will not forget the people affected.

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  21. Some things that have been happening in the last few months:

    -Two more staff have left (Chris May and Andrea Zvara). Only the Minister to Internationals has been replaced. Of course, considering the sharp drop in giving, they won’t be able to support as many staff lines as they once did.
    -There is a concerted effort to discern where people stand, essentially administering loyalty tests to those still attending.
    -Anyone involved in Restoration Fellowship has been promptly removed from membership. They even got the 4Cs involved, threatening to revoke people’s ordainment.
    -Recently, a newsletter announced the resignation of another missionary family but assured recipients that it definitely had nothing to do with disagreements in leadership! In reality, the missionaries felt led to witness to a certain country and they were told no by PSC MULTIPLE TIMES. You want us to believe that this was a nice, mutual decision?

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  29. Lies, cover-ups, denying truths, purging certain church members, an ignore-the-truth-and-believe-what-I-tell-you mindset…..
    Aren’t they preying in Jesus’ name? They are certainly not worshipping the Holy Trinity. When are they going to start toasting marshmallows over burning Bibles?

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  31. “It’s been over a year since questions were raised about Rev. Mark L. Booker’s claim that he earned a Master of Arts in Theology from Oxford. To date, no one has seen the diploma. No photo. No certificate. Just silence.”

    There is no diploma with an Oxford Master of Arts (or Oxford Bachelor) so no photo is possible. Oxford nowadays has online checking where the graduate has to give access (back in the old days a list of all the graduates with their degrees would be published).
    I also think he does have an Oxford Master of Arts. An Oxford Master of Arts merely means he has an Oxford bachelor degree and a certain amount of time has passed and a small sum of money has been paid. I suspect his vanity (and possibly also bad advice from the Oxford theology department) led him to put one bachelor (his US college) and two masters degrees on his CV (his second listed masters is also Oxford and is an earned degree) rather than two bachelors and one masters. Misplaced pride might be preventing him from explaining, apologizing, and correcting.

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  32. Max: IMO, it is not appropriate to use “Dr.” as a title when referring to someone who has received an honorary doctorate … and the individual should not use it either.

    I have never referred to myself as Dr. I bet less than 2% of the people who know me have any idea what sort of education I have.

    The only people who call me Dr. are my kids when I can’t figure out some piece of technology that is a part of their everyday life 🙂

    Maybe I am being overly cynical, but titles are like ring lights. Sure, they might make someone look polished from a very specific angle, but from any other angle, they just make you look pretentious and self-absorbed.

    On a more serious note, a Phd shows that someone has taken the time (and effort) to become very knowledgeable about a very specific (and often obscure) subject. Hopefully, they have learned how to use sound research practices.

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  37. Erp, Oxford University awards degree certificates to undergraduate students at their graduation ceremonies. These certificates are presented to the student by their college on the day of the ceremony, or mailed to them if they are graduating in absentia.

    I think Dee’s point is that Booker does not have one of these paper certificates that says “Master of Arts” in Theology, but it says “Bachelor of Arts” in theology. His degree certificate doesn’t match what is on his CV.

    Booker will not openly respond because any explanation he gives will reveal that he mislead everyone when he applied for the PSC position. His only defense is silence. He cannot produce the certificate that backs up his CV because he does not have one.

    I’m glad Dee keeps on pounding on this one, because it is an ongoing illustration that the guy doesn’t tell the truth.

    Equally problematic, is that his lie is being shielded by the Conservative Congregational Christian Conference, and he is being protected by the Park Street elders.

    What I hope all fellow students and young adults come to understand is that this form of deception is part of the darkness not the Light. If Booker, the CCCC, and PSC were trying to live into the Light, they would provide the evidence and settle the matter in a spirit of truth.

    His lie on the CV is an ongoing example of how these so-called Christian leaders have failed across the board in actual spiritual leadership. This is a shameful, not a flourishing church.

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  38. davewis: Phd shows that someone has taken the time (and effort) to become very knowledgeable about a very specific (and often obscure) subject.

    Doctor, my eyes have seen the years
    And the slow parade of fears, without crying
    Now I want to understand
    I have done all that I could
    To see the evil and the good without hidin’
    You must help me if you can

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  39. Max: IMO, it is not appropriate to use “Dr.” as a title when referring to someone who has received an honorary doctorate … and the individual should not use it either.

    Years ago when this subject came up, there were two zingers in the comment thread:

    1) Somebody with a REAL doctorate rang in with when they stress their Doctorate to everyone they come across (i.e. rubbing it in their faces), IT’S A FAKE. NO EXCEPTIONS.
    2) An anecdote about a ManaGAWD who demanded everyone around him (including his wife and children) only address him as “Doctor” as if it was his proper name.

    It’s getting to the point that you’ll trust a pathological liar to tell the truth more than you would a Christian.

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  44. Headless Unicorn Guy: 1) Somebody with a REAL doctorate rang in with when they stress their Doctorate to everyone they come across (i.e. rubbing it in their faces), IT’S A FAKE. NO EXCEPTIONS.

    HUG, while I don’t remember the particular exchange you are referring to, in my own experience the ONE person who insisted on being called “doctor” was Bruce Ashford. I wrote on this site before but will restate now, he said to me in a conversation after I made the faux pas of calling him Bruce – how gauche of me – like I did when we were in graduate level seminary classes in the late 90s. Now I only call him when I need an Uber. (Now that was rude. Sorry.)

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  46. Burwell Stark:
    I left out what BA said – after being called “Bruce” he interrupted me and stated, “It’s DOCTOR Ashford.”

    My experience has been that if someone is a jerk to me, they are most likely a jerk to everyone else as well.

    If someone tries that power play, I just say, “hmmm” and for the rest of the discussion, I shift my attention to someone whom they have treated as a subordinate. It’s fun to watch them spend the rest of the interaction trying to insert themselves into the conversation more and more forcefully.

    It usually doesn’t talk long to figure out that every interaction with them is going to be a pain in the butt, so I cut my losses and move on. This is especially important as a small business owner. If the person is going to be a jerk to me, they are going to be an even bigger jerk to my staff.

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  48. dee: Where is “DOCTOR” Bruce Ashford now? Is he still in a position to correct you now?

    Hi Dee! To the best of my recollection, that interaction was the last one I had with the tarnished doctor. I believe he is still around, and he found me on LinkedIn a couple of years ago, but it’s been a long time since we have had a real conversation.

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  50. RC Sproul
    Proceeding with study, he obtained degrees from Westminster College, Pennsylvania (BA, 1961), Pittsburgh Theological Seminary (MDiv, 1964), the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (Drs., 1969), and Whitefield Theological Seminary (PhD, 2001). He taught at numerous colleges and seminaries, including Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando and in Jackson, Mississippi, and Knox Theological Seminary in Ft. Lauderdale.[12]

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  52. senecagriggs,

    “Rather than returning to the Netherlands, the Sprouls stayed in the US, where he taught at Gordon College (Massachusetts) and then Conwell School of Theology (Philadelphia). He continued his studies under Berkouwer from a distance and returned in 1969 to take his matriculation exams, which enabled him to receive the “drs.” (doctorandus) degree—equivalent to a masters—which would have enabled him to begin writing a dissertation. But ministry endeavors prevailed, and he never did complete his dissertation and thus did not earn a PhD from Amsterdam. (He would later be granted a PhD from the unaccredited Whitefield Theological Seminary based upon all of his writing for the church.)”

    There seems to be some question marks about Whitefield Theological Seminary, even within Reformed circles.

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  54. Ashford’s PhD thesis is “Wittgenstein’s impact on Anglo-American theology: Representative models of response to Ludwig Wittgenstein’s later writings” Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2003, so he seems to have a legit PhD in contrast to some.
    Many American academics don’t use doctor except in more formal situations.

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  58. “threatening to revoke people’s ordainment”….Michael was disordained from the for CCCC. Michael B. received a phd from boston university. Reference Boston University. Mark still has not provide a copy of this degree to those who have asked to see it. The other hides his degree.

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  60. jhraves: “threatening to revoke people’s ordainment”….Michael was disordained from the for CCCC. Michael B. received a phd from boston university. Reference Boston University. Mark still has not provide a copy of this degree to those who have asked to see it. The other hides his degree.

    I’m assuming by Michael you mean Michael Balboni. When and how was he ‘disordained’?

    BTW I don’t think a copy of a degree is strong proof if one feels the provider is already lying; copies can be forged. Certification directly from the degree issuer or a trusted third party is what is wanted. Admittedly I don’t think he is lying about the degrees he has but rather misrepresenting by omission what one of them means (the Master of Arts from Oxford which is an empty title and not mentioning the Oxford Bachelors he must have gotten to get this Masters [there is also the addition of ‘of theology, first class’ which could be on an Oxford Bachelor but not Master of Arts degree]). Even if we saw proof of the degree that still leaves the misrepresentation. It would be interesting to know whether he did get a ‘first class’ in his Oxford bachelor.

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  62. Jhraves—
    “Narcissists eliminate rivals”

    Ain’t that the truth! Booker comes in, quickly surrounds himself with other narcissists (or subservient empaths) who will hungrily attach themselves to his coattails and do his bidding in eliminating anyone who is rival or does not align with his way. Taking over the personnel committee, the nominating committee, the membership committee (to name a few) and replacing faithful members of these committees with his friends and fans. They manipulate truth on his behalf, finding loopholes in policy, bullying power control tactics lying, dissembling narrative and not afraid to use scripture as tools to eliminate ministers, elders, and any disloyal congregants who are seen as rivals and enemies of Mark’s precious “Jesus Above All” campaign. Anyone who questions the power behind the institution is let go, pushed out or neglected/abused until they finally leave on their own. What is left is a narcissistic toxic leadership who have no rivals left—only weak scared sheep and a few Booker sycophants who rule the roost and keep the now smaller, weaker congregation in check, living in their Booker-made fantasy that now that the problem people have left, they brag that their good God will make Park Street Church flourish as God has done in the past for the church. How sad that so many scared congregants choose to stay in this grotesque culture that is based no longer on the way of Jesus but a counterfeit way that is subtly but foundationally NOT Jesus. Jesus did not push away rivals and enemies—rather, he loved them and died for them.

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  63. For existing Psc congregants who see and choose stay and deny the gross breakdown of Psc that has been transpiring over the past few years, I am sad for them. If I’m honest, I am a little mad at them too. To choose complacency and sit in the pew under such toxic leadership to worship comfortably is to be complicit to it. To continue to give financially to an institution whose leadership deceives and is cruel (not Jesus) is to be complicit. Yes, I understand firsthand the fear of leaving the church I have called home for so long. It has been lonely and terrifying at times. But to put my head in the sand and pretend the church isn’t being taken over by a pack of power-hungry wolves disguised as preachers, elders and carefully-selected committee members was something my conscience would no longer allow.

    My God is the God who sees. He sees what is going on at Psc, he sees the many faithful saints who have been pushed out or left disgusted or sad, and he sees the hearts of those who are deceptive and manipulative and choosing to create Psc in their own image. He sees what damage they are doing to his bride, the church.

    Also, God sees the hearts of each one who sees what is happening and choose to stay and pretend psc will truly flourish under corrupt leadership. (Despite falling financials, the foolish leaders are claiming this.) The thought of leaving may well provoke fear of no longer belonging to the comfort and prestige of Psc and the many relationships formed there. That is a real fear. But a greater distress is choosing to let that fear keep a congregant submissive and complicit to evil. Fear opposes love. Love is not easy, but it is true and right and never fails. Choose love. My hope is that those still at Psc who see the signs that Christ has left the building would either find the courage to speak out or let their feet do so for them.

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  64. Cecelia,

    Cecelia,

    I sense your pain and appreciate your well-articulated description of the evils of Mark Booker, and then those manipulated by him so that they continue to defend his character.

    Mark Booker clearly has figured out a system to successfully traumatize individuals, without his actions being easily detectable, and then build an army around him for his defense. It generally has led to his victims running away in fear, silence, and confusion. They are doubted, which causes more hurt to the victims. Or some people want the victims to “move on” despite the injustice remaining. It is an effective strategy.

    Booker seems especially strategic in isolating his victims so that they are cut off from their spiritual support networks, or at least some of his victims are never really vindicated or remain in question by people. Those outside the conflict want to move on as they get tired, but this doesn’t heal the wounds of victims. This seems to what have happened to some earlier victims at Church of the Cross, when Booker chased away the young pastor (Ben R). Ben was so traumatized, from what I have heard, that it significantly harmed his faith.

    This is also shown in the Kris Perkins letter about Booker, which can be found on this blog. Perkins described a pattern of deception, unfairness, and abuse of authority by Booker. Despite repeated requests, Booker withheld reasons for the dismissal, contradicting his earlier claims and violating church bylaws by acting without elder approval. The Personnel Committee and Elders failed to verify accusations or provide Perkins a chance to respond, allowing the termination to proceed without transparency or due process. Perkins recounts being controlled, threatened into silence, and denied empathy during a period of deep personal hardship, concluding that the process was toxic and damaging both to their family and the church.

    Booker’s current and ongoing strategy seems to be to not respond (for example, he is not offering any evidence to dispel Dee’s questions about his CV), and then to describe what has happened as “the conflict.” He wrote this in his most recent letter to the congregation. He is carefully shaping the narrative away from his abusive behaviors, to a disagreement among gentleman.

    But the real key part of his strategy is that people will get tired of talking about it. This strategy seems to be WORKING. Correct me if I’m wrong. One evidence is that the comments in this blog post have dramatically decreased versus the last time that Dee posted. Time seems to work in favor of the perpetrator of abuse, not in favor of the victims. The longer Booker stays quiet and keeps his head down, the longer Booker survives.

    My spiritual question: If God is there and God is watching, then why does God allow it? Why does God allow abusers like Booker to remain, and his victims to scatter? That’s my haunting question.

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  65. Watcher: My spiritual question: If God is there and God is watching, then why does God allow it? Why does God allow abusers like Booker to remain, and his victims to scatter? That’s my haunting question.

    That is the question.

    I too carry this question as an ex Catholic altar boy emeritus.

    I believe that it requires a profound reappraisal of theology.

    “5D chess” doesn’t cut it anymore as a reply.

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