Thousands of dollars and many long hours have been spent on the mediation with the Ambassadors of Reconciliation. Their final report is due out in March.

While SGM claims that the AoR is mediating group reconciliation with members and ex members, and they were not hired to assess Mahaney, in an organization with such top down authoritarian polity, surely there is a connection between any pattern of wrongs and CJM and surely it would have been wise to wait a couple months for the final report.

When you have scores of former leaders and pastors, plus a multitude of former members interviewing AoR with allegations of mistreatment at the hands of SGM pastors or the "A team" (once "apostles" now "regional leaders"), why the rush to exonerate the head of the entire organization before the final report? When you have his hand picked pastoral successor and "son in the faith" Josh Harris saying there are serious systemic problems in SGM and resigning from the SGM board, why not wait for an evaluation from the mediators who were specifically hired to listen to hundreds of stories that bear directly on the leadership of Mahaney?

Does this inspire confidence in you regarding the wisdom and reason of the SGM board? Or do they seem.....desparate?

Dear Fellow Christians,

I urge you to spend a few hours reading the personal testimonies of people who have been members of SGM churches (and pastors and leaders) on the 'Your Story' section of the two blogs 'sgmrefuge' and 'sgmsurvivors'.

There are hundreds (and hundreds) and hundreds of stories of what is wrong, from the top-down, with SGMs system of church governance, view of eldership, beliefs about authority, etc.

A sad Christian today, Bristol, UK.

Let's not forget that Together for the Gospel is right around the corner. I believe there was a push to reinstate Mahaney NOW because of this fast approaching conference. Remember, it's acronym is T4G, and Mahaney is one of the FOUR principal speakers.

I would like to see Feddes do a follow-up article that highlights Mahaney's remarks following his reinstatement. CJ writes:

A note to those in Sovereign Grace Ministries

"In light of all of this, here is how I think I can best serve you in the days ahead: as I step back into the role as president, I will do so only temporarily. I think it would be wise for SGM to have a new president who has gifts better suited to serve Sovereign Grace in this next season. I love SGM and I want the best for SGM. Lord willing, I look forward to serving SGM more effectively in a different role. So my return will be temporary and with a few important intentions...

Over the past six months I have seen more clearly than ever the wisdom of their counsel. So I think the most effective way I can serve Sovereign Grace is by planting a church and leading a local congregation through faithful expository preaching and teaching, as well as serving Sovereign Grace in other tasks and roles the board might recommend for me. I also hope to continue to serve the broader church where strategic opportunity and invitation present themselves, as I have with my good friends in Together for the Gospel. I simply can’t wait to get started. And I can proceed into this future confidently when our new board and president are in place. So that is what I am returning to do and why my return as president will be temporary. I would be most grateful for your support in prayer in this season of transition."

If this CT article stands without Mahaney's further explanation, I believe it is does not accurately reflect what is occurring with regard to leadership changes in SGM.

This group finding no reason to disqualify is similar to a jury finding Marion Barry innocent despite the obvious guilt in both cases. In the case of Mahaney were Sovereign Grace Pastors it appears they have strong ties to Dave Harvey and biased to want to find Mahaney guiltless.

What is really hypocritical is that CJ Mahaney removed a number of pastors within Sovereign Grace Ministries for lesser actions than what Mahaney has done. Just the blackmailing alone would call for Mahaney and other SGM Leaders involved to be disqualified. A kangaroo court made its decision.

Kangaroo Court?

Carl Trueman, Kevin DeYoung, and Ray Ortlund declared CJ fit for ministry. 3 separate panels declared CJ fit for ministry after dealing with specific accusations against CJ, after dozens of interviews.

I would encourage the trolls from the anti-SGM blogs to begin finding their identity in Christ, rather than in this.

COR,

Kevin DeYoung and Carl Trueman are both speaking at the 2012 Together for the Gospel Conference, along with CJ Mahaney.

T4G Speakers

Ray Ortlund has spoken at SGM events. I believe their close ties to Mahaney and SGM call into question their ability to be objective about their friend.

The three separate panels that declared CJ fit for ministry were comprised of SGM pastors. I also question their objectivity.

Cor
To call people trolls only shows that you lack compassion and true understanding of what is really going on in Sovereign Grace. Sadly the most horrific things that are posted on the anti Sovereign Grace Ministry blogs are true. I know this because I have sought to ask questions and find out what the truth is from people involded. Yes, there are people on these blogs that are angry and bitter and seek to destroy Sovereign Grace, but there is much truth to be found there also.
I have also been able to go to the men mentioned in Brents doc and ask them questions. The veil has been lifted and I now see. Hopefully my friend you won't be blinded by the SGM propagand for much longer.

JMW,

I am heavily involved in a SG church, and VERY FAMILIAR with many other SG churches and the picture painted on those websites doesn't even come close to characterizing SGM churches as a whole. Yes, I've read the stories on there.

Wanda,

The SGM pastors chosen for those panels were from different regions. AOR recommended it for SGM. Obviously they are biased, we all are. However, ultimately these pastors heard testimony FIRSTHAND from witnesses dealing with each issue. And the reports reflected honest assessment on each front. Maybe you noticed that AOR commended SGM for the process?? Bryce Thomas sat in on nearly every session. Framing this process as rigged is just a silly conspiracy theory.

I understand that SGM hasn't been a perfect family of churches, but many of the issues they are being charged with on the blogs are issues they have been correcting for years. I would completely affirm those individuals that have horror stories on those websites to leave those churches (most already have). I just don't understand the vindicative/revenge nature of most on those websites.

COR,

I am glad that you have not encountered problems in your SG church like those whom you characterize as "trolls...on anti-SGM blogs".

Your comment sounds almost believable, but you're forgetting something that I believe is very important. Josh Harris has a BIG PROBLEM with the status quo in SGM. It's not just 'trolls' who want the polity changed drastically.

COR -

I am in an SGM church. It was a kangaroo court. The men on the panels were reduced from 4 to 3 and one of each three was a current board member. The other two on each panel were picked by Dave Harvey. Some were from Dave Harvey's own church. They put out a 5 page report of why they DIDN'T want all their church pastors to vote. A lot of confidence in their pastors - you think? Each panel's job was reduced to answering one specific question formulated by Dave Harvey (hm - that name is coming up often). Do you think someone wanted a certain outcome? If they didn't then why wasn't the process different. Oh - and someone has weighed in that they worked closely with Brent D. during his de-gifting time, but no one asked for this person's input. They presumed it was because they were on the wrong side of the fence. This is just what I know . . .

Wanda,

I agree with you and Josh Harris that polity within SGM needs to be clearly defined. SGM is aware of that as well and has been working on it for years. I'm just not so certain that everyone within SGM sees the needs as "drastic changes." And I would differentiate between Josh Harris and the people who live on the blogs (that I called trolls). I am referring to people who are evangelistic in their endeavors to ruin SGM churches and pastors. (Even resorting to posting on Christianity Today blogs in order to advance their cause) Their pursuits are not even Christian.

COR,

If the leadership of SGM has been working on much needed polity changes for years, I would suggest that what's needed is a change in leadership.

So there are trolls among us here at CT? It must be your imagination...

This outcome, while not surprising, is deeply disturbing. Real systematic reform at SGM cannot take place as long as C.J. Mahaney, Dave Harvey, et al remain in charge. Look for SGM to go the way of dying mainline denominations like the Episcopal Church if serious changes don't take place soon.

COR -

If I understand you correctly, those who have a different perspective than you are "trolls" and are not saved, since they need to "find their identify in Christ." Your words are very uncharitable to your brothers and sisters in Christ. And did someone say that they want to see the ruin of SGM and pastors? That is not what people want at all.

Our church developed polity in 8 months. SGM still has not?

What I find incredible is that many act as if blackmail is acceptable and fine. There's little mention or discussion of it (from the outside it appears...) and it seems as if its glossed over. I get the feeling that many feel as if blackmail is okay. SGM actions at re-writing its history and ignoring the blackmail against Larry Tomzcak should disturb many Christians. It reminds me of some of what I bumped into when I explored Mormonism in college. Any church that re-writes its history to re-enforce that blackmail should raise red flags. But also Mahaney;s blackmail of Tomczak shows that he did not follow Romans 13 or is living by the Bible he claims to preach. And his actions show no repentance.

COR
Look at this another way. Assume that people who critique SGM are not out to "ruin" them. Assume that, in fact they want good to come out of this. If that were the case, why do you think the critique exists?

Difficult. If it's all true. Difficult to believe that you'd threaten to break the promised pastoral confidentiality of a teenager in order to bring the father, a fellow ministerial colleague, and a friend, into line. Difficult to believe you wouldn't acknowledge and correct that immediately and receive forgiveness. Difficult to believe you'd resist correction for decades while the aggrieved father and his family appealed to you to acknowledge the mistake and move on. Disappointing that reconciliation was only apparently finally offered when the details were about to become publicly known. I guess a truly full and contrite confession would help us be able to receive from our friend and one of the most engaging preachers as he approaches the final years of his ministry. Failing that: Difficult. Come on CJ - unless we've got the facts wrong - help us receive you by speaking directly to this. Then we're with you! We still love you.

So sad that Christianity Today would just "report" what SGM decided without doing any investigative work on their own.Would they have so quickly glossed over an announcement from the International Church of Christ (The Boston Church)? Over 100 pastors have been "de-gifted" by CJ and the leadership of SGM for nothing other than challenging their heavy handed tactics. SGMREFUGE.COM and SGMSURVIVORS.COM and filled with stories from former members of abuse at the hands of SGM pastors and home group leaders. Many of those that wrote on these 2 blogs ARE former pastors and home group leaders. CJ Mahaney is left standing tall, while all the remaining "apostles" have been cleared out. Larry Tomzcak, Paul Palmer, Brent Detwiler. No questions about that C.T.? Please do a better job in future stories on this heavy handed quasi-Christian cult.

Time to move on. That's all. This corrupting talk and continued bitterness is not evidence that the Gospel is shaping anyone's heart. Forgiveness does come at a price and I am sure that many think the price has not yet been paid, but in Christ it has. If Mahaney and the SGM Leadership have repented and turn back to the joy of Jesus as their ultimate treasure under the watchful care of those outside the network, who are we to question the validity of it? Let's see the fruit of their labor in the coming months and years.

Grace knows no bounds.

Wow, Mr. Mahaney must have had a lot of dirt on a lot of people to get them to renounce their criticisms of him and start worshipping him so fulsomely.

I don't know all the facts about SGM, but I am glad that C.J. Mahaney is reinstated to his rightful position. He is a Christian who recognizes his own faults, something I especially need to work on. I also recommend his book Humility: True Greatness.

Cor
I totally understand what you're saying about posting bitter vindictive diatribes against all of SGM, CJ and the leadership of SGM in particular. Criticism is good, and I believe warranted, but many of the responses I've read on SGMSurvivor, SGMRefuge and here aren't seeking unity, forgiveness, repentance or love but rather want to lash out in anger and encourage other bitter or angry individuals to join in venting their feelings. There is one person in particular who went to many Google Maps entries for SGM churches and made posts about how all the SGM churches are filled with child molesters and run by evil, manipulative and hateful men. This is trolling and unhelpful.
I disagree with Bridget that "find your identity in Christ" is an attack on someone's state of salvation or uncharitable. It sounds to me like Cor was encouraging them to find their guidance in Christ.

Tom Agnew
Amen brother.

Robert Benz
Your response sounds like unhelpfull, uncharitable, and unfounded gossip and slander. Think before you write things like that.