Skip Heitzig (born 1955) is the American founder and senior pastor of Calvary Church, a Calvary Chapel fellowship located in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Just show up and follow the book and do the rituals and collect the donations. Coy shocked his flock and made national headlines by walking away from his ministry, selling his house, and divorcing his wife. So I am not a fan of what is happening and I have lost my home church and fellowship of 20 years. Two years later, a Calvary Chapel in Laguna Beach fired its pastor for adultery and embezzlement but Smith quickly rehired him to preach at the nearby Costa Mesa church. My dad was part of the original group in the 80s who tried over the first affairs (yes, I said affairs as there were several women over a 4-year time-frame before it came to light). My family is in splinters, still, after all these years. His attorneys, meanwhile, persuaded a judge with deep Republican ties to seal the ex-pastor's divorce file to protect Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale from scrutiny. In the huge sanctuary, a ten-piece band including four guitarists, a drummer surrounded by glass sound walls, and two keyboardists rocked out in front of a laser display that wouldn't be out of place on a Justin Bieber tour. But change within was. The Church, marriages, families, it left all of us reeling. Coy says he was never approached by the police about the allegations. In your opinion rather than being a saint I would think youd consider Pastors including Jon a con man. In Coy's case, Bailey made a relatively unusual ruling: All financial documents would be kept secret. "She had an experience with God and has found forgiveness" for Coy over his abuse. Thank you, Guy Gray, for being the man of integrity youve always been. I attended ACF from 1981 to about 1985-86 While I was shocked and pleased to see this article, I have to say Jon did bring the allegations of sexual misconduct to the congregation and he did apologize to all of us. Learning to live my life in the way Jesus would if He was me. 9 Cathedral. Were there other abuse claims against Coy during the nearly three decades he controlled Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale? John H. Munro, M.Th., D.Min., . 3 & Titus 1 for pastoral qualifications). But that conversation reportedly wasnt welcome. That same year, the church found itself in a bizarre scandal centered on a lucrative, 400-station radio network and its head, Idaho-based Pastor Mike Kestler. With a sitcom dad's wholesome looks, a standup comedian's snappy timing, and an unlikely redemption tale of ditching a career managing Vegas strip clubs to find Jesus, Coy had become a Christian TV and radio superstar. Your tax-deductible gift helps our journalists report the truth and hold Christian leaders and organizations accountable. That's not good enough, critics say. Learning to live my life in the way Jesus would if He was me. At first, the new church led a charmed existence. Im sure if one of these elders had the courage to confront either Ben or Jon, as it is instructed in Gods Word. Why is that? We see this is the third article this month youve found worth reading. So crazy that I became addicted to cocaine.". No, it wasnt always so because the mega-church is a fairly recent phenomenon though Metropolitan Tabernacle in UK where Charles Spurgeon preached would be considered mega. Please join us on a Sunday morning for gatherings at 8:30 & 11 AM with Pastor Brian Brodersen. I have not forgiven Jon or Garnet Page or the Elders for the way handled that. I however think that accuracy and honesty is more important than feelings based statements. The person who gives scandal becomes his neighbor's tempter. (Liberty University via . When Smith discovered a grace-based Gospel, she was excited and started talking about it at church. For some reason, christian culture produces sloppy morals & integrity that are inferior to the world which christians look down on in superiority. The future needs of others was more important than what happened to me and that is what kept me going. What youre doing is a classic example of sin-leveling. If anyone knew of all of my failures they would not think a thing about brother Jon and what he did or didnt do. "But we need to remember it is Jesus Christ who is our leader and not man.". But in August, Ben stepped down after allegations of sexual misconduct by numerous women were made public. He never hid who he was," says Tina Rivera-John, who began attending Calvary in the mid-'90s when she was 12 years old. Even his mentor Chuck Smith of Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa, CA defended JonI saw the letter Chuck wrote to my dad castigated my dad for trying to get Jon to repent and change his ways. They ended up locked in dueling lawsuits, with the pastor accusing Calvary's leaders of skimming profits and the Smiths charging that he used his influence running the radio stations to pressure women into sex. It would be highly illegal.. It does occur in smaller churches, again where church government invests most of the decision making with just the pastor who chooses his own successor. (Update: The club has now terminated its relationship with Coy and says it had no inkling of the allegations against him.) Call the cops. An evil man sows strife:gossips separates the best of friends This man was dragged for no reason. In 2006, gubernatorial candidates Charlie Crist and Tom Gallagher personally pleaded for Coy's endorsement, though he declined. Former Applegate member Charleen Trimmer confirmed Grays story about Courson. Dont get involved with a married man might be a good place for the first no. In the May 2 episode, "A Woman . Then you are thanking the church for handing you such an excellent tool to destroy pastors, families, and churches. Many people have tried to confront Jon to bring about repentance and change. Your sister in the Lord. With his tale of drug addiction and strip clubs, the newly redeemed Coy was a perfect fit for Calvary's edgier message. His daughter, Janette Manderson, and his widow, Kay, sued the organization, alleging its leaders conspired to take over Smith's empire and even denied him emergency medical care on his deathbed. The church won't say, though a spokesman says the chapel was "saddened to hear of the allegations." Pastor Bob had suddenly resigned, the assistant pastor told the stunned crowd. In one case, victims claimed the church knowingly moved a pedophile to another city without warning parents. In fact, the church had been battling accusations nationwide for years that it empowered predatory pastors while demanding little accountability. Shortly after resigning, the disgraced pastor moved to Chattanooga, Tennessee, where Calvary Chapel has another affiliate church. In 2011, The Lord provided our current location at 603 S. Valencia Avenue in Brea. However, every person in this story who knew about any indiscretion would also be held accountable even off they choose to quit rather than too report building code violations (which could get people killed), or if they chose to separate themselves from the scandal rather than to make sure there was some accountability made to the congregation, and especially as an elder who was aware of any behavior that was not Biblically sound. But instead, church leaders reportedly cited Genesis 9 as their guideline, noting that Noahs sons covered up Noahs nakedness. This principle certainly does not excuse sin. Coy has also been dragged through legal battlefields since his resignation from the church. This was not any church. John 8:7. Lol Well if youre an atheist why are you in church? He was ready to give his life to the church. The New Jersey-based folk-rock band Driftwood is still a few hours from taking the stage, and a handful of early arrivals sip beer and laugh over the canned blues soundtrack. I was at least two times a week in attendance and often listened on the radio during the rest of the week, so I doubt I missed very much. Munro, a native of Scotland and in his mid-60s, has been Calvary's senior pastor since 2006. "I was brought up in a very religious, traditional Midwestern home," he told Ed Stetzer, a Wheaton College professor, in a 2013 interview for a video series. Yet, regardless, the Lord deals with people individually. The perpertrator (associate pastor) eventually resigned. There are no stamps, no fire exit. Then, on July 18, police arrested 41-year-old Roshad Thomas, who had spent 13 years as a volunteer youth pastor at Calvary Chapel Tallahassee. Many women have been harmed by the Coursons indiscretions throughout the years and families have been destroyed.. High School . Also, the issue of succession to children is not limited to mega churches. The sage continues in the country in which we used to serve, which really does have a serious problem with abuse of children and women. That kind of policy includes reporting procedures. Jr High Service Available. Now Jordan looks back with skepticism at how the pastors handled past criticism. The battle is not yours but Gods. No one ever really holds them accountable for really bad things they say.. Shouldnt somebody from the church that I had given my entire life to, shouldnt they have come after me to help? The governing board of the church is providing counselors and ministers who will help guide him through the process of full repentance, cleansing and restoration.". The pastor is true man of God. 7 Ramona. Who of you has a spotless history? 8 Quartz Hill. It began when the girl was just 4 years old. They all are reading from the same book. To donate, click here. Coy's preaching career ended with shocking speed, but his sex scandal was far from the first for Calvary Chapel. I got saved in the 80s, and thats a long time ago. Neither Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa, the movement's flagship, nor the Calvary Chapel Association returned messages from New Times seeking comment for this story. Its why so much goes unreported and stories like this eventually work their way up to the surface where then its too late. "I was really hurt. Get the latest updates in news, food, music and culture, and receive special offers direct to your inbox. Newport Beach church vandalized, will require $80K to $100K in repairs, pastor says. The Voice of God is not to the wolves and hirelings but rather to the sheep ! I do feel bad for what you went through. "There were no other allegations," he says. Part of it is an agenda of fear which leaders have cultivated fear of judging, fear of gossip, fear of being divisive, fear of this, fear of that. In truth, we dont know the veracity of these reports. Even though these didnt pan out, Coughlin said Courson wouldnt apologize. This is not true in my 20+ years of following Jons teaching; I never heard him set dates or claim to be making a prophesy. Congregants need to start pushing back on this foolishness. I am not sure what God plan is, but if nothing else he shows us just how flawed people are and that is why we have to live covered by the blood of Jesus. 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