I was reading this thread, and I have spent time with calvery chapel members but also ask the question do members see Chuck Smith as the pope of CC ?

Why dose Chuch Smith refuse to disclose their finacial deatails in the UK their is only one Calvery Chapel church that registared as a charity, this means by law they have to provide finacial information.

Please goto [www.charity-commission.gov.uk]

but this same question goto the UK CC`s

I also believe their is disputes over issues of doctrine when Church Smith dies Calvery Chapel will disintegrate I do believe their are very abusive CC churches and their are CC churches that are not abusive, I find CC`s leadership on one of their publication on leadership shocking and dangerous to say the least though some CC churhces have not taken that course of action.

CC churches claim to be indepenent of each other even though they are under Chuck Smith, the question I ask who is Chuck Smith Accounterble to, after studying Chuck Smiths teachings, I have not had real problems with, but his personal activerties such as discosing finacial deatails for CC are a problem to me.

Though I do not agree with the BEGA they have been upfront with their finaces.

I personally would not advise any indevidual to join with any orgisation untill they have researched it or done at least background checks on them.

I have always seen some potentual with curtian CC churches but their is a majority that needs to be exposed but we need to also aware of putting CC church members and leaders in the same boat, I know that when Chuck Smith dies their are CC churches that do not want to be apart of Calvery Chapel.

I would also say that Chuck Smiths son Chuck Jr is more dangerous, you need to keep a sharp eye on him as he will take over his dad's work, this is when i believe you will see the true nature of Calvery Chapel`s direction and changes.

Miguel

A most difficult post to write....

The experiences shared by the many here are just so revealing of the blatant abuse at the Calvary’s.

I don’t need to articulate on my experiences. Suffice it to say that many of the post’s bear witness to the horrid state of affairs at Calvary. Yes, I generalize. I am able to do so only because I know with certainty, based on many years in the movement as an Elder, Church Board Member and Pastor, that the problems of “Executive Privilege” are endemic to the very core of Calvary.

It is tremendously sad. I first met Christ at Calvary. I had a wonderful experience for many years, only to run afoul of the Senior Hierarchy and experience a most devastating and traumatic series of events, which culminated in my being told “…you need to find another place to fellowship…”

Through the study of scripture and the working of the Holy Spirit in my life, I’ve been able to forgive those who brought so much harm to my family and myself.

I am no longer bitter and now fellowship at a little non-denominational church in another town. I will never forget though…and won’t ever set foot in another Calvary Chapel.

My children, having grown up in the "ideal" setting, still bear the scars of the devastating effects of seeing their father put to public ridicule and shame by those with an other than Godly agenda.

May God, have Mercy on the souls of those that participated in the cover-ups and the deliberate and shameful actions for which they are responsible.

Have a most wonderful day. :)

Here,here!
This group doesn't like to be exposed. Their GOSSIP machine is very nasty.
. My kids are also scared by this group.
You are not alone.
Remember,it's all about the money!

weblogas....

At some level it may be about money. However given my length of association at the very most senior levels...rest assured....at the root, it is about power and authority...Unquestioned Authority.

Thank you for this input.
Reading the various posts on this and several other threads there is one common theme.
Power,corruption and money. As recently 2 months ago (December 2007) there are those on the inside who admit it's just all about the money.
As was said about the Crystal Cathedral so goes the Calvary Chapel system of Applied Theology.
The evidence is before us in all these posts and all the information this organization(Rick Ross) has amassed.
It has been said in both the high halls and low halls of the Calvary Chapel movement when Chuck passes on the real fighting will start. Think about it. .................. How much is this enterprise worth now?
I would personally prefer the Forest Gump school of Applied Theology.Power,corruption and money is as it does.
I rest my case.
Goodnight Mrs. Magilacutty

weblogas



Regards your last comments...well said.

I could not more agree that the in-fighting will be a blood bath, with the ultimate victim being the church membership. Even that information generally available to the public reveals a denomination in deep distress...coming apart at the seams.

I would have to agree that CC is a cult as defined on this site. The methods they use are very subliminal and they are never blatantly forced upon anyone. You always have the choice to leave when you want to, and you do not have to return. The biggest problem that I see at the CC that I go to is a type of “Pastoral Dictatorship” that most of the people never get to see or experience. If you do get in deep enough, you will eventually see this, and you will probably come to the same conclusions that I have reached. The primary form of manipulation is through guilt trips, in which you feel compelled to volunteer your time, money, etc. for the benefit of the church body. “Look at what Christ has done for you, and what can you do (for free) for Christ ?”

This type of manipulation is very subliminal and they are taking advantage of people who are seeking a relationship with Christ, and it is very sad that they can actually get away with it and not be charged with some type of crime. Most of the people I have met over the years have been great, and most of them have left our church quietly but willingly. I see them from time to time in the community, and most of the time, they do not want to share with me why they left. I wish they would, but they do not want to have to deal with the repercussions of the real truth that they have experienced.

I have been involved in the CC movement for about 15 years and came in from the Catholic Church and wanted to spend the rest of my life “Serving the Lord”. Instead, I have been running a business for the last 10 years as a volunteer, and have learned that money is the real priority in the CC that I go to. I never heard the words “thanks” or “we appreciate your time and efforts” etc. NO encouragement of any kind. Never a care or concern about my expenses, such as cell phone, gas, supplies, etc. If you do not ask, they are not obligated to give, or compensate you. You were serving the Lord, and he will provide you with what you need, and that should be sufficient for you.

There are times that I may have to deal with extremely aggressive individuals and have had to call the pastor for assistance to mediate certain situations and he never responds for any emergencies. If I have to call the police, they tell me that a crime has to be committed before they can act on it. At times, I can be in a danger zone with nobody to go to for help. Usually God is on vacation in some other part of the universe, so I have to deal with it by myself. But even if bad things happen, God will turn it around and make it good.... so they tell you.

I came into the church with an open heart and mind, and now I know that when I leave, I will never step inside another church for the rest of my life. If the bible is true, there should be a millstone wrapped around this pastors neck. The way that it is supposed to be, written in the bible, is not the way that it really is. It is a fairy tale religion, created by man, to control the people and to profit from the guilt. Obviously, over the years my faith has withered, and I now know that man is in control of the church, and just like everything else man touches, corruption, deceit, and decay are ever present.

“Love the $inners MONEY, tolerate the $in!”



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/27/2008 12:42AM by BurntbyCC.

This SHAME can not be allowed to be brushed under the table as is STOP(Standard Operating Procedure) for this cult

We recently came out of this church, too. I am still struggling some, but am so glad to be free. It had only been a Calvary Chapel for a couple of years, when the pastor started thinking of himself as Moses. He dismissed the board, replaced board meetings with "prayer" meetings. The elders tried to meet with him about concerns of members, but he refused to meet with them. He'd use the pulpit against anyone who spoke up. My friend, whose husband had just started to have a serious walk with Christ, listening to his sermon tapes on his long trips and really beginning to walk the walk, was humiliated by an anti-potluck sermon aimed at her since she had requested more potlucks. She was told she couldn't even use church facilities which members had been free to use for years. She and her husband tried to reason with the pastor and got nowhere. When he preached against them, they left. Others who tried very humbly and patiently to address issues with the pastor were preached against and their relatives ejected. One grandmother was escorted out after her husband questioned the pastor about why the worship leader had left. The pastor used a few "bouncers" to intimidate the grandmother. And also to block a public sidewalk to turn people away from a prayer meeting that was becoming a meeting to address some of the trouble. Later, two of the bouncers later left, too. The board is gone except for one member, the worship team is entirely gone and now plays at another church.
There was a definite manipulation, elitism, feelings of spiritual superiority to other churches, flattery used to cultivate some and condemnation used when the cultivated were no longer useful or posed a threat.
God is good. Nearly the whole church left and are meeting together with another church. I still have a couple friends involved though and would like to know if anyone has advice on how to show what's going on to mind-numbed zombies. I wouldn't have listened either. I defended that pastor and condemned those who left also, until my mind couldn't handle the cognitive dissonance. It was a one-strike and you're out policy, so opposite to Christ's attitude.
It was awful, and I'm glad to be out. Any advice on how to reach others still locked into it would be welcome.

Greetings Fellow Travelers

The common thread through out this posting is Calvary Chapel's consistent rough and or mishandling of members of the Body of Christ.
It has been my experience with this church and continues to be.
I no longer go to big calvary ,However they have still tried to attack myself as well as my family.
(Go figure.)It amazed and saddened me when my own child was singled out because of this. We live in close proximity to that cult.

It should be known that at one time yours truly was just as sold out and deluded as those who remain within this cult.
The pastors of this cult know they have been exposed as a destructive church and rail against the label. Its sort of a How dare you rail by John C.

As it has been pointed out before, Calvary Chapel's involvement in the guns and ammo ( at the Gush Katif kibbutz) while only passive(Instigated by a member of the inner circle ) still indicated this group has strayed far from it's roots.
There are those here who have said they find it hard to believe such things,yet as has been pointed out before this group doesn't like to have the inner dynamics of it's operations exposed to public scrutiny or even general church population scrutiny.
This group still maintains it's facade of being a Bible based church only for one reason, MONEY.
It is the Achilles Heel of their argument. The one thing that can't be soft talked. As illustrated in these archives.