MinistryWatch’s Top 10 Stories for the Month of April
T.D. Jakes, Reggie Joiner, Mark Driscoll and More
The following stories had the most page views at the MinistryWatch website during the month of April. We present them here in a “countdown” format, from 10 to 1. The first few sentences of each story are reproduced below. To read the entire story, click on the link. To read the Top 25 stories of 2023, click here.
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According to a lawsuit filed against music artist Sean “Diddy” Combs by his former producer, Combs planned to “to leverage his relationship with Bishop T.D. Jakes to soften the impact” of a lawsuit by Combs’ former girlfriend. The lawsuit, filed in February in New York by Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones, seeks $30 million in damages, according to reporting by ChurchLeaders. By Kim Roberts.
The senior pastor of a long standing Methodist church in Raleigh, North Carolina, has been suspended with pay after being accused of multiple instances of sexual misconduct. Rev. Greg Moore has pastored Edenton Street United Methodist Church for the past three years. The 200-year-old church sees as many as 600 people in attendance for Sunday services. By Daniel Ritchie.
War Hill Christian Academy, a 60-student, pre-k-12 school in Dawsonville, Georgia, caught parents by surprise with a March 15 letter announcing this will be its final semester. Now, local media is reporting that some parents have called into question the school’s stated reason for closing—the availability of a “more affordable” online alternative. Former PTA members have been waging a public battle against school leadership and with the affiliated Church at War Hill. By Tony Mator.
“I am sorry for any hurt. I was wrong.” The apology on the church marquee, coupled with a more detailed statement posted on Bible Baptist Tabernacle’s website, signaled deep remorse, but the damage was done—to sexual assault victims, to the Monroe congregation, and to the tens of thousands of families depending on North Carolina’s voucher program to put their children in private schools. The scandal began when an X social media account, Bad Preacher Clips, shared six-month-old video footage of Rev. Bobby Leonard seemingly excusing the rape of women who wear shorts. By Tony Mator.
Orange released an official statement stating that its founder and current chief creative officer Reggie Joiner has resigned along with CEO Kristen Ivy. “Reggie has admitted to past inappropriate adult relationships, which violated our company policy and eroded trust within our organization,” the statement reads. “During the course of the Board’s investigation, Kristin also disclosed a past inappropriate relationship with Reggie.” Orange is largely known for hosting one of the world’s most prominent family ministry conferences. By Daniel Ritchie.
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- What’s in a Name? Two Christian Universities Embroiled in Name, Trademark Litigation
Real-life name-change dramas have landed two Christian universities — Lubbock Christian University in Texas and newly renamed Rochester Christian University in Michigan — in two distant federal courtrooms. Both schools are associated with Churches of Christ. Rochester Christian University had officially changed its name to Rochester University six years ago, the fourth such change in its 65-year history but the first to result in a legal challenge. The most recent change — to Rochester Christian University — ended months of litigation brought by The University of Rochester in New York state. By Cheryl Mann Bacon.
You probably know the Aesop’s Fable about the boy who cried wolf. The story is more than 2,500 years old, but its moral is timeless and simple: If you become known for telling lies, then no one will believe you when you tell the truth. Celebrity pastor Mark Driscoll learned the reality of that lesson recently. He spoke at a men’s conference in Springfield, Missouri. The conference hosts were James River Assembly of God and its pastor John Lindell. By Warren Cole Smith
Don’t call it a retirement. 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, made by the elders of the 3,700-member Frisco, Texas, megachurch Swindoll founded in 1998, may surprise those who follow his ministry and know his intention to preach for as long as he draws breath. But the elders insist the 89-year-old minister is not retiring. By Tony Mator.
A North Carolina church has announced on its website and social media pages that it has fired its pastor for sexual misconduct. Pursuit Church in Denver, NC, posted on its Instagram profile Monday: “It is with heavy hearts that we announce the following news: effective immediately (4/1/2024) Jordan Green has been terminated from Pursuit Church.” The post also linked to an open letter on its website with more information of the lead pastor’s termination. Pursuit says the church’s leadership reached the decision unanimously after learning of situations involving Green that were “in direct violation” of Pursuit Church’s policy regarding workplace harassment. By Jessica Eturralde.
Megachurch Pastor Mark Driscoll got booted off the stage of the Stronger Men’s Conference this past weekend after publicly criticizing the entertainment opening night. “The Jezebel Spirit opened our event,” Driscoll said. The conference, hosted by James River Assembly of God church in Springfield, Missouri, and its pastor John Lindell, was founded to “empower men to rise up, bold and courageous, standing strong and determined to live out God’s purpose for their lives.” By Christopher Mann.
