Sovereign Grace Ministries

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Sovereign Grace Ministries (SGM) (previously known as People of Destiny International and PDI) is a group of Reformed,[1] neocharismatic,[2] Evangelical, restorationist,[3] Christian churches primarily located in North America.[4] It has variously been described as a family of churches,[5] a denomination,[6] and an apostolic network.[7] There are congregations in Australia, Bolivia, Ethiopia, Great Britain, Germany and Mexico.[8]

History

The organization of over 70 member churches grew out of the charismatic renewal of the 1970s under the leadership of Catholic Charismatic Larry Tomczak. It has its roots in a charismatic prayer meeting in Gaithersburg, Maryland called Take and Give (TAG), which grew into Covenant Life Church, the longtime flagship of Sovereign Grace.[9] It was formally established in 1982.[10] Tomczak cofounded the church with CJ Mahaney.[11] Mahaney describes himself as a "former pothead."[1] Both Mahaney and Tomczak withdrew from the Charismatic Catholic scene shortly before the creation of Covenant Life Church.[12]

Tomczak and Mahaney were both close to Bryn Jones and Terry Virgo, leaders of the British New Church Movement, speaking at New Frontiers' Bible Weeks and Stoneleigh Conference. They were also associated with Maranatha Campus Ministries for a period.[13]

In "The Blackwell Encyclopedia of Modern Christian Thought" published in 1995,[14] Alister McGrath associated PDI with the shepherding movement and described it as having "informal links with Bryn Jones," the UK house church leader.[15] In the mid-1990s, while Tomczak was still involved in the group's leadership, religious anthropologist Dr. Karla Poewe wrote that "Vineyard is particularly attractive to the young and intellectual... People of Destiny serves a Catholic constituency." ,[16] contrasting PDI with the Vineyard Church.

The ministry changed considerably after Tomczak left the leadership of PDI in 1998 and later suggested that the increasingly Calvinistic theology of PDI was a major factor in his departure.[10][17] Although reconciled with C J Mahaney in 2011,[18][19] he earlier described the parting of ways with Sovereign Grace Ministries as "an unbelievable nightmare" during which his family "were threatened in various ways if [they] did not cooperate with [PDI/SGM]... A letter was circulated in an attempt to discredit me and to distort the events surrounding my departure."[20] Other notable charismatic figures, such as Lou Engle, founder of The Call prayer concerts, and Ché Ahn, pastor of Harvest Rock Church in Pasadena, CA, also ceased to be formally associated with PDI during this period.[21]

Sovereign Grace Ministries currently identifies itself as "a family of churches passionate about the gospel of Jesus Christ... with a strong doctrinal basis that is evangelical, Reformed, and continuationist."[22] This move towards the Reformed (or Calvinist) wing of the church is illustrated by Sovereign Grace's partnerships with speakers such as John MacArthur, Mark Dever, and John Piper, who speak at the Together for the Gospel Conferences.[23]

In 2002, Wayne Grudem, a theology professor at Phoenix Seminary in Arizona, said "What I see is outward evidence of God's favor. That's at the heart of the success of this church... I know of churches around the United States who are looking to Sovereign Grace Ministries as an example of the way churches ought to work."[1]

In July 2011, Mahaney announced that he would be taking a leave of absence as a team reviews charges brought against him of "pride, unentreatability, deceit, sinful judgment, and hypocrisy." One of the purposes for this period included reconciliation with former SGM ministers. Larry Tomczak reported that Mahaney had gone out of his way to rebuild their relationship after 13 years of estrangement.[18][19] In July 2012, Mahaney was reinstated as president of the organization by the board after three review panels found no reason to disqualify C.J. from his role as President, or to "call into question his fitness for gospel ministry."[24]

Early in 2012, Sovereign Grace Ministries announced their intention to relocate their headquarters from Gaithersburg, Maryland to Louisville, Kentucky, citing Louisville's lower cost of living as well as the growing connection with The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in town.[25] Some critics have suggested that the move may have more to do with the fractured state of the organization's relationship with the SGM flagship church, Covenant Life Church in Gaithersburg.[26]

Previous names

Sovereign Grace Ministries was known as "People of Destiny International" until 1998.[27] British restorationist leader Terry Virgo states that Larry Tomczak and CJ Mahaney, leaders at the time, had become "increasingly uncomfortable" with the "People of Destiny International" name, and it was shortened to "PDI Ministries".[28] In 2002, the group adopted its current name of "Sovereign Grace Ministries."[citation needed]

Church planting

Church planter Fred Herron described the PDI/SGM church planting method of founding new churches: a pastor leads a group of members to relocate to a different city and form, or plant, a new church.[29]

The first church planting team was sent out to Cleveland Ohio and founded the church North Coast Church in the earliest years of Covenant Life Church. Church planting continues.[30]

For many years, PDI did not adopt existing churches, but later altered its policy. SGM adoption of an existing church begins with the development of a relationship with leadership and continues with dialogue to evaluate the doctrinal and practical compatibility of Sovereign Grace with the church desiring adoption. [31]

Leave of absence

In June 2011, C.J. Mahaney voluntarily took leave of absence to examine charges made against him and made public through a 600 page document written by Brent Detwiler.[32] In February 2012, the board of directors at SGM published its findings. They said: "After examining the reports [...] we find nothing in them that would disqualify C.J. from his role as president, nor do they in any way call into question his fitness for gospel ministry." Mahaney has been reinstated as the president of the organization.[33]

Allegations of Child Sex Abuse

In late 2012, charges were brought against Sovereign Grace Ministries for allegedly concealing sex abuse. The plaintiffs claim church leaders, including Mahaney, did not report accusations of misconduct to the police and offered legal advice to suspected pedophiles. Larry Tomczak, a co-founder of SGM, was accused of abusing and assaulting a victim over a period of twenty-five years.[34][35] Most of the claims were dismissed in May 2013 due to the Maryland law that lawsuits must be filed by plaintiffs within three years of turning eighteen.[36] A lawyer for the alleged victims promised to appeal.[37]

In November 2013, SGM cited the First Amendment against legal investigation by authorities, saying such an investigation infringes upon religious freedom.[38] Some have strongly denounced this as a "smokescreen" and have claimed that the First Amendment does not protect any institution or practice, religious or otherwise, from reporting allegations or evidence of child abuse. Regarding the accuracy of the plaintiffs' claims, SGM released a statement saying that "SGM is not in a position to comment on the specific allegations at this time, but upon review it appears the complaint contains a number of misleading allegations, as well as considerable mischaracterizations of intent."[39]

Late 2012 also saw the departure of the movement's flagship Covenant Life Church in Gaithersburg, MD from SGM; a decision supported by an overwhelming 93% [40] of voting members.[41] Additionally, the Sovereign Grace churches in Charlottesville, VA, Indiana and Altoona PA, Sarasota and Daytona Beach, FL cut ties with the movement during this period. Daytona Beach's pastor Jesse Jarvis noted a “leadership culture characterized by excessive authority and insufficient accountability” as rationale for the church's departure.[42]

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Duin, Julia (December 23, 2002). "KEEPING THEIR EYES on the CROSS; Gospel truth draws at Covenant Life". The Washington Times. Retrieved Jul 20, 2011. 
  2. ↑ Maseko, Achim Nkosi (2010). Church Schism & Corruption. p. 326. ISBN 978-1-4092-2186-9. 
  3. ↑ Hocken includes SGM in his list of restorationists; see Stanley M Burgess, Eduard M van der Maas (eds) The New International Dictionary of Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2002) s.v. Church, Theology of the (see p550)
  4. ↑ "Sovereign Grace Churches". SGM Official Website. Retrieved 2008-02-29. 
  5. ↑ Get to Know Sovereign Grace Church
  6. ↑ Smith, Peter (3 July 2013). "C.J. Mahaney pulls out of Louisville pastors conference". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved 13 July 2013. 
  7. ↑ Wagner includes SGM in his list of apostolic networks; see Stanley M Burgess, Eduard M van der Maas (eds) The New International Dictionary of Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2002) s.v. Charismatic Movement (see p507)
  8. ↑ "Sovereign Grace Churches, by Country". SGM Official Website. Retrieved 2008-03-04. 
  9. ↑ Tomczak, Larry (1989). Clap Your Hands. Word Publishing. pp. 179–196. ISBN 978-0-85009-315-5. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Gospel Bluesman Offers God's Love In Sin City". Charisma Magazine. July 2000. Retrieved 2008-02-09. 
  11. ↑ Tomczak, Larry (1989). Clap Your Hands. Word Publishing. p. 164. ISBN 978-0-85009-315-5. 
  12. ↑ Tomczak, Larry (1989). Clap Your Hands. Word Publishing. p. 185. ISBN 978-0-85009-315-5. 
  13. ↑ Virgo, Terry. No Well Worn Paths. p. 162. 
  14. ↑ "Gospel Bluesman Offers God's Love In Sin City". Retrieved 2008-06-20. 
  15. ↑ McGrath, Alister. The Blackwell Encyclopedia of Modern Christian Thought. p. 432. 
  16. ↑ Poewe, Karla O. (1994). Charismatic Christianity as a Global Culture. p. 25. 
  17. ↑ Tomczak, Larry (1998). What Do You Believe About How People get Saved?. 
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 A letter from Larry Tomczak on his reconciliation with C.J. Mahaney
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Christianity Today article "Sex, Money ... Pride? Why Pastors Are Stepping Down"
  20. ↑ Tomczak, Larry. Reckless Abandon. p. 15. 
  21. ↑ Poloma, Margaret M. Main Street Mystics. p. 177. 
  22. ↑ "Sovereign Grace Ministries--About Us". Retrieved 2008-06-20. 
  23. ↑ Together for the Gospel. "T4G 2008 Conference". Retrieved 2008-02-28. 
  24. ↑ "Sovereign Grace Ministries Reinstates C.J. Mahaney as President". Christianity Today. Retrieved 10 May 2012. 
  25. ↑ "Controversial church with Southern Baptist ties moves headquarters to Louisville". The Courier Journal. Retrieved 10 May 2012. 
  26. ↑ "Sovereign Grace Ministries Relocating Headquarters to Kentucky". Christianity Today. Retrieved 10 May 2012. 
  27. ↑ "News Briefs". Christianity Today. 1998-04-27. Retrieved 2008-02-29. 
  28. ↑ Virgo, Terry. No Well Worn Paths. p. 145. 
  29. ↑ Herron, Fred (2003). Expanding God's Kingdom Through Church-Planting. pp. 73–74. 
  30. ↑ "Our Approach to Church Planting". Sovereign Grace Ministries. Retrieved 2009-10-19. 
  31. ↑ "SGM Church-planting FAQ". Sovereigngraceministries.org. Retrieved 2009-09-03. 
  32. ↑ "C.J. Mahaney Takes Leave Over 'Serious' Charges". Charisma News. Retrieved 2012-02-08. 
  33. ↑ Mclean, Mickey. "C.J. Mahaney reinstated at Sovereign Grace". World Magazine. Retrieved 2012-02-08. 
  34. ↑ "Suit accuses Sovereign Grace Ministries of covering up alleged child sexual abuse". 
  35. ↑ Bailey, Sarah Pulliam (24 May 2013). "Evangelical leaders stand by pastor accused of abuse cover-up". Religion News Service. 
  36. ↑ "Sovereign Grace Ministries, Class-Action Civil Lawsuit involving Child Sex Abuse". Retrieved 2013-05-23. 
  37. ↑ Olson, Ted (20 May 2013). "As Appeal Is Announced in Sovereign Grace Case, Joshua Harris Says He Was Abused As A Child". Gleanings. Retrieved 6 December 2013. 
  38. ↑ "Sovereign Grace Ministries: Courts Shouldn't 'Second Guess' Pastoral Counseling of Sex Abuse Victims". Retrieved 2013-05-23. 
  39. ↑ "Updated Statement on Reported Lawsuit". Retrieved 2013-05-23. 
  40. ↑
  41. ↑ "Flagship Church Votes to Leave C.J. Mahaney’s Sovereign Grace Ministries". 
  42. ↑ "Troubled ministry". 

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