Part 5 focuses on the other side of Mr Tchividjian's misuse of his platform as a Christian celebrity minister, speaker, and writer – his accountability system victims: superiors, peers, and subordinates. What courage must it have taken to publicly post a call for Tullian Tchividjian to repent? To apologize for having amplified his impact? To resign from the board of his newly resurrected non-profit? To remove from their ministry website various resources he'd produced? To cancel contracts that would extend his influence? What did it cost those who were close to him in terms of ministry – especially those who held authority to oversee his recovery plans, and those who'd been his platform peers? These are the kinds of questions we should consider as we read this final piece in the case study of Tullian Tchividjian and the details of his abuse of systems, ministry, and accountability ...
Category: Learn to Discern
UN-accountable: Case Study in Systems Analysis and Ministerial Accountability ~ Part 4, Accountability
It’s not the job of any supervisor, peer, or subordinate to prevent Tullian Tchividjian from sinning, whether he does so mildly or spectacularly. It wasn’t the role of his non-profit board, church sessions, publishing house legal departments, counselors, friends, etc. It’s not even possible. He himself is responsible for his own choices and their impact.
UN-accountable: Case Study in Systems Analysis and Ministerial Accountability ~ Part 3, Industrial Complex
... there were over 150 individuals in at least 10 institutions who had direct connections with Tullian Tchividjian as his superiors, peers, or subordinates. And yet, it seems nobody could keep him from his two extramarital sexual involvements he has already admitted to (after they were discovered or disclosed), or from his reported predatory/seductive behavior patterns, or from his reported multiple failures to tell the full truth.
UN-accountable: Case Study in Systems Analysis and Ministerial Accountability ~ Part 2, Repair
What does real-world remediation / repentance look like? How can we see what it takes in both attitudes and actions to accomplish damage repair? This post gives three examples of remediation (repair work) — one dealing with a product, one with a denominational organization, one with a social system. Each is notable for seeking to engage in a constructive way parties who were directly involved, and in some cases those who were indirectly affected.
UN-accountable: Case Study in Systems Analysis and Ministerial Accountability ~ Part 1, Systems
Systemic abuse always includes a degree of relational manipulation to get/keep people hooked in, as well as deception in order to hide the truth.
Learn to Discern: Pastor from Harvest Bible Chapel Speaks at Church Meeting – What Do His Words Really Say?
"No ONE should tell EVERYONE anything. That's the role of your leaders. We are entrusted, and we're going to give an account."
What Does Responding Biblically Really Mean?
*** This will be short and sweet. I'm in the final crunch of school with only 2-1/2 weeks until graduation (woohoo!!). Responding Biblically seems to be thrown around a lot. I just tweeted this because I was thinking about a recent debate on Twitter (which I will write about when I get more time). ***… Continue reading What Does Responding Biblically Really Mean?
Learn to Discern: Franklin Graham’s Tweet on the Outcome of the Presidential Election
Franklin Graham, Twitter, Spiritual Abuse IÂ would like to discuss this tweet without making it political. I find it spiritually abusive, but not because it has to do with Trump winning. Look within the message. What can you find here that is spiritually abusive? https://twitter.com/Franklin_Graham/status/809081143098277889
Ex-Pastor Tullian Tchividjian Speaks Out at Website for Ex-Pastors
Tullian Tchividjian article at ExPastors.com, clergy sex abuse, suicide, repentance, restoration *** Only one month after Tullian Tchividjian remarried, he has publicly released a new article at a site for former pastors, ExPastors.com. In the article, The Freedom in Losing it All, Tchividjian shares lessons he has learned about himself since his sexual scandal. https://twitter.com/expastors/status/780769275065856002 The following… Continue reading Ex-Pastor Tullian Tchividjian Speaks Out at Website for Ex-Pastors
The Bully: Familiar Feelings, Completely Different Environment
Spiritual abuse, bullies, connections, gaslighting *** A few weeks ago, I started Spring term at college. The professor has a PhD in her field, and told us she's been teaching from high school level to grad school since the 80s. Â READ: she's no spring chicken and has a lot of classroom experience. As the days… Continue reading The Bully: Familiar Feelings, Completely Different Environment
Learn to Discern: Pastor John Raymond, in His Own Words
Pastor John Raymond, New Horizon Calvary Chapel Church, Slidell, Louisiana, Steven Angle, Spiritual Abuse Yesterday on Facebook, journalist Ashley Rodrigue of WWLTV posted the following press release from the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff in Louisiana (typed and screenshot below): by Ashley Rodrigue WWLTVÂ (PRESS RELEASE) HAMMOND, LA - Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff Daniel Edwards is asking… Continue reading Learn to Discern: Pastor John Raymond, in His Own Words
“Do Good and Do No Harm” Project by Brad Sargent aka FuturistGuy
Spiritual Sounding Board and The Wartburg Watch are supporting a Go Fund Me Campaign to help Brad Sargent finish the first stage of developing resources that will assist survivors of church abuse. Most of my long-time readers know Brad aka "FuturistGuy." I met Brad after spiritual abuse author Barb Orlowski pooled people together she… Continue reading “Do Good and Do No Harm” Project by Brad Sargent aka FuturistGuy
This is a Repent- and Rebuke-Free Zone
*** This is a repent- and rebuke-free zone. *** *** Tonight, I banned these words from the Spiritual Sounding Board Facebook page after someone rebuked another commenter and also told the same commenter to repent. The repent word was used in the middle of a debate on homosexuality. While the person saying it may have been legitimately… Continue reading This is a Repent- and Rebuke-Free Zone
Bullies: Celebrity Leaders Who Act Different in Private Settings Reveal Their Heart
*** Watch out for any celebrity or Christian leader who treats you differently in private. They are bullies. Have you seen this video of ESPN's reporter Britt McHenry who berates an employee at a towing company as she pays to collect her impounded vehicle? It's been making the rounds in social media and… Continue reading Bullies: Celebrity Leaders Who Act Different in Private Settings Reveal Their Heart
Is the Local Church the Greatest Hope for our World?
Church:  the greatest hope for our world? *** He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. Ephesians 4:16 *** Praise the Lord! I will thank the Lord… Continue reading Is the Local Church the Greatest Hope for our World?
Should Christian Leaders Use their Public Platform to Endorse Their Vaccination Preferences?
*** Do Christians have a responsibility to vaccinate their children? Is this a matter of religious liberty? Should Christian leaders use their platform to influence us in this health matter? *** It seems that we have been getting barraged with religious leaders trying to convince us one way or the other on the recent vaccine… Continue reading Should Christian Leaders Use their Public Platform to Endorse Their Vaccination Preferences?
Are We a Christian Nation or Not?
*** *** The marital rape post started veering off into a political direction and as I read through some of it, I think it is a topic worthy of discussion here. I'll use Ed's last post as a starting off point and add a few of my words (which Ed probably won't like), but he'll still… Continue reading Are We a Christian Nation or Not?
Teaching youth about virginity and forgiveness via Todd Friel
*** Todd Friel discusses how to talk to youth about virginity and what to say if they fail. We've talked about the purity culture that some of our teens have been taught (Soul Tied: Harmful Spiritual Conclusions about Sex Abuse, Purity Culture, and Sex Abuse Victims). What do you think about this new video… Continue reading Teaching youth about virginity and forgiveness via Todd Friel
Some Christian Leaders are Hijacking the Ebola Crisis to Promote their Theology or Agenda
*** Christian Leaders Respond to the Ebola Crisis promoting their agendas or theologies. Others respond in humility with real help to those in need. *** *** But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? 1 John 3:17 ***… Continue reading Some Christian Leaders are Hijacking the Ebola Crisis to Promote their Theology or Agenda
Learn to Discern: Who would you choose to marry, an abusive Christian or a kind and gentle unbeliever?
***Learn to Discern:  Is it better for a Christian woman to marry a kind and gentle unbeliever or an abusive Christian?***Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 2 Corinthians 6:14  Over at Karen Campbell's blog, she's having a series of articles on… Continue reading Learn to Discern: Who would you choose to marry, an abusive Christian or a kind and gentle unbeliever?
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