*** VCY America Founder sends letter threatening legal action to his daughter, Ingrid Schlueter, via attorney Patrick Russell *** There's a section in the bible on civil lawsuits in 1 Corinthians. I remember looking up this passage after I was sued by my former pastor and church. I wondered how he could call himself a pastor… Continue reading VCY America Founder, Vic Eliason, Sends Letter Threatening Legal Action to His Daughter, Ingrid Schlueter
Category: Spiritual Bullies
Is anyone celebrating the demise of Mark Driscoll and Mars Hill churches? Is it really over? Should current Mars Hill pastors be leading new churches?
*** Mars Hill Churches dissolving, becoming independent churches. Are people really celebrating? Should current Mars Hill pastors assume the role of pastors in the new independent churches? *** Yesterday, Mars Hill Pastor Dave Bruskas announced that the Mars Hill board decided that Marks Hill churches were dissolving: Today, I am excited to share… Continue reading Is anyone celebrating the demise of Mark Driscoll and Mars Hill churches? Is it really over? Should current Mars Hill pastors be leading new churches?
After Mark Driscoll’s Resignation, Can Mars Hill Be Saved?
*** Pastor Mark Driscoll recently resigned from the church he founded, Mars Hill. Can Mars Hill be saved? *** Mars Hill plans on moving forward as clearly identified in this statement put out by the Mars Hill Board of Overseers: Michael Van Skaik, Larry Osborne, Jon Phelps, and Matt Rogers: On Tuesday, October 14,… Continue reading After Mark Driscoll’s Resignation, Can Mars Hill Be Saved?
Personal Story: I am a Spiritual Abuse Survivor
*** A spiritual abuse survivor shares her personal story *** A long-time reader recovering from spiritual abuse recently shared her story with me and has given me permission to share it with you. She is choosing to remain anonymous. It is very well written. I'm going to issue a trigger warning for content related to:… Continue reading Personal Story: I am a Spiritual Abuse Survivor
Who is @Rhology? What are #pulpiteers? How Do They Function?
*** Alan Maricle aka @Rhology defends and imitates J.D. Hall's (aka @pulpitandpen) bad behavior on Twitter. *** Admin note: I'm going to take the easy route here and jump into a situation to discuss it without giving a lot of background. However, if you want to know the background of this story, please visit Wartburg Watch… Continue reading Who is @Rhology? What are #pulpiteers? How Do They Function?
Can High-Controlling Pastors Lead Their Members into Depression and Even Suicide?
Commenters share about high-controlling pastors who leave a path of mental health destruction, even suicide, because they cannot get appropriate help. A while back, I found a comment at SGMSurvivor.com blog that cut like a knife. Sovereign Grace Ministries (SGM) is in the news a good bit because of the sex abuse lawsuits, but the subject… Continue reading Can High-Controlling Pastors Lead Their Members into Depression and Even Suicide?
The Family-Integrated Church Movement is Getting Some Much-Needed Heat from Critics
*** The Family-Integrated Church movement is getting some heat by critic, Pastor Shawn Mathis. Pastor Kevin Swanson is forced to make a choice: OPC or National Center for Family-Integrated Churches (NCFIC) *** by Julie Anne The National Center for Family-Integrated Churches NCFIC began as an off-shoot from the Doug Phillips' now defunct "ministry," Vision Forum (I cannot… Continue reading The Family-Integrated Church Movement is Getting Some Much-Needed Heat from Critics
Why The Gospel Coalition – or at least Al Mohler and Company – Must Apologize
** Taylor Joy Responds to the recent developments at The Gospel Coalition involving Joe Carter, Tullian Tchividjian, C.J. Mahaney ** Many people are responding to the recent developments with Tullian Tchividjian being booted from The Gospel Coalition (TGC), ridiculous comments and vitriol by Joe Carter, public spokesman of The Gospel Coalition, TGC's support of and… Continue reading Why The Gospel Coalition – or at least Al Mohler and Company – Must Apologize
Spiritual Recovery and Leaving a High-Controlling Church: Free to Plant, Free to Bloom, Free to Be
*** What does freedom feel like for those who have left a high-controlling or spiritually abusive church? *** ** About a month ago, I was sent beautiful pictures by SSB's friend, BeenThereDoneThat (BTDT). At first I was drawn to them because cobalt blue is my favorite color. Cobalt blue exudes a soothing peace and tranquility for… Continue reading Spiritual Recovery and Leaving a High-Controlling Church: Free to Plant, Free to Bloom, Free to Be
The Gospel Coalition’s Joe Carter, Publicly Attacks Sarah Palin for her Use of the Word, “Baptism”
*** Joe Carter of The Gospel Coalition publicly attacks Sarah Palin for her use of the word "baptism" in the context of a NRA political rally. *** *** "Well, if I were in charge, they would know that waterboarding is how we baptize terrorists." ~Sarah Palin ** Joe Carter, an editor at The Gospel Coalition seems… Continue reading The Gospel Coalition’s Joe Carter, Publicly Attacks Sarah Palin for her Use of the Word, “Baptism”
Patriarchy: Doug Phillips, Bill Gothard, Doug Wilson and Damage Control
** Media and blogosphere are abuzz with sex abuse stories coming from Patriarchy proponents, Bill Gothard and Doug Phillips. Gothard releases a statement, other Christian leaders defend Patriarchy. ** I tell you what, my head is spinning this week with so many items of news regarding scandals by Christian leaders, especially within Christian Patriarchy. But… Continue reading Patriarchy: Doug Phillips, Bill Gothard, Doug Wilson and Damage Control
Tony Miano: A Case Study in Spiritual Abuse and Bully Behavior
*** Digging a little deeper, analyzing the public words and behavior of Tony Miano. Does his behavior reflect a spiritual abuser and bully? Is this a man who should be in public ministry open air preaching and evangelizing? *** A reader sent me a link to Tony Miano's Facebook page cover photo (larger photo). Miano describes it:… Continue reading Tony Miano: A Case Study in Spiritual Abuse and Bully Behavior
Tony Miano’s Ministry of Honor, Genuine Love, and Righteousness by Truthful Speech? Or Not?
*** Does Tony Miano's ministry show kindness, genuine love, truthful speech and honor, or is he heralding slander instead of God's Holy Word? *** We put no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots,… Continue reading Tony Miano’s Ministry of Honor, Genuine Love, and Righteousness by Truthful Speech? Or Not?
How do you warn someone about a dangerous spiritual group? What if that person is your spouse?
*** How do you warn someone about a dangerous or spiritually abusive leader or group? What if that someone is your spouse? *** Commenter, TIA, responded to my comment with a couple of key questions that were left unanswered. I think would be helpful to discuss these important questions, especially in light of the second… Continue reading How do you warn someone about a dangerous spiritual group? What if that person is your spouse?
Patterns of Abuse: What we can learn from the death and suicide letter of GOP Senate Aide, Jesse Loskarn?
*** Patterns of Abuse: What we can learn from the death and suicide letter of GOP Senate Aide, Jesse Loskarn? *** Jesse Loskarn, 35, was chief of staff to GOP's Senator Lamar Alexander from Tennessee. In mid-December 2013, Loskarn was arrested for possession and distribution of child porn. Officials found child porn on Loskarn's hard… Continue reading Patterns of Abuse: What we can learn from the death and suicide letter of GOP Senate Aide, Jesse Loskarn?
The Christian Patriarchy Movement’s Dark Secret of Wife Spanking
* * * As Doug Phillips and his Vision Forum ministry is sinking, stories of abuse among Christian Patriarchy are surfacing: domestic violence, wife spanking, etc, among other well-known circles such as RC Sproul Jr., etc. * * * Warning: this is a heavy and disturbing article.… Continue reading The Christian Patriarchy Movement’s Dark Secret of Wife Spanking
Mark Driscoll’s Mars Hill Bellevue Campus to Host University Classes in Fall of 2014
* * * Mars Hill and Mark Driscoll to partner with Corban University and Western Seminary and host university classes at the Mars Hill Bellevue church campus. * * * It seems an important Mars Hill/Mark Driscoll development may have slipped through the cracks while the world… Continue reading Mark Driscoll’s Mars Hill Bellevue Campus to Host University Classes in Fall of 2014
When Your Religious Leader Falls Off the Pedestal
* * * Cindy Kunsman responds to fallen spiritual leaders and spiritual abuse after the Doug Phillips scandal. * * * Note from Julie Anne: This article, by Cindy Kunsman was originally posted at her blog, Under Much Grace, and she has given me permission to post… Continue reading When Your Religious Leader Falls Off the Pedestal
Facebook Comments Removed from Tony Miano’s Facebook Page When Commenter Asks About Donation $$
* * * Tony Miano put out a plea for donations on his Facebook page, however, Tony's admin guy, Chris H. deleted comments made by someone questioning about the money. The commenter was accused of slander, defamation, and threatened to ban from posting on the Facebook page. Bully, much? * … Continue reading Facebook Comments Removed from Tony Miano’s Facebook Page When Commenter Asks About Donation $$
Tony Miano’s Public Behavior and Relationship with Chuck O’Neal
* * * I recently discovered Storify, a cool way to enable one to compile tweets/articles into one quick and easy "story." Here is one example of storify. It is a public Twitter conversation showing how popular street evangelist, Tony Miano, interacted with me. This is a great way to… Continue reading Tony Miano’s Public Behavior and Relationship with Chuck O’Neal
Spiritual Sounding Board 