Ep. 349: Mark Driscoll, Calvin University, Chuck Swindoll
FIRST SEGMENT
Warren
Hello everybody. I’m Warren Smith, coming to you from Charlotte, North Carolina.
Natasha
I’m Natasha Cowden in Denver, Colorado. We’d like to welcome you to the MinistryWatch podcast.
Warren
On today’s program, General Episcopal Theological Seminary thought it had found a solution to its financial woes—until 7 bishops intervened, saying they didn’t want to be in partnership with a conservative. We’ll have details.
Also, controversial pastor Mark Driscoll got booted off the stage at last weekend’s Stronger Men’s Conference after calling out the conference host for his choice of entertainment opening night.
And, Chuck Swindoll steps down as senior pastor of his church—but insists he’s not retiring. He’ll continue to preach the majority of the sermons. We’ll take a look.
Natasha
But first, Calvin University finds itself at the center of a lawsuit with its former president.
Warren
When Calvin University hired Wiebe Boer as its new president in May 2022, the school signed the former business executive to a lucrative five-year deal.
The hope was that Boer, a Calvin alum and son of missionaries, could turn the prominent evangelical school around after years of budget cuts and enrollment decline while easing tensions with the denomination that owns the school.
Natasha:
What happened?
Warren:
For a while, it seemed things were working. Enrollment went up, and in January, Boer announced an ambitious plan for Calvin’s future. Less than two months later, however, everything fell apart.
In mid-February, Boer resigned after the school’s board received complaints that he’d sent “unwelcome and inappropriate” messages to the employee of a vendor who worked on campus. When confronted by the board, Boer agreed to step down — leaving the campus in turmoil, with anger and confusion over how things went so wrong so fast.
Natasha
That anger has led to Boer being locked out of the school’s presidential residence and a lawsuit
Warren:
On Friday (April 12), Boer and his wife, Joanna, filed suit against the school in federal court, alleging that Calvin violated his employment agreement and defamed him — and that the school failed to pay him $400,000 in severance or to prove that he’d engaged in significant misconduct.
Under the terms of his employee agreement, Boer was considered an at-will employee and could leave the school or be fired at any time. However, unless the board ruled that Boer was guilty of “serious misconduct,” he would receive his $400,000 salary for a year after leaving.
Natasha:
Remind us what Boer is accused of?
Warren:
In the complaint, Boer’s attorney stated that he exchanged texts with an employee of a college vendor for several weeks in January but denied the texts were inappropriate. They also claim he was given little time to defend himself and agreed to resign rather than be fired — if he could get severance and help shape the messaging around his resignation.
Neither happened, according to the complaint. Instead, negotiations broke down, and Boer and his family were locked out of the presidential home — even though his kids were still in school in the Grand Rapids area.
The complaint asks for lost wages and bonuses, compensatory damages for mental anguish and emotional distress as well as punitive damages.
Natasha:
Next up – an Episcopal Seminary nearly found a solution to its financial woes but there’s a catch.
Warren:
General Episcopal Seminary in New York could be saved, but it would require the school to accept help from a conservative donor. Seven progressive bishops in the church are calling the donor’s beliefs a deal-breaker.
The deal would offer a long-term lease of the seminary to a nonprofit group, the School of Sacred Music. But a major donor to the school is a conservative Catholic donor who holds the Catholic Church’s historic positions on gender and sexuality.
Earlier this year, local bishops — who have no direct authority over the school — and local government officials learned that the School of Sacred Music hoped to sign a long-term lease.
The bishops, who lead Episcopal dioceses in New York and Long Island, issued a statement that said, “We are concerned by the lack of full acceptance of the LGBTQ stance of its founders and the lack of transparency in its funding,”
Natasha:
Tell us more about why they don’t want to lease the school
Warren:
The seven bishops who oppose the lease said they understand that the seminary is facing financial challenges but said that issues of inclusion are more important.
Natasha
But conservative church watchers say the seven bishops are more concerned about making an ideological point than doing good for the church and the community.
Warren:
Jeff Walton is the Anglican Director for the Institute for Religion and Democracy. He told MinistryWatch, “This lease arrangement with General Seminary would seem to be a win/win for tenants and the landlords who can continue to see their property appreciate in value. [The] bishops’ objections to the arrangement are further evidence that Episcopal Church progressives are their own worst enemy.
Natasha:
Our next story involves murder accusations against 4 Members of Religious Anti-Government Group ‘God’s Misfits’.
Warren:
On April 16, the Office of the Oklahoma Chief Medical Examiner confirmed that the two deceased victims they recovered in a rural Texas field were 27-year-old Veronica Butler and 39-year-old Jilian Kelley.
An affidavit from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) says Kelley and Butler went missing on March 30 while on their way to Eva, Oklahoma to pick up Butler’s two children. Police later discovered Butler’s abandoned car in rural Texas County, Oklahoma with signs of violent struggle in and near the car.
Kelley was the wife of Pastor Heath Kelley of Hugoton First Christian Church in Hugoton, Kansas, and the mother of four.
Natasha:
Do we know who killed them?
Warren:
On April 13, police arrested Tifany Machel Adams, along with Adams’ romantic partner, Tad Cullum, and friends Cole and Cora Twombly. The group was all charged with two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of kidnapping, and one count of conspiracy to commit murder in the first degree.
Investigators say the two women were victims of a conspiracy to murder them over a custody battle involving Butler’s two children.
Natasha:
How were the suspects linked together?
Warren:
According to the Associated Press, all four were part of an anti-government group called “God’s Misfits,” The religious group is said to have regularly met at the home of Cole and Cora Twombly. OSBI officers spoke to Cora Twombly’s teen daughter, who said she overheard the four suspects plotting to murder Butler and Kelley. Twombly’s daughter described God’s Misfits as an “anti-government group that has a religious affiliation”.
Natasha
Warren, let’s take a quick break. When we return, megachurch pastors John Lindell and Mark Driscoll get into a public altercation at last weekend’s Stronger Men’s Conference.
I’m Natasha Cowden, along with my co-host Warren Smith, and we’ll have that story and much more, after this short break.
BREAK
SECOND SEGMENT
Natasha
Welcome back. I’m Natasha Cowden, along with my co-host Warren Smith, and you’re listening to the MinistryWatch podcast.
Our next story, Megachurch Pastor Mark Driscoll gets booted off the stage of the Stronger Men’s Conference after publicly criticizing the entertainment opening night.
Warren:
Pastor John Lindell’s James River Assembly of God church in Springfield, Missouri hosted the Stronger Men’s conference which was founded to “empower men to rise up, bold and courageous, standing strong and determined to live out God’s purpose for their lives.”
This, however, is not your dad’s Promise Keeper rally. The annual gathering features plenty of biblical exhortation, but the opening night’s light-hearted entertainment has been a smorgasbord of bull riding, motocross/BMX racing, boxing, tanks crushing cars and, last Friday, a man rips off his shirt, swallows a sword and swings on a pole.
Natasha:
That is a little different…
Warren:
When featured speaker Mark Driscoll took to the stage Saturday, he wasted no time speaking out against that last act. It turns out, he wasn’t alone in feeling unsettled by Alex Magala’s performance and left many wondering what place such a display had in a Christian men’s conference.
Natasha:
Conference did not stream the event but the scene with Mark went viral on social media due to videos taken on people’s phones.
Warren:
Driscoll said he spent many late hours grieving over Magala’s performance and praying for the attendees’ mental and spiritual protection from what he called a “spirit of Jezebel” that kicked off the weekend.
That prompted conference host Lindell to shout from the floor,. “Mark you’re out of line! You’re done.”
Driscoll responded, “Pastor John, I’ll receive that” and exited the stage.
Lindell walked on the platform to a mixture of shouts and boos, denouncing Driscoll for failing to notify him directly and privately of his grievance, referencing Jesus’ teaching on conflict resolution in Matthew 18.
Natasha:
What happened next?
Warren:
After a 30-minute break to talk privately, the two men resumed the stage together, with Lindell affirming his affection for Driscoll and Driscoll apologizing.
By the way, I’ve had a lot of people ask me what I think about this situation, so I’ve decided to devote this week’s Editor’s Notebook to this situation. So you can read more by going to the MinistryWatch website and looking for that column, which will be on the front page on Friday morning.
Natasha:
Warren, our next story involves a brutal act of violence against a beloved pastor in Florida.
Warren:
A Miami-Dade church lost a beloved pastor and self-described “community activist” whose efforts to “model Christ in a practical way” made him a symbol of hope in a city better known for poverty and corruption.
Pastor Antwane “AD” Lenoir, 41, was found stabbed to death on Saturday, April 6, at Westview Baptist Church in Opa-locka, Florida, where he had served as senior pastor since 2009.
The following day, police arrested a suspect—a homeless man Lenoir had been trying to help—and charged him with first-degree murder. An arrest report obtained by NBC 6 said James Dawkins, 44, stabbed Lenoir multiple times in the neck “without any provocation” before fleeing on foot.
Natasha:
Is there any hint of why the murder happened?
Warren:
Yovonka Bryant, the victim’s cousin, said Lenoir had been allowing Dawkins, who played the keyboard at Westview Baptist, to live in the building, but Dawkins became angry when Lenoir tried to end the arrangement.
The attack occurred after Lenoir went to the church with a locksmith to change the locks. There the suspect allegedly confronted him and engaged in an argument that escalated to violence.
Many leaders and community members responded to the tragic news by celebrating the life of the well-known and well-loved pastor, who leaves behind a wife and four children.
Natasha:
Our next story involves a fugitive pastor who we have reported on previously. He was caught in Texas last week.
Warren:
Just days after fleeing prosecution in Florida for charges of sexual battery, Monte Chitty, 62, was tracked down in Woodsville, Texas, where his adult son lives. He was arrested by members of the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force and the Woodsville Police Department.
Natasha:
What are the accusations against Chitty?
Warren:
Chitty, pastor of First Baptist Church in Marathon, Florida, faces charges of sexual battery, lewd and lascivious molestation and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
He is accused of serving the 15-year old alcohol in his home until she passed out. When she woke up, Chitty was allegedly assaulting her. Detectives said he sent her lewd text messages afterward. Chitty denied the rape charges, saying he was just helping her lay down to sleep. He was arrested March 4 but released on $75,000 bond three weeks later. On April 1 he failed to show up to a scheduled arraignment.
Currently, Chitty is being held in Texas on a $1.3 million bond while he awaits extradition to the Keys, the sheriff’s office said.
Natasha:
Our next story also contains troubling news regarding a traveling evangelist indicted for child sexual abuse.
Warren
An evangelist based out of Tennessee, who had already been arrested on multiple charges related to sexual abuse of children, has been indicted again by a grand jury.
Benjamin Garlick, 32, was arrested in September 2023 after being charged with several counts of aggravated rape and sexual battery. Murfreesboro Police have now said he was reindicted by a Rutherford County Grand Jury in March and now faces additional charges.
Natasha:
What are the charges?
Warren:
The list of charges against him include seven counts of aggravated rape of a child, six counts of aggravated sexual battery, two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and two counts of violation of the child protection act.
His wife Shaantal Garlick, 30, was also arrested in September alongside her husband. She has also been reindicted and is facing more charges, including two counts of facilitation of aggravated rape of a child and two counts of aggravated child neglect. She got out on bail and has since filed for divorce.
Natasha:
Garlick was a traveling evangelist – do we know where he went?
Warren:
Not specifically, but according to Murfreesboro detectives Garlick and his wife spent the past several years traveling across the country, focusing primarily on the Hispanic community.
The full number of victims, how the couple knew them, or when the alleged rapes occurred is still unclear. Special Victims Unit detectives are urging anyone, particularly those in the Hispanic community, with information to come forward.
Benjamin Garlick remains in the Rutherford County Adult Detention Center on a $825,000 bond.
Natasha
Warren, we’re going to take another break. When we return, our lightning round of ministry news of the week.
I’m Natasha Cowden, with my co-host Warren Smith. More in a moment.
BREAK
THIRD SEGMENT
Natasha
Welcome back. I’m Natasha Cowden, with my co-host Warren Smith and you’re listening to the MinistryWatch Podcast.
Warren, we like to use this last segment as a sort of lightning round of shorter news briefs.
What’s up first?
Warren
Beverly LaHaye, influential conservative activist and founder of Christian Women for America, died on Sunday at a retirement home in California. She was 94 years old.
Her husband, Tim LaHaye was a well-known pastor and co-author of the wildly popular Left Behind book series.
In the 1970s, the LaHayes started Family Life Seminars, offering eight lectures on the biblical principles they said God gave to “guarantee the happiness and fulfillment He intended for the Christian home.”
LaHaye became a political activist in 1978, and in 1979 she founded the Concerned Women for America (CWA), which was radically effective in influencing culture and enacting change.
President Ronald Reagan said Beverly LaHaye was “one of the powerhouses” of the conservative movement and she was “changing the face of American politics.”
LaHaye’s death follows that of her husband, who died in 2016, and her son Lee, who died in 2017. She is survived by three children, 9 grandchildren, and 20 great-grandchildren.
Natasha:
What’s our next story?
Warren:
On May 1, evangelical pastor, author and Insight for Living radio ministry founder Chuck Swindoll will step down as senior pastor of Stonebriar Community Church.
The announcement by made by the elders of the 3,700-member Frisco, Texas, megachurch Swindoll founded in 1998. But the elders insist the 89-year-old minister is not retiring.
The elders of the church said, “Senior Pastor Chuck Swindoll will take on the role of Founding Pastor, and our friend Dr. Jonathan Murphy will join our staff as Senior Pastor of Stonebriar Community Church, [Swindoll] will continue to preach as much as he desires and is able, and he will continue to serve as an elder and mentor to the Senior Pastor.”
The news comes after a series of medical setbacks for Swindoll, who suffered a fall last year, battled low blood pressure and took time away from preaching this January while recovering from a heart procedure.
Natasha
Who is in our Ministry Spotlight this week?
Warren
In the MinistryWatch database, the Donor Confidence Score (DCS) for Aglow International recently dropped from 87 to 62, downgrading it from a designation of “Give With Confidence” to “Give With Caution.” Its overall financial efficiency rating also dropped from 4 stars to 3 stars.
A key reason for the fall in its rating is the fact that it stopped making its 990s public after petitioning the IRS to reclassify it as an “association of churches.” Because of this, Aglow’s transparency grade in the MinistryWatch database dropped to a D.
They do make audited financial statements available.
According to its website, “Aglow is an international organization of women and men in more than 170 nations of the world, presenting Biblical principles as solutions to the challenging issues of our time.”
It offers a number of different ministries, including prayer groups, missions trips, resources, and conferences.
Natasha
And who did Christina highlight in Ministries Making a Difference?
Warren
A quilter, an archery company, and a cattle ranch have recently joined the team of Rural Compassion, an Assemblies of God ministry to rural pastors. Through the partnerships, the ministry is able to provide encouragement and practical help through beautiful quilts, high quality bows, and grass-fed beef to pastors in rural areas who often face isolation, anonymity, and financial hardship.
Lads to Leaders, a ministry of the Church of Christ denomination, saw attendance top 10,000 people at its Nashville convention over Easter weekend. It was the largest of a half-dozen sites across the country, and also the largest since the COVID-19 pandemic. Students, parents and coaches swarmed the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center to compete in various disciplines such as speech, song leading, and Scripture memorization. Reporter Bobby Ross Jr. attended the convention and said: “The present — and yes, the future — of the church never looked so bright.”
The Christian humanitarian group Convoy of Hope is celebrating 30 years of ministry this year. Convoy originally started by hosting community outreaches in partnership with other local organizations, focused on feeding the hungry, hosting job fairs, and providing for other practical needs. Now, Convoy works internationally through feeding programs, agricultural training and business development. In October 2023, it opened a new $61 million global headquarters on 240 acres, all debt free. Convoy of Hope has 4 stars and an “A” transparency grade in the MinistryWatch database, and a donor confidence score of 74.
Natasha
Warren, any final thoughts before we go?
Warren
I was in Indianapolis last week meeting with donors and others there, next week I’ll be in Lexington, Kentucky, for the annual meeting of the Evangelical Press Association. It will be my honor to present a Lifetime Achievement Award – posthumously – to Joel Belz, the founder of WORLD Magazine and a friend and mentor to me. I won’t be able to do any donor or reader lunches in Lexington this time through, but if you plan to be at the EPA conference, I hope you’ll say hello.
I also want to remind everyone that we’re offering an important new book this month to everyone who donates to MinistryWatch. It’s called “How I Lost $1,500,000 in Missions” by John Addink. If you are a donor to foreign missions projects, a ministry leader of a missions organization, or perhaps a pastor who supports missionaries, you should read this book. We’ll send it to you absolutely free, as our thank you, for a gift of any size to MinistryWatch this month. Just go to MinistryWatch.com and hit the donate button at the top of the page.
Natasha
The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. We get database and other technical support from Stephen DuBarry, Rod Pitzer, and Casey Sudduth. Writers who contributed to today’s program include Bob Smietana, Jessica Eturralde, Tony Mator, Christopher Mann, Bethany Starin, Daniel Ritchie, Brittany Smith, and Christina Darnell.
I’m Natasha Cowden, in Denver, Colorado.
Warren
And I’m Warren Smith in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Natasha
You’ve been listening to the MinistryWatch podcast. Until next time, may God bless you.
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