tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012349346682683577.post1962576611514601496..comments2024-03-14T01:27:21.845-04:00Comments on Virginia's Life, Such As It Is!: My Recommendations for CJ Mahaney and SGM (From the Cheap Seats!)Virginia Knowleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13851255511747838013noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012349346682683577.post-7404853873441147382011-07-22T02:52:32.727-04:002011-07-22T02:52:32.727-04:00Thank you for all the work you are doing. Being a...Thank you for all the work you are doing. Being a former Langley BC Crossway member, I can tell you that the same type of authoritarian leadership takes place there as well. These blogs are being dismissed by Tony Walsh and co. as gossip and slander and the congregation are being encourage to stay away from them. An acknowledgement of the abuse that takes place in SGM churches would go a long way to bring healing and needed change.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012349346682683577.post-46462899589679453672011-07-21T08:29:35.618-04:002011-07-21T08:29:35.618-04:00Anonymous,
I only have a few moments to comment ...Anonymous, <br /><br />I only have a few moments to comment right now (as per my husband's request), and we obviously have different opinions about how to deal with things Biblically so I'm not going to get pulled into a debate on this. I believe that I have sufficiently answered the questions already.<br /> <br />I am assuming you do not have much background knowledge of SGM since my blog stats indicated you linked in from www.thatmom.com. Still, from the tone of your comments, it seems like you have some strong opinions.<br /><br />If you really care about this situation and you are not just reacting at my words, I would suggest that you do a little more research and have a little compassion for those have been badly damaged by their association with SGM, as well as for those who have invested significant amounts of time to call for stop to the abuse. This cannot be a private matter, and it is not easy for any of us.<br /><br />Virginia KnowlesVirginia Knowleshttp://www.virginiaknowles.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012349346682683577.post-41409245810889416392011-07-21T00:12:22.255-04:002011-07-21T00:12:22.255-04:00"Part of it is that people are still processi..."Part of it is that people are still processing their pain, and it helps read the similar experiences of others, to write about their own stories, and to talk it through, back and forth, bit by bit." <br /><br />Why, so they can breed contempt rather than try to deal with things biblically?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012349346682683577.post-33094998592830952142011-07-21T00:09:24.838-04:002011-07-21T00:09:24.838-04:00A lot of opinion floating around - has anyone inve...A lot of opinion floating around - has anyone investigated some of these claims? I'm sure some have been burned but what opinion to throw around second-hand looking at the opinions of others. I would be nice to seem some biblical content in context rather "what I THINK". And how come some of those leveling accusations publicly as pastors are not necessarily bringing up all these allegations? I find that interesting.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012349346682683577.post-5692557589069676142011-07-20T11:55:04.902-04:002011-07-20T11:55:04.902-04:00If nothing else that shows just how bad of a "...If nothing else that shows just how bad of a "leader" Mahaney look at what he did when he visited the Richmond VA Kingsway SGM Church. This is where due to some exposed sins of the Sr. Pastor (Gene Emerson) 1/2 of the church has left. <br /><br />What did Mahaney do? He gave one of his "canned" sermons. Did he talk about what had happen etc? No <br /><br />Was that the best that Mahaney could have done? Couldn't he have done something to try and help with the situation there?Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01527099698623190200noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012349346682683577.post-74448096073245232422011-07-18T09:38:47.036-04:002011-07-18T09:38:47.036-04:00cg said...
p.s. - I actually posted your last...cg said...<br /><br /> p.s. - I actually posted your last post about SGM on my Facebook page and was defriended!!!! Goodness, this issue has raised so very much emotion.<br /><br /><br />I know of someone that posted on Facebook that there were issues going on within SGM. The post didn't make any editorial comments just that this was happening. <br /><br />Sadly the person received a pretty scathing email about posting just this. I guess there are still some people that want to keep this hidden.Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01527099698623190200noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012349346682683577.post-47362719096165136592011-07-18T09:34:37.666-04:002011-07-18T09:34:37.666-04:00One strong argument for making Mahaney resign is t...One strong argument for making Mahaney resign is that if you listen closely to what Josh Harris it sounds like Harris is saying Mahaney still hasn't seen all of his sin etc. <br /><br />As Harris also indicated, Mahaney is keeping his office at SGM Headquarters (located at CLC). One problem with Mahaney still being there is that he can and apparently has still been influencing the group. It wouldn't surprise me if Mahaney was still using his same antics since he still has fully seen them like bullying others etc. <br /><br />Even on SGM's website they show Mahaney as President (on leave). <br /><br /><br />http://www.sovereigngraceministries.org/about-us/leadership.aspx<br /><br />Through all of Mahaney's Christian life he has always been the leader. He has never been under leaders to put another way reported to a leader. This was the case with TAG, Gathering of Believers, PDI(now called Sovereign Grace Ministries). <br /><br />Some of the time he may have been a co-leader with Larry Tomczak and perhaps under Tomczak when Tomczak lead PDI but we know how Mahaney even replaced Tomczak. <br /><br />Thus is it would be good for Mahaney's "psyche" and a great learning experience for him not to be "top dog" for a while. Mahaney's questionable actions apparently show the results of never being under other leaders. <br /><br />I agree with you that it would be for the best of the group for Mahaney to resign. If they still need him around for all this reconciliation then give him a little office at SGM and not the big opulent one he has.Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01527099698623190200noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012349346682683577.post-21642051003631717232011-07-18T08:38:56.508-04:002011-07-18T08:38:56.508-04:00CG, by coincidence, while you were reading this po...CG, by coincidence, while you were reading this post, I was reading yours, and I had just added your blog to my Google readers moments before seeing your comment! I am going to add it in to my post, too. ~~ Virginia (aka Vida Savta on the blogs)Virginia Knowleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13851255511747838013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012349346682683577.post-84278458725822193552011-07-18T08:36:37.847-04:002011-07-18T08:36:37.847-04:00p.s. - I actually posted your last post about SGM ...p.s. - I actually posted your last post about SGM on my Facebook page and was defriended!!!! Goodness, this issue has raised so very much emotion.mephttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13687457616035024361noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012349346682683577.post-18730326449653252732011-07-18T08:34:15.620-04:002011-07-18T08:34:15.620-04:00Thank you, again, Virginia! Well stated!
You may ...Thank you, again, Virginia! Well stated!<br /><br />You may be interested in my latest post found at the site below. I was involved in SGM for the majority of my life. <br /><br />www.hopewaitheal.blogspot.commephttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13687457616035024361noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012349346682683577.post-87316416992686742602011-07-16T16:35:50.840-04:002011-07-16T16:35:50.840-04:00Virginia,
My own opinion is that the local church...Virginia,<br /><br />My own opinion is that the local churches currently in the SGM should withdraw from SGM. Then the churches should adopt a biblical model of church leadership. <br /><br />I am an ex-member of Metro Life Church. They don't need to look to an outside organization for anything. They are lacking nothing. God has given every local church what they need to do what He has purposed. Every local church needs to trust in that. Denominations are so unnecessary.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012349346682683577.post-15533702107382618512011-07-16T15:06:23.217-04:002011-07-16T15:06:23.217-04:00I would take it a step further and say the local p...I would take it a step further and say the local pastors should:<br /><br />1) Immediately setup a local elder board made up of the congregation<br /><br />2) Strongly consider resigning immediately<br /><br />3) Repent of their sins against the congregation<br /><br />4) Recognize their part in all of this (however small it might be) <br /><br />5) Petition the newly created local elder board to reinstate them as pastor (assuming step 2 was followed)<br /><br />6) Begin a message series on TRUE grace and the danger of focusing on sin<br /><br />7) Take a look around the neighborhood and see where the church can plug-in and make a difference<br /><br />That would be a strong sign of humility and of their desire to move forward with a clean heartWalking Woundednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012349346682683577.post-7745822036442875442011-07-16T13:56:14.508-04:002011-07-16T13:56:14.508-04:00Hi Virginia:
Thanks so much for the link. Some so...Hi Virginia:<br /><br />Thanks so much for the link. Some solid thoughts in your post, and I'm sorry you are taking flack.<br /><br />I'm not a former member of an SGM church - there are two in Canada, one in British Columbia and one in Ontario. It is my hope that Canadian SGM members have a safe place to speak up, if they need one as their brothers and sisters in the US wrestle with the events of the past week. My hope is also that any Canadian SGM members who don't know where to find clear information are able to use BDBO as a jumping off point.<br /><br />There is nothing about what is occurring on either Canadian church website. I suspect Canadian members are following events closely.<br /><br />Blog on!<br /><br />Bene DAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012349346682683577.post-14126686613590643082011-07-16T08:53:17.437-04:002011-07-16T08:53:17.437-04:00Someone posted this on another blog's comments...Someone posted this on another blog's comments.<br /><br />CJ’s response to folks speaking into his life:<br /><br />“After five years I realize that there might be deficiencies in my leadership? Give me another five to figure out exactly what those are and another five to fix the problem.”<br /><br />That kind of says it all. We haven't seen much action from Mahaney with it being 5 years as he claims.Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01527099698623190200noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012349346682683577.post-3301035367408339552011-07-16T08:46:19.084-04:002011-07-16T08:46:19.084-04:00Virginia, Excellent post!! I love your heart and ...Virginia, Excellent post!! I love your heart and I truly believe God is honored by your words here. Thank you for sharing!<br />CaroleCarolehttp://sgmrefuge.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012349346682683577.post-67487650331833717072011-07-16T08:43:51.152-04:002011-07-16T08:43:51.152-04:00Virginia
Thanks for your new post on SGM.
If n...Virginia<br /><br />Thanks for your new post on SGM. <br /><br />If nothing else it should be a long time before Mahaney is allowed to be back teaching or a leader. It definitely shouldn't be the short period that Mahaney seems to be assuming. Mahaney assuming he will back soon really shows how in denial he is of his sin and how egregious they were not to mention the effect they have had on so many people. <br /><br />Mahaney needs time to come out of denial. <br /><br />Just the fact that Mahaney blackmailed Larry Tomczak over 10 years ago and only recently the truth about this has come out shows Mahaney will have to do a lot before he can be trusted. <br /><br />One should really question letting someone come back when it has been shown he didn't follow his own teaching. How can someone who claims to be so in touch with God hide his sin for so long? <br /><br />In Josh's "family meeting" he did say that having Mahaney resign might have been too easy of a route. It would be saying that Mahaney was the only problem when he wasn't the only problem. I tend to agree with this thinking <br /><br />In that same family meeting, Harris said something about wanting new board members for SGM. He asked something along the lines how bad did it look to have SGM Board Members that were the same people mentioned in the released documents being who this “independent” investigative panel reported to. Harris called for having different board members that didn’t portray a possible conflict of interest.<br /><br />People need to push for new board members that don't have this conflict of interest. <br /><br />One thing that needs to be mentioned is that the environment that was created in SGM where Mahaney was essentially the group's pope and was surrounded by men for so long that didn't question him enabled this behavior. Books like "The Lucifer Effect" talk about this. Mahaney is responsible for his sin but structure set up enabled this to happen. <br /><br />Thanks again. <br /><br />Steve<br />www.ikdg.wordpress.comStevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01527099698623190200noreply@blogger.com