I found out thru a Facebook posting that former Pastor Brian Abeyta is not longer senior pastor or otherwise there. The posting said that they needed “healing and restoration.” I know that another former pastor named Brian Michaels from Rocky Mountain Calvary in Colorado Springs had left there to go to his fathers church in Las Vegas and while there he “lusted after another woman” and I think stepped down as senior paster there. I find out later that he comes to help another CC pastor in Monument, CO.

I don’t know why Mr. Abeyta is no longer a pastor there but for a senior pastor to “need healing and restoration” it must be something rather serious. If anyone knows why he is not longer listed in ministry there please post it hear. Thanks. CCCR states on their Facebook page that they are seeking a new senior pastor. Which maybe that is a good sign that they don’t want Mr. Abeyta leading the flock there.

This sadden’s me as I thought the CC movement was a very biblical. Now I’m seriously in doubt about that. But like Jason said above no church is perfect. And ultimately we are supposed to know the word well as well. I have named these two pastors by name as I don’t want other pastors blamed by mistake. Yes God can and will restore them if they allow Him to. But not well enough for me to currently want to sit under their teachings in the near or far future.

It so happened that the man in question had contacted me several weeks earlier because he thought I was an elder in the church. CC pastors often have their board keep a low profile, so it’s not unusual to now know who the folks in charge are. (Just remember that CC’s are set up under Articles of Organization as a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation naming the pastor as the president and owner of the corporation, governed by the president and a board of directors which are appointed by and serve at the sole discretion of the pastor.)

He told me that the board was supporting his wife’s infidelity and would not confront her sin, had told him that she could not be forced to stay in the marriage and that he should just let matters take their course and see if she would return to him. I found this unbelievable, but also told him that unless he has proof there was nothing I could do except pray for him.

However, after being ordered to call the police if this man showed up at church, I got to thinking. In the process of a divorce, court documents are filed and become public documents. In all likelihood, they would provide a complete story. So I got them and they did. They told a very ugly story.

In October 2011, I provided to my pastor (John Pillivant at CC Bartlett, TN) and his board of directors with documentation about CC-Bartlett’s support for unscriptural divorce and “respecter of persons” bias which, in turn, had given rise to two adulterous relationships in the church, a failure to confront this sin, and the bearing of false witness in court which resulted in this man being wrongly separated from his children. Sole custody was granted to the adulterous wife.

I sent the court documents with a cover letter to our pastor and board (and the ushers who had been ordered to call the police). I asked our pastor and board re-examine their decisions in light of the court documents which they had not previously seen and the interrogatory testimony given under oath. These documents clearly show that the husband was accurate in everything he’d told me.

Within 24 hours, I was kicked out of the church via a phone call from one of the pastor’s board members, Andrew Galloway. A long statement was read to me over the phone accusing me of lying, gossip, slander, and division among other things. I was ordered to stay away from the church and to send a public letter of apology which would be read in front of the congregation.
Because of the generic nature of the alleged sins, I asked for a copy of the statement along with a specific itemization (e.g. what lie did I tell and to whom did I tell it to, etc). I also asked if the court documents had been read and was told that the records were “gossip” and full of lies.

Two days later on Sunday, Oct. 9, people tell me that I was publicly accused of these and other sins including rebellion (Titus 3:10) and my excommunication was announced from the pulpit by Pastor John.

I’ve been a Christian for 37 years and have walked consistently with Christ since conversion – and I know my Bible. Calvary Chapel is NOT a cult – but it is cult-like in leadership and practice. And you can blame it all on Calvary Chapel Distinctives and the Moses Model which fosters a belief that church leaders are above “ordinary Christians”, do not sin like the rest of us, and promote a watered down Christianity which is not serious about sin and redemption.

For any pastor who abuses their power, they will have to answer to God. I do see how the Moses model has advantages. If a pastor is outright disobeying God, I say reveal it to them and if they continue disobeying, then run. If it’s a different understanding of scripture then your just bringing division, please seek out a church that has the same understanding. Lord knows we have lots of different types of churches.

Please remember that all churches are made up of imperfect man. Please seek out a pastor who will lead you, while God leads them, regardless of the “brand”.

Hi Christine… Calvary Chapel is not a cult. If your daughter is cutting off certain friends and pressing into God, then I don’t think you should interfere with that. Now if she has some dramatic wounding that is causing her to seek the Lord at an unhealthy rate, if there is such a thing. Then healing the emotional wound should be your priority. Not pulling her away from God.

God bless you all and love be with you.

I am a Calvary Chapel leader and in the Eldership process at a thriving CC church plant. Our planting pastor is ridiculously grounded in the Word. He’s not doctrinally weak, nor are any of the CC pastors I know. We are a church-planting, Bible teaching, sin-repenting church. We practice strong church discipline, raise up other leaders who are gifted, and generally love Jesus by preaching His grace… but also the necessity of repentance. God has blessed our church by bringing it from 6 people in a living room to 200 people in less than 2 years. I have seen sin repented of, lives redeemed, and Christ made much of in my body and many other CC bodies in other areas.

I take issue with the broad generalization of the CC movement. It’s a spirit-led movement that has been greatly used of God. Altar calls are Biblical. The CC movement was largely responsible for revival in the Western church. We plant hundreds of churches every year. There is a new generation of CC guys like my pastor, myself, and many men I know who are passionate for strong doctrine! Instead of snidely criticizing an entire movement that IS being used by God, you should do something. As Mark Driscoll says, don’t be a theological gun-collector. Don’t polish your theological trophy guns hanging on the wall… Go shoot them! Because this CC is.