1) Sovereign Grace Ministries
2) Jack Schaap and Jack Hyles of First Baptist of Hammond, Indiana
3) Beaverton Grace Bible Church
What do these churches have in common, other than fundamentalism?
Maybe you are aware of all three of the above church issues, maybe not. All have similar scenarios of alledgedly abusive leadership and alledgedly abused church members. #3 above is addressed below.
The parties in a lawsuit (since dismissed), filed prior to July, were Beaverton Grace Bible Church http://www.beavertongracebible.org/, an apparent independent fundamental church, pastored by Chuck O'Neal as plaintiff and Julie Anne Smith et al, as defendants. It was for $500,000. The defendants were former congregants at this church who voiced allegations of control, abuse and misuse of pastoral authority, etc. in their blog http://www.bgbcsurvivors.blogspot.com. In return, the above lawsuit was initiated and filed on behalf of the pastor, but in addition, the pastor created his own blog to counter the former congregants' blog referred to as the so-called "real survivors" blog http://www.bgbcsurvivors.org.
You can decide for yourself who is right and who is wrong, but it is nevertheless extremely unfortunate and disgraceful and a reproach on the church and name of Jesus Christ that this was dragged into a civil court at all. Aside from the allegations coming from both sides, the right of church members to approach their leadership with concerns, observations, opinions and questions should be absolute without retaliation. The right of church members to also voice these publicly is a constitutionally protected right, unless of course they are known to be false, unfounded or slanderous. The exercise of these God-given rights is not a matter for "church discipline" in the form of punishment, shunning, marginalization, and/or ostrasization, and least of all lawsuits. A PASTOR or ELDER is not a POPE, autocrat, or dictator. Some pastors do however, become "wolves in sheep's clothing", where absolute obedience to them is required and commended. Lacking such fealty, the sheep are at risk of being destroyed in an abusive manner whether they remain in such a church or decide to leave. These pastors believe, in their assumed arrogant "anointing" that their control of Christians extends beyond the church property. Such is the case here, since they believe that the civil and criminal authorities have been instituted by God.
Todd Rhoades of Toddrhoades.com has no opinion and some doubt on this matter, but he would like your comments on "if you were accused (wrongfully) of child abuse...if your church was accused of horrible things?": http://toddrhoades.com/pastor-starts-website-to-attack-churchs-attackers/. I draw your attention to the word "wrongfully" and the question mark "?" inserted in this quote. No opinion here?
From Katu.com is the following picture and report upon the dismissal in court: http://www.katu.com/news/local/Judge-dismisses-case-where-pastor-sued-former-parishioner-163953036.html
Here are some relevant videos:
For Sovereign Grace issues see: http://www.brentdetwiler.com
For First Baptist Hammond/Hyles/Schaap issues see: http://www.wayoflife.org
