I was just trying to build a relationship, or whatever you just go, But I see you for what you are and youre gonna have to go.. WebPete Briscoe answers that question by pointing us to Paul as the perfect example of one who speaks with tender boldness. And when I came into the representation, that was a new term to me, Id never heard anything like it. Theres a lot of church boards that operate that way. "For many of you, he was preacher, pastor, mentor or friend. Like so many of you, I love Pete. Pete Briscoe was Senior Pastor of Bent Tree Bible Fellowship in Carrollton, TX for nearly 30 years. Pete Briscoe was Senior Pastor of Bent Tree Bible Fellowship in Carrollton, TX for nearly 30 years. That goes to the guarding role that Attorney Mitch shared. Stuart Briscoe died on August 3 "of natural causes unexpectedly" according to a tweet from his son, Pete Briscoe. For that we are forever grateful. Mike is a dear friend and Im sad this day has come. He, Becky and their kids have been part of the fabric of BT for so long, it is So Scot, its like the scene in The Avengers when Iron Man just kind of drops out of the sky. Theres, theres an advocacy piece to lawyering that needs to be there a little bit, but it doesnt need to be pervasive. At that age, I had never had someone in spiritual authority lie or manipulate me. It took me a long time to agree that he had done the things of which he had been accused. Continue Reading The Upper Room: John 15 Posted by Nate Murray Put a skin tag on it or a flesh tag. Would you consider making a tax-deductible donation to help our journalists continue to report the truth and restore the church? Well, I tried other churches and its more of the same. That was my upbringing. Its one of the beauties and the deformities of social media is social media is agile. Glad that Jesus is still our anchor! I think its incredibly dangerous. Yeah, right. He currently leads a multi-faceted media ministry called Telling the Truth which he shares with his parents Stuart and Jill Briscoe. Boy, and if more churches did that, how much pain and heartache among the sheep would have been spared? Literally thousands of people have come to know Jesus under Bill Hybels teaching and yet, he was morally bankrupt at the same time. And presented them with the information, he essentially tossed it to the side and said, So what?, No consequences. And I think you hit the nail on the head. Bent Tree family and friends of Bent Tree, we invite you to post here (or on social media) your comments of encouragement, gratitude, blessing, remembrance, and tribute to the many long years our brother Pete and sister Libby have poured out their lives for the building up of Christs church. Well, Mitch, this has been read. Then, I did what all good Christian college students did at that time I acquired a boot-leg copy of the drama and listened to it several times on my own. Interestingly enough, during the interview, he seemed extremely angry and resentful. And so when you know from the pulpit, that might be a strength. At the same time, hes writing a book and writing articles for Christianity Today about marriage purity. Why is it that nobody outside a very small group of women who had no power, really no position, why didnt others come to their rescue? To me, Bill did not come across as a predator, flirty or suggestive with women. What Ive told people is, If you are not ready to blow yourself or the organization up in five seconds flat, you need to find a different hobby.. Who hasnt given a friend a friendly kiss once in awhile? So, and youre the chairman of your board. And another womans situation, theyre in an elder board meeting, and Bill Hybels, you know, has his hand on a womans leg, and no one else can see. He even cites a conversation with Darrell Bock, a member who disagrees with the elders but who also says it is not an issue worth dividing over. But at 22, I completely bought it. At least, thats how I saw it. And really, I came back to the Lord at Willow and He used that church to help me reestablish my relationship with Him and with His church. But as you say its Gods grace that despite all that hes used these men to bless many, despite everything. WebIt is with heavy hearts that the Elders of Bent Tree announce that Pete Briscoe has submitted his resignation as Senior Pastor. Its not okay. I cant vouch for all the information because I havent researched it myself. The Elder Board has accepted Petes decision, and his resignation is effective March 31, 2019. But theres a sense that the Church of Jesus Christ Universal is represented all throughout not just the United States but the world. We bought the routine and its shocking. That nonprofit corporation and its bank accounts, thats not what the biblical church is. We needed to go to the hills and fight as guerillas, you know, what is guerrilla warfare? Okay. And I really was hopeful that there was going to be a public apology, and yet, None. Just what I call a deformed leadership culture at the church where certain things became acceptable that shouldnt. But youre right. I think thats dangerous. It is also the church in which Pete Briscoe, my former wonderful pastor, grew up in. My husband and I actually bought our last car from our court and we had a great experience. But it just has not really looked like true repentance in so many ways. Youve youve created a fiction when you organize church, what is a church organization but a legal fiction, right? And what lessons can we learn from Willow Creeks mistakes? Growing up in a ministry family, Pete watched and learned from his parents and witnessed the reach and power of Telling the Truth 's media outreach. Like so many of you, I love Pete. Thats one of the things that attracted me to it is that he would admit something that he had failed, like, I remember one Wednesday night at a midweek service, and he got up and he said how that day he had seen somebody who was, you know, he could tell that they were upset and in need, and he just walked right by the person and totally blew them off. He even cites a conversation with Darrell Bock, a member who disagrees with the elders but who also says it is not an issue worth dividing over. Theyve got a little bit of the guide part. Ive asked that question many times. Thats a bad default state. :), I would strongly urge you to research Voice of the Martyrs. Well, to answer your question, very bad. And he committed sex acts with her. The Roys Report seeks to foster thoughtful and respectful dialogue. So, thanks for taking the time and you know, anybody whos willing to take a few minutes out of their vacation for a podcast, I just really appreciate it. And he offers keen insights that are desperately needed as many churches today struggle to be healthy and to avoid the mistakes other megachurches have made. it is. So I want you to think about this while you know Bill Hybels is being accused of doing awful things by a dozen women. I think that was a move of God, a move of the Holy Spirit. Mitch has seen church governance from both the inside and the outside. How do spot a safe pastorand can. Those are the good guys. And the people in this story are complex characters. Heres my belief, Julie, I think the church at large, the big leaders in evangelicalism, we can name names if we want to, and Im sure that people have names on their mind when theyre hearing this, Why were they silent? I would love to see Chicago experience revival. I think its Pat Baranowskis story that ran in the New York Times that actually caused that. On this episode of The Roys Report, Julie explores these important questions with Mitch Little, whos not just an attorney for victims. By the way, the best thing that was said in the recording is that if character isnt there, none of the regulations will matter, and if character is there, one doesnt need the regulations. Pete reminds us that our goal is not to win arguments, but to win people. Great! The radio program began to attract listeners and supporters, enabling the ministry to expand its broadcasting to a growing number of stations throughout the United States and abroad. Why did so many look the other way for so long? Im wary of the theatrical, evangelical stars that are so prevalent now. And I feel that way with these pastors. Frankly I find church to be excruciatingly lonely. God is doing a new work both in the lives of the Briscoe's and in the life of Bent Tree. I think one of the ways that Willow tried to reckon with the situation was to permit Bill Hybels to retire from his role at the church. You know, Hybels daughter had her own book on Oprahs book club. Because it was lawyers advice, you know, and its like, where does the word of God play into our decision making? It started as a simple tape duplication ministry in a home basement, using a reel-to-reel tape recorder linked to a dozen smaller recorders to duplicate the Briscoes' teaching. I agree, Pastor Bob. But when we look at it from some practical ways that God used people to undo this, explain what you see as being the key forces. We are egalitarian and sophisticated, and we are Gods chosen church to show how ministry is supposed to be done. Yeah, I think youre gonna be waiting a while. I think these women would still like to know the answer to that. Board members selected in such a way are unlikely to honor their fiduciary duty ahead of their desire to please the board chairman or senior pastor. I was blown away. Thats not to say there arent authentic people there. The Elder Board has accepted Petes decision, and his resignation is effective March 31, 2019. Yeah, apparently its not going to happen. Right? What is it was Chicago? I did live it. And I saw this at Harvest Bible chapel when I was doing reporting there. Well, I want to turn our discussion to what youve experienced at your own church, which is a multi-site mega church there in the Dallas Fort Worth area, because those are things where youve been able to apply some of these lessons that youve learned from watching the negative example maybe of Willow Creek, youve learned an awful lot from going through crisis at your own church. So when you have someone who is trusted, whos supposed to be an expert, you know, like a pastor, like a longtime senior pastor whos supposed to be a theological expert, and someone whos in authority like a senior pastor, people are willing to do things to satisfy that person that they would not otherwise do, even if those things seem harmful to another person. Well, and thanks so much for listening to The Roys Report, a podcast dedicated to reporting the truth and restoring the church. There was another documented case where he had oral sex with his assistant back in the 90s at WC. He is with us today to talk about growing communication skills to improve preaching as well as how we can find deeper fulfillment in our work and lives. Pete is the son of Jill and Stuart Briscoe. How do you recommend searching worth while places to donate too? We see this is the third article this month youve found worth reading. He now coaches Pete Briscoe | Brookfield WI. But he had the emotional and spiritual fortitude to say, You know what? Pete reminds us that our goal is not to win arguments, but to win people. Destroyed by a staff person is my understanding. It was the summer of 2000, and I was a college student on staff at Pine Cove Christian Camp. This is a person who is pushing a boundary because they want to do something bad. (See page 54 and following) Pete Briscoe, our pastor at our church came out in support of the Dyers, which was bold, and it was brave. You feel that they have to have more of a governance more of a hands on role than a lot of them do. I have been a child of God since I was four and in ministry most of my life. I dont know the answer but rampant clergy abuse just took my discontentment to a whole new level. The Journal Sentinel reported: Elmbrook resignations are the latest to rock evangelical Christian churches. Let the Briscoes help you experience Life in all its fullness! I mean, it was a great time. Gifted with wisdom, discernment, and a bit of English humor, the Briscoe's bring God's Word to life. Its all a Business and Power tool and stage for Virtue Signaling. WebIt is with heavy hearts that the Elders of Bent Tree announce that Pete Briscoe has submitted his resignation as Senior Pastor. Hes also a strong believer and advocate for abuse victims. Briscoe stepped down as senior pastor at the end of 2000 but remained involved in the church and active in overseas missions. I mean, you dont need to be trying to fit a round peg into a square hole, because it is gonna manifest itself in bad ways. When you have a woman who says I was molested by a staff member, or you have a staff member who says, Bill Hybels just threw a punch at me, or dog cuts me up and down the hallway, those arent matters of policy, Julie. And Ive been a critic of megachurch multi-site model. Or what is the church think about Calvinism? something along those lines. Heres my belief, Julie, I think the church at large, the big leaders in evangelicalism, we can name names if we want to, and Im sure that people have names on their mind when theyre hearing this, Why were they silent? And theyre born knowing how to do that. The Elder Board has accepted Petes decision, and his resignation is effective March 31, 2019. And I have other thoughts about that and how that all worked out. What makes you stick with that model and believe it can still be used despite how badly that model has been abused? I hope someday I can overcome this cynicism because I need Church as it should be. For the next 90 minutes, Pete Briscoe enraptured us with his presentation of The Bema.. But they spoke. Like they didnt read a book, figuring out how to do it, but there are warning signs that people need to be aware of. I will always have my faith in Jesus but church especially WCCC has been a huge disappointment. If you go back through Willow Creeks archives, you can see all the, you know, the authors of books who came in and were platformed at Willow Creek. In the early 2000s, as Stuart and Jill transitioned into minister-at-large roles and spent more time traveling to serve the global church, an additional voice was added in order to bless the supporters ofTelling the Truth. I want to thank Pete too for advocating for women participating fully in leadership and for Libby modeling what it means to be a true helper (ezer kenegdo). So as we part ways, let us make the departure sweet. That is not a matter of policy. Multiple services, being able to do it on cue, proves Hybels theatrical abilitiesI look back and feel sick, given all the details we now know from behind the scenes. Correct? With distinctly different teaching styles, you'll be moved by the emotional appeal of Jill and the compelling logic of Stuart, as they boldly proclaim God's sovereignty, grace, and love. Yeah, my understanding of that of the history has come from interviewing witnesses, talking to people who have served in those roles and hearing their stories at Willow. And sadly, I think they have still. I totally agree with you Julie on how I viewed the Clergy and Church growing up. Absolutely horrible. I think it took courage and boldness on his part to be able to do that. Its a calling of God. Today were talking with Pete Briscoe, who served as the senior pastor for nearly three decades at Bent Tree Bible Fellowship in Carrollton, Texas, and now consults with and coaches pastors. I think the larger the platform, the more rigorous the accountability needs to be. Well Mitch, one of the things Ive never discussed is that we used to attend Willow Creek. Its so HARD today to know who to donate to. Although theres been some. Yes, probably a number of your listeners are aware of the situation where the Ortbergs and Mellados had tried to report to the board an alleged long term affair that Bill Hybels was engaged in and the church hired an outside investigator to investigate the situation. ) So, Willows pride did not allow them to see any flaws in their leadership, especially their premier leader. I appreciate your taking time again away from your vacation to spend time with us. They know there would be swift and sure discipline, if not firing, even with one mistakedepending on the severity of the misbehavior. To me, this was one of the beautiful God moves about the entire situation. Hes one of the good guys. Briscoe says that he wants Bent Tree to be a place where people can agree to disagree over this issue. I mean, that is just huge. Pete reminds us that our goal is not to win arguments, but to win people. and Im going to butcher the title. I think they can do it effectively. Continue Reading The Upper Room: John 15 Posted by Nate Murray And now lets put that in the past. Willow did not want to reckon with the deformed culture that had manifested underneath Bills leadership. Keep in touch with Julie and get updates in your inbox! But I had limited contact with him. If anything has a whiff of impropriety, we would jump on it immediately. And I think Christian leaders need to start stepping up. Yes, I have be disillusioned many times by churches and some leaders. Briscoe I thought that emails could always be recovered, even after being erased, by a good IT person. That night we had a guest speaker come in for a special presentation. I had no idea what to expect as this lone man stood on the stage. Today, Telling the Truthis heard anytime and anywhere, thanks to international radio programming, the internet, and our mobile app. And what lessons can we learn from Willow Creeks mistakes? And Willow lost the battle of PR on social media. You can choose from more than 60 majors and learn in a Christian environment known for its spiritual values, leadership opportunities, and strong financial aid. Heres to better days and better church health. A man who "dedicated his life to sharing Gods Word with the world" has died at the age of 91. Now, I coach pastors and business leaders in communications and self-care. May God lead your next steps and may you find ways to use your gifts from a place of health. And he came back and said, I cant do this anymore.. And to do that, we must avoid falling into the trap of our Christian beliefs being pitted against culture in the public sphere of debate. So Mitch, thank you so much for taking the time to join me today. Thats a bad default state. I was the senior pastor of Bent Tree Bible Fellowship for nearly 30 years. And while youre at it, wed really appreciate it if you help us spread the word about the podcast by leaving a review and then please share the podcast on social media so more people can hear about this great content. Petes teaching and emphasis on the sufficiency of Christ leaves an indelible mark on so many of our souls. What eventually broke the culture of secrecy and protection? He even cites a conversation with Darrell Bock, a member who disagrees with the elders but who also says it is not an issue worth dividing over. Why didnt others support them? He represented two women involved in the sex abuse scandal involving Bill Hybels. I have plenty of authentic friends just not at church. And I remember you saying. Its my understanding that was a watershed moment. I think that he lost that. But its an analog. And you you actually refer to it as multi-level marketing. And its designed to be acretive, right that they gain strength over time. Continue Reading The Upper Room: John 15 Posted by Nate Murray That to me, is a corruption of the role. One of those is that you had your senior pastor resign kind of suddenly. Yes, in the course of representing these women, it became obvious that this was not what Ill call an echelon or tier leadership problem, just at Bill Hybels level. Character always has to come first in hiring, then competence, and then chemistry. If you want to know what grooming looks like in the context of church, every elder at a church of any size should read this book. This was an excellent interview and elders need to read this interview. Hi. WebPete Briscoe, Stuart and Jills youngest son, was a key contributor to the ministrys teaching team from 2003 to 2021. And so when these things happen, they cant just stay silent. How are you? Basically, theyre a rubber stamp., Julie, I have a different take on what happened at WCC. I hear you say that and I believe in accountability really strongly. And yet here we see a church thats ostensibly about serving God, and its about proclaiming the gospel and yet this is happening within the church. I Yes, I totally agree. Not sad or contemplative, but agitated and very irritated. I think, as believers, we should be standing for truth, we should not look the other way. At one point, the elder board at Willow became what people call a policy governance board. And yet youre still in a megachurch, multi-site church. I came out of Wheaton College, as I know a lot of kids do when youre in a Christian environment and maybe see some disillusioning things and I just, it was really a hard spiritual time for me. He was running and we were praying that he would surrender fully to God. etc. I dont think that theres anything at a mega church that innoculates it from being good. There are therapy notes to support her story. 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